The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds

Episode 150 – The Past Times with Mike Bridenstine

Date: November 7, 2025
Guest: Mike Bridenstine
Main Theme:
A comedic exploration of random historic newspaper stories, blending wild true-life comedy lore with a 1927 Kansas City newspaper—and a heavy side of riffing, banter, and side tangents.

Overview

In this lively episode of "The Past Times", comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, joined by guest Mike Bridenstine, dig through random stories from a 1927 Kansas City newspaper. Mike also shares jaw-dropping tales from his new book "Kansas City Comedy." The episode oscillates between bizarre historical headlines, surreal comedy lore from the stand-up world, and hilarious unscripted riffing—showcasing the absurdity of both American history and showbiz culture. Listeners can expect infectious laughter, off-the-wall improvs, and a host of "Did that really happen?" moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mike Bridenstine’s Book and Comedy’s Wildest Stories

• [01:42–06:45]
  • Mike plugs his new book, "Kansas City Comedy", sharing jaw-dropping stories of legendary club antics, including:
    • The notorious Stanford and Sons owner, his wild criminal history, and Hollywood escapades.
    • Emery Emery faking paralysis for two years just to get a standing ovation (03:16).
    • The infamous "possum and vacuum" gag at an open mic, causing mass vomiting and chaos (05:12).
  • Quote:
    • “He faked being paralyzed in a wheelchair for two years just so he could get a standing ovation at a theater and then stand himself.” — Mike Bridenstine [03:16]
    • “People were vomiting, GM is throwing pint glasses at his head, threatening to kill him... I just thought it would work.” — Mike on the possum incident [05:53]
    • “We all romanticize Andy Kaufman, but you forget it was a world of bombs...” — Dave [06:38]

2. The Format: Guessing the Newspaper Year

• [07:51–08:59]
  • The hosts and Mike play their trademark guessing game, trying to guess the year of the historical newspaper.
  • Mike’s guess: 1866 (08:26). The real date: March 9, 1927, Kansas City.

3. Absurd Historic Headlines & Banter

• a) Don't Kill Bandits, Kiss Them

  • [09:48–12:08]
    • A Kansas City headline claims a merchant stopped a robbery by kissing the bandit, then chased and kissed him again. All hosts question the truth.
    • Memorable riffing on the psychology of kisses interrupting robberies.
    • Quotes:
      • “You gotta chase me a little bit. You like a little bit of a chase?” — Mike & Gareth [11:47–11:49]
      • “The chasing and kissing made it a lot, lot less true for me.” — Dave [11:34]

• b) Colorado Judge Upholds Right to Get Drunk at Home

  • [13:23–15:26]
    • Prohibition-era Colorado: judge rules that getting drunk at home is an inalienable right.
    • Quote: “It is a man’s inalienable right to get as drunk as he pleases in his own home...” — Judge Haynes (read by Dave) [14:44]
    • The hosts riff on how public intoxication rules evolved.

• c) Courtroom Gunfire & Wild Justice

  • [18:27–20:28]
    • A revolver accidentally goes off in a mobster’s trial. More amazed at how wild courts used to be.
    • “Court used to be awesome.” — Dave [18:30]

• d) The Great Biscuit Size Debate

  • [20:52–31:51]
    • Oklahoma legislature debates regulating biscuits to 3 inches wide, outdoing Kansas’ pie bill.
    • Discussion devolves into riffs on black market biscuits, culinary oppression, and “Middle Westerners” defending biscuit honor.
    • Quote: “A biscuit is a biscuit—it’s like abortion back then.” — Dave [22:53]
    • “You got people eating back-alley biscuits. 15-inch biscuits going into biscuit basement clubs.” — Gareth [23:26, 23:37]
    • “When is a boy a man? When is a biscuit a biscuit?” — Dave [61:56]

• e) Monkey Outsmarts German Scientist

  • [33:31–37:18]
    • Germans test a monkey’s intelligence with a banana-in-tube puzzle; monkey solves it better than the human.
    • Tangents about historical research funding and German scientific priorities at the time.

• f) Burglar Bites Victims and Flees

  • [38:17–41:51]
    • Burglar escaping through a transom after biting his victims; hosts riff on the nature of failed burglaries, the importance of a “successful” heist, and life as a “biting burglar.”

