The Show-Me Podcast

In 1973 a movie hit theaters that scared audiences like no horror movie that came before it had. This movie drew large crowds and even won two Academy Awards while being nominated in another 8 categories. This film would also become the first horror movie to be nominated for best picture, which is saying something as horror movies have been around for practically as long as the motion picture industry has existed. This movie that we are talking about is of course, The Exorcist, a film that centers around the demonic possession of a 12 year old girl, and the religious struggle of good versus evil in an attempt to free the child from the control of a devilish entity. The screenplay for The Exorcist was written by William Peter Blatty, who based the screenplay off of his successful novel of the same name, and while the story presented in the book and film are fictional, they are based off true events, events that tie a tale of demonic possession and battles against darkness that took place in Missouri. Join us in this episode as we look at demons, a struggle of good against evil, and a basis behind a Hollywood horror classic, and how they became a part of… The Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

As we explored in our very first episode, the death of one's child can cause them to do something that they otherwise may not have done. In the case of Dr. Joseph Nash McDowell, that would result in conducting experiments on the body of his daughter to preserve her from decay, and providing imaginative inspiration for a young Mark Twain. In this episode, we will explore another man who lost his daughter, and the actions that he would take in the wake of her death, leading ultimately to a curse being placed on his family. Join us in this episode as we look at curses, slavery, and a heavy dose of myth that makes for a perfect Halloween-themed tale, and how they became a part… of the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

In 1969, two music festivals made history, but for very different reasons. In Bethel, New York, Woodstock became a cultural legacy of peace, love, and music. On the West Coast, at Altamont, later that year, The Rolling Stones would lead their answer to the Hippies in New York with their own concert, one that would end in tragedy and death. These two music festivals both had very different feels to them, but they both had one thing in common, a lack of any real law enforcement. The music seemed to make the people free, for better or worse, and to varying degrees of success. Sure, Woodstock had some bad acid going around, but it is typically remembered as an overwhelmingly positive call for the hippie movement of the day. Altamont, not so much. And while these concerts are still remembered today, there is a third music festival, the last of these concerts that sought freedom of expression through music and from the law. Join us in this episode as we look at sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and how they became a part… of the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

It was the fall of 1899, and Frankie Baker had her man. She was in love and she was in deep. She had her youth, she had her looks, and most importantly, she had her man. It seemed like a romantic and fortunate future lay ahead and all she had to do was reach out and grasp it. The universe was in her reach… but fate was about to challenge the young woman in multiple ways. Join us in this episode as we look at romance gone wrong, hollywood, the music business and the life-long effects of a brief moment of a single day… and how they became a part… of the show-me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

Just a few short miles south of Branson lies a feature that has nothing to do with the famed tourist attractions music, shows, and theatrical performances that has brought so much attention to this small corner of the Ozarks. This feature, a cluster of elephant rocks, or large boulders of sandstone that survived the erosion of soil around them, saw performances that had nothing to do with country or bluegrass music. No, this outcropping of sandstone was the theater for a depraved bushwacker, thief, and killer, whose gang used the rocky formation to ambush travellers and soldiers during the first half of the war between the states. Following the death of the villainous madman, this formation would be rumored to hold the treasures and ill gotten gains that the killer had acquired in his heists and would become a favorite location for Ozark treasure hunters. Join us as we examine Murder Rock, Alf Bolin, and the legends surrounding the man and his treasure, and how they became a part… of the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

It was the spring of 1941 and William Huffman, the reverend of Redstar Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, was relaxing before turning in for the night. Around 9:30 that evening, the telephone rang, with the voice on the other end asking the reverend to come a short distance out of town to perform the last rites at the site of a plane crash. A car pulled into his driveway shortly afterwards to chauffeur the reverend to the scene of the disaster, and upon his arrival at the crash site, the Reverend Huffman would be thrust into a situation that would remain hidden from popular culture for another 50 years. Join us in this episode as we look at religious ritual, aircraft disasters, and untold secrets that wouldn't come to light until decades later, and how they became a part of… the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

