How did a young girl who was told she’d never walk again eventually become an Olympic runner? Listen as your Lame hosts discuss the story of Wilma Rudolph, a legend on the track and in her hometown’s fight against racial segregation.

Sources to follow!

"…about half the size of a pomegranate cut into quarters. Today we explore the life of famous 17th century micrographer and calligrapher, Mathias Buchinger."

Much of the materials is pulled from a book by Ricky Jay. You might recognize him from a number of character roles in the films The Prestige, The Spanish Prisoner, Mystery Men, Heist, Boogie Nights, Tomorrow Never Dies, State and Main, House of Games and Magnolia, and the HBO series Deadwood. Most material comes from Ricky Jay’s book “Mathias Buchinger - the Greatest German Living”. The title is in reference to a poem from 1726.

EXCELLENT write up in the New Yorker, 2016 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/25/seeing-and-believing-the-art-world-peter-schjeldahl

James Bond who? Today the Lame hosts look at the life of Virginia Hall, a badass one-legged spy who helped turn the tides of World War II!

Sources:

Book - A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

Film - A Call to Spy

Links:

https://www.intelligence.gov/people/barrier-breakers-in-history/662-1945-virginia-hall 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6899057/Virginia-Hall-one-legged-real-life-James-Bond-helped-build-Resistance-network-France.html

https://ee.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/207/Not-Bad-for-a-Girl-from-Baltimore.pdf

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshallfame/html/hall.html

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/fall/extraordinary-stories.html 

https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/national-news/cia-spy-virginia-hall-is-about-to-become-everyone-s-next-favorite-historical-hero/article_f064288f-7b52-592f-8348-c9f044ab711f.html

https://craiggralley.com/virginia-hall/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wanted-the-limping-lady-146541513/

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/one-legged-terror-nazi-germany.html

https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/virginia-hall-the-courage-and-daring-of-the-limping-lady/  

https://rhapsodyinwords.com/2019/11/05/remarkable-women-the-life-and-times-of-virginia-hall-part-1/ 

https://text-message.blogs.archives.gov/2020/04/16/the-secrets-of-the-office-of-strategic-services-personnel-records/ 

https://crimereads.com/wwiis-most-decorated-spy-was-an-american-heiress-with-a-wooden-leg/ 

https://boundarystones.weta.org/2022/06/14/la-dame-qui-boite-limping-woman 

https://nypost.com/2018/01/13/she-was-a-post-columnist-and-a-heroic-wwii-spy/ 

https://medium.com/literature-lust/how-a-woman-of-no-importance-won-a-war-and-changed-the-world-712afc7905a7 

https://www.history.com/news/female-allied-spy-world-war-2-wooden-leg 

www.theheroinecollective.com/virginia-hall-spy/ 

https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/virginia-hall-interactive-exhibit/ 

https://careers.state.gov/career-paths/worldwide-foreign-service/officer/fso-test-information-and-selection-process/ 

https://br.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Consular-Clerk-major-duties-1.pdf 

https://projectupland.com/culture/snipe-hunting/

Today the Lame crew are looking at the life of Johnny Eck - a 1930s Hollywood star born without legs. Come explore an era of glitz, glamour, and goony birds!

Links:

https://www.johnnyeckmuseum.com/

https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/johnny-eck-37866

https://medium.com/@jeremylr/a-three-hour-tour-with-king-of-the-freaks-johnny-eck-2752c5a03de3

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fan-keeps-museum-dream-alive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paCywWZU-O8

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

Slip on your ballet shoes and get ready for some Cold War romance! This episode, the Lame History crew takes a look at the life of Olympic hammer-thrower Harold Connolly. 

SHOW NOTES:

Dive into “Lame History,” an hour-long podcast exploring the lesser known stories of disabled figures who shaped history as we know it today. With candid banter, enlightening stories, and a bit of wit, “Lame History” illuminates a side of our past you probably didn’t learn in school. Welcome to the most accessible history lesson you’ll ever experience.

REFERENCES: 

(Sources in Chronological Order)

November 25, 1956

110 https://www.nytimes.com/1956/11/25/archives/connolly-will-retire-hammer-ace-cites-strain-on-his-weak-left-arm.html?searchResultPosition=58 (NY Times, November 25, 1956) 110

November 25, 1956

133 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/11/25/88492839.html?pageNumber=225 

March 3, 1957

 122 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/03/archives/us-and-czech-olympic-stars-seek-to-wed-hammer-and-discus-throwers.html?searchResultPosition=22 (NY Times, March 3, 1957)

March 7, 1957

120 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/07/archives/discus-star-urges-zapotocky-to-let-her-wed-us-athlete-czech.html?searchResultPosition=26 (NY Times, March 7, 1957)

March 9, 1957

“Prague Visit Extended For U. S. Olympic Star - Speclal to The New York Times. PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia; March 8 -

March 10, 1957

118 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/10/archives/connolly-to-fight-to-wed-czech-girl.html?searchResultPosition=7 (NY Times, March 10, 1957)

CONNOLLY TO 'FIGHT’ TO WED CZECH GIRL

March 22, 1957

126 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/22/archives/czechs-bow-to-love-us-boy-gets-girl-prague-relents-us-boy-gets-girl.html?searchResultPosition=16 (NY Times, March 22, 1957)

