The Cracked Podcast

Believe it or not, the idea of the summer break wasn't invented until very recently. Before kids got the summer off, school basically was the break from months of grueling farm work or any of the other countless horrors we subjected children to before modern labor laws. As people moved out of farming jobs into the cities and modes of transportation out of the cities became cheaper and more efficient, the travel and recreation industry took flight. 

By the end of the twentieth century, resort towns, roadside attractions and theme parks were a main staple of the summer vacation and a huge source of money for local economies. Or at least the ones you've heard of were.

On this week's podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Cracked writers and editors David Christopher Bell and Tom Reimann to discuss the origins of the summer break, how Disneyland was built, and a weird catalogue of failed theme parks lost to history.

And if you're in Los Angeles in July, make sure to come to our next live podcast taping. On Saturday July 8th at 7:00pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre, former zoo tour guide and current Cracked Podcast host Alex Schmidt will be joined by Cracked's Daniel O'Brien and Katie Goldin as well as comedians Caitlin Gill, Joey Clift and Matt Kirshen as they discuss snakes, hippos, octopuses and every other animal that could Planet-0f-the-Apes us if they tried. Tickets are only $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/rVhzPC

Also, be sure to get caught-up on our Cracked Podcast mini-series 'Looking the Part' co-hosted by Soren Bowie and Daniel O'Brien. Each Friday, Soren and Daniel are taking a deep-dive into the theories and hidden meanings behind movie hair, costumes and make-up. They examine the cryptic psychological reason behind Superman's dueling haircuts, why Ledger's Joker has scars and Leto's Joker has tattoos and a whole lot more. 

Check out episode 1 here: https://goo.gl/hwuUvB

Check out episode 2 here: https://goo.gl/81qZk3

And stay tuned to the Cracked Podcast for episode 3 this Friday.

Footnotes:

Article: Cracked: 8 Amusement Parks That Died Surreal and Bizarre Deaths: https://goo.gl/62P2xQ

Article: Slate: Do Kids Need a Summer Vacation: https://goo.gl/uVc9DB

Article: PBS: Debunking the Myth of Summer Vacation: https://goo.gl/ieCCvs

Article: Smithsonian Magazine: Where Was The Birthplace of the American Vacation: https://goo.gl/hiHiK8

Article: LA Times: How Disney Used Shell Companies To Start Its Magic Kingdom: https://goo.gl/1n8Lfj

Article: Disney Parks: Bob Foster and the Founding of a Disney Kingdom: https://goo.gl/wg5ArV

Article: Washington Post: This S.C. roadside attraction is garish, tacky and un-PC — but I stopped anyway: https://goo.gl/H3b4iV

Photo: Six Flags Over Texas: Map With Confederacy Land: https://goo.gl/r1b6ew

Photoset: Weather Channel: You Can Rent This 'Wizard of Oz' Them Park: https://goo.gl/1FkNwq

Article: Cracked: 6 Insane Summer Camps That Will Make You Wish You Were a Kid: https://goo.gl/CidkkH

Article: Cracked: 5 Disney Park Attractions You Won't Believe Existed: https://goo.gl/uqFJ43

Article: Cracked: 6 Ways Fourth of July Used To Make 'The Purge' Look Tame: https://goo.gl/5Sthd1

Wikipedia: Shania Twain: https://goo.gl/3DvgrU

Admit it: the Harry Potter movies would be totally different if he didn't have a cool scar. If Harry looked like Gary Oldman in 'Hannibal', Hermione and Ron be afraid to talk to him and even the Dementors would think twice before getting close to him. But Harry's scar is pencil-thin, and hides behind his hair. He's got a good-guy scar. And characters like Heath Ledger's Joker, Freddy Krueger and Scar? Obviously bad guys, right? 'The Lion King' wasn't even trying when they named their bad guy.

Last week, in episode one of "Looking the Part," Soren Bowie and Daniel O'Brien analyzed what filmmakers were subtly telegraphing to audiences with characters' hair, mustaches and beards. This week the guys are joined by costume designer Jenna Wright to take a look at the skin, how scars and tattoos are used on good guys vs. bad guys, and the role costuming plays in developing a character.

