History's attics hide remarkable stories, and few are as compelling as Sarah Rosetta Wakeman's. At just 19, this strong-minded woman from rural New York made a decision that defied every convention of her time—she cut her hair, put on men's clothing, and became Lyons Wakeman.

The eldest of nine children born to struggling tenant farmers in 1843, Rosetta faced limited options. Marriage wasn't in the cards, and her family's crushing debt demanded all hands working. When she discovered that coal hauling on the Chenango Canal paid better than any "women's work," she embraced a male identity that offered both financial stability and personal freedom.

But when Union Army recruiters appeared offering a $152 enlistment bounty (worth over $3,000 today), Rosetta saw an opportunity she couldn't pass up. As Private Lyons Wakeman of the 153rd New York Infantry, she performed every soldier's duty—standing guard, drilling with precision, even engaging in fistfights—all while maintaining her secret identity. Her letters home reveal a practical motivation far removed from patriotic fervor: "I am as independent as a hog on ice," she wrote, proud of her $13 monthly salary that helped sustain her family back home.

For almost two years, Rosetta served without detection, first in Washington DC and later in Louisiana during the brutal Red River Campaign. She survived the Battle of Pleasant Hill only to fall victim to dysentery, dying at 21 in a New Orleans hospital where not even the attending doctors discovered her biological sex. Buried under her male identity, her remarkable story remained hidden until her letters were discovered a century later.

Dive into this incredible story of a woman who challenged 19th-century gender expectations not through protest, but through quiet, determined action. Her surviving letters paint a vivid picture of Civil War life and reveal a pragmatic spirit who saw male disguise not as political statement but as a practical path to independence. Subscribe to hear more hidden stories from history that will change how you see the past—and perhaps the present too.

• • An Uncommon Soldier: The Civil War Letters of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, alias Pvt. Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers, 1862-1864 by Sarah Rosetta Wakeman https://amzn.to/463jhcu
  • Wakeman, Sarah Rosetta – Civil War letters and biography. An overview by the American Battlefield Trustbattlefields.orgbattlefields.orgbattlefields.org.
  • Bierle, Sarah Kay – “From History’s Shadows: Sarah Rosetta Wakeman.” Emerging Civil War (Mar. 30, 2024) – Analysis of Wakeman’s letters and life

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How far would someone go to escape poverty? In 1726, Mary Toft, a destitute servant and mother of three who had recently suffered a miscarriage, concocted an outrageous scheme that would captivate England and eventually reach King George I himself. Her claim? She was giving birth to rabbits.

Drawing on the period's belief in "maternal impression" – the notion that a pregnant woman's experiences could physically shape her unborn child – Mary convinced local surgeon John Howard that after chasing and dreaming about rabbits, she began delivering animal parts from her body. What began as a desperate grab for attention transformed into a national sensation when Howard alerted England's medical establishment about this apparent miracle.

The rabbit births became London's hottest attraction. The King's own surgeon Nathaniel St. André rushed to validate Mary's case, publishing a detailed pamphlet about her extraordinary deliveries. But skepticism grew when physician Cyriacus Ahlers examined the rabbit remains and found hay, straw and corn in their digestive tracts – substances that couldn't possibly exist in a human womb. The hoax finally collapsed when a porter was caught smuggling a fresh rabbit to Mary's quarters.

Mary's confession revealed her elaborate deception – inserting dead animal parts into her body and dramatically "delivering" them while screaming in fake labor. While she spent only four months in prison before returning to her village, the physicians who validated her claims weren't so lucky. St. André in particular became London's laughingstock, his medical career left in ruins. Yet Mary lived quietly until 1763, even having another child years later.

Curious about more historical oddities? Follow us wherever you get your podcasts, and reach out with your questions or wild historical theories through our social media channels. We're History Buffoons Podcast on YouTube, X, Instagram and Facebook. Stay curious, and remember the buffoonery never stops!

Mary Toft Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Toft#:~:text=the%20image,be%20seen%20on%20the%20floor

Mary Toft and Her Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbits

By Niki Russell

https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/mary-toft-and-her-extraordinary-delivery-of-rabbits/

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"Who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey?" seems like a simple question with an obvious answer – until you discover the truth that was hidden for more than 150 years.