“Czechs Bow to Love: U.S. Boy Gets Girl

March 23, 1957

127 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/23/archives/connollys-fiancee-applies-for-us-visa.html?searchResultPosition=5 (NY Times, March 23, 1957)

“CONNOLLY'S FIANCEE APPLIES FOR U.S. VISA - VIENNA, March 22 (P)

March 27, 1957

116 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/03/27/86702020.html?pageNumber=5 (From NY Times March 27, 1957)

“OLYMPIANS' WEDDING SET TODAY IN PRAGUE

March 28, 1957

115 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/28/archives/all-prague-agog-as-athletes-wed-czech-discus-star-married-to.html?searchResultPosition=17 

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/03/28/84909982.html (March 28, 1957 in NY Times)

“ALL, PRAGUE AGOG AS ATHLETES WED

March 29, 1957

117 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/03/29/84724370.html?pageNumber=8  (NY Times, March 29, 1957)

March 29, 1957

125 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/03/29/archives/visa-awaits-czech-bride-us-officials-say-mrs-connolly-can-obtain.html?searchResultPosition=14 (NY Times, March 29, 1957)

“VISA AWAITS CZECH BRIDE

April 25, 1957

119 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/04/25/archives/newly-wed-olympic-winners-arrive-olympics-winner-here-with-bride.html?searchResultPosition=25 (NY Times, April 25, 1957)

April 27, 1957

123 https://www.nytimes.com/1957/04/27/archives/dulles-sees-connollys-says-he-hopes-remarks-aided-them-in-getting.html?searchResultPosition=12 (NY Times, April 27, 1957)

“WASHINGTON, April 26

April 2, 1958

124 https://www.nytimes.com/1958/08/02/archives/connollys-get-visa-will-visit-wifes-parents-in-prague-after-warsaw.html?searchResultPosition=13 (NY Times, April 2, 1958)

“CONNOLLYS GET VISA

July 13, 1958

114 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/07/13/91396416.html?pageNumber=169 (From NY Times July 13, 1958)

“Connollys' Visa Delayed. HELSINKI, Finland

May 29, 1960

113 https://www.nytimes.com/1960/05/29/archives/high-cost-of-olympics-may-bench-connollys.html?searchResultPosition=9 (NY Times, May 29, 1960)

October 15, 1962

106 https://www.nytimes.com/1962/10/15/archives/connollys-win-in-finland.html?searchResultPosition=44 (NY Times, October 15, 1962) 106

“Connollys Win in Finland. TAMPERE, Finland, Oct. 14 (AP)

January 17, 1964

112 https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/17/archives/harold-and-olga-connolly-drill-for-last-flings-in-tokyo-games-coast.html?searchResultPosition=41 (NY Times, January 17, 1964)

“TAMPERE, Finland, Jan. 16

December 13, 1964

107 https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/13/archives/mrs-connolly-scores-us-amateur-approach.html?searchResultPosition=45 (NY Times, December 13, 1964) 107

“Mrs. Connolly Scores U.S. Amateur Approach -  CULVER CITY, Calif., Dec. 12 (UPD)

October 17, 1968

111 https://www.nytimes.com/1968/10/17/archives/connolly-ousted-by-a-false-step-an-old-rule-is-overlooked-by-hammer.html?searchResultPosition=9 (NY Times, October 17, 1968)

“CONNOLLY OUSTED BY A FALSE STEP

January 30, 1972

105 https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/30/archives/olympic-dream-spurs-connollys.html?searchResultPosition=32  (NY Times, January 30, 1972) 105

“Olympic Dream Spurs Connolly

July 15, 1972

108 https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/15/archives/u-s-olympic-officials-unfair-to-women-mrs-connolly-says.html?searchResultPosition=62  (NY Times, July 15, 1972) 108

“U. S. Olympic Officials Unfair To Women, Mrs. Connolly Says

July 14, 1973

131 https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/14/archives/connolly-tells-senate-he-washooked-on-steroid.html  https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/07/14/99156986.html?pageNumber=14 (NY Times from July 14, 1973)

December 13, 1991

104 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/13/sports/special-olympics-robert-lipsyte-at-last-harold-connolly-raises-both-arms.html?searchResultPosition=3 104

December 13, 1991

128 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/13/sports/special-olympics-robert-lipsyte-at-last-harold-connolly-raises-both-arms.html?searchResultPosition=3 (from NY Times December 13, 1991)

August 19, 2010

102 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/sports/20connolly.html (from NY Times August 19, 2010) 102

OBITUARY

August 20, 2010

103 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/sports/20connolly.html 103

August 21, 2010

130 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/sports/22hammer.html 

August 22, 2010

132 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/sports/22hammer.html

August 22, 2010

129 https://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2010/08/harold-connelly-dies-olympic-champion-and-early-steroid-pioneer.html 

June 8, 2012

108 https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/15/archives/u-s-olympic-officials-unfair-to-women-mrs-connolly-says.html?searchResultPosition=62  (NY Times, July 15, 1972) 108

Dive into “Lame History,” an hour-long podcast exploring the lesser known stories of disabled figures who shaped history as we know it today. With candid banter, enlightening stories, and a bit of wit, “Lame History” illuminates a side of our past you probably didn’t learn in school. Welcome to the most accessible history lesson you’ll ever experience.