The Dollop: The Past Times (Episode 171) with Dave Ross
Release Date: April 24, 2026
Main Theme:
Comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, joined by guest comic Dave Ross, riff through a bizarre 1911 edition of the Fort Collins Weekly Express—using real, often absurd, newspaper clippings as a springboard for improvisational banter, historical sidebars, and plenty of sharp, silly commentary.
Episode Overview
This episode captures the trio’s trademark blend of irreverent humor, skepticism, and curiosity, as they track through an early-20th-century paper—amazed at its odd priorities, lack of closure, and the recurring theme of “part one” stories. Lively digressions on historical customs, small-town Americana, horse burial, culinary distractions, and the absurdities of early news reporting abound.
Key Discussion Points & Segment Timestamps
1. Intro, Banter, and Beard Talk
- [01:36–03:42]
The three comics banter about beards, New York, and podcast hosting dynamics. Dave Ross reveals his beard journey:
"I Tried it out when I was in my 20s...big open spaces...around 39 or 40, I tried it and...it's full. Feels good."
(Dave Ross, [02:20])
2. Setting the Scene: The 1911 Fort Collins Weekly Express
- [03:42–07:50]
Dave Anthony (not fully visible on video) picks the random newspaper for the week, with the others clueless to the edition’s “part one” mystery. Dave Ross is familiar with Fort Collins—lauding its comedy scene:
"Comedy Fort is the best club in the country, hands down. I love performing there…David Rodriguez is his name. He's also a really funny comic.”
(Dave Ross, [08:10–09:10])
3. Segment Highlights & Story Summaries
A. "Charged with Failure to Bury a Dead Horse"
- [09:48–14:26]
- A man is arrested for leaving a horse unburied.
- Running jokes about horse disposal, eating horse meat, and idioms (“beating a dead horse”):
“Back then...people are probably like, get the horse out of here. Well, it is a big problem.”
(Gareth, [10:34])
- Historical aside: Americans usually didn’t eat horse unless desperate ([15:30]).
B. Boy, Pistol, and Cigarette
- [17:01–29:03]
- 13-year-old Payne shoots himself in the pants pocket, trying to celebrate the Aggies’ win.
- The “gun explodes” (awkward reporting), sheriff’s casual reaction, and a 13-year-old with a cigarette:
“This is wild, dude. It's a 13 year old kid smoking cigarettes with a gun in his pocket, dealing with the cops. This is like a scene from The Wire.”
(Dave Ross, [23:28])
- No story closure—did Payne get fixed up? Did the sheriff sew his pants? The hosts are left guessing.
C. Hubby Gives Wife Home, Sleeps in Barn
- [29:34–33:39]
- A man gives his wife the house for “love and affection,” gets booted to the barn, then sued for wanting it back.
- “This paper is nothing but puzzles...nothing is satisfying…” (Gareth, [32:33])
- Ongoing mock confusion about 1911 marriage, divorce, and assets.
D. 60% of College Men Declared Immoral
- [34:16–36:17]
- Dr. Emma Drake proclaims college men are "immoral"—no evidence, full moral panic.
- Silliness about what’s considered “immoral”: “Boozing, smoking, fornicating...sucking ankles.” (Gareth, [35:07])
- Erotic riffing: “I told the lady to wear me like a slipper. Next thing you know I'm getting kicked out of college.”
(Gareth, [35:31])
E. Girl Makes Rope of Sheets to Escape Jail
- [36:41–39:21]
- 16-year-old Alice Rombley ties bedsheets, falls 15 feet on escape, critically injured.
- For once, an article with an arc: “Whoever wrote that article should write the whole paper.” (Dave Ross, [39:17])
F. Drown Mormons, Cries a Priest
- [39:59–41:52]
- British priest advocates for drowning Mormon missionaries—a window into 1911’s open bigotry and sectarian weirdness:
“‘They should be taken by the scruff of the neck, rushed across our island and dropped into the sea.’”
(Father Vaughan, [40:35])
- Hosts riff on odd inter-religious feuds, Mormon soda culture, and “soaking.”
G. Woman Scalds Black Hand Mafiosi with Iron
- [42:41–45:21]
- Mrs. Piazza thwarts Mafia blackmailers with a hot iron to the face.
- Applause for her, with jokes: “Talking about Iron Johnny!”
(Gareth, [44:56])
- “It is possible he will carry the scar to his grave...” ([44:52])
H. Wild Baby Chase by Train
- [49:47–57:25]
- A baby is left alone on a railroad car, triggering a “special train” in pursuit.
- Confusing reporting. “The baby was asleep when the mom got there. Just so you guys know.”
(Dave Ross, [57:45])
- Jokes about train logistics and modern indifference: “You guys shouldn't have had a kid—jump, get out of here, you’re ruining my day.”
(Gareth, [56:46])
I. Hair Made Green, Woman Sues Hairdresser
- [57:46–59:10]
- Woman sues for $20,000 after a dye job turns her hair green; hosts joke about Joker origins and inflation.
J. Devil on the Run & Obituary Filler
- [59:16–62:53]
- Local Reverend promises to “put the devil on the run”; paper announces a relative of a local lady died—zero stakes.
- General mockery at newspaper’s poor story selection.
Notable Quotes & Moments
Running Gags & Memorable Banter
- The “Part One” Paper: All stories seem to be teases, with little closure.
- Eating Horses: Long bit about whether Americans ever ate dead horses; references to Joe Rogan eating horse.
- Small-Town Americana: The hosts affectionately rib Fort Collins and small-town oddities.
- Bizarre Law Enforcement: Sheriff returns a gun to a child, who’s also smoking; horse burial as a legal duty.
- Improv Absurdity: Frequent, escalating riffs take each news item to surreal places (guns, croissants, divorce, green hair lawsuits).
- Meta-Jokes: The hosts, not just reading stories but interrogating news reporting and laughing at shoddy journalism.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Beard Talk / Show Opening: [01:36–03:42]
- Paper Selection & Fort Collins Chat: [03:53–09:10]
- Buried Horse: [09:48–14:26]
- Boy with Pistol & Cigarette: [17:00–29:03]
- Barn-Sleeping Husband: [29:34–33:39]
- Immoral College Men: [34:16–36:17]
- Girl Escapes Jail: [36:41–39:21]
- Priest vs. Mormons: [39:59–41:52]
- Woman Fights Off Mafia: [42:41–45:21]
- Runaway Baby via Train: [49:47–57:25]
- Hair Dye Lawsuit: [57:46–59:10]
- "Devil on the Run": [59:16–60:17]
- Obituary and Wrap-up: [60:31–63:08]
Closing Thoughts
The hosts marvel at how leafing through a single issue of a random 1911 newspaper can spawn so many tangents, laughs, and incredulous stares at a very different America. The comedy is in the juxtaposition of stilted, incomplete news and three modern-day comics’ improvisational dissection of every weird detail.
Find Dave Ross on Instagram: [@davetotheross]
Closing summary:
This episode is a perfect showcase of The Dollop’s improv history: weird journalism, historical curiosities, and comedians making sense (or nonsense) of it all.