When young orphan Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel arrived at Reverend Dan Call's farm in 1850s Tennessee, he became fascinated with the whiskey still on the property. But it wasn't the preacher who would teach Jack his craft. Instead, the reverend introduced Jack to Nathan "Nearest" Green, an enslaved man renowned throughout Lincoln County for his exceptional distilling skills.

Nearest specialized in a technique called sugar maple charcoal filtering – now known as the Lincoln County Process – which created an exceptionally smooth whiskey uniquely different from other American spirits. Under Nearest's mentorship, Jack learned every aspect of whiskey making, establishing a friendship that would last decades.

After the Civil War ended and slavery was abolished, Jack purchased the distillery and immediately hired Nearest as his master distiller – making him the first African American to hold this title in United States history. Seven generations of Nearest's descendants would go on to work for Jack Daniel's, yet as the brand grew into a global phenomenon, Nearest's crucial contributions faded from official company history.

The truth remained buried until 2016, when a New York Times article finally brought Nearest's story into the spotlight. Author and entrepreneur Fawn Weaver became so captivated by this historical injustice that she dedicated a year to uncovering every detail of Nearest's life, gathering over 10,000 documents and eventually establishing Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to honor his legacy.

Today, Nearest's great-great-granddaughter Victoria Eady Butler serves as master blender at the company bearing his name, which has become the fastest-growing independent American whiskey brand in history. The story of Nearest Green reminds us that behind many iconic American products lie forgotten innovators whose contributions deserve recognition. Take a sip of Tennessee whiskey and raise a glass to the man who perfected the process that makes it unique.

Love & Whiskey by Fawn Weaver

https://amzn.to/4kGk5YW

First Versions: Jack Daniels

https://www.firstversions.com/2015/08/jack-daniels.html

Why Master Distiller Nearest Green’s Story Must Be Told By Fawn Weaver

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/dining/jack-daniels-whiskey-nearis-green-slave.html

Uncle Nearest

https://unclenearest.com/

Uncle Nearest, Our Spirit Brand of the Year, Explores Whiskey’s Overlooked History | Wine Enthusiast’s 2020 Wine Star Awards By Wine Enthusiast

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/wine-star-awards/uncle-nearest-whiskey-spirit-year-wsa2020/?srsltid=AfmBOoosv7AGAPm4_TqgrlzIV7GIe4R

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.

Ever wonder what really happened behind the scenes of The Wizard of Oz? The yellow brick road was paved with dangerous stunts, toxic makeup, and shocking studio practices that would never be allowed today.

From the moment we pull back the curtain on this 1939 classic, the horrors emerge. Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man, was hospitalized after aluminum dust makeup coated his lungs. His replacement wasn't even told why the actor he replaced had left! Margaret Hamilton, our beloved Wicked Witch, suffered severe burns when pyrotechnics ignited too early, leaving her with third-degree burns on her face and hands. The crew's first concern? Removing her toxic green makeup before it poisoned her through open wounds.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Judy Garland endured what can only be described as studio-sanctioned abuse. Her daily diet consisted of black coffee, cigarettes, and one bowl of chicken soup, supplemented with amphetamines to keep her energetic during filming and barbiturates to force sleep at night. This studio-mandated regimen contributed to her lifelong struggles with addiction.

The film cycled through four different directors, leaving noticeable continuity errors throughout. The famous "Over the Rainbow" song nearly didn't make the cut, saved only when a producer threatened to quit. Even the "snow" that falls on Dorothy and friends in the poppy field was made from chrysotile asbestos – a known carcinogen that actors breathed in while singing and dancing.

Despite all these production nightmares, The Wizard of Oz transformed from a box office disappointment into one of cinema's most treasured films. Listen as we journey through the troubled making of this classic, debunk longstanding myths, and reveal how this magical adventure came with a very real human cost.

Love movie history? Follow us for more behind-the-scenes stories from your favorite films and subscribe to catch our next nostalgic deep dive!

