Episode Overview
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley's Believe It Or Not - 1 Minute Episodes (316) Hangman's Noose
Date: October 3, 2025
This brief episode from "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" centers on the extraordinary story of Mary Green, a woman who survived a public execution in London in 1819. Hosted in the vintage style of Golden Age radio, the episode blends curious historical anecdotes with dramatic flair, inviting listeners to question the boundary between truth and fiction.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
The Massachusetts Penny: An Unlikely Inflation
- [00:07] The episode begins by drawing attention to historical curiosities about money, linking past and present by referencing a "coin shortage."
- Noteworthy Fact: "Consider the Commonwealth, a Massachusetts penny coined in 1787 and 1788. It cost 2 cents to mint. Believe it or not."
The Hangman's Noose: Mary Green's Surprising Survival
- [00:18] Host introduces the main story: the remarkable fate of Mary Green.
- [00:22] Mary Green was hanged at Newgate Prison, London, on March 22, 1819, after being convicted of passing counterfeit banknotes.
- [00:34] After she was declared officially dead, her body was handed to her family for burial.
- [00:39] An attentive relative noticed Mary was not actually dead and quickly called a doctor.
- Notable Quote: "An alert relative detected a spark of life and quickly summoned a doctor. He wasted no time, and in 20 minutes of resuscitation restored her to life."
- [00:45] Mary Green was successfully revived.
- [00:48] She lived under a new name and identity for another 50 years.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Host (A), [00:01]: "Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley. Believe it or not."
- Host (A), [00:39]: "An alert relative detected a spark of life and quickly summoned a doctor. He wasted no time, and in 20 minutes of resuscitation restored her to life."
- Host (A), [00:49]: "She survived under another name and identity for 50 years. More years, believe it or not."
Timeline of Important Segments
- 00:00-00:07: Introduction; theme of strange truths and the high minting cost of the Massachusetts penny
- 00:18-00:22: Setting the scene: Mary Green's execution at Newgate Prison
- 00:34-00:48: Details of Mary’s apparent death, miraculous revival, and secret life in the decades that followed
- 00:49: Dramatic closing invitation to "believe it or not"
Episode Tone and Style
The narration is concise, dramatic, and rooted in Ripley’s signature style—delivering remarkable snippets of history with a blend of skepticism and wonder. The host’s language is direct and slightly theatrical, matching the classic radio ambiance.
Summary
Listeners are treated to a concise yet gripping segment, highlighting two peculiar historical tales: the Massachusetts penny that cost more to mint than its value, and, most notably, the incredible true story of Mary Green, who survived execution and lived for half a century thereafter. The episode captures the spirit of Ripley’s mission to present reality’s strangest tales, inviting you to “believe it or not.”
