Amazing Tales About History
Mike Allen
Marilyn Monroe, PT Barnum, American history, and Revolutionary War insights ... Dive deep into the hidden corners of history with mysteries, fascinating inventions, secret military operations, magical islands, ancient trails, forgotten roadways, Native Americans, supernatural activity, UFOs. 20-minute episodes. Memorable stories. Great guests. We present history as it should be – accurate, engaging, and told with a touch of magic. New episodes every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 15, 2023 • 20min
The Greatest Rock Concert That Wasn’t
It’s been called the greatest rock concert that wasn't – sex and drugs, but no rock & roll. Tens of thousands of would-be concertgoers converged on the Powder Ridge ski area despite a court injunction cancelling the show. The show may have been called off, but the fun was not.
Jun 8, 2023 • 17min
169 Noteworthy Signs
A town's history is its legacy. Connecticut had all 169 towns erect signs in their main square containing a brief history of the town's past highlights. One man was visited all of them, photographed them, and published a book for others to reference.
Jun 1, 2023 • 23min
Escaping Execution by Hiding in Judge’s Cave
Few people remember that the British monarchy was actually toppled for 10 years back in the 1600s. 60 jurors condemned King Charles I to death. Two of them fled to America and hid in MA and CT while agents for King Charles II pursued them in a wild cat and mouse episode.
May 25, 2023 • 22min
What Remains of the Earliest Dirt Turnpikes
Colonial settlers eventually advanced from traveling on horse paths to building dirt turnpikes. Most have been at least partially abandoned. During COVID, John Schwemmer compared old and new maps to find and drive all 100 of CT's earliest roadways.
May 18, 2023 • 18min
Hidden Revolutionary War Treasure
Vast sums of money passed through CT during the Revolutionary War to pay soldiers. Two shipments were supposedly stolen and buried, but never recovered. Millions in gold coins, banknotes, and possibly other relics continue to draw fortune hunters.
May 11, 2023 • 22min
The Mystique of The Old Connecticut Path
There’s a nearly forgotten, 100-mile-long trail that brought settlers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to Hartford, CT nearly 400 years ago. Much of the gorgeous, rustic Old CT Path is still in its natural state. Some think it should be preserved before it’s too late.
May 4, 2023 • 21min
The Ice Man Cometh
Refrigeration is 100 years old. Before then, people chilled food in insulated ice boxes. You needed large ice blocks to keep food from spoiling. For 150 years, harvesting pond ice, storing it, and transporting it was a big business.
Apr 27, 2023 • 19min
Putting the Spotlight on Lighthouses
There are 780 lighthouses in the U.S. Nearly two dozen are on Long Island Sound. Each lighthouse “blinks” in a unique rhythm, so sea captains know which one it is. The last human lighthouse keeper has retired, but they used to have to deal with storms - and ghosts.
Apr 20, 2023 • 23min
From a Whale Hunt to the Oval Office
The White House's Oval Office hosts the Resolute Desk. It's a stunning, wood carved gift from England. But, its history started with an American whale hunt that stumbled across a valuable, missing British asset - with many twists and turns along the way.
Apr 13, 2023 • 20min
Timing is Everything: Clock-Making Comes to America
America brought the art of clock-making from Europe. Eli Terry and Seth Thomas propelled timepieces in America, in part through Terry's introduction of the concept of mass production. He used interchangeable wooden pieces in mass production, with others rapidly copying the idea.
