Episode Overview
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley's Believe It Or Not - "Jilted a King"
Date: October 12, 2025
This brief episode of Harold's Old Time Radio revisits an intriguing story from Ripley's Believe It Or Not series, originally broadcast in the golden age of radio. The episode explores a peculiar historical oddity involving a jilted king, a famed Persian poet, and the tragic fate of a woman named Chakhi Navet. With its classic narrative style, the episode delivers a compact, dramatic story that showcases the unique storytelling of old-time radio.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Unusual Historical Anecdotes (00:30–00:50)
- The episode opens with a characteristic statement: “Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley Believe it or not.”
- The host recounts the eccentric behavior of Captain Joseph Hay of Edinburgh, Scotland:
- Hay "always wore a long veil in public so he could ogle passing ladies without arousing the indignation of their escorts."
- This serves as a segue into the episode's main story, setting the tone for the strange-but-true tales typical of Ripley's Believe It Or Not.
2. The Main Story: Chakhi Navet, The King, and the Poet (00:51–01:24)
- Chakhi Navet ("a piece of sugar") lived in Shiraz and was famed for her beauty, captivating two great men:
- Sujah, King of the Persian province of Fars.
- Hafiz, a local boy from Shiraz who became one of Persia's most revered poets, renowned for his lyricism and imagery.
- Despite receiving the king's affections, Chakhi chose to marry the poet, Hafiz.
- The story takes a dark turn: Rather than a fairytale ending, "the poet was a brute who mistreated her, causing her early death."
- The episode concludes with the signature challenge: Believe it or not.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
Introduction to the Tale
- Host (00:30):
“Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley Believe it or not.”
Captain Joseph Hay's Odd Habit
- Host (00:34):
“Captain Joseph Hay of Edinburgh, Scotland, always wore a long veil in public so he could ogle passing ladies without arousing the indignation of their escorts. Believe it or not…”
The Tragic Romance of Chakhi Navet
-
Host (00:45):
“Her name was Chakhi Navet—its meaning, a piece of sugar. She was so enchanting that she inflamed the hearts of two of the most prominent men of her age.”
-
Host (00:55):
“She jilted her king and married the poet. But she did not live happily ever after. The poet was a brute who mistreated her, causing her early death. Believe it or not.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:30 — Introduction to Ripley's theme (“Truth is stranger than fiction…”)
- 00:34 — Story of Captain Joseph Hay and his veil
- 00:45 — Introduction of Chakhi Navet and her admirers
- 00:51 — The love triangle: Chakhi Navet, King Sujah, and Hafiz
- 01:17 — The unexpected, tragic fate of Chakhi Navet
- 01:24 — Classic Ripley sign-off ("Believe it or not.")
Tone & Style
The storytelling is concise, dramatic, and employs a matter-of-fact tone typical of vintage radio. The details evoke both wonder and melancholy, inviting listeners into an unusual but memorable historical anecdote.
Summary
This episode serves as a window into early 20th-century popular culture, spotlighting remarkable, lesser-known human stories with the distinctive flair of Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Through the brief but moving account of Chakhi Navet, listeners are reminded that tales from the past can be as surprising and poignant as any fiction—believe it or not.
