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Bailey Sarian
Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and curious cats. Welcome to the 2024 Joanie Awards. Please welcome our queen of the dark, mother of the macabre, the woman who is unafraid to dance with the devil's lettuce, your host, Bailey Sarian. Hi. Hi. Hello, everyone. Hi. Hi. How's it going? How the hell are we at another Joanie's episode already? I feel like we just did one, like, a week ago. Anyway, doesn't matter. I'm so excited. I love the Joanies. Look, it's been such a fun way to recap the season, revisit my favorite episodes, and brush up on some wild cocktail facts that you may have forgotten about if you don't know. Hi, my name is Bailey Sarian, and I'd like to welcome you to my podcast, Dark History. Before we get into it, don't forget to like and subscribe, because I come out with that hot, juicy history goss every week. And let me know what you think. I love hearing from you in the comments section down below. Now let's get into it, shall we? Thank you. Hey, let's see who we have here in the audience today. Hey. Hey, Brian, can we bring up the house lights so I can see? Okay, great. Oh, my God, you guys all look so good. Oh, my God, look, we have Rasputin here, looking stinky as ever. Hey, can smell you from up here. Love that. Oh, oh, put the energy drink down, okay? Your eyes are scaring everyone, okay? They're a little spooky. Yep. You don't need any more energy. You got enough. Oh, hey, look, we have Share Me. Round of applause for Shara Me. Thank you for your service. Share me. Even though you got one leg, you're still kicking ass. Love it. I see you're here with another war hero. Tonight we have Corporal Wojtek, the cigarette eating soldier bear. Love to see that. Huh? What do you smoke? Marple reds. Cool. I mean, talk about a power couple right here. A bird and a bear, huh? You're gonna make some very courageous children. Hopefully with two legs. Okay. Ugh. Ugh. Oh, and look over there. We have a row of iconic ladies. Oh, we have Hedy Lamar. Yes. Tippi Hedren, Joseph Baker, and. Oh, is that J. Edgar Hoover? No, no, no, no, no, no. Go back to your secret porn collection and leave those women alone. Hmm. Yeah. And speaking of guys who suck, there's Dracula from our Monsters episode. Hey, boo. Whatcha doing tonight? Let me know. Yeah, just don't sleep too close to Sleeping Beauty, okay? She doesn't need Another toxic man in her life. All right, let's see who else there is. Oh. What the hell was that, Calamity Jane? Were you trying to just murder me right now, shooting me off on stage? Okay. Good thing you got a bad aim, huh, Calamity? Geez. Put the pistol down. Okay, Take a seat. You're drunk. Good thing you did that, because while we're on the subject of causing chaos, I see William Macready and Edwin Forrest from our Aster Place episode. Hey, I swear to God, if one of you throws a sheep at me. No sheep. No. Okay, finally. I'm sweating up here. This is a lot of work, you guys. Big Bird. Big Bird seems to show up to all of our Joanies. I love you, and you are always invited to come back. Maybe you can host next year. Yeah, okay. Now, my heart's racing because I just got shot at and a sheep thrown at me, and it's a lot. So we do have some sponsors for this episode, which we will get into later. But here is who this episode is not. Brought to you by Monsanto. Agent Orange. You glad I didn't say Monsanto? Crickets. All right, Dead crowd. Literally. They're all dead. Tyson is here, and they are not a sponsor, which is a shame, because I love chicken nuggets, but they did chicken out. And Four Loko. You know, love of Four Loko for those nights where you just need an excuse to get naked and commit a felony. Okay, well, all jokes aside, I just want to take a moment, take a second to thank you, the audience at home. I'm so lucky that I get to put these episodes together for you. For. From the lighter stories like our monstrous episode, to the heavier subjects, like, all of them. You know, it really is crazy to me that it's my job to read about history and, like, just tell you guys all about what I've learned, and you get to learn along with me. Like, it's so fun, right? We learned so much this year, and, like, none of it is possible without your support. So truly, I appreciate you guys so much. And when I say I read the comments, I mean it. I'm there. Liking commenting back. Sometimes, yeah, I spend a little too much time reading them sometimes. But, hey, it helps me feel connected to you, because without you, I wouldn't be here right now. And that's a fact. Now, don't go anywhere. We give out the first Joanie Award as soon as we come back. In season three, there were over 40 new episodes, and along the way, we met some inspiring wild and Iconic characters who made a huge impact in their stories. And they broke through to become like standout characters. So the first nominee for Breakthrough Character of the year is Hedy Lamar from the Dark History of Hedy Lamar. Hedy was an incredible mix of beauty and brains. After escaping her marriage to