Episodes

DROWNING IN MOLASSES — SHOW NOTES Overview On January 15, 1919, Boston’s North End was shattered by one of the strangest and most devastating industrial disasters in American history: the Great Molasses Flood. A massive steel tank—poorly built, poorly maintained, and filled to the brim with fermenting molasses—exploded without warning. A tidal wave of sticky, suffocating syrup tore through the neighborhood at nearly 35 miles per hour, killing 21 people, injuring more than 150, and leaving a path...

THE CENTRAL PARK KIDNAPPING EDWARD H.SMITH There are stories in American history that arrive like a thunderclap—stories that seize the public imagination, shake a city to its core, and leave behind a permanent change in how people live their daily lives. In the spring of 1899, New York City was gripped by exactly such a story. It began in the most peaceful place imaginable: a sunny afternoon in Central Park, where mothers pushed prams beneath the elms, nurses chatted on benches, and children pla...

When the most famous writer of crime fiction mysteriously disappeared in December of 1926, leaving behind her parked car with headlights on and her personal items, the public and the press feared the worst. An intensive search began and lasted for 11 days until...... Join us at 1001 Stories For the Road for my narration of the classic Christie mystery "The Seven Dials Mystery'", and you can also catch up on 'The Count of Monte Cristo', , which I recently completed there. Link to 1001 Stori...

REMEMBERING MERRILL'S MARAUDERS THE JUNGLE RAIDERS OF WWII This episode explores the extraordinary story of Merrill’s Marauders, an elite American long-range penetration unit that operated in the treacherous jungles of Burma during World War II. Known officially as the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), these soldiers endured brutal conditions, intense combat, and relentless terrain to disrupt Japanese forces in Southeast Asia. Key highlights include: The formation and unique mission of ...

Episode 2 — Peg Entwistle & the Ghost of the Hollywood Sign ⭐ EPISODE SUMMARY PEG ENTWHISTLE AND THE GHOST OF THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN In 1932, a young actress named Peg Entwistle climbed the ladder behind the Hollywood Sign and jumped to her death. Her tragic story became one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends — and for nearly a century, hikers, rangers, and tourists have reported seeing her ghost wandering the hills, smelling her gardenia perfume, or hearing her footsteps near the “H.” This epi...

This is the true story of the only man who suvived two atomic bombs, one in Nagasaki, and the the other in Hiroshima,, His name wqas Tsotumo Yamaguchi. -Found In The Footnotes JH website: www.bestof1001stories.com

⭐ EPISODE SUMMARY THE CURSE OF GRIFFITH PARK (CALI LEGENDS #1) Griffith Park is one of Los Angeles’ most beloved landmarks — 4,300 acres of hiking trails, wildlife, and postcard views. But beneath the sunshine lies a darker history: a land dispute soaked in betrayal, a dying woman’s curse, a string of mysterious deaths, killer trees, decapitated remains, rampaging ostriches, and unsolved murders beneath the Hollywood Sign. In this episode, Jon explores the chilling legend of Dona Petronilla’s...

"Who Killed Superman?" is a gripping investigation into the tragic end of George Reeves, the actor who became a 1950s icon as the Man of Steel but found himself trapped in a real-life noir drama. The Incident: Time, Place, and Date Date: June 16, 1959. Time: Between 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.. Place: The upstairs bedroom of his home at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive, Los Angeles. The Scene: Reeves was found naked, sprawled across his bed, dead from a single gunshot wound to his right temple from a .30 ...

This story was inspired by by sharing 'The Count of Monte Cristo' in its entirety recently at 1001 Stories For The Road Podcast. If you want a great cllassic romance/adventure story- this is it! THE BATTLE OF THE BUNNIES It sounds like a tall tale, but this actually happened! In July 1807, after signing the Treaties of Tilsit, Napoleon Bonaparte decided to celebrate with a grand imperial rabbit hunt. The event didn't go exactly as planned: The Setup: Napoleon’s chief of staff, Alexandre Berth...

Featured with Podcast (hopefully); The iconic image of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (or "Dakota") soaring over the Giza Pyramids in 1943 is a masterpiece of the U.S. Signal Corps. This moment captured the meeting of two worlds: the pinnacle of WWII aviation technology and the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Story Behind the Photo • The Mission: In 1943, this C-47 was part of the U.S. Air Transport Command, a global lifeline ferrying urgent war supplies and materials across t...

We have two stories about Capt. Jack Tueller, who was a highly decorated US Army pilot who served in three wars. The first is a legend which goes hand in hand with Valentine's Day,which, by the way,is this Saturday (2026). The second is the true story that inspired the legend. In both, Capt Jack is at D-Day + 12 in Normandy, he is very good with his trumpet, and his trumpet gets results in both stories. Check out all our stories at www.bestof1001stories.com and help all our Found In The Footn...

Like it or not- ancient Rome is everywhere in our lives- in our language, our laws, our structures, our holidays, and even our calendar, in the days of the week and the months of the year. It seems strange that after 1500 years since Roman civilization dumped its many gods in favor of one that we still live with them every day. Join us for a look at just how much we depend on a long-crashed civilization in our daily lives. Visit our new website and browse over 2,000 stories at 12 1001 shows w...

