1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

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THE WAR OF THE WORLDS RADIO BROADCAST: OCT 30, 1938- THE BACK STORY PLUS CLIPS FROM THE RADIO BROADCAST Jan 11, 2026

Show notes

( Audio Clips included) The story of the Orson Welles radio broadcast called 'The War Of The Wprlds' that sent a portion of the NY/NJ area into a panic on Oct. 30, 1938.. Really GOOD radio entertainment! Unplug that TV! Join us for theater of the mind as we share clips from the show.

Catch our new 'Found in the Footnotes' THE WAR OF THE WORLDS-THE CHAOS AND THE CON (6 minutes) For ADDED insight!

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For my narration of the original HG Wells link here:

https://www.bestof1001stories.com/show/1001-stories-for-the-road/the-war-of-the-worlds-book-1-chaps-1-2-by-hg-wells/

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FARMERS BATTLE ALIENS IN NEW JERSEY Jan 11, 2026

Show notes

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 decades, we've been told that millions of Americans took to the streets in a blind panic, convinced an alien invasion was real. But here is the first thing you probably didn't know: The "mass hysteria" was largely a myth created by newspapers.

Why would newspapers lie? At the time, radio was a brand-new medium that was stealing all the advertising revenue from traditional print. The morning after the broadcast, newspapers saw a golden opportunity to discredit their rival.They ran sensational headlines about "Radio's Death Scare" to prove that radio was "irresponsible" and needed more regulation. In reality, most people were listening to Chase and Sanborn Hour on another station—the most popular show at the time. Ratings data later showed that only about 2% of the radio audience was even tuned into Orson Welles. Most of the country was actually laughing at ventriloquist Edgar Bergen while the Martians were supposedly "landing."

If you weren't there, it's hard to understand why anyone believed it. But Orson Welles was a genius of sound. He didn't just tell a story; he mimicked the exact "dead air" and technical glitches of a real news broadcast. One detail you might not know: Welles and his team, the Mercury Theatre on the Air, almost got bored during rehearsals because the script felt too "silly." To fix it, they decided to stretch the first two-thirds of the show into a series of increasingly frantic news flashes. They even used a real-life catastrophe—the Hindenburg disaster—as a template for the actor's performance. If the reporter sounded terrified, it's because he was acting out the most famous real-life tragedy of that decade.

After the show, Welles was brought before a room of furious reporters. He looked shell-shocked, apologizing profusely and claiming he never intended to cause fear. But here's the twist: People who knew Welles personally said he was secretly thrilled. He knew this "scandal" would make him the most famous man in America. And he was right. The notoriety from that single night is exactly what landed him a "blank check" contract in Hollywood, allowing him to make Citizen Kane just a few years later. The "War of the Worlds" wasn't just a radio play; it was the ultimate audition for his career.

The Lesson of Grover's Mill So, why does the legend of the panic persist? Because we want it to be true. It's a story about the power of media and our own gullibility. Even today, the backstory of the broadcast reminds us that the line between "fake news" and "entertainment" has been blurry from the very beginning. The next time you hear a "breaking news" alert, just remember Orson Welles and the night he convinced a tiny, terrified fraction of the country that New Jersey was under Martian rule.

NINE MEN'S MISERY KING PHILIP'S WAR REMEMBERED (1675-1676) Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

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 fought war, with atrocities committed on both sides- and a war that forever planted the idea of Indians as being "savage" beings in the minds of all who came to the New World to start a new life.

RABBIT RABBIT Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

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 daughters had a habit of saying "Rabbits!" as their first word on the first of the month to bring luck.

Early 20th Century Folklore: By the 1920s and 30s, the tradition was well-established in British and North American folklore. It was often framed as a child's ritual, sometimes involving shouting the words up a chimney or saying them before morning prayers to receive a present by the end of the month.

Famous Adopters and Popular Culture President Franklin D. Roosevelt: FDR was a famous practitioner of the habit. In 1935, a newspaper reported that he confessed to saying "Rabbits" every first of the month and wouldn't dream of skipping it. He was also known to carry a lucky rabbit's foot.

World War II: During the war, RAF bomber crews reportedly said "white rabbits" upon waking each day as a protective charm.

Nickelodeon (1990s): The tradition saw a resurgence in the U.S. when Nickelodeon promoted the last day of every month as "Rabbit Rabbit Day," reminding kids to say the phrase the following morning.

Symbolic Roots The choice of the rabbit is likely linked to the animal's ancient association with fertility, abundance, and spring. In Celtic mythology, rabbits were believed to communicate with the spirit world because they lived underground.

Common Rules & Variations:

The "First Word" Rule: To "work," it must be the very first thing you say upon waking—before you even speak to a partner or pet.

