I Can't Believe That Happened History Podcast for Kids

I cheated a little bit since Tom Thumb was a member of the tour and P.T. Barnum's American Museum but was not apart of an actual circus. Please forgive I could not resist doing an episode on Charles Stratton (General Tom Thumb). If you happen to have seen The Greatest Showman (As I have a dozen times) you might remember him. While I LOVE the movie the true story of General Tom Thumb is even more fantastical. Please tune in and hear about Tom's audience with the Queen and his play battle with her spaniel.

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How did circuses begin? How did people decide to start flying through the air and swinging from the top of circus tents? Who started what we think of as a circus? Take a listen to our bite size history podcast fro kids and curious adults.

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Helen Keller

You might have heard her name before. I am relatively certain you have but I am guessing that you heard about her in the same way I was taught about Helen Keller, almost as an accessory to her teacher’s story. I am so excited to get to introduce all of you to a woman that until I began researching I only knew as a brave disabled woman who inspired by her willingness to learn. There is so much more!

Helen was born in 1880 in Alabama a very healthy little girl who even started speaking at six months old. When she was just under two years old an illness left her blind and deaf. The illness has not been identified except to call it brain fever.

Helen, against the popular idea that she lived in complete isolation, had a friend and brothers and sisters. She and the daughter of the family cook, Martha Washington, were playmates who developed a type of sign language when she was seven years old. The invented a language with around sixty signs.

It was not ideal though and Helen had become very difficult to be around. She would throw epic temper tantrums kicking, yelling, and raging. Many of the family’s friends and acquaintances believed that Helen should be placed in an institution for her and the family’s own good. Helen’s mother came across an article written by none other than Charles Dickens (we will have an episode on him I promise and near the Holidays please look up Neil Gaiman reading a Christmas Carol). The article mentioned a teacher by the name of who had had success teaching another deaf and blind child, Laura Bridgman. This here becomes a who is who of the time. Helen was referred to Alexander Graham Bell who was working with deaf children at the the time (yes, the inventor of the telephone). I promise you there will be much name dropping in this episode. Helen became great friends with many people you might recognize.

At the Perkins Institute for the Blind the director felt that one of the most recent graduates would be best for Helen, Anne Sullivan began her 49-year relationship as mentor and teacher to Hellen. The first word that Anne taught Helen to fingerspell was ‘doll’ so that Helen could understand the gift Anne brought her (Please check out the show notes for the attached fingerspelling chart and try to spell words out with your friends).

This was not an easy process, remember Helen was known for her wild tantrums. Anne insisted that she and Helen go somewhere isolated from others so that there could be complete focus and Anne could teach Helen finger spelling by making the shapes of the letters on Helen’s palm. This worked. Helen learned 30 words that day.

So most of this you probably knew or at least had an idea of but here is what you might not be aware of. Her temper showed her to be willful but willful means tenacious. She did not give up easily even when the struggle was long and hard. It took Helen twenty-five years to teach herself to speak so that others could understand her.

Helen had earned a reputation and had become somewhat famous. When she decided to attend college she became friends with a writer named Mark Twain (he wrote Huck Finn). A very wealthy oil executive was so moved by Helen that he agreed to pay for her entire education at Radcliff College where Helen attended with Anne by her side to interpret the lessons. Helen even wrote her autobiography called The Story of My Life with the help of John Macy )who would later marry Anne.

Helen, after college, became a very involved social activist. She gave lectures all over the East coast and worked tirelessly for those who were also disabled. Helen worked hard for women’s rights, women's suffrage, labor rights, socialism and pacifism (which means a nonviolent solution to every problem). Helen even testified before Congress for the welfare of blind people in the United States. In 1915 she worked with city planner George Kessler to create Helen Keller International. 1920 Helen helped found the ACLU.

During Helen’s formative years the press had been supportive and kind to her until her political beliefs wavered from the center line. Helen became attracted to socialism as a way for every American to have a level and fair ability to access food, education, housing, and healthcare. She became a member of  A member of the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World

This was a time of the railroad and cotton barons who enjoyed tremendous wealth and her views on this system where states in the press to be from “mistakes sprung out of the manifest limitations of her development.”The Brooklyn Eagle.  In other words, she was mistaken because she was blind though no one had made this claim before. Her response to the paper was, “At that time the compliments he paid me were so generous that I blush to remember them. But now that I have come out for socialism he reminds me and the public that I am blind and deaf and especially liable to error. I must have shrunk in intelligence during the years since I met him. ... Oh, ridiculous Brooklyn Eagle! Socially blind and deaf, it defends an intolerable system, a system that is the cause of much of the physical blindness and deafness which we are trying to prevent.”