4. Wild Character Stories: Marriages, Poison, and Domestic Disputes

• a) Railroad Fireman’s Wife Sent to Jail for Beating Husband

  • [43:17–44:56]
    • Woman receives 30 days in jail for beating her husband (black eyes, lost teeth) in a jealous rage.
    • “Do you know the beating you have to inflict on someone for teeth to come out?” — Dave [44:05]

• b) Thieving Wife Gets 6 Months for Stealing Husband’s Clothes

  • [45:06–46:54]
    • Woman steals husband’s clothes, car, and ring—gets six months in jail. Tangents on the surname "Kuntz."

• c) Youth Makes Poison, Suicide Attempt Fails

  • [47:37–49:55]
    • Hungarian youth tries to kill himself with homemade poison (tobacco and match-heads), only manages to give himself diarrhea.
    • “The good news is I finally invented a way to get diarrhea quick.” — Gareth [50:07]

• d) 93-Year-Old Marries for Third Time

  • [50:25–52:49]
    • Missouri man, 93, on his third marriage. The focus: how old people keep marrying, inheritance-motivated marriages, and wildly exaggerated ages.

• e) 14-Year-Old Farmboy Seeks to Marry 27-Year-Old Divorcee

  • [53:04–59:59+]
    • Small-town Maine blocks a marriage between a “husky” teen and a 27-year-old mother (with a 5-year-old).
    • The hosts debate parental responsibility and teenage agency, leading to a riff comparing legislative biscuit regulations and age-of-marriage laws.
    • Quote: “When is a boy a man? When is a biscuit a biscuit?” — Dave [61:56]
    • “Letty Foster, town clerk, refused to issue a marriage license to Willie Buzzell, husky farm worker... Oh, my god, he’s 14 and husky!” — Dave & Mike [58:03, 58:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Comedy Club Insanity:

  • “They would try to pay people in chicken wings and cocaine type clubs.” — Mike Bridenstine [02:00]
  • “He faked being paralyzed in a wheelchair for two years just so he could get a standing ovation at a theater and then stand himself.” — Mike Bridenstine [03:16]

• Absurd News Reactions:

  • “You gotta chase me a little bit. You like a little bit of a chase?” — Mike & Gareth [11:47–11:49]
  • “A biscuit is a biscuit—it’s like abortion back then.” — Dave [22:53]
  • “You got people eating back-alley biscuits. 15-inch biscuits, going into biscuit basement clubs.” — Gareth [23:26, 23:37]
  • “When is a boy a man? When is a biscuit a biscuit?” — Dave [61:56]
  • “Court used to be awesome.” — Dave [18:30]
  • “The good news is I finally invented a way to get diarrhea quick.” — Gareth [50:07]
  • “Kissed him again to celebrate it was over.” — Gareth [12:05]

• On Outwitted Scientists:

  • “The monkey picked up the tube, inserted it upside down, and gave it one vigorous shake. The banana tumbled out immediately...” — Gareth (reading) [37:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:42–06:45: Mike Bridenstine's book stories
• 07:51–08:59: Year guessing and reveal: 1927
• 09:48–12:08: "Don't kill bandits, kiss them" headline and riffs
• 13:23–15:26: Right to get drunk at home—Prohibition
• 18:27–20:28: Courtroom gunshot incident
• 20:52–31:51: The Great Biscuit Size Debate of 1927
• 33:31–37:18: Monkey outsmarts German scientist
• 38:17–41:51: Burglar bites victims and escapes
• 43:17–44:56: Railroad fireman’s wife jailed for assault
• 45:06–46:54: Thieving wife gets six months
• 47:37–49:55: Failed suicide by homemade poison
• 50:25–52:49: 93-year-old marries for third time
• 53:04–59:59: 14-year-old seeks marriage to 27-year-old divorcee

Tone & Style

The tone is irreverent, playful, and heavily improvisational, with running gags, sudden bursts of absurdity, and frequent jaunts into darker or ultra-silly territory. Dave and Gareth maintain their signature dynamic: Dave as the straight-faced historian with a taste for the absurd, and Gareth as the gleeful provocateur. Guest Mike Bridenstine blends right in, offering stories that astound even these seasoned comics.

Conclusion

The episode is a hilarious, often jaw-dropping example of the Dollop format, blending real history with modern comedic sensibility and wild true stories from America’s comedy underbelly. Worth a full listen for anyone who loves comedy, history, and deeply weird Americana.

Guest Plug:

• Mike Bridenstine, "Kansas City Comedy" is available on Amazon.

For More:

• Listen for additional bits on food legislation, marriage laws, and the quirks of Midwestern honor.
• For tour dates and show news, visit GarethReynolds.com.