Acoustic Kitty

Summary

Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities: Episode Summary – "Acoustic Kitty"

Introduction

In the episode titled "Acoustic Kitty," Aaron Mahnke delves into two remarkable and eerie stories that underscore the lengths to which human ingenuity and curiosity can go. Produced by iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild, this installment of Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities takes listeners on a journey through the bizarre world of Cold War espionage and the perilous early days of Hollywood filmmaking.

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1. Operation Acoustic Kitty: The CIA's Feline Spy

Timestamp: [01:06]

Aaron Mahnke opens the episode by exploring the long history of human-animal domestication, highlighting how our relationships with pets like dogs and cats have evolved over millennia. However, he swiftly shifts focus to a darker chapter in this history—Operation Acoustic Kitty, a clandestine CIA project from the Cold War era.

The Genesis of Acoustic Kitty

The operation aimed to transform cats into covert surveillance agents. Mahnke explains, "In order to make the cat ready for the operation, several surgeries were performed. The cat was cut open and batteries and a receiver were sewn into its stomach lining" ([01:12]). These modifications included a microphone in the cat's ear and a speaker, effectively turning the feline into a mobile listening device.

Training and Trials

Once surgically altered, the CIA agents embarked on training the cat using a series of tones linked to specific commands, such as "left" or "right." Mahnke notes, "One tone told it to go left, another told it to go right, and so on" ([02:30]). Despite the sophisticated training regimen, the endeavor faced significant challenges. The innate instincts of the cat often overruled the conditioned commands, leading to unpredictable behavior.

Field Test and Outcome

The culmination of Operation Acoustic Kitty saw the cat deployed near the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. According to Mahnke, "They unloaded the cat onto the street and began to issue commands" ([04:00]). The mission, however, did not unfold as planned. While some accounts suggest the cat performed adequately but remained uncontrollable, the more widely accepted story recounts the cat being hit by a taxi, effectively ending the experiment and costing millions of dollars ([04:50]).

Conclusion of the Operation

Mahnke summarizes the project’s failure: "The CIA came to the conclusion that cats would never be an ideal ally in the spy trade" ([05:10]). Operation Acoustic Kitty remains a testament to the extremes of espionage activities during the Cold War and serves as a curious example of how scientific curiosity can sometimes lead to ethically questionable endeavors.

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2. Noah's Ark: The Perilous Production of a 1928 Blockbuster

Timestamp: [06:37]

Transitioning from espionage to the tumultuous world of early cinema, Mahnke recounts the harrowing production of the 1928 film adaptation of Noah's Ark. Produced by Warner Bros. and directed by Michael Curtiz, the film aimed to rival Cecil B. DeMille's successful The Ten Commandments.

Ambitious Production Plans

To depict the Biblical Great Flood, the production orchestrated what was intended to be a groundbreaking special effect. Mahnke describes, "As many as 7,000 extras were brought on for this scene, along with livestock. The plan was to actually flood the set with all of these people there" ([07:15]). This real-water approach was meant to create authentic chaos and visual spectacle.

Safety Concerns and Chaos on Set

Despite warnings from cinematographer Hal Moore, who confronted Producer Daryl Zanuck about the potential dangers, the decision was made to proceed. Mahnke highlights Moore's apprehension: "He confronted the director and producer, Daryl Zanuck. Allegedly, he asked what would be done about the extra people, and Curtiz replied, 'they'll have to take their chances'" ([08:45]).

On the day the flood sequence was to be filmed, the set was inundated with between one to four million gallons of water, depending on varying accounts. The overwhelming force of the water led to significant destruction: "The set broke and shattered, not just at the key points designed to give way" ([09:30]). Tragically, the chaos resulted in severe injuries, including an incident where actor George O'Brien had two toenails ripped off by water pressure.

Lives Lost and Lasting Impact

Mahnke reveals the grim aftermath: "35 ambulances rushed to the rescue. It is frequently claimed that in the chaos, three people lost their lives, and Hal Moore has even said that at least one man lost a leg" ([10:20]). Among the survivors was Marion Morrison, who would later gain fame as the Western icon John Wayne. Mahnke poignantly remarks, "If he hadn't survived that shoot today, the history of film would have turned out quite differently" ([10:50]).

Lessons Learned

The disastrous filming of Noah's Ark serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety in production. Mahnke concludes, "Whether you're a movie producer, a business owner, or anyone people trust with their safety, be careful of who you think is expendable because you never know which extra is a future star" ([11:05]).

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Conclusion

In "Acoustic Kitty," Aaron Mahnke masterfully intertwines stories of human ambition and the unforeseen consequences of pushing ethical boundaries. From the CIA's ill-fated attempt to weaponize a cat to the near-tragic events on the set of Noah's Ark, the episode underscores a recurring theme: the peril inherent in unchecked curiosity and the relentless pursuit of innovation. Through rich storytelling and meticulous research, Mahnke invites listeners to ponder the costs of such endeavors and the thin line between genius and recklessness.

