Episodes
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Rerun: Spectacle, camp and glamour were NOT on the agenda in Lugano, Switzerland on 24th May, 1956: the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast mostly on the radio, and featured a whistling duo as its interval act. Who had to perform twice.
Voting controversy, however, was enshrined in the institution right from the outset - as Judges were permitted to award points to their own nations, and vote in absentia.
In this episode, Rebecca, Olly and Arion reveal which countries have most consistently scored the famous ânul pointsâ; consider why the future of the contest seems to lie Eastwards, and revisit Israelâs entry from 1999, âHappy Birthdayâ...
Further Reading:
⢠Lys Assia wins the first Eurovision for Switzerland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyqIPvOkiRk
⢠Facts and Figures from the 1956 contest at the official Eurovision website:
https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956
⢠Full list of 1956 voting and points from Eurovisionworld:
https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/1956
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â
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-WednesdayâŚ
⌠But đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show â¤ď¸
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: Throwing people out of windows might seem a peculiar way to protest, but itâs happened so often in history, itâs got a special name: defenestration. And perhaps the most significant of all - because it brought about the Thirty Years War - was the assault on three Habsburg officials by Bohemian malcontents in Prague on 23rd May, 1618.
The dispute had kicked off when Ferdinand II refused permission for some Protestants to build a new place of worship on a piece of land - and then granted it to Catholics instead. Dick move.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider whether âa bloodthirsty mob of Christiansâ is a contradiction in terms; explain why 1618 was a bad year to take a secretarial job; and how, despite triggering the bloodiest war yet seen in Europe, Ferdinand II still managed to insert humour into proceedingsâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âDefenestration: The Bloody History Of Throwing People Out Of A Windowâ (All Thatâs Interesting, 2022): https://allthatsinteresting.com/defenestration
⢠âWhat Happened At The 1618 Defenestration of Prague?â (History Extra, 2020): https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/1618-defenestration-prague-facts-history-explained-what-happened-why-castle-protestant-catholic/
⢠âThe 30 Years' War (1618-48) and the Second Defenestration of Prague - Professor Peter Wilsonâ (Gresham College, 2018):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7vxXfy09EA&t=134s
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â
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-WednesdayâŚ
⌠But đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show â¤ď¸
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes manquant?
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When Jerry Lee Lewis landed at Heathrow Airport for his first UK tour on 22nd May, 1958, he was met with a flurry of journalists eager for a scoop. Yet just one question brought everything to a halt: "Who are you?".
A wide-eyed girl in Lewis's entourage answered: Myra Gale Brown, his wife. But she was only 13 years old. As if this wasnât scandal enough⌠she was also his cousin, and their marriage was bigamous. The press exploded with these revelations, turning what was meant to be a triumphant tour into a public relations disaster.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly pore over the disturbing details of Lewisâs tumultuous private life; consider whether he was on the path to equalling Elvisâs stardom in the UK, had this matter not come to light; and fruitlessly search the singerâs interviews for a later sense of contritionâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âMyra Williams talks about marriage at age 13 to Jerry Lee Lewisâ (Los Angeles Times, 2022): https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-29/jerry-lee-lewis-myra-brown-williams-marriage-13-cousin
⢠âInside The Disturbing Marriage Of Jerry Lee Lewis To His 13-Year-Old Cousinâ (All Thatâs Interesting, 2022): https://allthatsinteresting.com/myra-gale-brown-jerry-lee-lewis
⢠âJerry Lee Lewis Interview with 13 year old wifeâ (1958): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwbty1kRCG0
CONTENT WARNING: domestic abuse, violence, child sexual abuse.
Love the show? Support us!
Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAYâŚ
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Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show â¤ď¸
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The funeral for Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley was half religious ceremony, half rock concert on 21st May, 1981.
An estimated 100,000 people are believed to have seen Marleyâs body lying in state, and the announcement of Jamaicaâs national budget was postponed by several days to accommodate his funeral. The casket contained his red Gibson Les Paul guitar, a Bible opened at Psalm 23, and a stalk of ganja placed there by his widow, Rita.
In this episode, The Retrospectors uncover the Rastafarian tensions underlying Prime Minister Edward Seagaâs eulogy; explain why this moment of national commemoration also meant coming to terms with some national guilt; and consider how the Marley family subsequently used Bobâs image on everything from earphones to cannabisâŚ
Further Reading:
âBob Marley's funeral, 21 May 1981: a day of Jamaican historyâ (The Guardian, 2011): https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/apr/24/bob-marley-funeral-richard-williams
âIn Short - 'I was there': Bob Marley's death, 1981â (BBC Radio 5 Live, 2017): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2xyVnT65ltGwggk3zrc8yyG/i-was-there-bob-marleys-death-1981
âExcerpt from âMarleyâ (Universal Pictures, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTx868LW--8
Love the show? Support us!
Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAYâŚ
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Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show â¤ď¸
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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âProtect and Surviveâ, the UK Governmentâs pamphlet offering Britons advice on how to navigate the aftermath of a nuclear explosion, was published on 20th May, 1980, following a campaign in The Times.
Intended for distribution in times of imminent crisis - and only alongside the broadcast of a series of related public information films - the bookletâs earnest yet chilling tone, coupled with its practical advice on makeshift shelters and fallout room essentials, variously triggered alarm, disbelief, and mockery.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly ask whether the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament were correct to suggest the campaign promoted a false sense of confidence in survivability of nuclear war; compare notes on the most chilling passages of the simply-written text; and marvel at the official advice for people living in mobile homesâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠â'Sinister yet pathetic': how the UK was primed for nuclear warâ (The Guardian, 2019):
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/30/uk-was-primed-for-nuclear-war-in-the-uk-taras-young-interview
⢠âProtect and Surviveâ (UK Home Office, 1980): https://archive.org/details/ProtectAndSurvive_136
⢠âProtect and Surviveâ (BBC, 1980): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yrv505R-0U
Love the show? Support us!
Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAYâŚ
⌠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 â¤ď¸
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: Gun totinâ, horse ridinâ spectacular âBuffalo Billâs Wild Westâ opened in Omaha, Nebraska on 17th May, 1883 - the start of a multi-decade run.
With a cast of hundreds, including Calamity Jane, Sitting Bull, and Annie âGet Your Gunâ Oakley, it toured the world - and forever shaped the way cowboys and Indians were represented in popular culture.
In this episode, Olly, Rebecca and Arion reveal the little-known indoor version of the show, consider the role of Native Americans in the ensemble, and explain why the Cossacks in the cast werenât so popular when they returned home to GeorgiaâŚ
Further reading:
⢠Footage from Buffalo Bill's show - from the McCracken Research Library, Wyoming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3meHAqxuDI
⢠William F. Cody profiled at the University of Sheffieldâs
National Fairground and Circus Archive:
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/buffalobill
⢠âTen Things You May Not Know About Annie Oakleyâ, from History:
https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-annie-oakley
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â
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-WednesdayâŚ
⌠But đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show â¤ď¸
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: The future Queen of France was accompanied by 57 carriages, 117 footmen and 376 horses on her journey from Austria to Versailles - but remarkably took only three hours to do her hair and makeup when she tied the knot with Louis-Auguste on 16th May, 1770.
Only 15 at the time, Louis was perceived - even by his closest friends and family - to be timid, unforthcoming and bookish. In a further bad omen, their wedding firework display was postponed due to a storm - and when it finally happened, there was a massive riot that resulted in the crowds being trampled to death.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Arion replay the âbedding ceremonyâ in excruciating detail; explain exactly what went wrong between the sheets; and consider whether the roots of MArie Antoinetteâs legendary profligacy can be traced back to her wedding dayâŚ
CONTENT WARNING: Graphic description of sexual intercourse. (Albeit one written in the 1770s, by a Roman Emperor. But, still: you *probably* wonât want to listen along with the kids.)
Further Reading:
⢠âMarriage of the Dauphin Louis and Marie-Antoinetteâ (Palace of Versailles): https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/key-dates/marriage-dauphin-louis-and-marie-antoinette
⢠âFrench dauphin, Louis, marries Marie Antoinetteâ (HISTORY, 2010):
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/louis-marries-marie-antoinette
⢠ââMarie Antoinetteâ: Wedding sceneâ (Sony Pictures, 2006):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftWA5LLAyoo
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â
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-WednesdayâŚ
⌠But đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show â¤ď¸
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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George III narrowly dodged a bullet for the SECOND time in one day on 15th May, 1800, as he attended a performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
The assassination attempt came from James Hadfield, a clinically insane former soldier, who rose from the pit and fired a pistol at the King, causing uproar in the audience. Despite the danger, George remained composed, even using his opera glasses to survey the disarray.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal how the leading playwright of the era swiftly calmed nerves with some poetic ingenuity; explain why George III remained popular in this era, despite the repeated attempts on his life; and marvel at how, amidst apparent danger everywhere, the Show really did Go OnâŚ
Further Reading:
âThe Theatre Royal and The Case of Two Mad King Georgesâ (The National Archives, 2013): https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/the-theatre-royal-and-the-case-of-two-mad-king-georges/âJames Hadfield: His Attempt on King George IIIâs Lifeâ (Geri Walton, 2021): https://www.geriwalton.com/james-hadfield-his-attempt-on-king-george-iiis-life/#_ftn1âThe Madness of King Georgeâ (Channel Four Films, 1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8lJ8XzX_GMLove the show? Support us!
Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAYâŚ
⌠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 â¤ď¸
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The two minute silence can be traced back to 14th May, 1918, when it was first observed in Cape Town, South Africa.
Repeated daily for a year, and initiated by the firing of the noon day gun on Signal Hill, the âTwo Minute Silent Pause of Remembranceâ, as it was known, was instituted by Cape Town Mayor Sir Harry Hands and councillor Robert Rutherford Brydone, both of whom had lost sons at the Front.
In this episode, The Retrospectors consider the optimum length for a silence (three minutes was, apparently, simply too long); explain how the tradition became adopted at the UKâs Armistice Day; and reveal the worst place to hold a two-minute silence for UkraineâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Scot who began the two-minute silenceâ (BBC News, 2018): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-46124328
⢠âThe two-minute silence: remembrance of the Glorious Deadâ (United Kingdom Government, 2015): https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-two-minute-silence-remembrance-of-the-glorious-dead
⢠âTwo Minutes' Silence To Honour War Deadâ (Sky News, 2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahaB53lT2ak
Love the show? Support us!
Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAYâŚ
⌠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 â¤ď¸
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Disdain for bad table manners reportedly led 17th Century Machiavelli Cardinal Richelieu to insist that knives should be flattened at his table on 13th May, 1637 - revolutionising dining etiquette.
While some Mediaeval habits such as spitting and urinating at the table had largely disappeared by this era, finger-licking and the use of knives as toothpicks had persisted, and Richelieuâs irritation with such behaviours supposedly spurred him to action (although: it was probably *also* convenient for the baddie from âThe Three Musketeersâ not to have a load of sharp knives in his guestsâ pocketsâŚ)
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly trace the evolution of dining customs, from communal bowls to individual plates and utensils; question whether the polite use of toothpicks at the table has actually ever been solved; and explain why a Royal edict in 1699 popularised the table knife across FranceâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âRhodri Marsden's interesting objects: The table knifeâ (The Independent, 2015): https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/rhodri-marsden-s-interesting-objects-the-table-knife-10229114.html
⢠âPanati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Thingsâ (Chartwell Books, 2016): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Panati_s_Extraordinary_Origins_of_Everyd/utroDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=knife+%2B+richelieu&pg=PA80&printsec=frontcover
⢠âHow To Sharpen A Knifeâ (Gordon Ramsay, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBn1i9YqN1k
Love the show? Support us!
Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAYâŚ
⌠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 â¤ď¸
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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As Annette Sorensen drank margaritas in a New York BBQ restaurant on May 10th, 1997, she left her 14 month-old daughter outside, in a stroller.
She spent two days in jail, was accused of child neglect, and was separated from her baby for four days. But Sorensen, a Danish visitor to the States, claimed she was following Scandinavian norms, and tried to sue for $20m.
In this episode, Olly, Rebecca and Arion examine whether leaving your baby outside in the street really IS a Danish custom, consider the culture clash between Copenhagen and NYC, and confess the weirdest places theyâve left their own children...
Further reading:
⢠The AP films Sorensenâs (first) court appearance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-KCeRHBzK4
⢠The New York Times covers the story in 1997:
https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/14/nyregion/toddler-left-outside-restaurant-is-returned-to-her-mother.html
⢠20 years after the case, Annette Sorensen speaks to The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/26/anette-sorenson-denmark-new-york-baby-left-outside
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: Fugitive Thomas Blood sneaked his way into the Tower of Londonâs jewel room on 9th May, 1671 - bludgeoning the 77 year-old Keeper of the Jewels, Talbot Edwards, in the process.
Disguised as a parson, the Irish adventurer had cat-fished Edwards in an audacious and complex heist that involved multiple pairs of white gloves, a fake nephew and stuffing an orb down his trousers.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Blood failed to steal the jewels, but got away with a Royal pardon from Charles II; recall his earlier escapades as a fake doctor and a mock executioner; and ask why, after all that planning, the criminal gang didnât BRING A BIGGER BAGâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âAttempt to steal the Crown Jewelsâ (The National Archives): https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/significant-events/attempt-to-steal-the-crown-jewels/
⢠âThomas Blood and the Theft of the Crown Jewelsâ (Historia Magazine, 2017): https://www.historiamag.com/thomas-blood/
⢠âThe Crown Jewels Thief - Colonel Bloodâ (Historic Royal Palaces, 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRmBE6B8F7I
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â Every Thursday is 'Throwback Thursday' on Today in History with the Retrospectors: running one repeat per week means we can keep up the quality of our independent podcast. Daily shows like this require a lot of work! But as ever we'll have something new for you tomorrow, so follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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John Pemberton launched Coca-Cola from a pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, on 8th May, 1886. Legend has it that a serendipitous mishap had led to the addition of carbonated water, transforming the medicinal tonic into a fizzy beverage that would capture the public's imagination.
