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Powerpoint Presentation
Cheryl A. Pula
57 New Hartford Street
New York Mills, NY 13417-1503
Cell: 219 308-0586
E-mail: michigangrad76@yahoo.com
Website: www.8thmilitary.com
I do not charge a fee, but donations are gratefully accepted! I provide my own equipment (laptop, projector, extension cords, etc.) except for a screen. If you do not have one, a plain, blank wall is fine (preferably white or light color). Each program is tailored to 45-60 minutes, but can be shortened a little if necessary.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Battle of Oriskany
The pivotal battle fought near present day Rome (Fort Stanwix) and Oriskany, it proved to be a turning point in the American Revolution.
Hudson River Campaign
In 1777, the British campaign in the Hudson River Valley was an element of their plan to take Upstate New York and cut off New England from the Southern colonies.
Midnight Ride: Paul Revere and the Beginning of the American Revolution
We all know Paul Revere rode from Boston to Concord to warn ‘the British
were coming.” But did he? Or was it someone else who made the ride?
Turning Point: The Battles of Saratoga
The Revolutionary War could have been won or lost in New York. One of the
pivotal battles was Saratoga, actually two battles, and not really fought in
Saratoga.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad in Oneida and Herkimer Counties
Prior to and during the Civil War, Oneida and Herkimer counties were recognized
throughout the country as the most important areas for the abolitionist movement
to emancipate the slaves, and several towns served as stops on the Underground
Railroad.
Bayonet!: The 20th Maine at Little Round Top
On July 2, 1863, a small regiment of soldiers from Maine stood on the end of the
Federal line at Gettysburg. Along with three other regiments, it managed to save
Little Round Top.
Civil War Battlefields, 1859 - 1861
Take a tour of modern vistas from Civil War battlefields and learn the events that
occurred at them.
Field of Fire: The 146th New York in the Wilderness
Known as the 5th Oneida County Regiment, the 146th New York Volunteers was
raised in Oneida County, and was practically annihilated at the Battle of the
Wilderness. Learn the history of these local Boys in Blue.
For the Support and Vindication of our National Flag: The 26th New York Volunteers
This is the story of the Second Oneida County regiment, and their role in the war.
Joshua Chamberlain: American Hero
A college professor from Maine became one of the heroes of the Battle of
Gettysburg in his regiment’s defense of Little Round Top, July 2, 1863. He was
awarded the Medal of Honor.
Luminaries: Famous Oneida County Civil War Personalities
Oneida County boasted many very important people who influenced the Civil
War, including Henry Halleck, Lincoln’s Chief of Staff (Westernville); General
Daniel Butterfield, who wrote Taps (Utica), and politicians Horatio Seymour and
Roscoe Conkling among others.
Most Disastrous Day: The Life and Death of the Empire Battery
The story of the only Civil War artillery battery raised in Oneida County.
Only Honorable Marks: The 117th New York at Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was considered impregnable, guarding Wilmington, North Carolina,
the last open port in the South. The 117th New York (the Fourth Oneida County
Regiment), was the first Union regiment to scale the fort’s ramparts and was
instrumental in its eventual capture.
Singing Soldiers and Brass Bands: Civil War Music
Over 10,000 songs were written during the Civil War. Learn the histories of some
of them, and sing along with the music!
Sultana: The Mississippi’s Titanic
In April 1865, the greatest disaster in American maritime history occurred---no, it
was not the Titanic, but the steamship Sultana that exploded in the Mississippi
River.
Three Days at Gettysburg: July 1-3, 1863
It was the biggest and bloodiest battle ever fought in the Western hemisphere,
with over 51,000 casualties in just 2 ½ days.
Time to Try Men’s Souls: the 14th New York on the Peninsula
The 14th was the first regiment of troops raised in Oneida County to go off to the
war. This program highlights their contribution to McClellan’s Peninsula
Campaign.
To Make Georgia Howl: Sherman’s March to the Sea
Acknowledged as one of history’s great military campaigns, William Tecumseh
Sherman took his army “from Atlanta to the sea” and cut the Confederacy in half.
(Note: The presenter is General Sherman’s 7th cousin!!)
Ulysses S. Grant: Mr. Lincoln’s General
Grant was one of the most maligned and misunderstood figures of the war.
Contrary to popular belief, he was not a drunk, and penned the classic war
memoir which is still in print today. This program covers the years 1822-1868.