a Nazi weapons dealer, Hetty became a major Hollywood bombshell. She was known for her sleek jet black hair, piercing green eyes, and this captivating smile. Now, despite these good looks, she became more known for having a spicy on screen orgasm in a movie called Ecstasy. But there was so much more to Hetty than her performance on the silver screen. Behind the scenes, Hetty was a scientific genius. During World War II, she helped invent a technology to prevent torpedoes from being jammed by the Germans. This invention became the foundation for some modern tech you may know today. A few little things called WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. We'd be lost without it. Huh? But at the time, the American government seized her idea, calling it the property of enemy alien. What? Yeah, because she wasn't like a full citizen yet. Hetty didn't receive $0.01 for this invention in her lifetime. But thankfully, in 2014, she was inducted into the National Inventors hall of Fame. Good for you, Ms. Lamar. Our next nominee for Breakthrough Character of the Year is Cher Ami from the Dark History of Pigeons episode. Ah, I Love Shara Me. Break out the box of tissues, because the story of Cher Ami will make even the hardest of criminals shed a patriotic tear. Cher Ami was a heroic pigeon who became a legend during World War I. The year was 1918, and the American 77th Infantry Division was trapped behind enemy lines. A battle was raging all around them, and they had no way to get out. So the head of the infantry ties a message to Cher Ami's leg, and off he flies. Cher Ami is dodging bullets right and left, and then suddenly, he's hit in the chest. The bird goes down. Oh, God. Just when all seems lost, Cher Ami gets up and takes to the sky. Against all odds, this Incredible bird flies 25 miles in just 25 minutes to deliver the message about the location of the trapped soldiers. Because of this pigeon's bravery, 194 soldiers survived. But Cher Ami barely made it out. Because of his wounds in battle, the army had to amputate Cher Ami's right leg. He lived for a few more months, but Sheremy died. And then his body was preserved in the Smithsonian Museum. Woo. I love you, bird. Okay. And our final nominee for Breakthrough Character of the Year is William Dalton Mann from the Dark History of gossip. Before William Dalton mann became the inventor of American celebrity gossip. He started as a soldier in the civil war, eventually becoming a colonel for the union army. But this crusty colonel became notorious when he started publishing juicy gossip about the wealthy and elite of New York society. Colonel Mann was very good at digging up dirt and wasn't afraid to use it. He would find out scandalous or embarrassing things about important people and say he would happily keep the story out of his paper for a price. This strategy of journalism was called blackmail. Congratulations. You did it. Now, of course, people both feared and hated him for this. And this slime ball paved the way for the celebrity gossip industry that we are all addicted to today. Without William Dalton Mann, there would be no national Enquirer, Perez Hilton, TMZ, TikTok videos about scandalous scams. You know, they really owe him everything. So the Joanie for breakthrough character of the year goes to. Thank you so much. Let me get my letter opener. Ah. Okay. Who do you think is gonna win? I'm very excited. Okay, break through. Character of the year award goes to. Cher ami from our pigeons episode. Yay. Yay. Oh, my God. I love sharemi. It kind of sucks that, like, a pigeon kind of, like, reigned over everyone that we talked about this year, but good for Cher ami. Yay. Chera me. Chera me. Chera me. I'm sweating. That was spicy. And we do have an honorable mention for breakthrough character of the year. Well, yes, we do. Hold your horses. In our energy drinks episode, we discovered that a bunch of college bros invented four loko after mixing up energy drinks and booze. After some experimenting, they perfected the recipe by adding enough ingredients to give it the strength of six beers, one espresso shot, and one red bowl. Party. Before the next award, let's check in with Joan and Paul. Joan, who are you wearing? Wow. I mean, you do look fabulous. Is that hot glue good for you? Did you do that yourself? You look gorgeous. And, Paul. All right, Paul, who are you dressed as? Is it Marilyn or just a normal Saturday night? Let us know. I love the dress on you. You look good in white. I like the low cut on you because you can see a little bit of the cleave, but not too much. Like, it's very sophisticated. I mean, normally you're just so. This is actually kind of refreshing. You look gorgeous. I love that you tried to do your hair, too. Great job, you guys. Oh, who am I wearing? I'm wearing the same shirt as last year, but don't tell anyone. Only you know. Okay. Great. Now, friends, here is a new segment I am very excited about. It's time for a little quiz. Oh, yes. There will be four questions. Who doesn't love a quiz? A dark history quiz. Come on. That's fun. Now, here