Missouri has a long list of famous outlaws and criminals, but none more famous than Jesse James. Jesse James has been portrayed as a hero and a villain in popular culture over the last one hundred and 30 plus years since his death at the hands of Robert Ford. He has been depicted as both a robin hood-like figure, and a violent thug, he has been featured in numerous biographic pictures as well as fictional tales that use the outlaw's name and likeness to expand on the mythos of the famed Missouri criminal. But before the motion pictures expanded the legacy, fictional or real, of the daring guerilla and robber, the myths and legends surrounding James began in the newspapers and rumor mills that surrounded the man in his very lifetime. Join us in this episode as we examine Jesse James, his legendary actions, mythical meetings, and criminal cheatings, and trying to separate fact from myth, and how they became a part… of the Show-me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

It's common knowledge that Jefferson City is the capital of Missouri, but it may not be so common, especially to those outside of the state, to know that Jefferson City was not always the Capital. Even to those who live in the Show-Me state, it may come as a surprise that the Capital City almost was placed elsewhere, saw competiton from other cities who wished to lure the title away, and even had a competing capital city claiming to be the true government of the state. Jefferson City would continue to triumph over the challenges brought to the seat of government that were placed before it, no matter what manner that challenge would bring. It had some close calls, but would continue to hold its grasp as the center of the State's political power. Join us in this episode as we examine building sites, fires, competition, warfare, and more, and how they became a part… of the Show-me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

The belief that the number 13 is an unlucky one stretches back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Some say that the unlucky or diabolic nature of the number stretches back to the downfall of the Knights Templar on Friday the 13th, in October of 1307. Others say that 13 became reviled as it represented Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. Regardless of the origin of this unlucky number, we have reached our 13th episode of the Show-Me, so it seems only fitting to explore a story that features an abundance of horrible luck, darkness, and a convergence of history and myth that ultimately has inspired urban legends and spine-chilling stories. Join us in this episode as we examine family secrets, suds, lavish lifestyles, and ill-fated losses… and how they became a part… of the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

On the morning of June 17th, machine gun fire ripped through the air in Kansas City, sparking tragedy, legend, and an aftermath of not only rumor and suspicion, but in an incredibly perceptible difference in federal law enforcement. Join us in this episode as we look at Public Enemies, G-Men, and a shoot-out that made national headlines, and how they became a part… of the show me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

A look at the Western Engineer, Stephen Long, and the Yellowstone Expedition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

When it comes to names, the Show-Me state has a tendency to choose some rather unique handles to use for the various locales throughout Missouri. This should come as no surprise as we derive names from english, french, german, and native american words as just as a few sources. Throw in some unusual pronunciation and local dialect and things can get interesting real fast. What do you expect though when the citizens of our fair state can't even agree if our state is called MIssouri or Missourah. At least both sides of that argument can agree that the third attempted pronunciation of Miss-ouri was ridiculous. And while the debate over the pronunciation of our state name persists, the pronunciation of certain locals does not, odd as those names maybe. Join us in this episode as we look at some locales with some of the oddest names in Missouri, and how they became a part of… the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

When one thinks of Native American raids on white settlers, they typically imagine Hollywood scenarios of Indian warriors ambushing cowboys and caravans of covered wagons.. They may think of early colonial times when the threat of attack from tribes such as the Pequot was a real possibility. After all, the indigenous peoples of the Americas had devastating interactions with the Europeans who came to the new world. They found their territory, cultural distinctions, and entire ways of life challenged and under attack. As the people of the small settlement of Cote Sans Dessein could attest to, Indian raids were not just limited to the early colonists or the tribes of the plains and southwest who saw an increase in white settlers as gold booms and homesteading increased. For the people of this small settlement in modern-day Callaway County, they would find themselves under a frightful attack, and would find deliverance in an unusual way. Join us as we examine Cote Sans Dessein, Native Americans, French Settlers, and hostilities, and how they became a part… of the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

The 1984 comedy classic Ghostbusters opens with a scene featuring Bill Murray's character, Peter Venkeman, conducting an experiment to test psychic powers at New York's Columbia University. While this scene is played for laughs, it holds a factual background, as the CIA began experimenting with psychic warfare and espionage techniques through the Stargate Project beginning in the early 1970's at Stanford University. Stanford University and the Central Intelligence Agency would not be the only ones to investigate and test the realms of the human mind and the paranormal, as their inspiration stemmed from the Cold War and Russia's attempts to develop psychic spies. Even members of the private sector would find themselves involved in the testing of PSI powers, as can be seen in the experiments that began in 1979 at St. Louis' Washington University. Join us as we look at psychic shenanigans, telekinetic testings, and how these supernatural superpowers are a part of… the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

