The Dollop - Episode 159: The Past Times with Kyle Anderson (Jan 30, 2026)

Overview

In this episode of The Dollop’s "The Past Times," comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds are joined by guest Kyle Anderson. Together, they riff through stories from the Boston Daily Globe, dated October 7, 1904. With their trademark banter, they explore historic oddities, hilarious newspaper entries, and the perpetual weirdness of human history, all while layering in personal anecdotes and roasting each other along the way.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up, Tour Announcements, and Tummy Stamping

• Brief promos for the Dollop’s March 2026 US tour. (Skip content, see 00:00–00:46).

• Kyle recounts an odd incident: after a sweaty walk, he pressed his belly against a law firm’s window to annoy a particularly rude lawyer. Hilarity ensues as the group discusses whether this should be a new movement of "tummy stamping" against people in power (00:43–03:30).

  Kyle Anderson [01:13]: “I just lifted my shirt and pressed my stinky belly against the window.”

  Gareth Reynolds [03:23]: “There’s nothing illegal about that, so just do that more to people in power.”

• Group mock-plays what police responses to such acts would be, inventing “tummy stamper” as a future trend.

2. Podcast Imitators and Inside Jokes

• The hosts discuss how many TikTokers and podcasters are now doing "Dollop-like" shows, sometimes blatantly copying their format.

• The "doll heads" tradition is explained—fans throw doll heads on stage, and tour manager Luke goes over-the-top with collecting and displaying them, much to Dave’s horror. (03:46–06:36)

  Dave Anthony [05:40]: "It doesn’t look good... there’s too many... there’s stuff right behind our head."

  Gareth Reynolds [06:10]: "To watch Dave have to live in Luke’s head... by the end, Dave’s like 'Shut up.'"

3. Bullying for Theater and Mime Class Trauma (07:00–09:15)

• Kyle describes getting bullied for being a "theater kid." Dave recalls being bullied for miming, hilariously detailing being ganged-up on at mime class when he broke the code and spoke aloud.

  Dave Anthony [08:18]: "After like two weeks, I start talking and... at break all the mimes go to the water fountain and come over to me and they all spit (water) on me."

4. Kyle’s Documentaries: Mini Kiss Feuds & Chippendales Unionizing (09:29–12:00)

• Kyle talks about his independent documentary projects, including:

  • The feud between “Mini Kiss” and “Tiny Kiss”—two Kiss cover bands made up of little people (11:03).
  • The Chippendales Las Vegas dancers’ efforts to unionize.

• Discussion includes respectful clarification of terms around dwarfism and little people.

  Kyle Anderson [10:41]: “Mini Kiss in the mid-2000s got into a feud with another all-little person Kiss cover band called ‘Tiny Kiss’.”

5. The Newspaper: Boston Daily Globe, October 7, 1904

• Guess the Year—Kyle guesses 1999, Gareth 1899, answer is 1904 (12:52–13:06).
• Stories are read and riffed upon:

a. The Hat Rescue — Jumping from a Bridge for a Hat (13:44–19:00)

• Otis Lampert jumps 30 feet from a bridge to rescue his hat that blew off.

• Extended banter on historical hat culture: hat riots and fashion faux pas.

• Amusing talk of head sizes, "pumpkin head" as a diagnosis, and the woes of finding hats for large craniums.

  Dave Anthony [14:04]: "Our relationship as a nation with hats is insane. Absurd." Kyle Anderson [16:34]: "This dude is going into the drink for his hat."

b. Arrest for Shooting Craps & Singing in the Jail Cell (22:07–26:00)

• Three Chelsea boys (ages 15–17) are arrested for gambling (shooting craps) in a barn but take it in stride, entertaining the jail by singing popular songs.

  Dave Anthony [24:36]: "…for two hours enlivened the cell room by singing the popular songs of the day." Gareth Reynolds [25:10]: "Back then, you were just like, we’re just gonna sing."

c. Poisoned by Canned Sardines (29:01–32:10)

• Officer Bussy collapses from ptomaine (food) poisoning after eating canned sardines.

• Discussion about risky canning practices, disgusting diarrhea, and the ickiness of 1904 food safety.

• Quick riff about “libs want you to eat bugs,” joking how even historical concerns can be twisted into modern conspiracy.

  Gareth Reynolds [31:54]: "1904 diarrhea must have been terrible from sardines."

d. The Puritan Sabbath: Arresting Milkmen (32:43–36:47)

• Lexington, Kentucky: all non-essential businesses close on Sunday, but police still arrest 11 milkmen for violating sabbath laws.

• Jokes about the hardship of going without milk, the ironies of enforcing blue laws, and funny job titles like "proprietor of a creamery."

