Podcast Summary: Ripley's Believe It Or Not – "Mad Monarch's Revenge"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley's Believe It Or Not - 1 Minute Episodes xx-xx-xx (377) Mad Monarch's Revenge
Date: December 11, 2025
Host/Narrator: [Unattributed in transcript, classic anthology format]

Episode Overview

This bite-sized episode from the "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" radio series delivers a pair of unusual, haunting tales from history. Staying true to the classic show's ethos, it invites listeners to marvel at the strangeness of the past, challenging the notion that truth cannot outdo fiction. The episode’s star story, "Mad Monarch's Revenge," recounts the terrifying legend of a young caliph's deadly vengeance, delivering a darkly memorable snapshot of vengeance and cruelty.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Eternal Lamp of Dante

• Segment Timestamp: 00:41–01:00

• Listeners learn of Florence’s enduring homage to Dante, Italy’s revered poet.

• A lamp in Dante's tomb in Ravenna has burned continually since 1908, with the city of Florence pledging to keep it alight “for all eternity.”

• Key Insight: This fact exemplifies the reverent commemoration of cultural icons and underscores the poetic efforts to immortalize their memory.

  “Dante, Italy's greatest point, now lies in a tomb in Ravenna illuminated by an oil lamp lit. Since September 1908, Dante's hometown, Florence, has undertaken to keep the lamp burning for all eternity. Believe it or not.” (Narrator, 00:41)

2. Mad Monarch’s Revenge

• Segment Timestamp: 01:00–01:32

• The featured "Ripley's" oddity recounts the cruelty of Abdul Hassan Ali, who became Caliph of Egypt at age 16.

• In an act of horrifying retribution against Cairo for a "slight," the young caliph invited 2,660 beautiful young women from the city to a lavish feast.

• He then commanded the exits to be sealed by masons, trapping the women inside; six months later, only skeletons remained, which he ordered removed for burial.

• Key Insight: This tale, with its staggering casualty and cold-blooded revenge, evokes an era where rulers wielded absolute and often horrifying power.

  “Abdul Hassan Ali, who at the age of 16 became the Caliph of Egypt, invited 2,660 of the most beautiful young ladies of Cairo to a sumptuous feast. As soon as the building was filled, a company of masons was ordered to seal up all exits with brick and mortar. Six months later, the mad ruler ordered the doors opened and had the young captive skeletons removed for burial. The revenge was for a slight offered him by the Egyptian capital. Believe it or not.” (Narrator, 01:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• The Remark on Truth and Fiction:

  “Truth is stranger than fiction. This is the proof. This is Ripley's Believe it or not.” (Narrator, 00:28)

• Closing Reflection:
  Through its trademark delivery, Ripley's once again blurs the line between the plausible and the incredible, inviting listeners to consider the most extreme reaches of both historical commemoration and revenge.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:28 – Introduction: “Truth is stranger than fiction…”
• 00:41 – The eternal oil lamp at Dante’s tomb
• 01:00 – The horrifying revenge of Abdul Hassan Ali

Tone and Delivery

With its concise, dramatic narration and gripping historical vignettes, this episode maintains the classic tone of astonished wonder—the same tone that captivated millions during the golden age of radio. The speaker presents grisly, odd details without embellishment, leaving listeners both awed and unsettled.

This "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" minute is perfect for history buffs, fans of strange tales, and anyone curious about the most curious corners of the human past.