Even though her views were thought to be so radical the Rockefeller owned press refused to print her articles she decided to fight for what she felt was right and publicly protested until the newspaper backed down and printed her articles.

Even into her old age, Helen continued to advocate for others. In 1946 she worked for American Foundation of Overseas Blind. For them, she traveled to 35 countries from 1946-1957. At 75 she did a 40,000 mile trip in Asia. During her life, she met every U.S. President from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon B. Johnson

I hope you see why Helen Keller is so important. She was more than an inspiring story and more than a student. She was handed a path in her life that many would have been just happy to have survived but with help and with her determination she lived a full life of travel, friends, and accomplishments that shaped the lives of everyone around her.

If you can head over to the website to see images of Helen Keller, her teachers, some more of her very famous friends (Charlie Chaplin),  and take a look at how to do fingerspelling. My cousins and I spent an entire summer driving our parents nuts talking only in fingerspelling.

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There are some people who cannot abide cruelty or injustice in the world and will do literally anything to mange things right. At a time when women were struggling for basic rights Nellie Bly took her power which was her writing and journalism to take on institutions that housed those who were not mentally well.

“That such an institution could be mismanaged, and that cruelties could exist ‘neath its roof, I did not deem possible. I always had a desire to know asylum life more thoroughly–a desire to be convinced that the most helpless of God’s creatures, the insane, were cared for kindly and properly”

Excerpt From

The Collected Works of Nellie Bly (Annotated)

Nellie Bly

She was a writer at The New York World in 1887 and decided to have herself committed to Blackwell Island asylum so she, the 23 year old put on a disguise and called herself Nellie Moreno and pretended to be an immigrant. Nellie was one of the first to go undercover at the asylum so she could give a voice to those who did not have one. The article she wrote about her first hand experience printed as Behind Asylum Bars but more commonly known as called Ten Days in a Madhouse. It was tremendously popular and Nellie was released thanks to the newspaper attorney.

Based on her work the committee of appropriations provided 1 million dollars more to those with mental impairments in the 1880s.

After a month she returned to Blackwell with a Grand Jury panel. Much of what she saw that was awful had been corrected thanks to her shining a light on injustice. Food and sanitation had been made better and the meanest of the workers had been sent away.

I could do an entire season on Nellie and she will show up again for her jaunt around the world in 80 days but this story of a person who did not have the right to even vote or do much of anything without a guardians signature changed an entire institution with her bravery and her words.

Nellie lived from 1864 until 1922 and made her time her full of adventure and causes. Just reading her story has made my world feel a little brighter and more possible.

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Welcome to this weeks I Can't Believe that Happened your history podcast for kids or curious grownups so I thought that we would start today with the more unusual circus act and unusual is just because it wasn't traditionally what you would think of when you're thinking of a circus act there were no elephants but that that doesn't make this woman any less impressive her name was Annie Oakley and she was born in 1860 and things did not start out easy for her.

Annie was born in Ohio and her father died when she was really young and she sent off to a farm when she with ten. Annie was treated really badly by the people who are taking care of her and she ran away and found her mother so she supported her family by going out and hunting and shooting game in the woods and selling the meat to a shopkeeper and she was an amazing shot. She was fantastic with a gun and her skills actually paid off the mortgage on her mother's house and she would enter shooting matches and toured as a champion.

This is part of her story is problematic for me I have I have a teenager and I have children. Annie went into a match and shot against a champion name Butler and At 15 she beat him in the competition and he fell in love with her and they got married the next year. I was struggling on whether I should include that part of this or not but it is part of history and that is what happened I don't feel terribly comfortable with that part of her story but history very rarely makes me comfortable.

Around 1882 is when Annie took the name Oakley and she join the vaudeville circuit which was known to be kind of a very low brow sort of entertainment but she really distinguished herself because she insisted on wearing more conservative costumes and at what are the events in St. Paul Minnesota and 1884 she attracted the attention of Sitting Bull who gave her the name t I am so sorry I am horrible pronunciation but translates to little sure shot and she rose through the show business ranks and joined the Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Circus and 1885 where she stayed for 17 years.