Ulysses S. Grant: President
This continues the program above, covering the years of Grant’s presidency
through his death in 1885.
Unvexed: Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign
In 1863, Ulysses S. Grant was tasked with capturing the last remaining
Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, thus cutting the Confederacy in
half. This is the story of his campaign to do that.
Women of the Civil War
Learn about some of the contributions women made to the war, including roles as
doctors, nurses, spies, and even combat soldiers!
You Stand Alone…Fight Like Hell!: The 97th New York at Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest of the war, and the 97th New York
Volunteers (the Third Oneida County Regiment) was instrumental in that battle.
This is their story.
MORE AMERICAN HISTORY
Above and Beyond: A History of the Medal of Honor
Established during the Civil War, the Medal of Honor (not the Congressional
Medal of Honor, officially just Medal of Honor) is awarded to service personnel
who have distinguished themselves above and beyond the call of duty in combat.
Learn the history of this decoration, the highest offered by the United States.
Bewitched: The Salem Witch Hysteria of 1692
New England was plunged into a nightmare in 1692 when several girls began to
accuse people of witchcraft. Many people were sent to the gallows based on their
testimony, and one man was pressed to death. How did this happen?
Big Nail: Cook, Peary and the Race to the Pole
Everyone knows Robert Peary was the first to reach the North Pole---or was he?
Dr. Frederick Cook claimed to have reached the pole a year earlier. Who was
first, Peary or Cook? Or did someone else beat them both to the Pole?
Bizarre History: All-American
Why didn’t George Washington have a presidential expense account? Who saved
Robert Todd Lincoln from being run over by a train? What animals did Teddy
Roosevelt have in the White House? What did Calvin Coolidge like to wear
instead of a hat? Who was “Lemonade Lucy?” Learn lots of interesting facts
about some of our most distinguished Americans.
Butch and Sundance: A Western Mystery
Immortalized in a 1968 movie, outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
were reported killed in a shootout with South American police in Bolivia. But
were they? Many witnesses say they saw one or both outlaws long after they
supposedly died.
Cahokia: Largest City of Ancient America
When London, England, was nothing but mud and thatch houses, Cahokia, the
largest city in the Americas, was thriving in what is now Illinois. But then, almost
overnight, the city and its inhabitants disappeared. Where did they go?
Empire State: The Making of an American Icon
There is more to the Empire State Building than King Kong climbing up the side.
This program details the construction and history of the famous skyscraper, and
the origin of the nickname, “Empire State.”
Faces in Stone: The Story of Mt. Rushmore
The largest carved relief in the world almost never became reality through lack of
funds, lukewarm support from the public, and an overbearing sculptor. This is the
history of the famous depiction of four Presidents in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Good-bye, Columbus: The Kensington Rune Stone
Think Columbus discovered America? You may have to think again, after
hearing the story of a large graystone slab found in Minnesota, carved with
Scandinavian runes that predated Columbus by more than 100 years.
Gunfight at the OK Corral
Tombstone, Arizona, was the site of one of the most famous, if not the most
famous gunfight in American history. It involved the Earp brothers, Wyatt,
Virgil and Morgan and their friend “Doc” Holliday against the McLaureys
and the Clantons. But did you know the gunfight didn’t take place at the OK
Corral? And were the good guys really that good?
Known But to God: The Tomb of the Unknowns
America’s unknown warriors lie in this tomb at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia.
This is the story of how the Tomb came to be---and its connection to Oneida
County.
Lady Liberty: The Story of the Statue of Liberty
She may be the most recognizable symbol of American freedom, a gift from
France to the United States, a colossal woman with a torch in New York Harbor.
Whose idea was she? How was she constructed? This is her story.
Last Stand: The Battle of Little Bighorn
Known as Custer’s Last Stand, this battle was the worst defeat of the U.S. Army
by native forces in history. It also marked the last victory for the Plains Indians.
Lincoln and Kennedy: Parallels and Coincidences
There are more than 100 coincidences and parallels between Presidents Lincoln
and Kennedy, and their Vice Presidents, wives and assassins. Learn what they
are.
Lost Colony of Roanoke
Jamestown, Virginia was not the first British attempt to found a permanent colony
in America, neither was Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first was on Roanoke
Island, in what is now North Carolina. The colonists disappeared, and no trace of
them has ever been found. What are the theories as to what became of them?
