Week Three of the P.T. Barnum saga. This week we talk about Barnum's attempts to rehabilitate his relationship with his family and his reputation with the world.

Though it seems like he did some real work on his marriage it seems like his reputation as a dishonest humbug man would be set in stone.

We talk about the real relationship between him and Jenny Lind "The Swedish Nightingale" and Barnum's failed attempt to rebrand himself as a purveyor of high brow entertainment.

Then we get into Barnum as an investor with a spotty track record and a shady real-estate deal that would eventually lead to his complete bankruptcy.

Eventually Barnum drags himself back out of debt and tries his hand at Politics becoming a representative to the Connecticut State Legislature. Serving for two terms, promoting his abolitionist and temperance beliefs.

Then his life is riddled with fires from the destruction of Iranistan to the American Museum Burning down twice within a couple years.

Barnum would never own a major museum again but this may have given him the push to create his famous circus which we will talk about next week.

Enjoy!

Sources:

“Barnum: An American Life” by Robert Wilson(2020)

“Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, PT Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison” By Michael Daly(2013)

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Week two of The P. T. Barnum Story and we get into some more racist shenanigans. We talk about more of Barnum's early acts and the use of blackface in his shows.

Then we get into the purchasing of The American Museum and some of the wild exhibits Barnum Put into it. Including one of Barnum's most famous living wonders "General Tom Thumb".

We talk about how Barnum met 5 year old Charles S. Stratton and worked with the boy to create the character of Tom Thumb. Tom Thumb quickly becomes one of Barnum's most successful acts eventually touring with him around England and Europe performing for nobles and Royalty including Queen Victoria.

We will also talk about Barnum's strained relationship with his wife Charity and his inability to just be home with his family.

And we will finish the episode with the construction of a massive home and estate that Barnum called "Iranastan"

Hope you enjoy!

(Photos for the episode will be on our Instagram and our website time codes below.)

Sources:

“Barnum: An American Life” by Robert Wilson(2020)

“Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, PT Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison” By Michael Daly(2013)

Photos:

Pic 1- The American Museum (36:45)

Pic 2- Fiji Mermaid (41:40)

Pic 3+4- Tom Thumb +Barnum (49:10)

Pic 5- Tom Thumb as Napoleon (54:55)

Pic 6+7- Tom Thumb's Carriage (1:15:34)

Pic 8, 9, 10- Iranastan (1:26:18)

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This week we are beginning the story of P.T. Barnum aka "The Greatest Showman". He was a showman, museum owner, international celebrity, Politician, and of course co-owner of the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

There is so much to get into in this story he was both a Con artist and a beloved entertainer, he maybe owned a slave woman for a short time but also became a big advocate for the abolitionist movement. He was a naturalist but also led to the deaths of SOOOO many elephants.

We will talk about his childhood and his wily grandfather who loved playing practical jokes including one particularly cruel joke played on Young PT Barnum that lasted for over 10 years. Then we get into some of Barnum's early schemes, hoaxes, and humbugs.

Then we will finish the episode with a very old blind slave woman named Joyce Heth who became Barnum's first major exhibition.

So much to get into and we hope you enjoy it!

Sources:

“Barnum: An American Life” by Robert Wilson(2020)

“Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, PT Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison” By Michael Daly(2013)

Send us a text! Let us know what topics you want us to cover!

Hey Yall We are doing another silly Movie Night Mess around for the week of thanksgiving. This episode we are going ALLLL the way back to the beginning with the Dupont Teflon Scandal with a movie called Dark Waters.

Dark Waters was actually a pretty good movie and very informative and relatively accurate to life so its definitely worth a watch, If you want to be in on all our nonsense check it out.

We had some fun with this one hope you Enjoy!

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This week we wrap up the story of Aimee McPherson and the Four Square Church. She's not going to jail, and now shes back in the church and shes ready to spend more money.

Aimee continues to build her congregation as well as build her own castle, while also remarrying and traveling the world on tour. This episode is full of financial issues, fistfights, and facials! Get into it!

Sources: Sister, Sinner The Miraculous, Scandalous Story of Aimee Semple McPherson by Claire Hoffman

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In the fourth installment of the Aimee Semple McPherson story we get into Aimee's harrowing story of how she spent her 33 days after everyone thought she had drown. How she wandered into a small town in Mexico, either from a kidnappers shack or perhaps from a car that had just driven around in circles a bit.

We discuss the court case that almost didn't happen, and all the indictments that followed. And how Aimee's insistence on being a martyr led to her being entangled in the most expensive court proceedings in California all the way up to Charles Manson.

Sources: Sister, Sinner The Miraculous, Scandalous Story of Aimee Semple McPherson by Claire Hoffman

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Tonight is part three of the Aimee Semple McPherson saga, where we get into her return from her 33 day disappearance. We detail her story about being kidnapped and ending up in Mexico, and all the other witnesses that tell a difference story. Lots of people accuse her of lying, and even more accuse her of having thick ankles!

Then we get into the the grand jury testimonies and the court process of it all!

Next week we will wrap up her story!

Sources: Sister, Sinner The Miraculous, Scandalous Story of Aimee Semple McPherson by Claire Hoffman

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This week we continue talking about Aimee Semple McPherson. We get into her journey to Los Angeles to fulfill her celebrity preacher destiny, the building of the Angelus Temple which still stands today, and her establishing her style as a preacher with style, scenery, and sometimes camels on stage!

And we finally get into the day she walked into the sea and disappeared for over 30 days.

Sources: Sister, Sinner The Miraculous, Scandalous Story of Aimee Semple McPherson by Claire Hoffman

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