is question number one, and you better answer it correctly, or I'm going to fire you. What famous historical object is currently on display in an international museum of erotica? Is it Frank Sinatra's unreleased porno? In our episode on former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, we learned that he gathered the largest collection of celebrity porn on the planet. All in the name of government security, of course. Allegedly, part of that collection was a porno of none other than Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Or is it Rasputin's monster penis? In our episode on the infamous Russian wizard, Rasputin, we found out that Rasputin's murderer made sure to take home a little souvenir. Rasputin's gigantic dick. Yes. Legend has it it was sliced right off after he was shot dead. Now, I guess I heard that this thing allegedly is like 12 to 13 inches. Whoa. Now, some say this is actually a cow dick, but I say whatever helps you sleep at night. Allegedly, it was preserved in a jar for decades, just like pickles. And then our third option. A naked furby. In our episode on Beanie Babies versus Furby, we learned that furbies, that talking animal thing from the 2000s, was actually invented by a man who lives off the grid in the middle of the woods. The inventor also admitted that if he was a child, the first thing he would do to a furby was strip all its fur off, leaving it naked. Hot. Find out the correct answer to this quiz when we come back. Welcome back, friends. So what famous historical object is currently on display in an international museum of erotica? Was it Frank Sinatra's unreleased porno Rasputin's Monster Wang, or a naked furby? If you picked choice B, Rasputin's monster pickle penis. You are correct. Congratulations. You can actually still go see it on display. Take pictures and send it to me for research purposes. Anywho, the next category is. The Most Shocking Reveal of Dark History, Season 2. Now, we know this show is filled with, like, twists and turns, but these shocking reveals are one that honestly kept us all up that night. Yeah. The nominees are. Women who give birth on their back because of a Horny king. In our childbirth episode, we explored the weird, painful, and just plain horrifying origins of childbirth. We learned that giving birth on your back is unnatural. So why do so many People do it. Well, the answer is because of one very horny king, King Louis xiv. He was a king with a very particular kink, watching women give birth. So his doctors forced women to lay on their back, spread eagle, so the king could get a show. The next nominee for most shocking reveal, segregated proms, happened until 2013. Yeah, in our episodes on debutante balls, we found out King George III of England had a reputation for being cheap. So to fix that, he wanted to throw his wife, Queen Charlotte, an over the top birthday party. And this became the first debutante ball in 1780. So debutante balls were essentially events for wealthy people to network and find wives. But prom took off in America in the middle 1900s because they were considered democratic debutante balls, meaning that they were meant for everyone, or they were supposed to be for everyone. Even though segregation in schools was outlawed in 1954, segregated proms continued for years. Wilcox County High School in Georgia didn't have their first integrated prom for all students until April 27, 2013. Huh? Yeah, just 11 years ago. What the fuck? The final nominee is the mass graves of the fallen women from our Magdalene Laundries episode. Super dark. Huh? In 1995, an Irish property developer found a mass grave of over 155 women under a local Catholic church. And this blew open a huge scandal that had been secretly happening in Ireland for decades. Women who had been shunned from society were being sent to a women's prison run by the church called the Magdalene Laundries. There they were being worked, starved, and even tortured to death. Wow. Which one is gonna win, huh? The Joanie for most shocking reveal goes to. Yay. Okay. Woo. Woo. Most shocking reveal award goes to. Sorry, it's not funny. It's just like. It's pretty dark. The mass grave of the fallen women, Magdalene Laundries. I mean, that was a pretty shocking reveal. I think we can all agree on that, huh? How do we come back from that? I don't know. And an honorable mention for most shocking reveal goes to Fred Hampton, a civil rights leader who we learned about in our cointelpro episode. Fred was shot and killed in cold blood by the FBI in 1969, and everyone should really know this story. Okay, friends, time for another question for the quiz. Quiz, Quiz, quiz, quiz, quiz. Okay, you ready? Question. In a study, it was proven that more people recognized this logo more than the Christian cross. What is the logo? Is it the Disney castle? This year, we just had to do a part two to the dark history of Disney. And in it, we learned the Truly awful origin story of Rapunzel. Rapunzel was locked away in a tower by her father after refusing to play by his rules, and later beheaded for renouncing