Harmetz, Aljean. The Making of The Wizard of Oz. (Referenced via Vanity Fair and TIME)

Vanity Fair – “The Wizard of Oz: Five Appalling On-Set Stories”vanityfair.comvanityfair.comvanityfair.comvanityfair.com

TIME – “Was The Wizard of Oz Cursed? The Truth Behind the Dark Stories”time.comtime.com

CBS News / Sun-Sentinel – Buddy Ebsen’s Tin Man recollectionsvanityfair.com

American Cinematographer – “Behind the Curtain: Wizard of Oz” (ASC)theasc.comtheasc.com

Columbia News – “Over the Rainbow: Story Behind the Song”news.columbia.edu

SlashFilm – “The Wizard of Oz Almost Premiered Without Its Signature Song”slashfilm.com

Biography.com – “Judy Garland’s Grueling Wizard of Oz Shoot”biography.combiography.com

Refinery29 – “Tragic Story of Judy Garland”refinery29.com

Oz Wiki (Fandom) – “Horse of a Different Color” entryoz.fandom.com

University of Turin study via Vanity Fair – Oz “Most Influential Film”vanityfair.comvanityfair.com

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.

A simple rock recording session in 1963 snowballed into one of the FBI's most bizarre investigations when The Kingsmen recorded "Louie Louie" in a single take with just $50 and one hour of studio time. The perfect storm of factors – a single ceiling microphone forcing singer Jack Ely to shout upward, his newly-installed braces slurring his pronunciation, and the chaotic one-take recording – made the lyrics virtually indecipherable.

When teenagers across America began filling in these unintelligible gaps with their imaginations, passing around handwritten sheets of supposed "dirty lyrics," moral panic ensued. Outraged parents wrote to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Indiana's governor publicly denounced the song, and J. Edgar Hoover himself authorized a full-scale FBI investigation into whether the band had violated federal obscenity laws.

What followed was a staggering 31-month government investigation involving six FBI field offices across the country. Agents played the record at every conceivable speed, scrutinized the production process, and interviewed everyone from the original songwriter to band members – though bizarrely, they never questioned the actual vocalist. After exhausting all leads, the FBI quietly closed the case in October 1966, concluding the lyrics remained "unintelligible at any speed."

The greatest irony? While investigators found no evidence of the imagined obscenities, they completely missed an actual expletive around the 54-second mark when the drummer dropped his stick. The controversy only fueled the song's popularity, as teenagers were drawn to what they believed was forbidden material.

This episode of History Buffoons reveals how moral panics can trigger absurd governmental overreactions, how innocuous cultural artifacts become lightning rods for societal anxieties, and how easily resources can be wasted chasing imaginary threats. Have you experienced similar moral panics in your lifetime? Share your thoughts with us on social media @HistoryBuffoonsPodcast or email us at historybuffoonspodcast@gmail.com.

• Richard Berry’s composition and original recording: NPR interview with Peter Blechanpr.orgnpr.org; Louie Louie Wikipediaen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
  
  
  
• The Kingsmen’s 1963 version (recording session and rise to popularity): NPR featurenpr.org

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When 11-year-old Zlata Filipović received a blank diary in September 1991, she couldn't have known it would become a powerful testament to one of Europe's most devastating modern conflicts. As Yugoslavia fractured along ethnic lines, this ordinary middle-class girl found herself chronicling extraordinary circumstances from her home in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

The diary begins innocently with entries about birthday parties, Michael Jackson songs, and piano lessons. But within months, Zlata's world transforms as barricades appear, bread becomes scarce, and artillery positions surround her once-peaceful city. When the siege begins in April 1992, Sarajevo's 380,000 residents find themselves trapped in a deadly urban prison where stepping outside for water means risking sniper fire.

Through Zlata's eyes, we witness how children adapt to war's brutal reality. Schools operate sporadically in basement shelters, families chop up furniture for winter heating, and humanitarian aid packages become treasured lifelines. All while shells nicknamed "Cico" and "Ceca" fall nearby. Her words capture both heart-wrenching loss—like the death of her friend Nina from shrapnel—and the stubborn resilience of Sarajevans who organized beauty pageants in bunkers and used dark humor to survive.

What makes this story particularly tragic is how yesterday's neighbors became today's enemies. Bosnia's multi-ethnic population—Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslim Bosniaks—had lived together peacefully for generations before nationalist politics tore them apart. As Zlata writes, "The politicians ruined what had been a model place for all different people to live together."