We celebrate Abrham Lincoln's birthday this Thursday FEB 12th- In late 1864, a young man was waiting for a train in Jersey City, New Jersey. The platform was crowded, with passengers standing close to the edge as trains arrived and departed. It was an ordinary scene—busy, noisy, and unremarkable. At some point, the young man lost his footing. Accounts differ on exactly how it happened, but what’s consistent is the result: he slipped into the narrow space between the platform and a moving train. ...

Todays story explains the controversy which still surrounds the untimely death of 21 year-old Pocahonts, the daughter of a Powhatan chief who, thanks to her trust in Capt. John Smith and willingness to accept English presence in the New World, became a pawn of English colonialism and, according to her tribe's oral tradition, was likely killed for her kindness when she was poisoned while on board a ship leaving Engaland ihn March of 1617- the same ship and Captain which had kidnapped her just a f...

Make Sure to catch Dickens GREAT short story 'The Wreck of The Golden Mary' NOW at 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales! FOUND IN THE FOOTNOTES CHARLES DICKENS AND THE STAPLEHURST RAIL CRASH Podcast Script – Charles Dickens and the Staplehurst Rail Crash As many of you know,I’m a huge fan of classic literature and four of our 1001 podcasts are packed with My renderings of short stories and novels from the greats like Robert Louis Stevenson, O. Henry, and Charles Dickens- just search 1001 Classic S...

Join us 3X weekly (M-FW-F ) AT 4-5PM for our hosted episodes of what was America's top radio show for nearly 30 years- The Shadow, at 1001 Ghost, Ciller & Lovecraft Stories at Spotify, Apple, and all the rest- Gizelle( whose voice reminds me of Margot Lane in 'The Shadow' will give you the play by playon every episode, and it won't be long before you discover why audiences were glued to the big bx in their living room every Sunday night. 1001 Ghost Chiller & Lovecraft at Apple Podcast: https:...

Join host Gizelle Erickson every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4pm ET at 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Podcast as she introduces the nuances of every episode of America's favorite vigilante radio serial 'The Shadow' as Lamont Cranston and his sexy sidekick Margot Lane bring all the lowlifes and sleazeballs who never thought they would be punished to justice. Take the Shadow challenge and listen to the first five episodes like I did to really get an understanding of the show and you'll be a f...

The Winter Olympics are coming FEB 6th- and here's a littleknown story (found in the footnotes) about how they used to give medals for art- you know, painting, writing..creative stuff...provided the art reflected something to do with the Olympics. Its an interewsting story that not many people are aware of so enjoy and share with friends- Thanks! Our websitefor browsing over 2,000 stories of all different types is www.bestof1001stories.com

Aimee Semple McPherson's "trial" was a highly publicized investigation in 1926 following her mysterious disappearance and reappearance, where she faced charges of conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly faking a kidnapping to cover up a romantic tryst in Mexico. Although evidence mounted against her, including testimony from her secretary and her mother's inconsistent statements, the case ultimately collapsed due to a lack of definitive proof, and the charges were dismissed in early 192...

I recall researching the back story for our 1001 Heroes episode 'THE LOST CITY OF Z when I came across then mentio0n of lake Titicaca in Peru- and although I was curous as to how it got its name, I had to pass it up until now- where it becomes 'Found In The Footnotes'. Enjoy! Browse all 12 1001 shows at www.bestof1001stories.com and find a treasure trove of stories for all ages and tastes!

THE ORANGE IN THE STOCKING FOUND IN THE FOOTNOTES Todays’s story: I called The Orange In The Stocking… and of course, my question to you is..did you get one IJN YOURS ? After the recent episode we did titled Christmas in Appalachia we received lots of feedback about this old tradition- it seemed that every one in the story recvalled getting that orange in the stocking- and to them it meant so very much~! Actually, there’s more to the story of the orange that turned up - In Christmas inn Appalac...

Deep dive with original radio broadcast clips follows at 1001 Heroes.... Imagine it’s October 30, 1938. You’re scanning the radio dial, and you stumble upon a live orchestra. Suddenly, a news bulletin cuts in: "Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin." A scientist reports strange explosions on Mars. Within minutes, the music is gone, replaced by "live" reports of a giant metallic tripod incinerating a field in Grover's Mill, New Jersey. For...

Check out our new for 2026 FOUND IN THE FOOTNOTES this Wednesday and every Wednesday at 4pm ET!! Amaazing history in 5-10 minute soundbytes..... Today we're taking you on a field trip to the site of America's oldest war memorial. Its called Nine Men's Misery, and iti is a monument which remembers the nine men who were captured by Indian warriors in 1676 in Rhode Island and were tortured, scalped, and mutilated while fighting in what is today called King Philip's War. It was a deadly, brutally fo...

The tradition of saying "Rabbit, Rabbit" (or "White Rabbits") on the first day of the month is a long-held superstition intended to ensure good luck for the next 30 days. While its exact origins are "fuzzy" and likely rooted in ancient folklore, the practice has several documented historical milestones: Earliest Recorded Origins 1909 (First Written Mention): The earliest known written record of this superstition appears in the British journal Notes and Queries. A contributor noted that his daug...