paganism and embracing Jesus Christ. The next option is the McDonald's golden arches. In our episode on the origins of fast food, we learned how a humble milkshake and burger shop became the largest fast food chain in the world, literally rewiring our brains to crave junk food and sell our souls for a few McNuggets. The last option is the Starbucks Mermaid. In our episode on Starbucks, we learned that the original Starbucks mermaid logo had two tails, a great set of titties, and a fantastic bush. Bring her back. Bring her back. The answer when we return. So which logo is more recognizable than the cross Christ died on for your sins? Was it the Disney Castle, the McDonald's golden arches, or the Starbucks mermaid? The answer is, according to a survey of thousands of people in six different countries, McDonald's golden arches. Yeah. 88% of people recognize the McDonald's golden arches, and only 54% recognize the Christian cross. God bless America. This next category up is the Business Bitch of the Year award, honoring the badasses who paved the way for women everywhere. The nominees are. Mary Ellen Pleasant. Mary Ellen Pleasant got her very own episode this season because. Because she overcame one obstacle after another. Racism, death threats, smelly old men coming for her money. And despite all that, Mary created an empire through smart real estate and business decisions and gave back to the black community every step along the way. Esther Howland, do you remember her? Me neither. I forgot. But we learned about Ms. Esther Howland in our Valentine's Day episode. Now, Esther, she had a weird experience that changed her life forever. One day, while working at her family store, her dad's business associate walked up to her and handed her a lacy valentine from England. Instead of freaking out or punching him in the face for being, like, weird, Esther decided to take this valentine, add a little flair to it, and sell them. She was one of the first people to commercialize Valentine's Day, an industry that now, partially thanks to her, is worth billions of dollars. I mean, the Hallmark company owes her everything. Josephine Baker. Ms. Josephine Baker had not one, but two episodes dedicated to her this season because she had such an epic life, right? Yep. After a difficult childhood, she moved to the big city and danced her way into the hearts of big time producers in Paris. When she got to Paris, she was an instant celebrity. Instead of partying her life away, she turned her onstage Persona into an iconic brand of Costumes, beauty products, makeup, and even Barbies. She spent the last half of her life fighting the Nazis and fighting for civil rights. Skeleton arm, where are you? It's your cue. And the Joanie for Business Bitch of the Year goes to. That's right. Pay attention. Fire. Skeleton arm, the people are waiting. Okay, hold on. I need glasses. Okay, got it. Business Bitch of the Year award goes to. Mary Ellen Pleasant from a Mary Ellen Pleasant episode. Woo. Sweating Mary Ellen Pleasant was actually a pretty badass, so checks out. And a quick honorable mention for Business Bitch of the year goes to Ms. Tippi Hedren from our nail salons episode, do you remember? No. Well, let me tell you. Tippi used her power and privilege to help thousands of Vietnamese refugees learn the art of the manicure, helping empower thousands of men and women looking to start over. And she got attacked by birds. Our next quiz question comes from our Founding Fathers episode. Whoa. We're going back. Do you remember anything from that episode? Me neither. But we did learn some wild stuff about the men who used to run our country, you know, including their kinks and the skeletons in their closet. We even debunked some myths about these guys that turned out to be just straight up lies. Like the whole cherry tree story about George Washington confessing to his papa. Papa. No, I cannot tell a lie. It was fake. Turns out there's more where that came from. So, without further ado, I present to you two truths and a lie. Founding Father's Edition. Question. Which of these statements is false? A. Thomas Jefferson was a foodie. And thanks to him serving this food in the White House, things like ice cream, pasta and Mac and cheese became popular in the United States. B. Benjamin Franklin invented electricity by flying a kite during a lightning storm. High risk, high reward, I guess, huh? C. George Washington was obsessed with dogs and had over 50 of them in his lifetime. And this obsession with dogs led him to inventing his own breed, the American foxhound. The answer when we come back from the break. Could you guess what the lie was? Drumroll, please. A. Okay, it was B. Benjamin Franklin inventing electricity. Ugh. What? Yeah, fake news. Sorry about that. Which means that Thomas Jefferson was indeed a foodie with an ice cream obsession in. George Washington loved dogs. I mean, I can relate to both. At any given time, Georgie had 30 dogs, and his favorite was named Sweet Lips. Hey, sweet Lips. Our next category celebrates those moments in dark history that just