Today In History with The Retrospectors

• Mourning Jane Seymour

  ing Henry VIII’s third wife, Queen Consort Jane Seymour, died aged just 29 on 24th October, 1537 - 12 days after giving birth to their son, future King Edward VI. Her death was attributed to complications following a prolonged and challenging labour, though recently it has been speculated it was in fact a pulmonary embolism.  Despite her limited education, Jane's gentle nature and domestic skills appealed to Henry, who was, perhaps, looking for a more ‘girl next door’-type following his disastrous marriage to Anne Boleyn, whom he had beheaded just ten days before marrying Jane.  In this episode, Arion, Olly and Rebecca weigh up Jane's plain reputation with her latent plucky side and glitzy jewellery; consider Jane’s role in reconciling Henry with his daughter Mary, who had been declared a bastard; and delight in the discovery of black wax in Henry’s mourning court… Further Reading: • ‘Jane Seymour | Hampton Court Palace’ (Historic Royal Palaces): https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/history-and-stories/jane-seymour/#gs.71s7lp • ‘Jane Seymour | Queen, Henry VIII's Third Wife, Facts & Death’ (HistoryExtra, 2021): https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/kings-and-queens-in-profile-jane-seymour/ • ‘The HORRIFIC Death Of Jane Seymour - Henry VIII's Third Wife’ (Her Remarkable History, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3wckPOvxVY This episode first aired in 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Meet The Smurfs

  Peyo’s comic album ‘Johan and Peewit’ provided the platform for The Smurfs’ debut on 23rd October, 1958 - a cameo that their Belgian creator considered an unremarkable side-hustle. But the tiny blue creatures (“Schtroumpfs”, in the original text) went on to become a global cultural phenomenon. Within a year, the Smurfs got their own stories, and by 1959 were starring in dedicated comics. Then came the merch: first as plastic figurines in cereal boxes, then as collectible cuddly toys. When NBC’s Fred Silverman saw his daughter playing with a Smurf doll, he commissioned Hanna-Barbera to turn them into a Saturday morning TV sensation.  In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Peyo took inspiration from Disney, dwarves and medieval fantasy; consider the origin story of ‘the female smurf’, Smurfette; and explain why Hollywood keeps rebooting their Smurfy adventures… Further Reading: • ‘PIERRE CULLIFORD, CREATOR OF THE SMURFS, DIES AT 64’ (The Washington Post, 1992): https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1992/12/25/pierre-culliford-creator-of-the-smurfs-dies-at-64/c9cf93c8-3896-4253-9448-f09f7cc49e82/ • ‘The inside story of the little blue tribe that conquered the world’ (Brussels Times, 2023): https://www.brusselstimes.com/499686/empire-of-the-smurfs • ‘Can the Smurfs save Smurfette from the wicked witch Hogatha, who wants to steal her golden hair?’ (The Smurfs, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf-RJq4O_tM #Comics #Belgium #Toys #Sexism This episode first premiered in 2024, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 100 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!   We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors   The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart. Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Not The End Of The World

  Jesus failed to show up on the day that came to be known as ‘The Great Disappointment’ - 22nd October, 1844. It was an embarrassment for the New England preacher, William Miller, who had prophesied Christ’s return; and devastating for his 100,000+ followers in North America alone.  Miller had calculated the end of the world via an idiosyncratic interpretation of Daniel 8:14 (“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed”).  In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how the Millerites processed their monumental anti-climax; reveal what Ralph Waldo Emerson made of it all; and wonder whether Miller’s flexibility in the face of contrary evidence has parallels in the modern-day QAnon movement… Further Reading: • ‘William Miller Convinced Thousands of Millerites the End Was Near’ (New England Historical Society, 2020): https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/william-miller-convinced-thousands-millerites-world-end/ • ‘The Great Disappointment’ (Grace Communion International): https://www.gci.org/articles/the-great-disappointment/ • ‘William Miller Predicted Christ’s Return in 1844. Here's What Happened After His Prophecy Failed’ (History Unplugged, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYj9DOyz5k This episode first aired in 2021 This episode first premiered in 2024, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 100 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!   We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors   The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart. Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Madonna's Naked Photos

  Berated by the tabloids as exhibitionist pornography, Madonna’s coffee table book, ‘Sex’, quickly sold out upon its release on 21st October, 1992. Influenced by artists Robert Mapplethorpe and Cindy Sherman, the book included images of full-frontal nudity, simulated gay sex, mixed race couples, threesomes and trans imagery. Madonna vigorously defended it, in a series of interviews, as a portrayal of female sexuality. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly ask if Madonna was fighting an uphill battle to be taken seriously; debate whether the book was art, a smutty publicity stunt… or both; and consider whether a particularly sensational spread involving a canine companion was taken out of context...  Content Warning: discussion of erotic imagery, including abusive sexual fantasies Further Reading: • ‘How Madonna Turned Controversy Into a Best-Selling Book’ (Entertainment Tonight, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILybauhbA00 • ‘25 Years Later, Madonna's 'Sex' Book Is Still Pop's Most Radical Moment’ (HuffPost, 2017): https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/madonna-sex-book-25th-anniversary_n_59e9f8f1e4b0f9d35bca11e6 • ‘Madonna's 'Erotica,' 'Sex': Misunderstood Masterpieces’ (Rolling Stone, 2017): https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonnas-erotica-sex-why-musical-masterpiece-defiant-book-still-matter-200685/ This episode first aired in 2021 This episode first premiered in 2024, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 100 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!   We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors   The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart. Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Parachute!

  Losing control of his monoplane at 2,000 ft, First Lieutenant Harold R. Harris made history on 20th October, 1922, when he became the first person to use a manually-activated parachute to save his life. He landed in the grape arbor of a family house in Dayton, Ohio, narrowly missing the occupants, and escaping with just a few scratches. During World War I, many countries believed that giving pilots parachutes would encourage them to abandon planes, rather than fight to the end. But Harris’s experience proved the life-saving potential of this technology. And, as a result, he earned a badge from ‘the Caterpillar Club’, an elite group of pilots who survived thanks to parachutes, founded by Leslie Irvin (its name coming from the silk used to make early parachutes). Arion, Rebecca and Olly discover just how many members the Caterpillar Club has now welcomed; unearth the female trailblazer who joined their ranks; and reveal a surprise twist in Harris’ subsequent aviation career ✈️… Further Reading: • ’History of the Parachute (Inventors and Innovations)’ (ThoughtCo, 2019): https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-parachute-1992334 • ‘The “First” Members of the Caterpillar Club’ (National Air and Space Museum, 2019): https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/first-members-caterpillar-club • ‘Parachutist’ (British Pathé, 1950): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRLAybBcsP0 This episode was first published in 2024 Love the show? Support us!  Join  🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAY…  … Plus, get weekly bonus bits, and unlock over 100 bits of extra content.  Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️ The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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