Lost Dutchman Mine: A Mystery of the Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains of Arizona hide a fabulous treasure of gold according
to legend. What is the story behind this legend, and where might the mine be
located?
Miracle on Ice: The 1980 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team
They were a group of college kids, the youngest ice hockey team in American
Olympic history (average age 21), but they took on the best in the world, and
against the odds, won the gold medal 40 years ago, in 1980.
Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow: The Myth of the Great Chicago Fire
In October 1871, the most famous fire in American history occurred. Most of
Chicago was laid waste, supposedly when a cow kicked over a lantern. But the
cow did not do it! If she did not, who did? And what is our local connection to the
famous conflagration?
Mysterious Death of Billy the Kid
William Bonney, Billy the Kid, was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in the Old West.
Or was he? If it wasn’t him, who was it? And if he did not die, what became of
him?
Mystery Hill: America’s Stonehenge
In New Hampshire, just north of Boston, lies a ruin that some historians say is as
old as Stonehenge in England. Who could have built it? There are several
theories.
Mythconceptions: American History
Did you ever wonder if all those things they taught you about our history are
correct? Did Franklin discover electricity with a kite and a key? What did they eat
at the first Thanksgiving? Where was the Battle of Bunker Hill? Discover that our
history is not what it seems…or what we’ve been told.
Night That Panicked America: Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds
On October 30, 1938, millions of Americans listened to a radio broadcast and
believed the United States was being attacked by Martians. How did this
broadcast become one of the most famous in radio history?
Old Glory: A History of Our Flag
George M. Cohan said “she’s a grand old flag.” Did Betsy Ross really design it?
If not, who did? How many national flags have we had, and what important
events occurred during that time? Learn the history of the Stars and Stripes from
the very beginning.
Only in America: Some Strange, Odd and Unique Festivals in the U.S.
Want someplace to go on vacation that’s different? How about the Bonnie and
Clyde Festival, the Duct Tape Festival or even the Grumpy Old Men Festival?
Learn about these and many more celebrations unique to the good ol’ USA.
To Proclaim Liberty: The Story of the Liberty Bell
Millions of tourists visit the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia each year. This is the
story of the famous bell, and how it became cracked!
WORLD WAR I
Great Halifax Explosion
Two ships collided in the harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, literally wiping
out most of the town. It was the greatest man-made disaster in Canadian history.
Last Romanovs
The entire Russian imperial family was assassinated In Ekaterinburg, Russia. But
as soon as the event occurred, rumors began to circulate that one or more of the
Romanov's may have escaped, especially Grand Duchess Anastasia. Did she?
Lost Battalion
The 308th Battalion of the 77th Infantry Division found itself surrounded by the
Germans in the Argonne Forest with no food, little ammo and no relief. Find out
how they made it out. This incident was the basis for the 2001 movie, The Lost
Battalion with Rick Schroeder.
Sabotage: The Black Tom Explosion
Learn the story of the explosion of the Black Tom ammunition depot in New
York Harbor during World War I, the result of German sabotage.
Sinking of the Lusitania
We were taught the sinking of the liner Lusitania brought America into World
War I. Did it? What were the circumstances of the sinking? Was she carrying
contraband of war? If so, what was it?
Who Killed the Red Baron?
He was Germany’s leading aerial ace of World War I, striking fear into the hearts
of his opponents in his flaming red plane. This is the life and military career of
Manfred von Richthofen.
WORLD WAR II
Amber Room
A room constructed entirely of amber? Yes, and it was housed in Russia until
it was stolen by the Germans and taken to Prussia. Then, in the waning months of
the war, it disappeared. Where did it go?
Atomic Bombers: The B-29 Superfortress
The story of the B-29 Superfortress bomber, including operation “Silverplate,” the
missions of the Enola Gay and Bock’s Car to drop the world’s first atomic bombs
on Japan in 1945.
Bomber Boys: The Eighth Air Force in World War II England
The young men (average age 20) who flew the B-17 heavy bombers of the 8th
Army Air Force in England suffered more casualties than any other branch of the
service except the U.S. infantry. Learn what it was like to fly the dangerous
daylight bombing missions over Europe.
Bomber Boys: Stories From the 8th
Stories of some odd, weird and unbelievable things that happened to the young
men who flew the B-17s: bombers can’t fly upside down, but one did; using the
Olympic Stadium as a landmark for a bombing mission; Herman Goering’s
nephew, who flew for the U.S. Army Air Force, and many more.