leave you wondering, whose idea was that? And most importantly, what the hell were they thinking? Now, if I had a nickel for every time Someone makes a questionable decision on dark history and, like, horrible things happen as a result, I would quit this show and just buy all the limited edition Princess Diana Beanie Babies and just, like, lay in my spa butt naked and live my life, you know? Which is a great decision compared to the choices these people made. Up next is the what the Hell Were They Thinking Award. The first nominee is Ted Kennedy and the Chapel Quiddick in Sydney from our Kennedys episode. The Kennedys are one of those families that have terrible luck. Bad things happen to them, you know? But every once in a while, even a Kennedy screws up and makes a bad call. Back in the summer of 1969, Ted Kennedy made a series of bad calls on a little island in New England called Chappaquiddick. Not only did Ted drink and drive, but he drove straight off a bridge with a girl in the car who sadly, like, ended up drowning. Messed up. When Ted realized he couldn't save her, he did what any innocent man would do. He swam home and fled the scene. And then he pretended that the whole thing never happened. What the hell, Ted? Huh? The second nominee is NASA and Morton Thiokol in our episode on the Challenger Disaster. Now, if you remember the Challenger design disaster, it's time to invest in an eye cream. You're tired. We're getting old. And if you remember our episode on the Challenger Disaster, you already know. It was like a bad call on top of a bad call on top of a bad call. It all started when NASA hired a company called Morton Thiocall to build the rocket boosters that would launch the shuttle itself. Okay, now, there was a pretty big issue with something called the O rings that kept a tight seal on the booster. Essentially, they didn't work. But did NASA and Martin Thiokol ignore that problem? And did they send a rocket full of people up to space anyway? Including America's favorite teacher, Christa McAuliffe. Well, you betcha. Now we all know what happened next. A tragedy that could have been prevented. Ugh. Yeah, I know. NASA. What were you thinking? What were you doing? Our final nominee for what the Hell Were they thinking award is Dr. Conrad Murray from our Evil Doctors episode. In 2011, Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for accidentally giving Michael Jackson a lethal dose of milk to help him sleep. Milk is what MJ called propofol, an extremely powerful drug which should definitely not be used to help you sleep, but it does help. You know what I'm saying? I don't know about you, but when I'M out of melatonin. I don't reach for the propofol because I don't have a prescription. But I could if I would. You know what I'm saying? Probably the best sleep ever. Never wake up. Since Murray was a doctor, he should have known this, you would think. And maybe he did, but allegedly he gave it to MJ Anyway. Conrad, what were you thinking, man? And then Joanie, for the what the hell are you thinking award goes to. On time. Great job. I love this. This is so fun. Let's see. Who do you think it is? Great. What the hell are you they thinking? Award goes to Ted Kennedy. Really? Well, I can see that. I think all of them deserve to actually win because all of them pretty fucked up. But Ted Kennedy, no comment. Murderer, right? Great. Friends, congratulations. You made it to the final question in the quiz. Now, this one comes from our conjugal visits episode. Do you remember? Yeah. The question is, why were conjugal visits started in America? A, to increase the population of the United States during the Vietnam draft. B, because prisoners were making too many boner jokes. Or C, try to stop the homosexual behavior in prisons. The answer to why conjugal visits were started in America is C. Did you get that? I knew you would. To stop the homosexual behavior in America's prisons. I know. It's one of those things that started for the wrong reason, but then became a very meaningful rite for the families and partners of inmates. And of course, now they're trying to take it away. Up next is our Villain of the Year award. This is a really competitive category here at Dark History. There are just so many twisted, evil, no good, really bad people out there. I think that's what our whole show is based on, huh? Yeah. Which leads us to our first nominee. Now, first up is Senator Joseph McCarthy. Now you may remember him from our Lavender scare episode. Now, back in the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy convinced the country that homosexuality was a threat to America. And he believed if you were gay, you were probably also a communist. He's like, eh, totally makes sense. So he would start rumors that people were gay communists and threatened to out them and end their careers if they didn't comply with his demands. He was a life ruiner. He ruined people's lives. Our next nominee is Monsanto from our episode on Monsanto. Wow, that feels like forever ago, huh? Monsanto was a big biotech company which is now owned by