When I was in the 11th grade, one of our required courses for the year was an American literature course. On the first day of this class, our teacher, a Mr. David Lineberry, bragged that he did not have to send a student to the office or give a detention in over three years. Being the dedicated student that I am, I of course rose to the occasion and broke that streak, receiving detention before the end of the 1st quarter. Although I broke his streak, Mr. Lineberry didn't hold a grudge, but he did require us to read Stephen Crane's Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage. As our class finished this story of symbolism, impressionism, and personal conflicts of heroism and cowardice, Mr. Lineberry lead us out of the classroom and to a nearby park, showing us the remains of trenches dug into the trees and off the beaten path. As we examined the trenches, Mr. Lineberry told us his own story about local history, that of the “battle that never was.” A story of Sterling Price's 1864 Missouri Campaign, and how he led his forces to Jefferson City to retake the capital city for the Confederacy. Many of my fellow students and I were engrossed in his tale, being largely unfamiliar with it, and it is a story that deserves to be retold. Join us as we discuss Sterling Price, Civil War battles, an embarrassing twist for the Confederates, and how they became a part… of the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

When one thinks of the Wild West, they usually think of places like Lincoln County, New Mexico, Tombstone, Arizona, or Deadwood, South Dakota. They don't usually think of Missouri, considering it to be the mid-west, instead of the gateway to the west. For much of the 19th century however, Missouri was the west, and many names that passed into the myths and histories of the wild west have connections with our state. Jesse James was a Missouri native, Ike Clanton was born in Callaway County, and Wyatt Earp began his checkered career as a lawman in Lamar. But there was another man whose name and legend would grow in the annals of the American West, a man who inspired the high-noon duels of Hollywood westerns, enjoyed and encouraged the ever-growing myths invoked in dime novels about him, and a man who still appears from time to time in pop-culture and finds portrayal in modern mediums, and that man would begin to make a name for himself… in the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

Buried treasure. We've all heard tales of stolen riches buried by thieves and cutthroats, killers who made off with their loot only to hide it away for a later time. Whenever most think of buried treasure however, they think of pirates who sailed the seven seas. Missouri is, of course, nowhere near an ocean, but that doesn't stop us from having our own tales of buried treasure While there were certainly small pirate crews along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, there were also bandits and bushwhackers, bank robbers and highwaymen, along with thieves, miners, and conquistadors who found themselves in distress throughout the state, and all of them have tales about their ill-gotten gains being buried. In this episode, we are going to examine some of the most interesting myths and legends that surround just a few of these treasures. Join us as we discuss treasures that may be buried away and hidden, in the Show-Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

Join us as we look into the life of Marion Hedgspeth, the debonair bandit, and he became a part of the Show Me. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

Shirley Andrews discusses the life of her mother, Irma Craig, a rider of the Orphan Trains --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

Join us as we look into the history of the Orphan Trains and how they brought thousands of children to Missouri --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

In this episode of The Show-Me Podcast we look back in history at the grave-robbing mad doctor of St. Louis. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message

A story of unverifiable accuracy states that in 1899 U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver declared that, “I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." While this quote is often credited as giving birth to the nickname of Missouri, the meaning behind it has come to mean that one is skeptical and not easily fooled. Here the meaning behind the Show-Me state takes on another form. We come from a state that has a unique history, we've had our share of colorful characters, and we have our own distinct mythology, lore, and local customs. We've even had a crackpot or two. We've passed under the flags of multiple nations and became the gateway to the west. We've seen outlaws and lawmen, heard tales of buried treasure, civil war skirmishes, and legends surrounding specters and spooks. From our history to our folklore, from our urban legends to our art, and from outlandish tales to unverified claims, Missouri has developed its own culture within its borders. In the Show-Me, we explore that culture. Through shared tales of little known historical events, amusing insights into past events, and a dash or two of local legends, we intend to educate and entertain you as we look into what makes Missouri not just another state, but what makes Missouri the SHOW-ME. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-show-me-podcast/message