But in fact, Pemberton's original formula - Pemberton's French Wine Coca - had already been attracting a following; but it had to be relaunched to the market in a non-alcoholic formula, because it boasted wine among its ingredients, at the onset of temperance legislation in Atlanta. Nobody seemed bothered that it contained cocaine, however...
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Cokeâs origins lay in curing morphine addiction; consider how strategic marketing, aggressive advertising, and a stroke of luck in a bottling deal pushed Coca-Colaâs proliferation across the globe; and reveal why their iconic logo is written in handwritten scriptâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âVin Mariani: The Cocaine Wine Beloved by Popes and Presidentsâ (Mental Floss, 2021): https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/644226/vin-mariani-cocaine-wine-history
⢠âJohn Pemberton And The Quiet Tragedy Behind Coca-Cola's Inventionâ (All Thatâs Interesting, 2017): https://allthatsinteresting.com/john-pemberton
⢠âJohn Pemberton and the invention of Coca-Cola (The Coca-Cola Company, 2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxrIgUGfJ8c
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: During the Siege of Malaga, on 7th May 1487, Queen Isabella of Spain commissioned bespoke bed-wagons to transport injured soldiers from the battlefield to specially-erected tent hospitals, the world's earliest ambulance.
Despite this innovation, it was hundreds of years before the concept - and the word âambulanceâ - gained common currency worldwide, notably thanks to the American Civil War.
In this episode, The Retrospectors consider the propagandic purpose of transporting the wounded; evaluate the hearse-like designs of the first motorised ambulances; and reveal why ambulances were feared and ridiculed by those who had to use themâŚ
Further Reading:
History of the Ambulance (Liverpool Medical Institution): https://www.lmi.org.uk/history-of-the-ambulance
âThe Ambulance: A History - By Ryan Corbett Bellâ (McFarlane and Company, 2009): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Ambulance/-YtlthqHmHsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ambulance+malaga+1487&printsec=frontcover
âEarliest Life Saving Ambulances in Historyâ (Faramel, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSafOiyWvu8
This episode first premiered in 2023, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The first âspamâ email, sent to ARPANET users on behalf of the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), landed in Inboxes on 3rd May, 1978.
Marketer Gary Thuerk was responsible for the idea - but his execution was flawed, as he inadvertently filled the body of his message with email addresses, overflowing from the To and CC fields. Recipients weren't amused. Some grumbled, others chuckled, but all felt the intrusion...
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider whether this e-marketing stumble truly qualifies as âspamâ in the modern sense; trace the origins of the Monty Python-derived term for unsolicited email; and marvel at the available storage space in the early days of the internetâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âHappy spamiversary! Spam reaches 30â (New Scientist, 2008): https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13777-happy-spamiversary-spam-reaches-30/
⢠âAmerica is Uncle Spamâ (Financial Times, 2018): ââhttps://www.ft.com/content/59014392-4947-11e8-8c77-ff51caedcde6
⢠âDatabase: How to send an 'E mail'â (Thames TV, 1984): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szdbKz5CyhA
We'll be back on Monday - unless you join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Accessible and rigorous, the King James Bible was published on 2nd May, 1611, at the behest of the Monarch after which it was named - and perhaps even he would be surprised at the bookâs extraordinary success.
Advancements in printing technology made copies affordable, the expansion of English colonialism propagated it across the word, and its poetic imagery captured the imagination of churchgoers, who felt as though they were listening to God. But, there was an embarrassing typo!
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why the bookâs authors were wise to a) name it after the King, and b) keep their footnotes to a minimum; elucidate the difference between âinterpretationâ and âtranslationâ; and reveal the common phrases still in use today which most people donât even realise originate in this bookâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âWho Wrote The Bible, And When? The History Of The Bookâ (HistoryExtra, 2020): https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/history-bible-origins-who-wrote-when-how-reliable-historical-record/
⢠âKing James Bible: How and Why the Translation Came to Beâ (TIME, 2017): https://time.com/4821911/king-james-bible-history/
⢠âAdam Nicolson: The King James Bibleâ (National Geographic, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx5A9d52v94
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Eleven year-old Johnny Clem formally became part of the Union Army on 1st May, 1863 - though he had already been participating as a Drummer Boy for the 22nd Michigan Infantry in the American Civil War for two years.