Bayer. Oh, they're still thriving. Honey, they're trying to kill me. I know they are. I see people in black outside my House. I'm like, who are they? Monsanto? Did they send you or is it Nestle? I can't figure it out. They patented special seeds and then came for any farmers who didn't buy them or recycled them with a vengeance. They also invented a popular weed killer called Glyphosate, which you might actually know as its brand name Roundup. Or by the way, it killed your favorite uncle. It's also in your Cheerios. Monsanto also developed Agent Orange, which was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Vietnamese and American troops and civilians. Boo. Our final nominee for Villain of the Year is. Molasses. Hmm. Okay. You might remember molasses from our Killer Sweets episode. And if you're like me, you've been having night terrors of a giant tsunami made of liquid hot syrupy molasses just chasing you ever since. Sounds kind of hot. In a freak accident in 1919, a tank of molasses exploded in Boston. Molasses is kind of like maple syrup, but much thicker. When the tank exploded, over 2 million gallons of molasses gushed out at 35 miles an hour. Whoa. Sorry. The molasses wave crushed buildings, trapped horses, and ultimately left 21 people dead and over 150 injured. And the winner of the Joanie Award for Villain of the Year goes to. Thank you. You're so good. Thank you so much. Hand might need your assistance later tonight. And just kidding. Villain of the Year goes to. You want to read that? Oh, you can't read. My bad girl. Monsanto. Well deserved. They've been killing people for a really long time. Time. Yeah. Thank you guys so much for tuning into the annual Joanie Awards and for joining me this season of Dark History. A. We've learned so much, haven't we? Some things I wish I just never found out about. There's a lot of things, but looking at you. Energy drinks, that sucks. But you know what they say, Knowledge is power. So cheers to you and me because we are stronger and more powerful than ever before. And if you're hooked on the dark tales we uncover here on Dark History, then you'll want to tune in for our next season. Oh, yes. Now, I don't want to give away too much, but I'll give you some hints. What's coming up? Now we have more murderous dictators, toxic chemicals, bad companies, unwanted addictions, and naughty, naughty presidents. Season four starts this fall. And until then, stay curious. Now, I'd love to hear your guys reactions to today's story, so make sure to leave a comment below. So I Can see what you guys are saying. And your comment might even be featured in a future episode. Now let's read a couple of comments. You guys have left me. Cayman permont8808 said, let us know how you like Seabiscuit, exclamation point. You know, I haven't watched Seabiscuit yet. My dad is like, really is. He really wants me to watch this movie. He says, very inspiring. And it's a really good movie. So I gotta get on it. Yeah, I will one day. Just not today. Welcome to Canada today. Interesting screens, new screening. Did you ever look at Paul's crotch? There's something wrong there. No. I don't know if you know this, but Paul's dead. And his crotch, it's just bones. What do you mean? What are you talking about? I don't know what else to tell you. And what is. What's. Welcome to Canada today. What? Why are you looking at Paul's crotch? Up here. Up here. Right here. Don't sexualize. Oh, sorry. Don't sexualize. Paul. He is a lady. A really nice lady. Dariem, mj2184 said. So I'm supposed to be impressed that this woman dehydrated coke into a cube that didn't taste like coke? Dariem, I think you're talking about Hedy Lamar. And look, I mean, you're not wrong. You should be impressed because what have you done today besides laid there on your phone watching YouTube videos and leaving comments? Huh? Huh? You should care. She tried Derrium. She's trying. What have you done today? Have you taken a shower yet? Okay. Thank you. Luna Sheehan said. Okay. I think I can say for a lot of us, you were there through some hard times slash years. So for me, it's been four slash five years. So now you're family and you're stuck with me. Oh, my God, Luna, thank you so much. That's really nice of you. I appreciate you so much for being around and, like, listening and. Invite me over for dinner sometime. I'd come. I'm really excited for next season and I hope you stick around too. But, like, you know, maybe. Where's my invite? I want to come over. Let me come over. I love you guys for watching and I love you guys so much for engaging and commenting and just being around. It's been quite the year, huh? So keep on commenting because maybe you'll be featured in a future episode. And hey, if you don't know, Dark History is an audioboom original. And I want to give one final thank you to all the episode experts who double and triple checked our work this year. Now, without you, I'd be getting shit wrong. And don't you forget it. I'm your host, Bailey Sarian. But goodbye. Have a good day, make good choices and I'll see you next season. Goodbye.