Day of Infamy: The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
The United States was plunged into the war when the Japanese attacked the U.S.
Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 2016 marked the 75th anniversary of this
event.
Day of Trinity: The Manhattan Project
Learn about the development of the world’s first atomic bomb.
Disappearance of Glenn Miller: A World War II Mystery
On a flight to Paris in 1944, big band leader Glenn Miller disappeared along with
two other people. There are theories as to what might have happened, but it can’t
be proven, as no trace of him or his plane has ever been located.
Flight of Rudolph Hess
One of Adolf Hitler’s closest advisors, Rudolph Hess, flew to England to try and
negotiate a peace with the British. This is the story of that famous flight.
Foo Fighters: World War II’s UFOs
Both Allied and Axis fighter pilots and bomber crews reported seeing strange
glowing objects in their air space. Each side thought it was a new enemy weapon.
What were they? Do we know even 75 years later?
Incredible Victory: The Battle of Midway
Vastly outnumbered, a small American naval force defeated the Imperial Japanese
Navy in the pivotal battle in the Pacific War just six months after Pearl Harbor.
Longest Day: June 6, 1944
This is the story of the Allied invasion of Europe. Learn about the preparations for
the invasion and its aftermath.
Philadelphia Experiment: Project Invisibility
The U.S. Navy conducted experiments to render ships invisible to radar. Some
say one of the experiments went a little too far, not only making a destroyer escort
invisible, but also transporting it through time and space. Others say the entire
story is a hoax. You be the judge.
Raoul Wallenberg: Lost Diplomat
Oscar Schindler was made famous by a Steven Spielberg movie, Schindler’s List.
A Czech munitions manufacturer, he saved 1,500 Jews from death. However,
Raoul Wallenberg, the son of a famous Swedish family saved 9,000 Hungarian
Jews from the same fate, yet hardly anyone remembers him. This is his story.
Saved!: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis
In the waning months of the war, the cruiser Indianapolis delivered the
components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the island of Tinian. After that, it
was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Over 800 men survived, but only a little over
300 were ultimately rescued. This is the story of what happened.
Sink the Bismarck!
In early 1941, the Germans launched the deadliest battleship in the world, the
Bismarck. She was built to sink British convoys, and the British needed to sink
her at all costs. This is the story of that quest.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo: The Doolittle Raid, April 18, 1942
Just five months after Pearl Harbor, Lt. Col. James Doolittle led 16 U.S. Army B-
25 bombers on a raid on Japan in what was considered a suicide mission. The
basis for the movie, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.
MARITIME HISTORY
Collision Course: The Sinking of the Andrea Doria
On July 25, 1956, the Italian liner Andrea Doria and the Swedish liner Stockholm
collided off Nantucket. Over 60 lives were lost, even though both ships saw each
other and were equipped with radar. How did this happen? Who was responsible?
Ice Water Mansions: Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes
Over 25,000 ships have ‘gone missing’ in America’s treacherous inland seas, so
many that Lloyd’s of London will not insure the ships that sail there. Learn the
fates of many of these ships, including the most famous of all, the Edmund
Fitzgerald.
Mary Celeste: Derelict Ship of the Atlantic
The Mary Celeste was found sailing on her own off the Azores, her crew missing.
To this day, no one knows what happened to them or where they might have
gone. But there are theories!
Morro Castle: Fire at Sea
Before the Cuban Revolution, passenger ships from the U.S. made regular trips
from New York to Havana. On one such trip, the liner Morro Castle caught fire
under mysterious circumstances, and many people died. What, or who, could have
caused the fire?
Night to Remember: RMS Titanic
2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the famous ocean liner with
the loss of over 1,500 souls.
Ourang Medan: Death Ship of the Indian Ocean
In June 1947, the Dutch freighter Ourang Medan was found adrift in the Indian
Ocean, her entire crew still aboard, but dead, their faces contorted in horror. The
ship was undamaged, and there was no clue as to what killed the crew. Here are
theories.
Vanished!: The Disappearance of the U.S.S. Cyclops
In the closing days of World War I, the collier U.S.S. Cyclops loaded up with
manganese ore in South America, and set sail for Baltimore, Maryland. She
disappeared, and no trace of her or her crew has ever been found. Explore the
theories of what might have happened.