By 1993, international journalists discovered Zlata's diary, leading to her family's evacuation to Paris just before Christmas. Her published writings became an instant bestseller, bringing worldwide attention to the children suffering in the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare history.

Have you ever wondered how quickly "normal" can vanish? How resilient children can be in impossible circumstances? Listen as we explore Zlata's story and the complex Yugoslav Wars that redefined Southeastern Europe forever. Follow us on social media @HistoryBuffoonsPodcast and share your thoughts on history's forgotten voices.

Citations

Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo - Amazon.com

https://amzn.to/3HbRXhQ

en.wikipedia.org Zlata's Diary - Wikipedia

SARAJEVO'S CHILD - The Washington Post

washingtonpost.com

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.

Ever wondered what happens when the history books close and the microphones stay on? In this special episode, Kate and Bradley pull back the curtain on the History Buffoons podcast, sharing the triumphs, challenges, and occasional beer-fueled mishaps that have shaped their journey over the past eight months.

The conversation meanders through their recent expansion into YouTube videos, with Bradley candidly discussing his evolution from audio to video editing. "We're trying so hard to be continuous and not have a lapse in episodes and social media," Kate explains, capturing their commitment to consistency despite the learning curve. Listeners will appreciate these glimpses into the creative process, including the technical hiccups that happen in a makeshift "pod loft" complete with a noisy mini-fridge that occasionally disrupts recordings.

Through a series of rapid-fire questions, the hosts reveal personal insights that regular listeners will treasure. From debating their favorite historical figures (Elizabeth Bathory and Annie Oakley make surprising appearances on their "drink buddy" list) to mutual agreement that baby thief Georgia Tann earns the title of most despicable historical character they've covered, Kate and Bradley's chemistry shines. Their hypothetical artifacts to steal? Starry Night for personal enjoyment and King Tut's headpiece for profit – choices that reflect their distinct personalities.

The episode closes with exciting announcements about upcoming shows featuring their first-ever guests, deep dives into Rasputin and the mysterious Dyatlov Pass incident, and new platforms including Pinterest boards with episode sources. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the buffoonery, this behind-the-scenes look showcases the authentic passion driving this growing historical podcast. Have beer suggestions, historical topics, or favorite idioms? The hosts are eager to hear from you – because at History Buffoons, the conversation never stops.

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.

Fear and opportunism collide in this fascinating dive into one of history's strangest mass panics. When scientists discovered cyanogen gas in Halley's Comet's tail before its 1910 arrival, what should have been a minor scientific footnote exploded into worldwide hysteria. We explore how a single French astronomer's speculative comment about the gas potentially "snuffing out all life on Earth" sparked terror across continents.

The resulting panic is both hilarious and sobering. People frantically "comet-proofed" their homes by stuffing rags in window cracks, wearing wet towels as makeshift gas masks, and retreating to basements. Churches overflowed with terrified worshippers praying for salvation as Earth passed through the comet's tail. Meanwhile, opportunists saw dollar signs, creating an entire industry of bogus protective products almost overnight.

We unpack the wild array of scams that flourished: "anti-comet pills" (basically sugar tablets), colored water "elixirs," special umbrellas supposedly designed to protect from cosmic debris, and even comet insurance policies. Some bartenders brilliantly claimed alcohol would neutralize the comet's poison – perhaps history's most creative excuse for a drinking spree! Without strong consumer protection laws and with communication systems that took weeks to spread accurate information, these fraudsters made fortunes before anyone could stop them.

What makes this story so compelling is how it illuminates timeless aspects of human nature. The speed at which fear spread, the media's role in amplifying misinformation, and our vulnerability to snake oil salespeople feels eerily familiar more than a century later. When Halley's Comet finally passed by with no effect beyond a spectacular light show, the world collectively exhaled – and quietly tucked away their useless anti-comet products.

Join us for this cosmic journey through panic, pseudoscience, and profiteering that proves some aspects of humanity never change – even as we gaze at the stars. Have you encountered modern versions of these astronomical scams? Share your thoughts with us on social media or email us at historybuffoonspodcast@gmail.com!

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.