Tag: American history

  • Timely History: Typhoid Mary

    Mary Mallon was born in September of 1869 in Cookstown in what is now Northern Ireland. She immigrated to the United States in 1883 or so. In 1900, she found her calling as a cook for wealthy families in the New York City.   Why should you care about this woman? Because as COVID-19 runs rampant…

  • Tiger King (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Tiger King: It’s like white trash did a massive amount of meth and then had a baby. Then the baby did meth.  Quick synopsis: Chronicles the ups and downs of owning tigers and running a zoo. I am so underplaying this whole thing. It’s so bonkers.   Fun Fact Non-History People Will…

  • Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story: Age old story of a beautiful actress who gets bored and invents something.  Quick synopsis: The life of Hedy Lamarr, actress, producer, and inventor it turns out.  Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: She sued because the name of the woman in Blazing Saddles was named…

  • Abducted in Plain Sight (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Abducted in Plain Sight: WHAT THE EVERLOVING F—?! Quick synopsis: Jan Broberg was sexually molested by a family friend. You will meet her and a string of some of the dumbest human beings you have ever seen. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: She was kidnapped more than once. By the…

  • The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Road to Jonestown: Drink this Kool-Aid! The book I mean. Quick synopsis: The story of Jim Jones from his childhood to Jonestown and the mass suicide of over 900 people. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid,” as a saying is because of this story. 900 people…

  • Togo (Disney+)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Togo: I’m not crying. You’re crying. Shut up. Quick synopsis: The story of Togo, the most important lead sled dog in the Nome 1925 Serum Run. It became what we know today as the Iditarod. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: You probably heard of the Iditarod and a dog named…

  • The Big Burn by Timothy Egan

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Big Burn: Well I’m certainly going to be nice to Forest Rangers after reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the “Big Burn,” the largest forest fire in American history and Teddy Roosevelt’s efforts to create and protect national forests. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Camp Fire of…

  • Dodge City by Tom Clavin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dodge City: Came for the Wild West. Stayed for the ridiculous nicknames. Quick synopsis: Part biography of Dodge City and what it was like in the time of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Part biography of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Also, part random cowboy stories which are almost completely tangential…

  • Be Free or Die by Cate Lineberry

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Be Free or Die: How is this not a movie yet?! Quick synopsis: A recounting of the life of Robert Smalls, Union hero during the Civil War. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Robert Smalls stole a Confederate ship and sailed it out to the waiting Union blockade right under the…