Wherein we consider what counts as an amusement...Argus (Melbourne), 22 September 1855, p. 8 ('Amusements' column)A dance manual by one of Mr Denning's teachers, Eugene Coulon. Find the full text ofthe second edition (c. 1852) here.Hm

A Pig in a Poke

Oct 8th, 2019 32m 5s

Wherein we plunder suitcases full of mystery...Herald (Melbourne), 18 December 1893, p. 4, col. 5Here's a sample of the headlines that would follow railway lost property sales –And why not read on – here and hereMoreover, there was th

What is Really Real?

Sep 3rd, 2019 20m 44s

Wherein we shed some light in the phonebox...Space travel in the Sun (Melbourne), July 1969.(Blame the tilt on a lack of gravity)'The Pals' Corner' with 'Grandad', Advertiser, 23 June 1933, p. 5Leaf through the whole issue at Trove New

A Bit of a Ventriloquist

Aug 9th, 2019 35m 13s

Wherein voices are thrown and pigs educated.Age (Melbourne), 27 September 1884, p. 10, col. 6Read it with the rest of the day's news here.from Ventriloquism: Ancient and Modern – Containing A Complete Explanationof the Secrets of Ventri

Clean Hands

Jul 3rd, 2019 43m 8s

Wherein we consider propinquity of liberty, literacy and soap.Age (Melbourne), Monday, 17 August 1874, p. 2, col. 6– read it on the newspaper page hereJoseph Juliff took a penknife to a copy of the Argus in the newspaperreading room at t

Tin-kettling

Jun 9th, 2019 39m 5s

Wherein tins and nerves are rattled.Geelong Advertiser, 12 January 1885, p. 3, cols. 4-5See the rest of that day's news hereA bawdy depiction of charivari by the French caricaturist J.J. Grandville.It appeared in the journal La Cari

Buried Treasure

May 1st, 2019 35m 23s

Wherein we entertain tales of treasure and avarice.Men Dig in Richmond Yard And Carry Away – What?(the question-mark, perhaps)Sun News-Pictorial, 27 March 1936, p. 4 (copied from microfilm at State Library Victoria)Children Spy on Myste

Agnes & Geraldine – Season 2: ep. 1

Apr 1st, 2019 30m 31s

Wherein we drill down on a fin-de-siècle folly.Welcome to Season Two of Nothing on TV. Here's how it begins...Herald (Melbourne), 19 February 1887, p. 2, col. 7Read the article in situ hereArgus (Melbourne), 3 February 1882, p. 8, col.

The Suburban Ghost – ep. 7 (season finale)

Aug 5th, 2018 30m 51s

Wherein we encounter a ‘phosphorescent charmer’ in fin de siècle Melbourne .Herald (Melbourne), 8 August 1892, p. 2, col. 8See it on the page, here.Did you know that The day the ghost walks is slang for pay-day? Originally theatrical slan

The Hatpin Menace – ep. 6

Jul 6th, 2018 34m 33s

Wherein we consider the point of hatpins.Argus (Melbourne), 9 August 1911, p. 14, col. 4Or read the whole page hereA comic postcard from 1907.I found it at http://whatsinthetrench.weebly.com/blog/archives/09-2016Here's some hats, at

Deadwood Dick & the Picture Show Panic – ep. 5

Jun 6th, 2018 28m 28s

Wherein we learn who to blame for the perennial naughtiness of boys.Argus (Melbourne), 10 November 1914, p. 8, col. 2Read it in full hereTitles in the Deadwood Dick Library – ‘Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 cents’From the ‘Nickels and

Champagne & Anarchy – ep. 4

May 5th, 2018 28m 19s

Wherein we have our cockles warmed by Lord Hopetoun’s liquid largesse, as dispensed by an anarchist on the mean streets of Melbourne in 1902.Argus (Melbourne), 26 June 1902, p. 5, column 3Read the whole of the report, plus all that day’s ne

Have you seen my poncho cloak? – ep. 3

Apr 6th, 2018 28m 13s

Wherein we plunder drapers' shops, cloakrooms, and the Lost & Found column in search of the poncho cloak and its shoddy brethren.Argus (Melbourne), 23 June 1855, p. 1, column 6Or take a look here at what else was lost and found that dayT

The Marble Man – ep. 2 (part 1)

Mar 9th, 2018 21m 34s

Wherein we trace the curious career and prehistory of a ‘petrified man’ dug out of a New South Wales marble quarry.See post for The Marble Man part 2 for further reading and links for this two-part episode.

The Marble Man – ep. 2 (part 2)

Mar 9th, 2018 17m 26s

Wherein we continue to trace the curious career and prehistory of a ‘petrified man’ dug out of a New South Wales marble quarry.Further reading and links for this episode:Bathurst Free Press & Mining Journal, 21 May 1889, p. 2, columns 4-5

Enter the Elephant – ep. 1

Feb 7th, 2018 15m 31s

Wherein we chart the declining fortunes of a performing elephant in goldrush-era Victoria.Further reading and links for this episode:Age (Melbourne), 7 November 1854, p. 5 - or read it in situ (look at the top of column 5),to see what els

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