Today In History with The Retrospectors

Explore the explosive events of December 10, 1907, when medical students and activists clashed over a bronze dog statue. This tumultuous moment ignited the anti-vivisection movement and highlighted the connection between feminism and animal rights. Discover how a seemingly innocuous memorial not only sparked riots but also exuded profound societal implications. The podcast dives into the controversies surrounding vivisection, the backlash faced by the medical community, and the shifts in public perception of monuments today.

Delve into the historical backdrop of Alfred Tennyson's iconic poem, first published in 1854, which captures the chaos of the Crimean War. Discover the miscommunications that led to the fateful Charge of the Light Brigade, revealing the tragic consequences for British troops. Unpack Tennyson's clever use of 'blunder,' as he both honors heroism and critiques military leadership. The poem's rich themes and rhythmic cadence have sparked debate and remain influential in English literature.

Explore the groundbreaking triumph of Dr. Joyce Brothers, the first woman to win big on an American TV quiz show, as she tackles the topic of boxing despite her limited knowledge. Discover her fierce determination to outsmart sponsors and navigate the tricky world of quiz show politics. Delve into the larger implications of her victory in a male-dominated era and the evolving landscape of game shows amid rising scandals. A compelling tale of resilience and wit that changed television history.

Discover the fascinating origins of Christie's auction house, starting with James Christie's groundbreaking sale in 1766. Explore how his innovative techniques transformed public auctions and attracted aristocratic clientele. Dive into the colorful characters of 18th century London who were part of his inner circle. Uncover the intriguing psychology of bidding and the theatrical nature of the auction experience. Plus, find out the price tag for a two-headed taxidermied lamb!

A groundbreaking discovery reveals that Nyasasaurus parringtoni, dating back 245 million years, is the earliest known dinosaur, reshaping our understanding of dinosaur evolution. Unearthed in Tanzania, the fossil was ignored for decades before paleontologists brought its story to light. The discussion delves into the intriguing characteristics of early dinosaurs and contemplates the terrifying notion of a T-Rex the size of a labrador. They also explore the wealth of forgotten treasures hidden in museum collections, proving that paleontology is full of surprises.

The intriguing disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 takes center stage. After discovering her husband's infidelity, she vanished for 11 days, sparking a nationwide manhunt. Theories ranged from murder to suicide, while Christie was found living under an alias in a spa town. Exploring her mental struggles, the hosts discuss how this event may have influenced amateur sleuths and reflect on her unique way of addressing the mystery through her fiction. The episode unveils the captivating blend of personal trauma and literary genius.

Dive into the rise and fall of Enron, once a titan of the energy sector, now infamous for its stunning bankruptcy in 2001. Discover how the company manipulated market regulations and employed questionable accounting to create an illusion of success. Uncover the ethical lapses that prioritized profits over integrity, leading to disastrous mismanagement. Explore the tangled connections between Enron's executives and political figures, revealing the web of deceit that culminated in one of history's biggest corporate scandals.

Rerun: Supersonic aircraft took a giant leap forward when the French and British governments signed a treaty to join forces on designing Concorde on 29th November, 1962. Up until this point, the two countries had been developing their aircraft separately - which had already cost the United Kingdom £150 million.Technologically superior and far more luxurious than any commercial passenger jet that had come before, it was also the fastest - capable of launching its wealthy clientele from London to New York in under three hours.In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the success of the 747 killed off supersonic flight; consider how Britain blew its chance to create 'the British Airbus'; and reveal why Pepsi’s blue paint-job for Air France could have proven truly explosive…Further Reading:• ‘Concorde and supersonic travel: The days when the sun rose in the west’ (The Independent, 2013): https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/concorde-and-supersonic-travel-the-days-when-the-sun-rose-in-the-west-8888836.html• ‘Concorde’s first British test flight, 50 years on’ (History of government, gov.uk 2019): https://history.blog.gov.uk/2019/04/09/concordes-first-british-test-flight-50-years-on/• ‘Anglo-French Airliner Model Concorde’ (British Pathé, 1962): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPiPC6O7qs‘Why am I hearing a rerun?’Each Thursday and Friday we repeat stories from our archive of 800+ episodes, so we can maintain the quality of our independent podcast and bring you fresh, free content every Monday-Wednesday… … But 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rerun: Towards the end of 1983, frenzied parents battled with one another in stores across the US in a desperate bid to buy their children the toy of the moment, the Cabbage Patch Kid.The so-called Cabbage Patch Riots culminated on 28th November 1983 at a Zayre department store in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, when a melee broke out that was so intense a store manager grabbed a baseball bat to protect himself, police dispersed the crowds and four people ended up in hospital.In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discuss why Cabbage Patch Kids were in such short supply; look into why the toys had their inventor’s name emblazoned on their bottoms; and reveal the true story of how Cabbage Patch dolls came into being…  Further Reading:• ‘The Not-So-Sweet Truth About Cabbage Patch Kids’ (Good Housekeeping, 2015): https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a32201/cabbage-patch-dolls-history/ • ‘The strange story of the Cabbage Patch Kid Riots of 1983’ (ABC, 2022): https://abc7ny.com/cabbage-patch-dolls-crazy-riot-the-vault/5713681/ • ‘Tales from the Cabbage Patch Riots of 1983’ (Pixel Dan, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpa5IZiAfC0 #US #80s #Strange #ToysPicture: Flickr/Benjamin Gray‘Why am I hearing a rerun?’Each Thursday and Friday we repeat stories from our archive of 800+ episodes, so we can maintain the quality of our independent podcast and bring you fresh, free content every Monday-Wednesday… … But 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aerosmith, 50 Cent and Tom Petty starred at 13 year old Elizabeth Brooks’ $10 million bat mitzvah party on 27th November, 2005. The lavish do, at New York’s legendary Rainbow Rooms, became a symbol of extreme extravagance, and triggered an investigation into her father, David H. Brooks.Brooks had been CEO of a military body armour company that thrived during the post-9/11 war boom, and later died in prison. But the infamy of his daughter’s blowout birthday bash continued, not least because, despite the attending celebrities’ requests to ban photos, many party guests were given digital cameras as a keepsake… In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider other ill-advised celebrity appearances, including J-Lo’s trip to Turkmenistan; explain why Elizabeth Brooks had the upper hand on her older brother; and consider the benefits of downing a bottle of Hennessy to get you through an awkward event…Further Reading:• ’$10 Million Bat Mitzvah Was the Party to End All Parties … Literally’ (New York, 2007): https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2007/10/david_brooks.html• ’My big, fat $10 million bat mitzvah’ (The Jerusalem Post, 2005): https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/My-big-fat-10-million-bat-mitzva• ’American Greed Bonus Edition: In Harm’s Way’ (CNBC, 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FheZyGLIBTgLove the show? Support us! Join  🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAY… … Plus, get weekly bonus bits, and unlock over 100 bits of extra content. Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices