Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Ripley's Believe It Or Not – 1 Minute Episodes xx-xx-xx (384) Stroke of Lightning
Date: December 18, 2025

This episode showcases a bite-sized segment from the classic Ripley’s Believe It or Not radio series. The theme is curious historical oddities, focusing on a lightning strike that transformed history and architecture in Salamanca, Spain. Listeners are treated to the signature rapid-fire delivery of staggering facts, characteristic of the Ripley’s format.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Curiosity of Ammonia Gas

• Fact Presented: An empty gallon can holds one gallon of ammonia gas.

• Surprising Twist: When the can is filled with water, its capacity rises to 600 gallons of ammonia gas.

• Insight: This illustrates how dissolving gases in liquids can amplify storage capacity immensely, surprising the audience with a counterintuitive physical property.

  “An empty gallon can will hold one gallon of ammonia gas. When the same can is filled with water, it will increase its capacity to 600 gallons of ammonia gas. Believe it or not.”
  [00:18] – Ripley's Narrator

2. The Lightning Stroke that Changed a City

• Main Story: A lightning strike in 14th-century Salamanca, Spain, alters a city tower.

• What Happened:

  • The original building was a city wall tower.
  • Lightning struck, leaving behind a burnt spire that, in profile, seemingly resembled a human face.
  • Locals interpreted the likeness as King Alfonso XI, their monarch at the time.
  • The king, upon seeing the resemblance, was moved by the supposed miracle and decided to convert the damaged tower into a church—the Church of San Marcos.

• Themes: The intertwining of natural phenomena with cultural and religious belief, and how coincidence can shift destinies and architecture.

  “In the 14th century, lightning struck the tower and converted the spire into a side view likeness of a human face. The natives declared that the miraculous profile was King Alfonso the 11th then reigning. He acknowledged the resemblance and felt impelled to convert the tower into a church. Believe it or not.”
  [00:34] – Ripley's Narrator

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Scientific Oddity:

  “An empty gallon can will hold one gallon of ammonia gas. When the same can is filled with water, it will increase its capacity to 600 gallons of ammonia gas. Believe it or not.”
  [00:18] – Ripley's Narrator

• On History and Fate:

  “A stroke of lightning is responsible for the Church of San Marcos in Salamanca, Spain...”
  [00:31] – Ripley's Narrator
  “Lightning struck the tower and converted the spire into a side view likeness of a human face... The natives declared that the miraculous profile was King Alfonso the 11th...”
  [00:35] – Ripley's Narrator

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:15] – Intro to Ripley’s Believe It or Not
• [00:18] – Ammonia gas capacity fact
• [00:31] – Introduction to the Church of San Marcos story
• [00:34-00:53] – The lightning strike, the king’s response, and the church's origin
• [00:53] – Episode close (before next ad)

Tone & Style

The narration features classic Ripley’s intrigue: mysterious, rapid, and matter-of-fact, inviting listeners to marvel and ponder with the signature refrain:
“Believe it or not.”

Summary

This short Ripley's segment delivers two captivating facts: first, the striking science behind ammonia gas and water; second, a serendipitous encounter between weather and leadership that leads to a Spanish church’s unique origin. The episode typifies the wonder and curiosity of Golden Age radio storytelling, making it a nostalgic and enlightening listen—even decades later.