Strange But True 19xx.xx.xx Seattle Fire - Harold's Old Time Radio

Summary4 min read

Episode Overview

Episode Title: Strange But True: Seattle Fire
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Air Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Main Theme:
This episode features a segment of "Strange But True," a classic radio show presenting odd and fascinating true stories from history. The episode’s highlight is the mysterious series of arson fires in Seattle between 1931 and 1935—one of several captivating accounts told in a dramatic, vintage radio style. Other unusual but true tales round out the segment, all drawn from the era’s original radio broadcasts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin of "Blue Monday"

The name "Blue Monday" originally referred to the Monday before Lent when churches were decorated with blue hangings, signifying a festive occasion, not a somber one.
- Host’s Insight:
  
  "On this particular day, moreover, it wasn't a gloomy and depressing occasion, but a gay, festive holiday. In fact, in 16th century Europe, it became so festive that it turned into a regular orgy and was abolished by law."
  [00:25]

2. The Seattle Arson Mystery (1931–1935)

A Series of Fires:
- Seattle experienced a prolonged series of mysterious fires, typically igniting between dawn and dusk, always in large buildings, most frequently factories.
Suspicion and Patterns:
- Investigators quickly determined arson was at play, launching a citywide manhunt for the “flame-crazy madman.”
  
  "It wasn't long before the telltale pattern spelled out just one thing to trained investigators. Arson and a city wide hunt for a flame. Crazy Madman was on."
  [00:55]
Tension and Investigation:
- Fire and police personnel often blended with onlookers in hopes of spotting suspicious behavior.
- Despite relentless effort, they repeatedly failed to catch the culprit:
  
  "Time and again they returned to their desks to file the same discouraging report. No suspects."
  [01:18]
Break in the Case:
- A major lead emerged when a lunchroom owner, awakened by a fire across the street, noticed a lone figure watching the blaze with glee—a tramp.
Arrest & Confession:
- Police apprehended the man, who confessed after questioning to starting 130 fires and causing $6.5 million in damage simply for the thrill of it:
  
  "One man who, just for the fun of it, had set fire to 130 factories and large buildings to the tune of $6,500,000 in property damage before he was captured."
  [02:15]

3. The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Miniature Railway

Known as “one of the world’s busiest public railways”—despite its tiny scale.
Established in 1926, measuring just 14 miles in length, but equipped with:
- 10 locomotives
- 50 coaches and 50 flat cars—about one-quarter the size of standard trains, on 50-inch wide tracks
Impressive Operations:
- Handles significant loads, such as 5,000 passengers in a single day and individual freight deliveries of up to 100 tons.
"Though the road is scarcely more than a toy, it has carried 5,000 passengers in one day and moved single loads of freight weighing 100 tons."
[02:50]

4. Legendary Sword Swallower Savalier Clico

Achieved fame in 1890s Europe as possibly the greatest sword swallower.
Notably, his esophagus was twice the normal size, enabling him to swallow up to 14 swords at once.

"The passage from Kliko's mouth to his stomach or his esophagus was twice the normal size, which enabled him to swallow up to the hilt as many as 14 swords at one time."
[03:14]

5. The Fate of Rigid Airships (Zeppelins)

Only 151 rigid airships were ever built (1899–1939), all now destroyed or dismantled:
- 131 in Germany
- 16 in England
- 4 in the USA
Technology based on Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s principles; Zeppelin’s interest in airships began after a balloon ascent over St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1863.