The "Tibbar" Fix: If you forget and speak before saying it, some folklore suggests you can reverse the bad luck by saying "Tibbar, Tibbar" (rabbit spelled backward) before you go to sleep that night.

Regional Variations: In the UK, "White Rabbits" is more common, while "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" is frequently used in the U.S

ANDY JACKSON'S PET PARROT or THE AMAZING THINGS PARROTS (AND KIDS) WILL REPEAT) Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

BRAND NEW FOR 2026- FOUND IN THE FOOTNOTES- AMAZING HISTORY TOLD IN 5 TO 10 MINUTE SOUNDBITES- Right Here Every Wednesday at 4pm ET...and sometimes on Fridays at 4pm)

The natural outcome of 10 years of researching stories for 1001 Heroes podcast ( now 680 episodes)- 'Found In he Footnotes" is my new collection of amazing stories delivered in 5-10 minute soundbites

If you like it- sed us a review and share with your friends! Tell 'em to tune in to 1001 Heroes Podcast vey Wedsday at 4pm ET- Thanks!

WE HAD IT ALL- REMEMBERING BOGART & BACALL Dec 28, 2025

Show notes

Betty Joan Perske was 18 years old when she met 44 year-old screen star Humphrey Bogart on the sound stage of 'To Have and Have Not' at Warner Studios in Burbank, California, in 1942. Her picture had landed on the cover of a fashion magazine called Harpers which came in the mail to Warner film director Howard Hawks home- where his wife Slim picked it up and mentioned "You know what Howard, this might be the girl you're looking for for that movie". She was sent a letter and a train ticket to Hollywood, got a chance, worked for it, and was chosen as the leading lady in his upcoming movie, which turned out to be a smash hit. She became known to the world as Lauren Bacall- and she married Humphrey Bogart, enjoying one of Hollywood's truest marriages for 12 years until his early death. This is their story.

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BOB HOPE CHRISTMAS SHOWS WWII TO VIETNAM Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Bob Hope recalls three decades of Christmas Shows that he and his traveling troupe performed for our military beginning with an island in the Pacific and then his stops in 1972 in Vietnam, Guam, Korea, Thailand, Diego Garcia and Singapore. Lots of one liners and memories included.

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ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE : THE BACKSTORY & THE MESSAGE~ FEATURING OUR INTERVIEW W/ KAROLYN GRIMES WILKERSON (ZUZU BAILEY) Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

"Its A Wonderful Life: The Movie Backstory & Message: The backstory to Frank Capra's film masterpiece "It's a Wonderful Life" featuring an exclusive interview with Karolyn Grimes Wilkerson, who played Zuzu Bailey in the film, and ended the movie with the memorable line : "Look, Daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." Karolyn, whose acting career placed her on screen with Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Stewart, and Donna Reed, to name a few, experienced multiple family tragedies that ended her career at an early age, but brings an inspiring message about the movie and life. Music: Ross Bugden

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NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION: HOW ONE OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE CHRISTMAS COMEDIES WAS MADE (+ BLOOPERS) Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

It was the third "Vacation" comedy featuring the Griswald family- Clark. Ellen,Rusty and Audrey- and all Clark wanted to have a simple old-fashioned Christmas with family. His plan: to heavily decorate the house and roof with lights, Santa and reindeer, and to enjoy a simple Christmas dinner before celebrating the real meaning of Christmas. Instead he got uninvited family with their huge slobbering Rottweiler, an uninvited wild squirrel, electrical problems, big sewage problems, fire, and a SWAT team. Halleluyah!

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New! True Crime From Another Time

1001 Stories From The Old West: Narrated History and Old West Radio shows

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries: Your password to authentic history

1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales: Over 500 great short stories from classic authors

1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Arthur Conan Doyle: Great mysteries!

1001 Stories From The Gilded Age: Mostly classic women authors-fantastic stories!

1001 Radio Days: Old time radio mostly cop/detective, some sci-fi and drama

1001 Radio Crime Solvers: Vintage cop/detective radio

1001 Stories For The Road: Classic narrated adventure novels and mysteries

1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories: Narrated and radio drama

1001 History's Best Storytellers: (Author Interviews): Over 90 1001 interviews

1001 Best of Jack London: Over 100 terrific Jack London Stories

CHRISTMAS IN APPALACHIA: SUPERSTITIONS, WIVE'S TALES, AND SHARED MEMORIES Dec 14, 2025

Show notes

America's Appalachain Mountain Range holds on to some of the oldest traditions and beliefs in our country and we share them here,along with celebrity meories of growing up poor in many of those mountain communities. You'll hear memories shared by Brad Paisley, Steve Harvey. Luke Combs, Earl Hamner, Loretta Lynn, and other celebrities who discoverd the real meaning of Christmas the hard way- when sometimes the best gift they received other than love and family was an orange.

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