Dark History Podcast Summary
Episode 143: "The Joanie Awards! The Only Award Show Where Everyone is Dead"
Release Date: September 4, 2024
Host: Bailey Sarian
In Episode 143 of Dark History, host Bailey Sarian introduces the inaugural Joanie Awards, a unique award show format designed to celebrate the most captivating and darkly intriguing stories from the season. Bailey playfully engages with her virtual audience, featuring historical figures and characters from previous episodes, setting a lively and interactive tone for the evening.
Notable Quote:
Bailey kicks off the awards by recognizing standout characters who made significant impacts in their respective stories.
Hedy Lamar
From "The Dark History of Hedy Lamar"
Hedy Lamar, renowned for her beauty and intellect, escaped a marriage with a Nazi weapons dealer to become a Hollywood icon. Beyond her on-screen presence, Hedy contributed to scientific advancements during World War II, aiding in the invention of technologies foundational to modern wireless communication. Despite her contributions, Hedy was initially denied recognition, only being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.
Notable Quote:
Cher Ami
From "The Dark History of Pigeons"
Cher Ami, a heroic pigeon, played a critical role during World War I by delivering a vital message that saved 194 soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. Despite being severely injured, Cher Ami completed a perilous 25-mile flight, showcasing extraordinary bravery before succumbing to his wounds.
Notable Quote:
William Dalton Mann
From "The Dark History of Gossip"
William Dalton Mann, a Union Army colonel, pioneered the American celebrity gossip industry through his ruthless tactics of blackmail. By exploiting scandals and secrets of the elite, Mann laid the groundwork for modern gossip platforms like the National Enquirer and TMZ.
Notable Quote:
Cher Ami triumphs as the Breakthrough Character of the Year, celebrated for his unmatched bravery and pivotal role in saving lives during wartime.
Notable Quote:
This category highlights the most unexpected and disturbing revelations uncovered during the season.
Women Given Birth on Their Backs Due to a Horny King
From "Childbirth Episode"
The episode explores the barbaric origins of modern childbirth practices, revealing that King Louis XIV mandated women to give birth lying on their backs to cater to his voyeuristic desires.
Notable Quote:
Segregated Proms Persisting Until 2013
From "Debutante Balls Episode"
Despite the outlawing of school segregation in 1954, segregated proms continued in parts of America until as recently as 2013, exemplifying the lingering effects of racial discrimination.
Notable Quote:
Mass Graves of Fallen Women from Magdalene Laundries
From "Magdalene Laundries Episode"
In 1995, a mass grave containing over 155 women was discovered beneath a Catholic church in Ireland, exposing decades of abuse, starvation, and torture inflicted upon women in the Magdalene Laundries.
Notable Quote:
This devastating discovery wins for its profound impact and the revelations of systemic abuse and neglect.
Notable Quote:
Honoring trailblazing women whose business acumen and resilience paved the way for future generations.
Mary Ellen Pleasant
From "Mary Ellen Pleasant Episode"
Overcoming racism, threats, and relentless obstacles, Mary Ellen Pleasant built a formidable empire through strategic real estate and business ventures, significantly contributing to the African American community.
Notable Quote:
Esther Howland
From "Valentine's Day Episode"
Esther Howland revolutionized the commercialization of Valentine's Day by creatively enhancing and selling lacy valentines, laying the groundwork for the multi-billion-dollar industry today.
