Podcast Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley's Believe It Or Not – 1 Minute Episodes (356): Cruel Practical Joke
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode of Ripley's Believe It Or Not highlights a chilling anecdote from history, presenting the so-called "cruelest practical joke on record." Designed as a quick, curiosity-driven segment, the episode draws listeners into an unbelievable true story about power, suspicion, and an astonishing abuse of authority in the Ottoman Empire.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Anecdote: The Cruel Practical Joke

• The host begins with a general statement tying the segment to Ripley's central theme of the incredible and bizarre:

  "Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley's Believe it or Not." [00:00]

• Olympic Theater Fact:
  • A brief historical aside introduces the Olympic Theater in Decenza, Italy:

    "The Olympic Theater in Decenza, Italy, built by Andrea Palladio in 1580, is the first theater in history provided with a roof. All previous theaters were of the open air variety. It's still in use, Believe it or not." [00:07]

• The Sultan and the Watermelon Incident:
  • The episode’s main narrative centers on Sultan Mohammed II of Turkey:

    "One day while Mohammed, second Sultan of Turkey, was dining, he was called away before the dessert course. When he returned, a large juicy watermelon was gone." [00:21]

  • In an astonishing act of suspicion, the Sultan interrogates 14 palace pages, all of whom deny taking the dessert.

2. The Extent of the 'Joke'

• The Sultan takes a drastic and grizzly step to resolve the missing watermelon mystery:

  "The Sultan summoned his surgeon and ordered him to open the stomachs of all the pages. There was no trace of watermelon in any of them." [00:34]

• The segment concludes with a cold reflection on the Sultan’s manner:

  "The Emperor made his half hearted apologies with a nonchalance that is not to be believed. Believe it or not." [00:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Opening Remark:

  "Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley's Believe it or Not." — Host [00:00]

• On the First Covered Theater:

  "The Olympic Theater in Decenza, Italy, built by Andrea Palladio in 1580, is the first theater in history provided with a roof... It's still in use, Believe it or not." — Host [00:07]

• Recounting the Practical Joke:

  "The Sultan summoned his surgeon and ordered him to open the stomachs of all the pages. There was no trace of watermelon in any of them." — Host [00:34]

• Reflecting on the Aftermath:

  "The Emperor made his half hearted apologies with a nonchalance that is not to be believed." — Host [00:43]

Episode Timeline

• [00:00] – Introduction & theme: truth outstripping fiction
• [00:07] – Olympic Theater fact
• [00:21] – Story begins: Sultan Mohammed II and the missing watermelon
• [00:34] – Sultan's investigation: demand for surgery
• [00:43] – Emperor’s unapologetic reaction and conclusion

Tone & Style

• The episode is delivered in an old-fashioned, matter-of-fact tone characteristic of classic radio storytelling, with dramatic reveals and a punchline feel that typifies the Ripley’s style.
• The host’s incredulity is understated, letting the facts of the story stand out as shocking and grimly ironic.

Summary Impression

This episode succinctly delivers a remarkable historical anecdote that is both absurd and disturbing, encapsulating the unpredictable extremes of real-life events. It invites listeners to marvel—and shudder—at both human creativity and cruelty, truly living up to the Ripley’s "Believe it or not" challenge.