We think of circus is as kind like a cool thing this show was so important and so exciting and it helped her become an absolute legend but she was also I will see you the whole United States and the world Annie Oakley with the Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show with even taken to London in 1887 where she got to meet Queen Victoria who called her "a very clever a little girl." and she absolutely was the British invasion in reverse. Annie Oakley was all over the British papers.

Annie did leave the Wild West show for a few years because she had a real issue with a fellow sharpshooter at Lilian Smith and things got so bad that Oakley departed and left the show at the end of the London engagement and she returned to the stage and she also toured with a different wild West show. When Smith left the Buffalo Bill's show Annie rejoined them for another three-year tour of Europe that began in 1889 at the Paris Exposition.

You might remember at the beginning of this that Annie Oakley began life incredibly poor and had a very difficult childhood and she was known for being so against spending money that she would actually siphon off lemonade and carry it back to her own tent. She's known for saying things like" I've made a good deal of money and my time but I never believed in wasting a dollar of it." She was an incredible person for giving to charities they gave money to orphans and she was really fantastic she did earn more money than any performer in the show except for Cody.

Annie Oakley was actually known for doing things like shooting the cigarette out of her partner's mouth she is unparalleled in her marksmanship definitely worth a look over and amazing person.

Sometimes you might hear things about the newspapers and telling stories got it back in the early 1900s there was very little that stopped news reporters from saying whatever they really wanted to and I'm sure that's gonna be another episode to you because there's a lot of talk about that now. In 1910 a very famous newspaperman called William Randolph Hearst published a fake article claiming that she was in jail for stealing. This hurt Annie tremendously because her highest ambition was to be considered a lady and she did file a lawsuit against the newspaper for liable.

In 1913 she decides to retire and with her husband Butler that the man she had been married to for a very long time and they set up in Maryland and North Carolina. She would give hunting and shooting lessons to other women and performed at charity events. Entering into World War I Annie offered to raise up a group of amazing female sharpshooters but the government ignored her so instead she raise money for the Red Cross and by giving shooting demonstrations at army camps and all around the country. Annie died November 3, 1926, and I and her husband who she's been married to for 50 years passed away 18 days later.

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Podcast for kids Perfect for Homeschool learn all about the history of the circus and one of the most famous lion tamers in history, Clyde Beatty

Clyde Beatty was born in 1903 in Bainbridge Ohio. He was so inspired after seeing his first circus he decided to start his own when he was 9 using his own pets as acts and neighbors as an audience. When Clyde was 17 he decided to move on from his backyard to a real circus. He began his animal training career with four polar bears. In his 20 is he become the youngest animal trainer. Clyde is famous for wearing the Safari style outfit with a pith helmet and carrying a whip and a chair into the ring with wild cats. In some acts he would have lions, tigers, cougars, and hyenas in the same act. Clyde appeared on television and radio crossing over from big top fame to silver screen notoriety. Clyde married an aerialist named Harriet Evans who trained by Clyde became an animal trainer for the circus as well. He was also famous for saying that big cats can only- be trained never tamed!

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Hello everyone and welcome to this week's I Can't Believe That Happened. Last week we wrapped up the history of dogs segment and if you haven't listened please go to Itunes and take a listen especially about the WWI pit bull hero Sgt. Stubby who saved his unit. I am sure I will do another segment on dogs. Please leave comments if you have a topic you would like me to cover. This month I have been really starting to feel like Summer is here and when I think about Summer I think carnivals and circuses. So until I start to get fussy we are going to be learning all about the histories of circuses and carnivals. Make sure you let your more wild friends know that the next episode will be.....lion tamers!  

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Royal Dogs

Dogs have long been popular in Royal households even when they were not hunters or protector dogs have had a special place in royal homes. Here are the top 5 things you didn't know about Royal Dogs from history.'