Clem's youthful determination and bravery propelled him into the spotlight of national fame - but he was far from the only child soldier in this tumultuous American era.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly peruse Clemâs memoir, âFrom Nursery To Battlefieldâ; reveal how President Ulysses S. Grant personally intervened to assist Clemâs further career; and consider how Clemâs image was used for powerful propagandistic purposesâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Boys of Warâ (The New York Times, 2011): https://archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/the-boys-of-war/?searchResultPosition=3
⢠âWhy the Union Army Had So Many Boy Soldiersâ (Smithsonian Magazine, 2023): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-the-union-army-had-so-many-boy-soldiers-180981458/
⢠âEarly Accounts of Drummer Boy Johnny Clemâ (Life on the Civil War Research Trail, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k2dDVnSO2U
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The advertising industry underwent a minor revolution on 30th April 1952 when Mr Potato Head starred in the first ever nationally televised ad campaign for a toy, unleashing the demon force of kiddie pester power on an unsuspecting world.
Unlike regular toy dolls, a Mr Potato Head wasnât self-explanatory, so toy company Hasbro decided it was worth investing in TV ads for the product. The marketing decision is credited with helping sell more than a million Mr Potato Heads in the toyâs debut year.
In this weekâs Sunday episode, exclusively for members of đ´ CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why Mr Potato Headâs inventor George Lerner initially had trouble getting toy companies interested in his idea; discuss the pros and cons of using real fruit and vegetables as toys; and reveal the names of the entire Potato familyâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe first Mr. Potato Head commercial hit the airwaves on this day in 1952â (Boing Boing, 2022): https://boingboing.net/2022/04/30/the-first-mr-potato-head-commercial-hit-the-airwaves-on-this-day-in-1952.html
⢠âToy Story: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Mr. & Mrs. Potato Headâ (Screen Rant, 2020): https://screenrant.com/toy-story-pixar-unknown-facts-mr-potato-head/#mrs-potato-head-followed-in-1953
⢠âVintage Original Mr and Mrs Potato Head commercial 1960'sâ (Sky News, 2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICGrjmJouWA
This episode first premiered in 2023, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Peter Mark Roget waited until retirement to compile his personal collection of synonyms into a book for publication: the first edition of Rogetâs Theasurus, released on 29th April, 1852.
Despite initial scepticism from critics, who couldn't grasp its practical brilliance, the public embraced the new format - despite its unconventional organisation, in which synonyms were categorised by conceptual threads, rather than in alphabetical order.
In this episode, Arion, Olly and Rebecca explain how Roget drew inspiration from the systematic brilliance of Carl Linnaeus; discover literary references to the book in J.M. Barrie and Sylvia Plath; and question whether Rogetâs work was an entirely positive development for journalismâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âRoget and His Thesaurusâ (The Saturday Evening Post, 2023): https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2023/01/roget-and-his-thesaurus/
⢠âPeter Mark Roget, the Keeper (See: Steward, Caretaker) of Synonymsâ (The New York Times, 2008): https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/books/18book.html
⢠âEulogy at a Roget's Thesaurus Funeral - Johnny Carsonâ (NBC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSYzLJiSZzM
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Italian poet Petrarch hiked up Mont Ventoux in Provence on 26th April, 1332 - an event claimed for centuries to be the first time mountaineering for pleasure had been attempted.
His celebrated letter to Dionigi di Borgo San Sepolcro was the source, revealing Petrarch's contemplations on spirituality and the human condition amidst the breathtaking views. However, debate persists over the letter's authenticity and whether Petrarch's climb was literal or allegorical.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how, centuries later, Romantic poets revived Petrarch's tale, interpreting his ascent as a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment and intellectual curiosity; consider how mountaineering in its present form evolved into a mainstream leisure activity; and reveal that climbing Mont Ventoux has become a competitive sport...
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Fig and the Laurel: Petrarchâs Search for Self-Knowledgeâ (The London Magazine): https://thelondonmagazine.org/article/the-fig-and-the-laurel-petrarchs-search-for-self-knowledge/
⢠âIn Provence, Honoring a Poet at 6,263 Feetâ (The New York Times, 2006): https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/travel/30explorer.html
⢠âGW1 - Petrarch: "Ascent of Mount Ventoux"â (Douglas Parker, 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRhdr55jsRw
We'll be back on Monday - unless you join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
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: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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