AVIATION HISTORY
Amelia Earhart: Lost Legend
She was, and remains, the most famous aviatrix in world history. She disappeared
on an around the world flight attempt in 1937, and no trace of her has ever been
found. This program traces that flight, and offers some theories as to what might
have become of her.
Apollo 13: The Successful Failure
The third manned mission to the moon seemed ill-fated from the beginning.
During the flight, an explosion endangered the lives of the three astronauts, and
began a life and death struggle for survival in space.
Brace for Impact: The Miracle on the Hudson
In January 2009, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger achieved the impossible,
landing a commercial jet airliner successfully in the Hudson River, saving all
aboard.
D. B. Cooper: The Unsolved Hijacking
The night before Thanksgiving 1970, a man boarded a flight in the northwest
and hijacked the plane. He parachuted from the jet, never to be seen again. What
happened to him? This case remains the only unsolved hijacking in American
aviation history.
Disappearance of Flight 19
In December 1945, a flight of five Navy Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers
went missing in the infamous Bermuda Triangle. No trace of them has ever been
found. What could have happened to them?
Hindenburg: Anatomy of a Disaster
She was the pride of Germany, a hydrogen filled dirigible that carried passengers
across the Atlantic in the 1930s. In May 1937, she was landing at the U.S. Naval
Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey when she exploded. Was it sabotage? Static
electricity? A flammable skin? All of the above?
One Small Step: The Voyage of Apollo 11
The United States might have lagged behind in the space race at the beginning,
but was the first to put a man on the moon, and still remains the only nation to
have done so. Hear the story behind Neil Armstrong’s “one small step for man.”
Wright Stuff: Orville, Wilbur and Powered Flight
At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903, the Wright Brothers from Ohio became
the first people to successfully fly a heavier than air craft. This is the story of
how they did it.
MURDER, MAYHEM, LAWLESSNESS
Axeman of New Orleans
From 1918 to 1920, a murderous fiend stalked the streets of New Orleans,
Louisiana, attacking people in their homes with an axe, his crimes eerily similar
to Jack the Ripper thirty years before. Who was he? Will we ever know?
Cleveland Torso Murders
Elliot Ness became famous as the man who got Al Capone (not true!) and as the
leader of The Untouchables. But later he faced a fiend called the Butcher of
Kingsbury Run, whom he never caught. This is the only case Ness never solved,
and still remains open today.
Escape From Alcatraz
No one has ever escaped from Alcatraz, or so the official line goes. But what
happened to Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers when they tried to get off
‘The Rock?’ To this day, many say they escaped, others say they did not. This is
the story of that famous escape attempt.
Forty Whacks: Lizzie Borden and Her Axe
‘Lizzie Borden had an axe, gave her mother forty whacks; When she saw what
she had done, gave her father forty-one.’ Just who was Lizzie Borden, and did she
whack her parents? Here’s the real story behind the children’s rhyme.
From Hell: Jack the Ripper
He was the first acknowledged serial killer in history, and terrorized the
Whitechapel District of London for several months in 1888. He was never
identified, but there were plenty of suspects. Who were they?
Helter Skelter: The Manson Murders
Over two days in August 1969, Actress Sharon Tate, three of her friends, and grocery store magnate Leo LaBianca and his wife Rosemary were murdered. Clues pointed to the perpetrators being a “Family” of hippies and disgruntled youth led by enigmatic Charles Manson. This is the story of that famous incident.
High Crimes, Low IQs: Dumb Criminals
Yes, these are stories of people who pull off less than the perfect crimes, such as
the man who held up a pizza parlor where he worked, while still wearing his
uniform; the man who had a case of beer strapped into his car with a seat belt,
while his child sat unrestrained on the floor; the bright guy who robbed an off
duty police officer in the lobby of a hotel hosting a convention of 300 narcotics
cops, and more.
It’s the Law: Weird, Bizarre and Amusing Laws Still on the Books in The U.S.
Did you know whaling is illegal in Oklahoma? Or in Colorado, you can’t legally
borrow your neighbor’s vacuum cleaner? In New York, flirting in public is illegal.
Learn about these and lots of other odd laws still on the books around the country.
Judge Crater, Call Your Office: 1930’s Most Famous Disappearance
On August 6, 1930, New York Judge Joseph Force Crater had dinner with friends
then left to attend a play. He never arrived, and he hasn’t been seen since. What
happened to him? Here are some theories.