I. In 1715 the Duchess d' Orleans reported
to a friend that her grandson the Duc de Charles was placed in a miniature triumphal car pulled by a large cat. A pigeon was a coachman and a favorite dog named Adrienne was seated with another dog named Picart was footman who was so well trained that Picart would let down the steps when it was time to get out of the carriage. On his off moments, Picart was often saddled to play horse for the royal dolls.
2. Dogs in Royal Houses often had jobs
In ancient China pugs were taught to hold candelas in their mouth to light the path, Poodles at Versailles were stylists who would hold a ladies train to keep it from getting dirty. You can see how important dogs were as best friends and entertainment of the royal children but did you know they saved lines? King Edward Vl was saved in. 1549 when his barking foiled a kidnapping plan.
3. Dog collars fit for the most discerning
of canines. In first Century AD, top dogs could expect intricate silver collars.
In the Renaissance, a royal hunter could look for a bejeweled collar while dogs meant for lap or sofa did not need anything but ornamentation. Louis Xl of France gave his greyhound, Choami a collar of scarlet velvet with 20 pearls and 11 rubies.
The Nawab of Junagadh Mahabat Khan Rasul Khan might be the most lavish for his good dogs, there were 150 of them. For his favorites, he gave diamond collars for their formal oil portraits. It pays to be a good dog.
4. Some dogs were able to help the staff
Mao Shih Tzu the dogs were fitted with collars covered in bells. Since the dogs were with the emperor the servants always knew where he was.
5. Not sure how to feel about this but
for a time dog earrings were all the rage. From the Medici s 1573-1627) to Spain
the trend remained until the late 18th century

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Buy Sgt. Stubby Notebook Royal Dogs: Penelope & Beatrice

Sgt Stubby (Now a movie: Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero)

  1917 Private J. Robert Conroy found a brindle pup with a stubby tail which becomes the dog's name.

Stubby started his military career as the mascot for the 102nd Infantry 26 the Yankee Division.

Stubby was a quick study learning bugle calls, drills, and even found his own way to salute putting his right paw on his right eyebrow.

Even though animals were not allowed Private Conroy hid Stubby when they went to France on the SS. Minnesota. Like many things hidden Stubby was found and brought before the commanding officer where stubby promptly gave the Commanding officer the salute that would allow him to stay.

In February 1918  Stubby accompanied his troop to the front lines where Stubby suffered his first war injury: a poison gas attack. This is when Stubby not only survived but got his almost superpower of smelling even the tiniest bit of gas (ok. go ahead and giggle but this gets really good)

Early in the morning when everyone was sleeping there was a gas attack. Stubby raised the alarm saving many.

Stubby became a rescuer able to find wounded men by listening for English and bark until paramedics cane.

Stubby even captured a German spy. This raised the pup to the rank of Sergeant, the first dog to attain rank in the Us. Military.

After being wounded in a grenade attack Sgt. Stubby spent his time visiting other wounded military at the field hospital.

When the war was over stubby had been in 17 battles.

His retirement was no less impressive: he led the American troops in a review parade, visiting the White House meeting Woodrow Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge.

Stubby was decorated by General John Pershing the Commanding General of the United States Armies.

Stubby followed his dear friend J. Robert Conroy to his studies in law at Georgetown University where Stubby become their mascot.

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Hello everyone and thank you so much for tuning in to this week I Can't Believe That Happened a podcast about history for kids. Today we are talking all about the crazy history of pugs from the Chinese Empire To Queen Victoria.

 Pugs originated in China, dating back to the Han dynasty (B.C. 206 to A.D. 200). Some historians believe they are related to the Tibetan Mastiff. If you squint you can almost see it. These fuzzy friendly loaf of bread shaped pups were prized by the Emperors of China and lived in luxury accommodations, sometimes even being guarded by soldiers.

Pugs became favorites of royal households throughout Europe. In Holland, the Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange after a Pug, Pompey, reportedly saved the life of William, Prince of Orange, by warning him that the Spaniards were approaching in 1572. When William of Orange (later called William III) went to England in 1688 with his wife, Mary II, to take the throne from James II, they of course took their Pugs with them
 

via GIPHY

Marie Antoinette had a Pug named Mops before she married Louis XVI at the age of 15. When she came to France she did have to let Mops go back with her ladies though there is a lovely rumor that the two were eventually reunited. Marie Antoinette was famous for her love of dogs and kept many around her.

Another famous Frenchwoman, Josephine Bonaparte, had a Pug named Fortune. Before she married Napoleon Bonaparte, she was confined at Les Carmes prison. Fortune being the lone visitor would take messages out for her hidden in Fortune's collar. Fortune was not the largest fan of Napolean, biting him on the leg on his wedding day to Josephine. See how innocent they can look?
 

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Thanks to their increased popularity in the Victorian era, Queen Victoria was very fond of the breed, they became very pampered and popular in Victorian households. They were often painted, used in advertising, and placed on postcards. It became fashionable for their collars to bejeweled and/or a satin or silk bow. I think the unicorn hoodie is cuter. See, now don't you JUST HAVE TO HAVE those sunglasses?
 

via GIPHY

Royal Dogs: Penelope & Beatrice

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