Episode Summary: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds featuring Trae Crowder

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
• Host/Author: All Things Comedy
• Description: Comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds pick a subject from history and examine it.
• Episode: 120 - The Past Times with Trae Crowder
• Release Date: April 11, 2025

Introduction to "Past Times" and Trae Crowder

The episode kicks off with Dave Anthony announcing their upcoming tour dates (skipped as per instructions) before transitioning into the main content. Gareth Reynolds introduces the "Past Times" segment, where each week they explore an old newspaper from a randomly selected historical date, a selection curated by Dave Anthony.

Gareth Reynolds: "Each week we go through an old newspaper from a random date in history picked out by Dave Anthony."
Timestamp: [00:34]

Trae Crowder joins as the guest, bringing his comedic flair to the discussion. They establish a camaraderie, joking about their "wonky" nature and diving into how different eras compare, especially in terms of societal challenges and human behavior.

Trae Crowder: "Do you find that every era is kind of the same, or is it actually more horrific at certain times?"
Dave Anthony: "I think it's kind of always the same."
Timestamp: [01:35]

Historical Context: The 1920s Americus Times Recorder

The core of the episode revolves around a specific newspaper headline from April 20, 1923, from the Americus Times Recorder in Americus, Georgia. The headline reads: "Jail Sentences handed eight millionaires. Tremendous frauds are alleged." This leads the hosts and Trae to dissect the intricacies of the story, exploring the nature of the frauds and the societal implications of the 1920s.

Dave Anthony: "Jail Sentences handed eight millionaires. Tremendous frauds are alleged."
Timestamp: [07:32]

Pottery Profiteers and Industrial Collusion

The primary focus is on a group known as the Sanitary Potteries Association, who were convicted of conspiracy and restraint of trade. This group was involved in price-fixing operations within the pottery industry, reminiscent of the monopolistic practices of the era's industrial giants like Rockefeller and Vanderbilt.

Dave Anthony: "Pottery profiteers given prison terms and heavy cash fines."
Trae Crowder: "It's like the robber barons, Rockefeller and all, and Vanderbilt and all those dudes, and they were, like, ruthless."
Timestamp: [08:04]

The discussion highlights how even seemingly mundane industries like pottery were not immune to the rampant greed and unethical practices that characterized the Gilded Age. They delve into the absurdity and mundanity of the crimes, making comparisons to modern-day scandals.

Gareth Reynolds: "Pottery mob. Pottery conglomerate."
Timestamp: [08:22]

Aerial Daredevilics: Bugs McGowan's Tragic End

Transitioning from industrial fraud, the conversation shifts to the tragic story of Bugs McGowan, a 21-year-old aerial daredevil. McGowan promised a death-defying stunt at the state fair, involving wing walking and parachute jumping. His final performance ended in disaster when his plane crashed, leading to his untimely death.

Dave Anthony: "Bugs McGowan, nationally known daredevil of the air, says AirDEP America's residents will be given the thrill of a lifetime Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock."
Timestamp: [16:07]

The hosts explore the dangers and thrill of aerial stunts in the 1920s, drawing parallels to modern air shows and the enduring human fascination with daredevil performances. They discuss the societal impact of such events and the inevitable tragedies that often accompany them.

Trae Crowder: "They did have a woman with them actually. Apparently."
Timestamp: [21:19]

Prohibition and Social Liberties

The episode further examines the societal tensions surrounding Prohibition, as seen in another newspaper headline: "Judges rebuke wet banqueters." This reflects the widespread disdain and flouting of the 18th Amendment, which banned the sale of alcohol in the United States.

Dave Anthony: "Judges rebuke wet banqueters. It has come to be so common for some of our best citizens to belittle and ridicule the prohibition amendment."
Timestamp: [44:48]

Gareth Reynolds: "We could get drunk anytime you want. That's awesome. See America."
Timestamp: [46:34]

The hosts discuss the ongoing struggle between "wets" (those who opposed Prohibition) and "drys" (supporters of the law), highlighting the irony and chaos that Prohibition brought to American society. They touch upon the prevalence of bootlegging, the rise of speakeasies, and the eventual societal pushback that rendered the law ineffective.

Local News and Cultural Insights

Returning to the newspaper's content, they explore local news stories such as community events, societal norms, and the quirks of small-town life in the 1920s. One notable story involves a couple dancing for an unprecedented 116 hours, which ends when the woman's brother interrupts the feat.

Dave Anthony: "An Atlanta paper carried a story Sunday to the effect that a Cuthbert couple had danced 116 hours..."
Timestamp: [62:10]

The absurdity of such endurance contests is examined, with the hosts humorously critiquing the notion of dancing non-stop for days. They compare it to modern-day endurance and reality TV shows, drawing parallels between historical spectacles and contemporary entertainment.

Gareth Reynolds: "You can't dance that long. She got to get back to scrubbing the goddamn floors."
Timestamp: [62:53]

Concluding Discussions: Reflection on History and Modern Parallels

As the episode wraps up, Dave, Gareth, and Trae reflect on how historical events and societal norms mirror today's issues. They discuss the evolution of media, the persistence of human folly, and the timeless nature of certain social struggles.

Trae Crowder: "But yeah, we're still getting drunk. We don't give a poison."
Timestamp: [47:19]

Gareth Reynolds: "Everything's a podcast now. But still, it was doing numbers. It was like three 13-year-old boys talking about pizza."
Timestamp: [60:45]

The trio emphasizes the cyclical patterns of history, illustrating that while technology and societal structures evolve, human behavior often remains unchanged. They humorously critique modern advancements and societal changes by comparing them to their historical counterparts.

Dave Anthony: "This is the roaring twenties."
Timestamp: [43:15]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Gareth Reynolds: "Each week we go through an old newspaper from a random date in history picked out by Dave Anthony."
  Timestamp: [00:34]

• Trae Crowder: "Do you find that every era is kind of the same, or is it actually more horrific at certain times?"
  Dave Anthony: "I think it's kind of always the same."
  Timestamp: [01:35]

• Dave Anthony: "Jail Sentences handed eight millionaires. Tremendous frauds are alleged."
  Timestamp: [07:32]

• Trae Crowder: "It's like the robber barons, Rockefeller and all, and Vanderbilt and all those dudes, and they were, like, ruthless."
  Dave Anthony: "Pottery mob. Pottery conglomerate."
  Timestamp: [08:22]

• Dave Anthony: "Bugs McGowan, nationally known daredevil of the air, says AirDEP America's residents will be given the thrill of a lifetime Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock."
  Timestamp: [16:07]

• Gareth Reynolds: "We could get drunk anytime you want. That's awesome. See America."
  Timestamp: [46:34]

• Gareth Reynolds: "You can't dance that long. She got to get back to scrubbing the goddamn floors."
  Timestamp: [62:53]

• Trae Crowder: "But yeah, we're still getting drunk. We don't give a poison."
  Timestamp: [47:19]

• Gareth Reynolds: "Everything's a podcast now. But still, it was doing numbers. It was like three 13-year-old boys talking about pizza."
  Timestamp: [60:45]

Conclusion

Episode 120 of The Dollop offers a humorous yet insightful exploration of events from the past, blending historical analysis with contemporary commentary. Through their engaging banter, Dave Anthony, Gareth Reynolds, and Trae Crowder illuminate the absurdities and parallels between the 1920s and today, making history both entertaining and relatable for listeners.