Kidnapped!: The Lindbergh Case
Charles Lindbergh, Jr., son of the famous aviator, was abducted from his home in
Hopewell, New Jersey in 1932. German immigrant Bruno Richard Hauptmann
was arrested, tried and executed for the crime. But did he do it? Some say no.
“My Name is Ted:” The Ted Bundy Murders
Over several years in the Pacific Northwest, Colorado and Florida, many young women from 14 years of age to the late 20s went missing. What happened to them was a mystery until a routine traffic stop nabbed one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history, Ted Bundy. This program discusses the manhunt, his capture and fate.
This is the Zodiac Speaking
California was terrorized by a serial killer in the late 1960s and early 1970s who
took the name Zodiac. He was never caught. This case was the basis for two
movies, Dirty Harry with Clint Eastwood, and Zodiac with Jake Gyllenhaal and
Robert Downey, Jr.
Where is Jimmy Hoffa?
In July 1975, teamster Jimmy Hoffa went to a restaurant outside of Detroit to
meet with leaders of organized crime. He disappeared. While we know what
happened to him, his body was never found, so we don’t know where he is. Here
are some theories.
Who Killed the Black Dahlia?
It is one of the most famous murder mysteries in California. Elizabeth Short was
brutally murdered, cut in half, and left in a vacant lot. To this day, no one knows
who perpetrated the crime, and it is still an open case with the LAPD. But there
are suspects.
ANCIENT HISTORY
Easter Island: The Mystery of the Statues
Easter Island is the most isolated spot on earth, and has one of its great mysteries,
huge stone heads called moai. Who made the statues? How were they made and
moved to their present locations?
King Tut: A Question of Murder?
He was the most powerful ruler in the world, and died when only nineteen. Some
historians say he was murdered. If so, how? And who could have done it?
Last Days of Pompeii
The story of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in August 79 AD, and the fate of the
famous city of Pompeii.
Mythconceptions: The Ancient World
History isn’t always what we were taught. Who actually built the pyramids of
Egypt? Did Nero fiddle while Rome burned? What did the “thumbs up” gesture
during a gladiator fight really mean? Find out with this program.
Nazca: The Mystery of the Lines
They are huge drawings on the Nazca Plain in Peru, including a spider, a condor,
a frog, a ‘spaceman’ and geometric figures. They are visible only from the air,
yet are centuries old. Who made them? How? And why?
Riddle of the Great Sphinx
The Great Sphinx, half man-half lion, guards the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.
How old is this famous statue? Who built it? Do we know?
Ten Plagues of Egypt
The Bible outlines ten plagues vested by God on Egypt when the Pharaoh would
not free the Israelites. But if the plagues weren’t divinely inspired, what could
have caused them?
Trojan War
It lasted ten years, and began when Helen of Sparta, a Greek queen went away
with Paris, a prince of Troy, abandoning her husband. The King sent a flotilla of
ships and troops to bring her back. Or was there even a war? It was written about
by Homer in The Iliad and The Odyssey, or was it all just mythological?
WORLD HISTORY
Chernobyl: Nuclear Disaster
On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear disaster in history occurred at the V.I. Lenin
Nuclear Power Plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine. Learn what happened, why, and the
after effects we still feel today.
Dead Mountain: The Dyatlov Pass Incident
In 1959, ten hikers in Russia went on an adventure into the wintry Ural Mountains. Only one came back. The others were later found dead, frozen in the Siberian tundra. What happened to them? To this day, no one really knows. But there are theories.
Krakatoa, West of Java
The loudest sound in recorded history was the eruption of Krakatoa volcano in the
1880s. It was also one of the deadliest, with over 30,000 casualties. Learn the
story of this historic event.
Man in the Iron Mask
Many movies have been made about a mysterious prisoner held in various French
jails in the 1700s. Theories as to who he was include a prince; a woman; a spy; a
king’s twin brother; authors and poets. Who could he---or she---have been?
Oak Island Money Pit
On a small island off the coast of North America is the most famous mystery in
Canadian history. Oak Island possesses a pit that might contain a pirate treasure;
lost manuscripts; payroll for Revolutionary War British soldiers; the treasure of
the Knights Templar, or other items. Who dug the pit? Why?
Robin Hood, Maid Marian and the Merry Men
Many movies have been made about Robin Hood. But did he really exist, or was
he just a figure in folklore? Here are theories as to who he might really have
been.
Viva El Cinco de Mayo!