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Notable Quotes

• "In order to make the cat ready for the operation, several surgeries were performed. The cat was cut open and batteries and a receiver were sewn into its stomach lining." — Aaron Mahnke ([01:12])

• "One tone told it to go left, another told it to go right, and so on." — Aaron Mahnke ([02:30])

• "They unloaded the cat onto the street and began to issue commands." — Aaron Mahnke ([04:00])

• "They'll have to take their chances." — Michael Curtiz, as recounted by Aaron Mahnke ([08:45])

• "If he hadn't survived that shoot today, the history of film would have turned out quite differently." — Aaron Mahnke ([10:50])

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key narratives and insights from the "Acoustic Kitty" episode, providing an engaging overview for those who haven't yet listened to the episode.

Transcript

[Erin Menke]

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[Aaron Manke]

Of Curiosities, a production of iHeartRadio and Grim and mild.

[Narrator]

Our world is full of the unexplainable, and if history is an open book, all of these amazing tales are right there on display, just waiting for us to explore. Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosities.

[Aaron Manke]

Everyone loves their pets Human domestication of animals goes back over 10,000 years. In ancient times, we learn that dogs, cats, and even boars could be fed and taught to follow orders. Most of the time, all we ask is that the animals be our cute little companions and pose for videos and photos for social media. As history has progressed, domestication has grown more and more sophisticated. In the modern age, this process often goes too far, becoming horrific rather than cute. Many of us can hardly stomach the thought of the slaughterhouses that mass produce meat. But if you go back just a few decades, you can find one example of domestication gone wrong that's more horrific than any other. The CIA's Cold War experiments are now infamous. What was once thought to be a conspiracy theory has now, through declassified documents, proved to be actual conspiracy. One such document reveals the existence of Operation Acoustic Kitty, an experiment meant to assess the use of cats in spy operations. The documents are still heavily redacted, so we don't know the names of many of the people involved, but that's perhaps appropriate, as from the cat's point of view, the CIA agents were all strangers, doing strange things. In order to make the cat ready for the operation, several surgeries were performed. The cat was cut open and batteries and a receiver were sewn into its stomach lining. After this, the agents ran a microphone from the receiver in the cat's stomach, up its digestive tract and into its head, out its ear canal. And that's right, the cat had a microphone and a speaker in its ear. Finally, the agents ran a wire from the microphone in the cat's ear down the cat's spine, this time weaving the wire into its fur. This led to an antenna in its tail that could both receive messages and broadcast whatever was being picked up on the microphone. With their acoustic kitty now complete, the agents sewed the cat back up and let it recover from its surgery, and we can only imagine how the cat felt. But once it was recovered, it was time for its training. The agents played different tones in the cat's ear, using obstacle courses to train it to associate certain tones with certain directions. One tone told it to go left, another told it to go right, and so on. Now, if you own a cat or you've heard the phrase trying to herd cats, you're probably surprised to hear that this worked. But the truth is that it didn't always. Not for more than 10 minutes at a time, the cat's various instincts often took over and led it to do whatever it wanted. Some reports suggest that the agents did more surgeries to suppress those urges, but exactly how that worked is unclear. Regardless, the agents were eventually satisfied enough where they felt that the cat was ready for a field test. They packed it up in a van with a variety of other surveillance equipment and drove to a park outside the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. their goal was to have the cat spy on some civilians on a park bench. They unloaded the cat onto the street and began to issue commands. Now, what happened next varies depending on the source. If you want the happy ending, the cat performed its job but was still hard to control. Afterward, surgery was done to remove all the electronic components, and the cat lived on after that. But if you want the sad and, to be honest, darker ending, one report says that the cat began to cross the street and was immediately hit by a taxi, destroying years of hard work and millions of dollars in taxpayer money. Whatever the true story, the CIA came to the conclusion that cats would never be an ideal ally in the spy trade. This is one example of domestication that went way too far and yielded no results in the process. They say that curiosity killed the cat, but in this case, the Curiosity was the CIA's. This episode is sponsored by Capital One. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh, really? Thanks. Capital One bank guy what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member FDIC.

[Bob Dylan]

We have one more act for you this evening. I don't even need to say his name.

[Timothy Chalamet]

Mr. Bob Dylan a Complete Unknown is now a Golden Globe in critics choice nominee for best picture.

[Aaron Manke]

Bobby, what do you want to be?

[Bob Dylan]

Whatever it is they don't want me to be.

[Timothy Chalamet]

Timothy Chalamet astonishes as Bob Dylan in one of the best performances of the year. And critics rave. Edward Norton is absolutely fantastic.