  Gareth Reynolds [33:54]: "So many better ways to sin than milk." Kyle Anderson [34:33]: "A proprietor of a creamery—that’s a great name for a job."

e. Father-Son Duel Over Crops (37:49–40:50)

• A Texas farmer, Watson, is shot dead in a pistol duel with his teenage son over dividing crops. Discussion about the tragic and absurd nature of family duels.

  Gareth Reynolds [38:02]: "That is crazy, to duel your kid." Kyle Anderson [39:55]: "Might be the thing where the dad was kinda like, ‘Oh, my boy got me. I’m so proud.’"

f. Widow Marries 19-Year-Old Boarder (41:04–47:36)

• Ms. Agnes Raymond, 44, marries her 19-year-old boarding house resident, John Tatro, with his father’s consent.

• Extended, raunchy riffing on age gaps, sexual peaks, old-timey matchmaking, and the social scandal.

  Dave Anthony [41:36]: "The widow confessed to being 44... her husband gave his age at 19. Whoa." Gareth Reynolds [42:18]: "I want your boy’s penis. I’m going to suck your son’s—"

g. Moses Shoots Himself in the Head (50:01–61:54)

• Moses Ballerstein accidentally shoots himself in the forehead, walks a mile home, has his wound probed, leaks “matter” for days, and eventually recovers (somewhat) after coke is used as a stimulant.

• The team imagines horrible 1904 medicine, keeping the wound open (“put a cork in it”), and riffs about accidental relapses and analogies to medical TV.

  Dave Anthony [51:24]: "…he walked unassisted to his house a mile distant." Gareth Reynolds [57:10]: "They’re going to fill your little head dish with some milk here and let a cat suck it out in the hopes that the sandpaper tongue hits the bullet."

6. Meta Commentary on Podcasting & Listeners (53:35–56:19)

• Gareth reads a bizarre, angry fan comment about The Dollop not covering the Epstein/Trump scandals enough.

• Hosts joke about online outrage, listener complaints of "too much ranting," and how people get stuck on the format of the show.

  Gareth Reynolds [54:12]: "People are like, you’re not talking enough about— and we’re like, we’re talking a ton… it’s endless." Dave Anthony [54:49]: "Seriously, getting mad at people talking at the end of something is so amazing."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kyle Anderson, on “tummy stamping” lawyers (01:13): “I just lifted my shirt and pressed my stinky belly against the window.”
• Dave Anthony, on mime class vengeance (08:18): “All the mimes go to the water fountain and come over to me and they all spit (water) on me.”
• Gareth Reynolds, on hat obsession (14:04): “Our relationship as a nation with hats is insane. Absurd.”
• Dave Anthony, on family duels (38:02): “That is crazy, to duel your kid.”
• Kyle Anderson, widow and the 19-year-old boarder (41:36): “The widow confessed to being 44... her husband gave his age at 19. Whoa.”
• Gareth Reynolds, riffing on old medicine (57:10): “They’re going to fill your little head dish with some milk here and let a cat suck it out in the hopes that the sandpaper tongue hits the bullet.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:43–03:23 – Kyle’s tummy-stamping story
• 03:46–06:36 – Doll heads, tour shenanigans
• 07:00–09:15 – Bullying for mime and theater
• 09:29–12:00 – Kyle’s documentaries: Mini Kiss, Chippendales
• 13:44–19:00 – Hat rescue from bridge & “hat culture”
• 22:07–26:00 – Arrested boys singing in jail
• 29:01–32:10 – Food poisoning by sardines, gross-outs
• 32:43–36:47 – “Puritan Sabbath” and milkmen arrests
• 37:49–40:50 – Father-son duel over crops
• 41:04–47:36 – Widow marries 19-year-old boarder
• 50:01–61:54 – Moses shoots himself, old-timey medical horrors
• 53:35–56:19 – Online outrage, meta podcasting commentary

Closing & Patreon Pitch

• Quick wrap with Patreon ideas (doing a segment of un-discussed news clippings) (62:05–62:34).
• Kyle plugs his documentary work—Breaking Stories on YouTube, “The Chris D’Elia Problem.”
• Final tangent about Chris D’Elia, Saudi Arabia invites, and a pitch for the Dollop's animated episodes via Lakeside Animation.

Episode Tone

• Fast-paced, irreverent, and freewheeling.
• Constant in-jokes, friendly ribbing, and absurdist riffs.
• Plenty of dark comedy, body humor, and historical ridicule.
• Conversational but occasionally outrageous; adult language and humor throughout.

Summary prepared for those who want the gist and the laughs of this episode without needing to listen!