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico to celebrate its
independence from Spain, right? Wrong on both counts. This program explains
the real meaning behind the date, and the fact that it isn’t a holiday in Mexico.
Zulu: The Defense of Rorke’s Drift
In 1879, fewer than 200 British soldiers held off an attack of over 4,000 Zulu
warriors in South Africa during the Anglo-Zulu war. This event was the basis for
the 1964 movie, Zulu, with Michael Caine and Stanley Baker.
UFOs
Great Airship Mystery of 1896-1897
Reports of UFO’s aren’t new. Some of the earliest official reports come to us
from the western U.S. in 1896. What could those strange lights in the sky have
been?
Michigan Swamp Gas Incident
What were those weird lights seen in the sky near Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1966
flying at high rates of speed and executing maneuvers beyond the abilities of our
best fighter jets? The official explanation---swamp gas! There are other theories.
Find out what they were.
Rendlesham Forest: Britain’s Roswell
At Christmas 1980, odd lights were seen near an American Air Force base in the
Rendlesham Forest of Britain. Many people think it was a nearby lighthouse, but
others maintain trained military observers would not make such a mistake. Here
are the facts as we know them.
Roswell Incident
In 1947, the most famous UFO case in American history occurred in New
Mexico, near the Roswell Army Air Force Base, which was home to the 509th
Bomb Group, the world’s first atomic air group. Rumors state wreckage of a
flying saucer was retrieved, along with alien bodies. Could this be true?
STRANGE BEASTS AND BEINGS
Bigfoot: Denizen of the Forests
For centuries, people have reported seeing large, hairy, manlike creatures in the
forests and mountains of the world. There have even been sightings in Central
New York (Chittenango, Cazenovia). What could these beasts be?
In Search of Lake Monsters
Everyone has heard of the famous Loch Ness monster in Scotland, affectionately
known as Nessie. But just about every country in the world claims its own lake
monster, including New York’s Champ. What could they be?
Jersey Devil
It lives in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, a creature described as part horse, with
bat wings, hooves and hair. Some say it is the spawn of the Devil. The Legend
began with the Leeds family, and has grown. What could it be? Whatever it is, it lent its name to an NHL hockey team---the Jersey Devils.
Men in Black
They seemingly appear from nowhere, usually after sightings of Unidentified
Flying Objects. They intimidate witnesses, threaten people, and try to collect
information on the sightings. And no, they are not Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones. But who or what are they?
Mothman
Point Pleasant, West Virginia, was a sleepy little town until people reported
seeing a strange, huge-bat like creature hanging out at a local abandoned TNT
factory. It appeared in yards, on porches, and even chased people in their cars.
What could it be? This was the basis for the Richard Gere movie, The Mothman
Prophecies.
UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA
Bell Witch: An American Haunting
Something odd happened in northwestern Tennessee in the early 1800s. It
remains the only documented case of poltergeist activity in American history,
witnessed by a future President of the United States.
Crop Circles
Just what are those weird designs that appear in farmer’s cornfields and wheat
crops? How long have people been seeing them? What could cause them?
Theories abound.
Curse of the Hope Diamond
It is the most visited exhibit in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., a large blue
diamond. Where did it come from? And is it cursed? Many think so, as the
owners of the gem always seem to run into bad luck.
Dancing Coffins of Barbados: The Chase Vault
The Chase Family vault on the island of Barbados does contain coffins that can’t
seem to sit still. What could cause them to continually rearrange themselves?
Marfa: The Mystery of the Lights
What are those weird lights that have been seen near the Texas town of Marfa
since the 1880s? UFOs? Earth lights? St. Elmo’s fire? Explore some of the
theories as to what they could be.
Nativity and the Star of Bethlehem
The story of the Christmas Star is very well known. Many scientists say it
was not a single star, but could have been a conjunction of planets, or a comet, or
a meteor, or any number of things.
Seneca Guns
What are those mysterious “booms” heard over Seneca Lake in Upstate New
York? Sonic booms? Escaping gas deposits? Thunder? Lightning? It’s anyone’s
guess, as the source of the sound has not been identified since James Fenimore
Cooper wrote about it in the 1800s.
Tunguska Event: The Great 1908 Siberian Explosion
Something exploded over the desolate Siberian tundra in 1908, and flattened
hundreds of miles of forest, caused compasses all over the world to go haywire,
and strange atmospheric phenomena. What could it have been? A comet?
