Podcast Summary:

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley's Believe It Or Not - 1 Minute Episodes (286) Double Pay
Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a brief, fascinating tale in true "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not" fashion, focusing on an unusual case of overtime pay in art history. A look into a quirky French family and Michelangelo’s inventive efforts while painting the Last Judgment introduces listeners to strange but true facts from the archives of history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Odd Facts from History

• The episode dives right into the bizarre with a fact about an unusually named family in colonial France (1792).

• The 1792 family named their four sons after the first four months of the year:

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April

• The story specifically marks March 1792, who lived until September 1904.

  Quote:

  "In colonial France, 1792, is a family name. The 1792 family had four sons named January, February, March and April. March 1792 died in September 1904. Believe it or not."
  – Narrator, [00:30-00:45]

2. The First Case of Double Overtime Pay

• The narrative then shifts to a story about Michelangelo and a unique negotiation with Pope Paul III for the painting of "The Last Judgment" in the Vatican.

• In 1536, Michelangelo arranged to receive:

  • One ducat per day for daytime work
  • Two ducats per day for night-time work

• To paint after dark, Michelangelo innovated by making himself a hood with a candle, letting him see his work after sundown.

• This arrangement makes Michelangelo "the first man to receive double pay for overtime."

  Quote:

  "While painting the Last Judgment in the Vatican... Michelangelo contracted with Pope Paul III in 1536 that he would draw one ducat daily for work performed in the daytime and two ducats for work after sundown. He made himself a hood into which he stuck a lighted candle. This permitted him to see his work after dark, making Michelangelo the first man to receive double pay for overtime. Believe it or not."
  – Narrator, [00:45-01:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Truth is strange[r] than fiction. And this is the proof.”
  – Narrator, [00:30]
• “Making Michelangelo the first man to receive double pay for overtime. Believe it or not.”
  – Narrator, [01:10-01:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:30] — Introduction to the Ripley's story; quirky French family named after months
• [00:45] — Transition to Michelangelo and overtime pay
• [01:10] — The “Believe it or not” punchline wrapping the episode

Summary & Tone

This micro-episode delivers a fun, concise window into the weird corners of history, maintaining Ripley’s classic tone of awe and intrigue. The narration is brisk, slightly dramatic, and leans into the odd charm of these true tales—perfect for listeners who crave historical oddities in bite-sized form.