Notable Quote:
Josephine Baker
From "Josephine Baker Episodes"
Josephine Baker not only captivated audiences with her performances but also expanded her brand into beauty products and philanthropy, all while fighting against Nazi oppression and advocating for civil rights.
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Mary Ellen Pleasant is recognized for her unparalleled business prowess and dedication to empowering her community.
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This category spotlights historical figures and organizations responsible for particularly egregious and baffling decisions with dire consequences.
Ted Kennedy and the Chappaquiddick Incident
From "Kennedys Episode"
In 1969, Senator Ted Kennedy drove off a bridge into Chappaquiddick Pond while under the influence, resulting in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. Kennedy's subsequent attempt to cover up the incident tarnished his reputation and legacy.
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NASA and Morton Thiokol – Challenger Disaster
From "Challenger Disaster Episode"
The fatal decision by NASA and Morton Thiokol to proceed with the Challenger launch despite known issues with the O-rings led to the tragic explosion that claimed the lives of seven astronauts, including Christa McAuliffe.
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Dr. Conrad Murray and the Death of Michael Jackson
From "Evil Doctors Episode"
Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering a lethal dose of propofol to pop star Michael Jackson, leading to the singer's untimely death.
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Ted Kennedy's irresponsible and tragic decision-making earns him the top spot in this category.
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Acknowledging the most malevolent figures and entities that have inflicted widespread harm.
Senator Joseph McCarthy
From "Lavender Scare Episode"
McCarthy spearheaded the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s, falsely accusing numerous individuals of communist ties based solely on their sexual orientation, leading to ruined careers and lives.
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Monsanto
From "Monsanto Episode"
Monsanto, a major biotech corporation, has been implicated in various environmental and health controversies, including the production of harmful chemicals like Agent Orange and Glyphosate (Roundup), and aggressively protecting its patents at the expense of farmers.
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Molasses
From "Killer Sweets Episode"
The 1919 Boston Molasses Disaster saw a massive tank of molasses explode, releasing a wave of syrup that resulted in 21 deaths and over 150 injuries, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of industrial negligence.
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Monsanto is declared Villain of the Year for its extensive and ongoing negative impact on health, environment, and agricultural practices.
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Throughout the episode, Bailey engages listeners with interactive quiz questions, testing their knowledge on obscure and dark historical facts.
Quiz Question 1:
What famous historical object is currently on display in an international museum of erotica?
Options:
A. Frank Sinatra's unreleased porno
B. Rasputin's Monster Wang
C. A naked Furby
Correct Answer: B. Rasputin's Monster Wang
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Quiz Question 2:
More people recognize which logo than the Christian cross?
Options:
A. The Disney Castle
B. McDonald's Golden Arches
C. The Starbucks Mermaid
Correct Answer: B. McDonald's Golden Arches
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Quiz Question 3:
Why were conjugal visits started in America?
Options:
A. To increase the population during the Vietnam draft
B. Because prisoners were making too many boner jokes
C. To stop homosexual behavior in prisons
Correct Answer: C. To stop homosexual behavior in prisons
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Quiz Question 4:
Which statement about the Founding Fathers is false?
Options:
A. Thomas Jefferson was a foodie, popularizing ice cream, pasta, and mac and cheese
B. Benjamin Franklin invented electricity by flying a kite during a lightning storm
C. George Washington was obsessed with dogs and invented the American foxhound
Correct Answer: B. Benjamin Franklin invented electricity by flying a kite
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Bailey concludes the Joanie Awards by thanking her audience, reading selected comments, and teasing upcoming content for the next season. She emphasizes the importance of listener support and engagement, encouraging fans to leave comments for potential feature in future episodes.
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Bailey signs off with gratitude and anticipation for the next season, promising more dark tales encompassing murderous dictators, toxic chemicals, and scandalous presidents.
Episode 143, "The Joanie Awards! The Only Award Show Where Everyone is Dead," offers a comprehensive and entertaining recap of the season's most compelling stories. Through engaging award categories, interactive quizzes, and insightful commentary, Bailey Sarian successfully highlights the intricate and often disturbing facets of history, making Dark History an essential listen for true crime and history enthusiasts alike.