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In this episode we’ll go back to the middle of the 20th century and learn about one of the most iconic children’s programs - Howdy Doody. We’ll hear that history from Ron Current - who grew up watching Howdy Doody and has truly become an expert on all aspects of that show. You’ll hear how the show was started and fun anecdotes. Ron has his own online history blog and that link and some others related to this children’s how are in this show write-up below. 

Note that I have published a book this year - its a biography of a fascinating Gilded Age artist - Amalia Kussner. There are two podcasts on Kussner in this series (Jan 2022 and Apr 2020). See below a link for my book website.

Ron’s blog about Howdy Doody (in 12 parts).

Note: His blog is called: Still Current is available through Wordpress.com at this link or this address: stillcurrent.blog, and covers a number of history topics. 

Other Links related to Howdy Doody:

Facebook Page: The Doodyville Historical Society

YouTube: Howdy Doody offered through Mill Creek Entertainment. 

Kathleen's website and information on her book (or www.kathleenlangone.com).

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Dear Listeners,  I have just published a Gilded Age biography of Amalia Kussner titled: The Miniature Painter Revealed - Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Forutne.  Kussner was the famed miniature portrait artist during the 1890's through the 1900's. The start of this book - was in part the two podcasts that I published in April of 2020 and January of 2022, which you can find in this podcast series. 

This book covers her whole life, from simple beginnings being born in Indiana, then on to her meteoric career in New York City, and then onto Europe, to paint Royalty and many titled women. The book not only details her life but the many fascinating people she painted - such as Edward VII and the Czar and Czarina of Russia. The biography contains more than 70 illustrations - with many images of her artwork and photographs of her family and husband. The book website is:

www.kathleenlangone.com or at this link. 

Please check your local bookstore or order online at these sites:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Bookshop.org  (supporting local bookstores)
• Indiana Historical Society 

There is now also a separate podcast called - Searching for Amalia, which will detail more about her life and some of the mysteries, such as the details of the 1901 lawsuit against her and the locations of her many missing miniature paintings. This podcast series is available on all major platforms, just like People Hidden in History. The Apple link is here; the Spotify link is here. 

Feel free to get in touch with me with any  questions using the contact page at my website. My social media is:

Threads (@phihpod), Instagram (@phihpod), or Facebook ( Kathleen Langone Author). My website: www.kathleenlangone.com (link here). 

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This is an interview with author Elizabeth DeWolfe, who tells the fascinating story of two women "hidden in history" from the Gilded Age. Her recent book, Alias Agnes - The Notorious Tales of a Gilded Age Spy, brings to light a woman, Madeleine Pollard, who was promised a better life from a Kentucky congressman, and continued an affair with him for a number of years. The congressman eventually married someone else, and Madeline decided to bring him to trial, frankly with solid evidence that he had promised to marry her. The defense team for the congressman, came up with the clever idea to hire another woman - to become a friend of Madeleine's with an assumed alias, essentially to "spy" on her. This interview will definitely "whet your whistle" to learn more and read the full story of the outcome of this trial and eventually the lives of two women, navigating the sometimes difficult society of the 1890's. 

Elizabeth DeWolfe is professor of history at the University of New England (Biddeford, Maine) and the award-winning author of The Murder of Mary Bean, and, Shaking the Faith. Her most recent work is Alias Agnes: The Notorious Tale of a Gilded Age Spy. Her website is:

www.elizabeth.dewolfe.com or (link here). 

Her book is available at number of online venues or please check your local bookstore:

• University Press of Kentucky
• DeWolfe and Wood
• Bookshop
• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble

I too just published a Gilded Age biogrhapy - The Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune. It can be purchased either at your local bookstore or online at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org, or the Indiana Historical Society. 

There is a new podcast series, exclusively about her life and the many unsolved mysteries, Searching for Amalia - link here. It can also be found on Apple, Spotify and most other podcast platforms (just look up "Searching for Amalia").

My social media: Threads (@phihpod), Instagram (@phihpod), or Facebook ( Kathleen Langone Author). My website: www.kathleenlangone.com (link here). 