[Aaron Manke]

70,000 people are here and Bobby is.

[Narrator]

The reason for it.

[Bob Dylan]

They just want me singing Bloom in the Wind for the rest of my life.

[Aaron Manke]

How does it feel?

[Timothy Chalamet]

Don't miss the movie. Critics are healing. Five stars. It's pure cinematic magic.

[Erin Menke]

Turn it down.

[Aaron Manke]

Hey.

[Timothy Chalamet]

Loud. And named to AFI and the National Board of reviews top 10 films of the year.

[Bob Dylan]

Make some noise. BD track some mud on carpet.

[Timothy Chalamet]

A Complete Unknown now playing only in theaters. Rated R. Under 1790 middle without parrot.

[Aaron Manke]

Lights, camera, action. Those three magical words are the first thing we learn about the process of making films. A cliche that by now is a little out of date. These days, if a director has to call for the lighting to be turned on right before a shot, something else has gone very, very wrong. Since the dawn of the 20th century, though, motion picture producers have been striving to create something worth seeing on the silver screen. Imagery that's so transporting that you just have to go out and see it for yourself. Today, thousands of artists work over computer screens to make such spectacles happen. In the 1920s, though, if you wanted something spectacular, you had to invent it in physical reality. Which brings us to the story of Noah's Ark. Not the Bible tale, but the 1928 film adaptation of it. Produced by the Warner Bros. Adapting works from the Bible was a popular strategy for blockbuster success. Just four years earlier, Cecil B. DeMille had directed a silent film version of the Ten Commandments, which made Paramount Pictures almost four times its budget. So producer Daryl F. Zanuck saw the opportunity. He gave the story to a handpicked screenwriter and hired an up and coming director for the job. A 38 year old Hungarian American named Michael Curtiz. Now, in case you've never seen it, the climax of this film would involve a truly terrifying amount of manpower. The Great Flood. In the Bible, this flood destroys every living thing on earth, save for Noah and his family and the animals that they manage to save in the ark. So in order for this divine apocalypse to play out on screen, it had to be a showstopper. As many as 7,000 extras were brought on for this scene, along with livestock. The plan was to actually flood the set with all of these people there. The biblical city was built to break away in the Water dramatically collapsing as man's hubris was squashed by the wrath of God. Cinematographer Hal Moore was an early voice speaking up against the plan. He confronted the director and producer, Daryl Zanuck. Allegedly, he asked what would be done about the extra people, and Curtis replied, they'll have to take their chances. And it was then that Moore walked off the set, to be replaced by a different cameraman. On the final day, when the flood sequence was to be filmed, there were 14 cameras rolling, and on cue, torrential waves of water were released onto the set. Now, accounts differ on how much water the flood required. Some say 4 million gallons. Others point the estimate closer to 1 million. Whatever the case, the effect was intense. The set broke and shattered, not just at the key points designed to give way. One of the leading actors, George O'Brien, had two of his toenails ripped off by the water pressure. But that was the least of the damage. Extras and cattle went from performing to fighting for their lives. Many accounts afterward claimed that the water ran red with blood after the scene. 35ambulances rushed to the rescue. It is frequently claimed that in the chaos, three people lost their lives, and Hal Moore has even said that at least one man lost a legal. Many of the stars involved spoke openly in their later years about how harrowing the sequence was, how the producers were not just reckless, but ruthless. Alfred Hitchcock would infamously say that actors should be treated like cattle. And in circumstances like these, it's hard to argue that they were treated much better. But there was only so much they could do. In an era before robust safety regulations and labor unions had entered Hollywood, performers were only safe if a studio wanted them to be protected. Production records from Noah's Ark have either been lost or destroyed. And all we have to go on are the accounts of those who were there. Like the actors and the crew. Their description of a flood flecked with blood and a set crashing down around them paints a terrifying picture, even if the tangible details remain something of a mystery. But what we do have are the names of some of the survivors. One of the men involved in the flood who very nearly lost his life was an over 6 foot tall prop man named Marion Morrison. If he hadn't survived that shoot today, the history of film would have turned out quite differently. Later in his career, he'd be known by a different name as the Western hero John Wayne. While making films is a lot safer now than it was in the 1920s, there is a lesson to take from all of this. Whether you're a movie producer, a business owner or anyone people trust with their safety. Be careful of who you think is expendable because you never know which extra is a future star.

[Narrator]

I hope you've enjoyed today's guided tour of the Cabinet of Curiosities. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or learn more about the show by visiting curiositiespodcast.com the show was created by me, Aaron Manke, in partnership with How Stuff Works. I make another award winning show called Lore, which is a podcast, book series and television show and you can learn all about it [e-mail] and until next time, stay curious.