Cabinet of Curiosities – "Like a Queen" (October 21, 2025)

Overview

In this episode of Cabinet of Curiosities, Aaron Mahnke delves into two compelling tales from history: the first highlights the unique role of Benshi narrators in Japanese silent cinema, and the second chronicles the rise and cultural impact of industrial "Queens" in Great Britain and beyond. Both stories explore the unexpected ways people have sought to interpret, celebrate, and mediate social change through performance and symbolism.

Story 1: The Benshi – Narrators of Japan’s Silent Films

[Start: 00:42]

Key Discussion Points

• The Advent of Cinema:

  • The late 19th-century birth of motion pictures led to the first era of film, the silent era, marked by significant evolution in technology and storytelling.
  • Contrary to modern beliefs, many silent films were hand-tinted in color and not strictly black and white.

• Cinema and Japanese Culture:

  • After the Meiji Restoration, Japan embraced modernization, but traditional entertainment like Kabuki theater remained dominant.
  • Western films were introduced as novelties, which led to the creation of a new class of film interpreters: the Benshi.

• The Role and Fame of Benshi:

  • Benshi were more than translators; they became essential attractions, providing live narration, character voices, and poetic commentary.
  • Movie theaters featured Benshi as celebrity draws, listed alongside film stars on posters.
  • The profession was regulated, with rigorous training in voice, history, and world culture. Government oversight ensured Benshi adhered to censorship laws.

• The Art of Setsume:

  • Benshi’s narration, or “Setsume,” became a valued skill, with over 6,800 practitioners in Japan by 1927, and similar roles in Korea and Taiwan.
  • Even as sound films gained popularity, Benshi remained integral to Japanese cinema longer than in the West.

• Legacy and Modern Revival:

  • Although the profession waned by the 1930s, a small group of performers kept it alive.
  • Midori Sawato stands out as a contemporary Benshi, still bringing silent films to life.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the allure of Benshi:

  "A great Benshi projecting his or her voice over the musicians in a thousand person theater would become a celebrity in their own right."
  — Aaron Mahnke [03:15]

• On the endurance of the tradition:

  "It turns out that the silent era in Japan was never very silent at all."
  — Aaron Mahnke [05:55]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:42] – Introduction to the development of cinema and Japanese entertainment
• [01:50] – Emergence of Benshi and their evolving role
• [03:10] – Benshi training and regulation
• [04:00] – Benshi’s peak and international counterparts
• [05:00] – The decline and legacy of Benshi, featuring Midori Sawato

Story 2: Like a Queen – Industrial Queens in Britain

[Start: 07:00]

Key Discussion Points

• Elective Monarchy and Cultural Traditions:

  • Unlike heredity monarchs, community queens have been chosen through festivals (e.g., the May Queen) as celebratory figureheads.

• The Rise of the Industrial Queen:

  • In 1925, to mark their centenary, the Stockton and Darlington Railroad in England launched the Railway Queen beauty pageant, crowning Helena Wotton.
  • This concept swiftly spread; soon, countless industries—cotton, wool, coal, silk, even radio—began selecting their own queens.

• Role and Impact of Industrial Queens:

  • Though largely ceremonial, queens acted as spokespeople, giving speeches and appearing publicly to represent their industries.
  • Many gained substantial local fame and even opportunities to travel internationally.

• Remarkable Anecdotes:

  • In 1935, 15-year-old Audrey Mossom was crowned Britain's Railway Queen. Her whirlwind tenure culminated in a trip to meet Joseph Stalin in Moscow, where she received a Russian nesting doll from Lenin’s widow.

• Shifts After World War II:

  • The competitions evolved, focusing on recruitment as industries aimed to appeal to female workers in a changing labor landscape.
  • Queens starred in promotional films encouraging other women to join the workforce.

• Criticism and the End of an Era:

  • The practice faced pushback from trade unions, who saw it as a distraction from labor struggles.
  • By the 1980s, with shifts in public taste and labor politics, these pageants faded into history.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the ceremonial function:

  "…there was more to being a Queen of Industry than being a pretty face. They were expected to give speeches, make public appearances advocating for their industry. Essentially, they were the face of their field for the entire year."
  — Aaron Mahnke [08:28]

• On labor tensions:

  "Like actual royalty, though, these Queens of industry would have a tense relationship with the workers themselves. From the beginning, the title was roundly criticized as a distraction from the growing power of trade unions."
  — Aaron Mahnke [10:12]

• On the legacy of the practice:

  "The Queens of Industry might be a thing of the past, but they definitely seem to serve a purpose at the time. And looking back, they've left us with something incredibly valuable. A Curious Chapter in History."
  — Aaron Mahnke [12:18]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [07:00] – Introduction: can a queen be elected?
• [07:50] – The first Railway Queen and the expansion to other industries
• [08:45] – Duties and opportunities for industrial queens
• [09:24] – Audrey Mossom's meeting with Stalin
• [10:30] – Postwar transformation and tensions with labor movements
• [11:55] – End of an era and the meaning of industrial queens

Episode Tone & Style

Aaron Mahnke’s delivery is warm, engaging, and steeped in curiosity, reflecting his signature style: weaving historical facts with storytelling, and closing each narrative with a thoughtful moral or twist that links past to present.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Cabinet of Curiosities masterfully illustrates how communities elevate figures—be it narrators or queens—to make sense of change, preserve tradition, and inspire society. Through vivid descriptions and memorable anecdotes, Mahnke invites listeners to see the hidden richness behind once-familiar roles, leaving us, as always, a bit more curious.