Episode Overview
Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not – 1 Minute Episodes (360) "Emperor in Hot Water"
Date: November 18, 2025
This bite-sized episode from Harold’s Old Time Radio features a dramatic retelling from "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not," sharing remarkable historical oddities from the past. The main narrative delivers an incredible tale of survival and fury centered on Emperor Maximilian and two legendary saints.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Enduring Relics from Early England
[00:12]
- The Church of St Peter in Montclimath, England, still preserves some of the original glass panes installed in 674 AD.
- These are the first glass panes ever manufactured in England.
- Dramatic tone underscores the age and significance:
“The Church of St Peter in Montclimath, England, still has some of the glass panes that were installed in the year 674, the first glass ever manufactured in England. Believe it or not.”
2. The Extraordinary Legend of Emperor Maximilian
[00:34]
- Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian, patron saints of cobblers, refused to pay homage to Emperor Maximilian.
- In anger, Maximilian ordered both saints to be boiled alive.
- Strikingly, after significant time in the cauldron, both saints appeared completely unharmed.
- The emperor, incensed by his failure to punish them, jumped into the boiling water himself in a fit of rage.
- The result: Maximilian was “immediately scalded to death,” while the saints survived.
- Dramatic retelling heightens the mystique and incredulity of the story:
“His orders were carried out, but after some time in the water, both of the condemned men were still alive, apparently unscathed. This so infuriated the emperor that he jumped into the boiling water to kill the men himself. He was immediately scalded to death, Believe it or not.”
(A, 00:44)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
The episode’s iconic opening:
"Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley’s Believe it or Not."
(B, 00:00)
-
Highlighting the miracle:
“Both of the condemned men were still alive, apparently unscathed.”
(A, 00:40)
-
The emperor’s dramatic fate:
“This so infuriated the emperor that he jumped into the boiling water... He was immediately scalded to death, Believe it or not.”
(A, 00:50)
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 00:00 – Intro and theme: "Truth is stranger than fiction..."
- 00:12 – Story of the ancient church glass in Montclimath
- 00:34 – Set up of the Emperor Maximilian legend and the saints
- 00:44 – Climax: The emperor’s failed execution and ironic demise
Tone and Style
The style is classic Ripley’s: authoritative, sensational, and brisk. The narration maintains an air of astonished wonder, matching the outlandish nature of the tale itself.
For New Listeners:
This concise, engaging episode gives a taste of the kind of surprising, dramatic lore presented in "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not." In less than a minute, listeners get history, mystery, and the memorable moral: sometimes, those who mete out punishment face an unexpected end—believe it or not!