"They were produced between 1899 and 1939 in three countries... All were built from the principles of the great German authority on lighter than aircraft, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who incidentally became interested in aeronautics while being taken on a balloon ascent in 1863 over St. Paul, Minnesota."
[03:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Giddy Festivities of Blue Monday:

"...it became so festive that it turned into a regular orgy and was abolished by law."
[00:30]
On Dogged Arson Detective Work:

"Detectives and members of the arson squad mingled with the crowd, studying each face in the glare of the flames for some sign that would give away the fire bug."
[01:05]
On the Power and Peculiarity of Miniature Transportation:

"...the road is scarcely more than a toy, it has carried 5,000 passengers in one day and moved single loads of freight weighing 100 tons."
[02:50]

Timestamps of Important Segments

00:00–00:50: Blue Monday’s origin and reputation
00:51–02:20: The Seattle firebug and his eventual capture
02:21–03:13: The miniature but mighty Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
03:14–03:39: Savalier Clico, legendary sword swallower
03:40–End: The history and fate of rigid airships/zeppelins

Tone & Style

The narration captures a classic, dramatically suspenseful “strange but true” tone, combining factual exposition with mystery and surprise—true to the golden age of radio storytelling. Each vignette is swiftly paced but vivid, inviting listeners into the peculiar wonders and oddities of the past.

Summary Takeaway

This episode immerses listeners in a collection of unusual but true stories, headlined by the saga of the Seattle firebug—a lone arsonist who terrorized a city for years. It exemplifies the vintage radio approach: brisk, colorful storytelling, a taste for the dramatic, and a flair for the mysterious and remarkable.

Loading summary

Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Strange but true. Unusual true Stories Blue Monday, when applied to the Monday before Lent, got its name from the custom of decorating church interiors with blue hangings. On this particular day, moreover, it wasn't a gloomy and depressing occasion, but a gay, festive holiday. In fact, in 16th century Europe, it became so festive that it turned into a regular orgy and was abolished by law. Strange much truth between 1931 and 1935, a series of mysterious fires broke out in Seattle, Washington. In each case, the flames flared up between dawn and dusk. And in each case, the fire started in a large building, often a factory. It wasn't long before the telltale pattern spelled out just one thing to trained investigators. Arson and a city wide hunt for a flame. Crazy Madman was on. Every time a big building went up in flames, detectives and members of the arson squad mingled with the crowd, studying each face in the glare of the flames for some sign that would give away the fire bug. Time and again they returned to their desks to file the same discouraging report. No suspects. Then, early one morning, the owner of a lunchroom who lived above his restaurant was was awakened by the greedy crackle of flame. Across the deserted street, a roaring fire was already eating its way up the walls of a large building, a church. Suddenly, the owner of the lunchroom realized the street wasn't deserted. In the flooding light of the flames, he saw a lone figure, a tramp who was gleefully watching the roaring fire. Racing to his telephone, the restaurant man made two telephone calls, first to the fire department, then to the police. But Coleman rushed to the scene of the fire in time to collar the tramp, who, after hours of questioning, finally admitted he was the elusive firebug. One man who, just for the fun of it, had set fire to 130 factories and large buildings to the tune of $6,500,000 in property damage before he was captured. Strange but true, considering its miniature equipment. One of the world's busiest public railways is the Romney High and Dim Church of England, built in 1926. The entire road is only 14 miles long, but it operates from 10 locomotives, 50 coaches and 50 flat cars, all of which are about 1/4 the size of standard rolling stock and are run on a track that is only 50 inches wide. Though the road is scarcely more than a toy, it has carried 5,000 passengers in one day and moved single loads of freight weighing 100 tons. Strange but true. Perhaps the greatest sword swallower of all time was Savalier. Clico reached the peak of his fame in Europe during the 1890s, the passage from Kliko's mouth to his stomach or his esophagus was twice the normal size, which enabled him to swallow up to the hilt as many as 14 swords at one time. Strange but true. Only 151 large rigid airships or zeppelins have ever been constructed, and all of them have long since been wrecked or dismantled. They were produced between 1899 and 1939 in three countries, 131 of them in Germany, 16 in England, and four in the United States. All were built from the principles of the great German authority on lighter than aircraft, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who incidentally became interested in aeronautics while being taken on a balloon ascent in 1863 over St. Paul, Minnesota. Strange but true Strange But True A series of authentic stories from the pages of True magazine. This is John Conrad, Sa.