Ripley’s Believe It Or Not – “Scorn of an Angry Woman”

Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: 1 Minute Episodes (412)
Air date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the classic radio series "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not" focuses on remarkable tales that blur the line between truth and fiction. In this concise, compelling installment, the featured segment tells the story of a Zulu marriage custom before shifting to an astonishing account of scorn and defiance by Giles, Countess of Denoil, Ireland, set during the Cromwellian era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Zulu Bride’s “Honeymoon Coiffure”

• Zulu marriage tradition: The episode opens with a curious tradition involving the hair of Zulu brides.

  • Quote ([00:13]):

    “The hairdo of a Zulu bride is literally a honeymoon coiffure. It’s plastered with honey and she’s forbidden to undo it for six months. When she lets her hair down, the honeymoon is over. Believe it or not.”
    — Ripley’s Narrator

• Insight: This illustrates how cultural customs can embody symbolic meanings about marriage and its duration, adding a whimsical yet thought-provoking note about ritual and tradition.

Scorn of an Angry Woman: Giles, Countess of Denoil

• Historical context: The story turns to Ireland under Cromwellian rule, highlighting the fate of a noblewoman after her husband’s execution.

  • After her husband was hanged by Cromwell’s troops, Countess Giles faced coercion by victor’s justice:
    • Quote ([00:29]):

      “After seeing her husband hanged by Cromwell’s troops, she was told she could retain her possessions only by marrying one of the English officers.”
      — Ripley’s Narrator

• Act of defiance: Instead of submitting, the Countess boldly displays her contempt.

  • Quote ([00:36]):

    “To show her contempt for all of them, she walked along a line of officers whose backs were turned to her. She then selected one of the officers without even seeing his face.”
    — Ripley’s Narrator

• Reflection: The narrator underscores the extraordinary strength and scorn the Countess exhibited, transforming an act of forced compliance into one of utter disdain.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cultural curiosity:
  • “It’s plastered with honey and she’s forbidden to undo it for six months. When she lets her hair down, the honeymoon is over.” ([00:17])
• Historical drama:
  • “To show her contempt for all of them, she walked along a line of officers whose backs were turned to her. She then selected one of the officers without even seeing his face.” ([00:36])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:13–00:23: Zulu bride and the honeyed “honeymoon coiffure” tradition
• 00:23–00:44: The tale of Giles, Countess of Denoil, and her ultimate demonstration of scorn

Tone and Language

The narration is crisp, dramatic, and slightly theatrical—hallmarks of the golden age of radio. The delivery invokes a sense of the unusual with the classic “Believe it or not” refrain, heightening the storytelling’s intrigue.

Summary

In just a minute, this “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” episode delivers a memorable blend of cultural trivia and stirring historical anecdote. From a honey-plastered Zulu hairdo marking the bounds of newlywed life, to an Irish Countess’s silent act of resistance against her conquerors, the stories surprise and fascinate—true to Ripley’s enduring mantra: believe it…or not.