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An episode of a “different nature” for your listening pleasure - People Hidden in History was part of an episode swap with the impressive series - History Daily and I am sharing their episode titled “The Return of Lewis and Clark” discussing the journey in 1806.

It was narrated by Lindsay Graham - a host from the History Daily series. They in turn shared my episode about a Navy nurse in WW2 - a complete narrative of her wartime experiences and her return to civilian life. The link is here and was aired Saturday, May 24th, 2025.

The History Daily website is www.historydaily.com and at this link. 

Also informing my listeners - that my book, The Miniature Painter Revealed - Amalia Kussner’s Pursuit of Fame and Fortune - is officially published and please check out details at my author website - www.kathleenlangone.com or at this link. 

Please connect with me through my various social media outlets:

Instagram/Threads: @phihpod, BlueSky: @phihpod.bsky.social. 

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Muriel White was born into great wealth during the Gilded Age and both her parents was well known in society. Her mother's impressive beauty was written about by authors Edith Wharton and Henry James. Her father, Henry White, was one of the most respected diplomats of that era, with a career extending through WW1. Muriel married a Prussian count just before World War I and for a while had an idyllic life and became the mother of three children. The marriage ultimately failed and as Germany was overshadowed by the Nazis, Muriel was quite vocal on her opposition to them. She was allowed to stay in the family castle and sent her children away to America. While deprived of financial support and with her passport confiscated, she risked her own life in various acts of defiance, including helping to smuggle out a Jewish family. This interview with author Rick Hutto will highlight this woman's incredible life and you'll also learn about his journey as a author to write this biography. 

Richard Hutto website or https://rickhutto.com

Book website or www.thecountess.net

Kathleen's author site or www.kathleenlangone.com

Social media:

Instagram or @phihpod

Facebook or search "Kathleen Langone Author"

Threads or @phihpod

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I am excited to share with you, that there is currently a stunning art exhibition – featuring the works of Maxfield Parrish, at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida. To celebrate this exhibition of Parrish’s work –  you are now listening to a re-release of the interview with Judy Goffman Cutler and her fascinating insights on Maxfield Parrish. 

The exhibition is from the American Imagist collection at the National Museum of American Illustration in Newport, RI where Ms. Goffman Cutler is the founder and executive director. The museum art works are housed in Vernon Court, a stunning, Gilded Age mansion on Bellevue Avenue. 

At the Flagler museum – you will see 80 works by Parrish - 20 original artworks and 60 vintage prints, photographs, letters and related ephemera items.

You will hear in this interview details of Parrish’s career and techniques and gain an appreciation for both his artistic and impressive commercial success. I hope that listening to this entertaining interview will encourage you to see this amazing exhibit – where his works evoke a fantastical sense of beauty.

This show – called The Ethereal Worlds of Maxfield Parrish, will be at the Flagler museum – and due to popular demand, is now extended through May 25th. Link to the Flagler Museum Parrish exhibit is here. 

Please follow me on social media: Instagram and Threads: @phihpod

*** Excited to announce my publication this year - please look at my author website:  www.kathleenlangone.com, which has details (and purchase links) of my Gilded Age biography, "The Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune". 

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Otto Antoine, who was discussed in the September 2022 episode, has gotten much attention recently through a September 2024 article in the online magazine Art News (link here). The article also helped promote efforts to get the collection of his works, owned by Todd Barrowcliff, hopefully into a museum or academic institution. Not only was Todd interviewed but also Dr. Jacquelyn McDonald, (University of Texas, Dallas), who has an expertise in early 20th century German art.

The news of this article also prompted a presentation hosted by the Fritz Ascher Society, who's mission it is to present history on artists persecuted by the Nazis. Both Dr. McDonald and myself were interviewed (link to this at YouTube).

Having this artist get national and potentially international attention again is a delight for me - since it highlights that this podcast series does profile poeple that have some importance historically.

Otto Antoine Episode (Appe Link)
Todd Barrowcliff's Website - Otto Antoine Art ( www.ottoantoine.com)

*** Excited to announce my publication - please look at my author website:  www.kathleenlangone.com, which has details (and purchase links) of my Gilded Age biography, "The Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune".