Meteor? Alien spaceship?
UNUSUAL, ODD AND WEIRD HISTORY
Bizarre History: Leaders…Really?
Did you know Roman Emperor Caligula was named after a shoe? Or that
by the time he died, William the Conqueror was too fat to fit into his coffin?
What was Vlad Dracula’s unique solution to poverty? How did the term
“graveyard shift” come into being? Learn about some of the weird history
surrounding many of the world’s leaders, past and present.
Bizarre History: Weird War Stories
How did Mount Vernon get its name? Who was the “Bull Dog of the Black Sea?”
What famous sea captain was involved in the Rum Rebellion? Why did Ohio and
Michigan almost go to war? Why was the U.S. Naval Academy founded? You’ll
find the answers to these questions and more in this program.
Christmas Symbols
Ever wonder how we got the Christmas tree? What does a candy cane
symbolize? Who was the original Santa Claus? Who is the poinsettia named
after? This program answers all those questions and more, about familiar
Christmas symbols.
Mythconceptions: “Hey, I Never Said That!”
Think you know who said some of the most famous quotes in history…or what
they actually said? Who really said “Let them eat cake?” What about “All that
glitters is not gold?” Did Captain Kirk ever say, “Beam me up, Scotty?” Find
out who said what and what they said in this program.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
Based on the famous writings of Robert Ripley. Learn about some weird people
and things in the world, like the Chinese man who covered himself with 1.1
million bees; a pink grasshopper; the woman who survived the sinking of the
Titanic, the Lusitania and the Britannic, and many more. These are really odd.
Weird Vacation Destinations
Ever visit the National Funeral Museum? How about the Pig War Museum or the
Kazoo Museum? This program features some of the weird, odd and usual
museums and roadside attractions in the U.S. and abroad. It’s fun!
ORIGINS OF COMMON THINGS
In the Beginning: Everyday Items
Want to know who invented the umbrella? What about buttons? Where did Velcro
come from? Or paperclips? See this program and find put how these and other
everyday things were invented.
In the Beginning: Food and Drink
Learn about the origins of some of our favorite foods, including pancakes, the
sandwich, TV dinners, brown and serve rolls, nachos, peanut butter, and more.
It’s enough to make you hungry!
In the Beginning: Health and Medicine
This program gives information about the history and development of various
health items, like aspirin, band-aids, dentures, toilet paper, petroleum jelly, and
lots of other things.
In the Beginning: Toys and Games
How was Silly Putty invented? What about the yo-yo, Rubik’s Cube, the piggy
bank, poker, Lincoln Logs, and more of the world’s favorite toys. It’ll take you
back to your childhood.
FUN AND GAMES
Remember When…..
Even wonder what celebrities or famous people looked like when they were younger? Or as a baby? We have photos of them when they were kids. We’ll show you a photo and you see if you can identify them.
The Name Game
Many famous people don’t use their birth names when they become famous, but
use pseudonyms or “stage names.” For example, Muhammad Ali was born
Cassius Clay. In this program, we give the birth name of actors, artists, politicians
or historical figures, and the attendees have to guess who they are.
On Second Thought…
Did you know Harrison Ford wasn’t the first pick to play Indiana Jones? Or
Vivien Leigh to portray Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind? Then who
were? See this program to find out who the second…or third…or fourth picks
were who made iconic roles famous…or the roles that made the actors famous.
MISCELLANEOUS
I Never Thought I’d Get Published
This is the story of how I had my first book published, The Children’s Crusade:
The Eighth Air Force Series, Book 1. Covers conception of the original idea,
through writing, submission, and publication. I also discuss the pluses of self
publishing vs. “traditional” publishing.
CLASSES (OR SERIES)
These are designed as multiple sessions, to be scheduled weekly (or once a month) as classes or a series of lectures. The number in parenthesis is the number of classes or sessions (not to be confused with the single, one-hour programs listed above).
Battle of the Little Bighorn (4)
Bomber Boys: The 8th Air Force in World War II England (4)
American Civil War (8)
Day of Infamy: The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor (4)
Hollywood and History (8)
Oneida County and the Civil War (8)
Three Days at Gettysburg (4)
Titanic and Her Times (4)
Ulysses S. Grant: Mr. Lincoln’s General (4)
Upstate New York in the War of the Rebellion (Revolutionary War) (4)
Who Am I? (8)