Episodes
The Disappearance of the USS Scorpion
May 22, 1968. The nuclear-powered submarine USS Scorpion disappears in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with 99 men on board.
The Murder of Bobby Franks
May 21, 1924: In an effort to commit what they consider to be the “perfect crime,” Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb murder 14-year-old Bobby Franks.
Explorer Ernest Shackleton Escapes the Antarctic
May 20, 1916. Freezing, exhausted and starving, Ernest Shackleton and two other crewmen stumble back to civilization after a grueling escape from the punishing Antarctic conditions that crushed and sank their ship, the Endurance. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Saturday Matinee: American History Tellers
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we bring you the story of how the Pinkerton Detective Agency started- an agency which would grow to establish itself as America’s most innovative and aggressive private police force in the late 1800's. Link to American …
The Supreme Court Abolishes Segregation in Public Schools
May 17, 1954: In the Brown v. Board of Education case, the US Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in schools is unconstitutional.
The First Woman to Climb Mount Everest
May 16, 1975. Junko Tabei, a Japanese mountaineer, author and teacher, becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This episode originally aired in 2022.
The First McDonald’s Opens
May 15, 1940. Maurice and Richard McDonald open their McDonald’s Bar-B-Que restaurant in San Bernardino, California. This episode originally aired in 2023.
Louis XIV Becomes King of France
May 14, 1643. A four-year-old prince ascends to the throne of France, beginning a decades-long reign that will change the country forever.
The Attempted Assassination of Pope John Paul II
May 13, 1981. Pope John Paul II is shot in a mysterious assassination plot with potential ties to the KGB.
Saturday Matinee: Warlords of History
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we travel back to the fourth century BCE, and explore the path blazed by military genius Philip II of Macedon. Link to Warlords of History: https://warlordsofhistory.com/Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. …
The First Phone Call from the White House
May 10, 1877. Rutherford B. Hayes becomes the first U.S. President to use a world-changing new technology at the White House: the telephone.
Dana International Wins the Eurovision Song Contest
May 9, 1998. Israeli singer Dana International becomes the first transgender performer and winner at the Eurovision Song Contest.
John S. Pemberton Sells the First Glass of Coca-Cola
May 8, 1886. American pharmacist John S. Pemberton sells the first glass of Coca-Cola at a pharmacy in downtown Atlanta, a drink he originally bills as a cure-all tonic. This episode originally aired in 2023.
The Return of The Scream
May 7, 1994. Edvard Munch's painting The Scream is recovered undamaged after being stolen from the National Gallery of Norway.
The Hindenburg Disaster
May 6, 1937. The Hindenburg, the largest rigid airship ever built, and the pride of Nazi Germany, bursts into flames, killing 36 people. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Saturday Matinee: Rex Factor
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we review the reign of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife and consort of King George III. We take a look at how she compares to other monarchs given the challenges she faced during her rule- …
The Partition of Ireland
May 3rd 1921: the Government of Ireland Act comes into force, officially partitioning Ireland into two separate countries: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Osama Bin Laden Is Killed By U.S. Special Forces
May 2, 2011. Osama bin Laden is killed by US special forces in Pakistan.
The Suppression of Citizen Kane
May 1, 1941. Orson Welles’ revolutionary debut “Citizen Kane” premieres in New York after a bitter battle to suppress the film. This episode originally aired in 2023.
The Bristol Bus Boycott
April 30, 1963: A boycott protesting a bus company’s hiring policies draws national attention to racial discrimination in the United Kingdom.
Rock Musical Rent Debuts on Broadway
April 29, 1996. New musical Rent premieres on Broadway, only a few months after the death of the show’s creator.
Saturday Matinee: The Burden
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we get the scoop on "disgraced detective" Louis N. Scarcella who helped incarcerate over twenty people that ended up walking free. Was Scarcella a crooked cop, or is there more to this story? Link to The …
The Bombing of Guernica
April 26, 1937. During the Spanish Civil War, the town of Guernica is bombed by Fascist forces, heralding a dark new era of warfare in which civilians are targeted in air raids.
Construction Begins on the Suez Canal
April 25, 1859. A ground-breaking ceremony marks the official beginning of the Suez Canal in Egypt.