Social Media:
BlueSky: @phihpod.bsky.social
Instagram/threads: @phihpod

NOTE: All of the People Hidden History episodes are on all podcast platforms - including Spotify. 

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You will hear a detailed discussion on how with time the hysteria of the Salem Witch trails ended. Various factors, such as the changing local political climate and the rules around convictions changed  - but not overnight. Also provided will be an explanation of the archaic court system used then in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, that in some ways hastened both convictions and hangings. And provided will be a better understanding of those who were still in jail as of 1693 and their eventual fate. The events between 1692 through to 1711 will be covered, through interviews with Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, both descendants of those tried and convicted at the time.

This is the third podcast on this topic of New England Witch Trials and links to the other two are below. Note that the earlier podcasts primarily discussed the Connecticut Witch trials also, which pre-dated the Salem trials. (can also be found on Spotify and Apple). Links below are through Buzzsprout:
Episode 1
Episode 2

Josh and Sarah have their own podcast series (Witch Hunt) and information about witch trials and information on past and current day issues around accused witches:
YouTube
Spotify
Website 

!!! I am also pleased to announce my 2 podcasts about Amalia Kussner resulted in a published biography! See links for Amazon and Barnes and Noble (on sale now). For more information - book website or www.kathleenlangone.com. 

My social media (@phihpod):
Instagram
Threads
Website - www.peoplehiddeninhistory.com

Image: Salem Witch Trial Engraving, by Howard Pyle, 1892. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

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In this episode you’ll hear a fascinating but largely unknown story from the Civil War about slaves who actually were enlisted to become spies for the Union side. You’ll learn about this in an interview with author Robert Hilliard, who published an intensively researched book last year - titled - In Freedom’s Shadow. Robert’s book - has had the distinction of TWO book awards: The Firebird Book Award for African American Fiction and the PenCraft 2024 Spring Best Book Award for Historical Fiction. Note that this episode, recorded last December, was delayed since I was working on my book which will be out next Spring, details to be found below. 

Robert Hilliard has written on sports, history, and the outdoors. He started his professional career as a marine biologist - in fact, his first paid publication was in Florida Oceanographic Magazine. After moving back home to western Pennsylvania, Rob worked as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and wrote for other outlets such as Upland Almanac, Pennsylvania Wildlife, and Pittsburgh History Magazine. His first book, A Season on the Allegheny, was published in 2012, and went to the “Top 10” in two Amazon categories. His historical espionage thriller: In Freedom's Shadow, is based on the true story of slave John Scobell, who escaped to the North during the Civil War, only to return to the Confederacy as a clandestine Union spy. In Freedom's Shadow was published in November 2023 and became a #1 Bestseller in multiple Amazon categories in its first week of publication.

In Freedom's Shadow at Amazon
Robert Hilliard's Website - roberthilliardwrites.godaddysites.com and Link

*** Excited to announce my publication this year - please look at my author website:  www.kathleenlangone.com, which has details (and purchase links) of my Gilded Age biography, "The Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune".

Website: https://peoplehiddeninhistory.com
Direct link
Website with all Podcast Episodes/All Platforms
Contact Page
Links to Twitter(X) and Instagram -or- Connect with @phihpod. 

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This episode with be an enlightening interview with Laurence Jurdem, Ph.D., adjunct professor at Fordham College, who pubished a fascinating and well reserached book detailing the friendship between Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge. You will hear of the enduring relationship between two men - who were very different characters in history, but in actuality had many things in common.

Here is a great review of "The Rough Rider and the Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Friendship that Change American History"
from Publishers Weekly:

"This fascinating study reveals a new perspective on both Roosevelt and Lodge, and the impact of friendships on the course of events. Jurdem ably navigates the huge cache of letters exchagned between the two --- some 2,500 in all --- to tell a story rich with personal detail."

The book can be purchased through Amazon at this link.

*** Excited to announce my publication this year - please look at my author website:  www.kathleenlangone.com, which has details (and purchase links) of my Gilded Age biography, "The Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune".

Website: https://peoplehiddeninhistory.com
Direct link
Website with all Podcast Episodes/All Platforms
Contact Page
Twitter(X)/Instagram: @phihpod