Podcast Summary: Ripley's Believe It Or Not – "Woman Invited Herself"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Ripley's Believe It Or Not Narrator
Episode Air Date: January 17, 2026

Main Theme

This rapid-fire episode of "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" transports listeners back to the fascinating, bizarre tales from history, focusing on a dramatic story of betrayal, scandal, and morbid curiosity from the annals of British aristocracy. The episode highlights the strange actions of the wife of the 11th Earl of Shrewsbury, who played an extraordinary role in her husband’s demise.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Curious Artifacts:

  • The episode opens with a fascinating fact about a historical artifact:
    • "A silver tea strainer in the Delaware Historical Society Museum was hammered from the first silver dollar that was earned by Benjamin Franklin. Believe it or Not." (00:30)
  • This segment underlines Ripley's signature style: astonishing, little-known historical oddities.

• Headline Story – Scandal and Betrayal:

  • After a brief artifact mention, the episode pivots into its main, jaw-dropping tale:
    • "The wife of the 11th Earl of Shrewsbury was one of the most faithless women in history."
    • She ran off with another man, the Duke of Buckingham, leading to a duel between her husband and the Duke.
    • The highlight is the shocking detail of her role:
      • "The wronged Earl died of wounds inflicted by the Duke in the fight, unaware that his faithless wife had been so eager to witness his death that she dressed in the costume of a page boy and held the Duke's horse while he killed her husband." (00:50 – 01:20)
    • The story encapsulates Ripley’s core message: reality's strangest parts often outdo fiction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Truth is stranger than fiction, and this is the proof. This is Ripley's Believe It Or Not." (00:30)

  • [Host’s signature phrase setting the tone.]

• On the tea strainer:

  • "A silver tea strainer...was hammered from the first silver dollar that was earned by Benjamin Franklin. Believe it or Not." (00:32)

• On the notorious incident:

  • "The wronged Earl died of wounds inflicted by the Duke in the fight, unaware that his faithless wife had been so eager to witness his death that she dressed in the costume of a page boy and held the Duke's horse while he killed her husband. Believe it or Not." (01:08 – 01:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30 – 00:50: Introduction and artifact anecdote (Benjamin Franklin’s silver dollar/tea strainer)
• 00:51 – 01:28: Story of the Earl of Shrewsbury, the duel, and his wife’s shocking presence at his death disguised as a page boy

Style & Tone

The episode delivers its content in a concise, matter-of-fact narration, embodying the signature Ripley's tone: dramatic, suspenseful, and tinged with morbid curiosity. The host’s delivery is authoritative and brisk, adding to the air of incredulity and surprise that defines the series.

In summary, this episode encapsulates what makes Ripley's Believe It Or Not a timeless curiosity: compact storytelling, jaw-dropping historical vignettes, and an ever-present sense of wonder at the oddities lurking in the past.