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping.  That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month.  This offer is exclusively available at DollarShaveClub.com/cracked

Admit it: the Harry Potter movies would be totally different if he didn't have a cool scar. If Harry looked like Gary Oldman in 'Hannibal', Hermione and Ron be afraid to talk to him and even the Dementors would think twice before getting close to him. But Harry's scar is pencil-thin, and hides behind his hair. He's got a good-guy scar. And characters like Heath Ledger's Joker, Freddy Krueger and Scar? Obviously bad guys, right? 'The Lion King' wasn't even trying when they named their bad guy.

Last week, in episode one of "Looking the Part," Soren Bowie and Daniel O'Brien analyzed what filmmakers were subtly telegraphing to audiences with characters' hair, mustaches and beards. This week the guys are joined by costume designer Jenna Wright to take a look at the skin, how scars and tattoos are used on good guys vs. bad guys, and the role costuming plays in developing a character.

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping.  That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month.  This offer is exclusively available at DollarShaveClub.com/cracked

Understatement time: movies are hard to make. Every movie from The Godfather II to Joe Dirt 2​ is the result of years and years of tireless hard work from artists, craftsmen, teamsters, executives and advertisers-- all working in high pressure situations with tight deadlines, huge egos and insane amounts of money at play. Like GDP of a small island nation amount of money.

Odds are behind every movie, there's an absolutely insane story of inappropriate behavior, blatant disregard for safety regulations and famous people trying to murder each other. This week on the podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Cracked's Daniel O'Brien and Tom Reimann, comedian Jamie Loftus and writer Dave Schilling (The Guardian, Bleacher Report, Vice) to cover 17 movies with absolutely batsh*t behind the scenes stories, like basically every late-period Marlon Brando movie, the screwball comedy that shot an iconic scene on 9/11 and the backstage antics that led a very famous actor to punch James Cameron in the face.

If you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast Merch. And for a limited time, get 20% off your order when you use the code CRACKED at checkout: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Footnotes:

​Article: Cracked: 6 Insane Dick Moves By Directors Behind Famous Movies: https://goo.gl/JB88mh

Article: Cracked: 6 Famous Films You Had No Idea Were Hell Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/KoDcf7

Article: Cracked: 6 Great Movies That Were A Disaster Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/aElYpy

​Article: Cracked: 5 Famous Movies That Were Insane Parties Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/lvZLQy

Article: Cracked: 7 Insane Behind The Scenes Problems Recent Movies Dealt With: https://goo.gl/3MlTNb

Article: Cracked: 6 Classic Movies Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment: https://goo.gl/dKgBU

Article: Cracked: 5 Great Movie Scenes Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment: https://goo.gl/81V33

Article: Cracked: 12 Classic Movie Moments Made Possible By Abuse And Murder: https://goo.gl/hvav0

Video: Marlon Brando Reads Cue Cards Off A Baby in Superman: https://goo.gl/eGiezr

​Video: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Clip: https://goo.gl/fYCf45

Video: Master of Disguise - Turtle Club Clip: https://goo.gl/wU2VLS​

Understatement time: movies are hard to make. Every movie from The Godfather II to Joe Dirt 2​ is the result of years and years of tireless hard work from artists, craftsmen, teamsters, executives and advertisers-- all working in high pressure situations with tight deadlines, huge egos and insane amounts of money at play. Like GDP of a small island nation amount of money.

Odds are behind every movie, there's an absolutely insane story of inappropriate behavior, blatant disregard for safety regulations and famous people trying to murder each other. This week on the podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Cracked's Daniel O'Brien and Tom Reimann, comedian Jamie Loftus and writer Dave Schilling (The Guardian, Bleacher Report, Vice) to cover 17 movies with absolutely batsh*t behind the scenes stories, like basically every late-period Marlon Brando movie, the screwball comedy that shot an iconic scene on 9/11 and the backstage antics that led a very famous actor to punch James Cameron in the face.

If you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast Merch. And for a limited time, get 20% off your order when you use the code CRACKED at checkout: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Footnotes:

​Article: Cracked: 6 Insane Dick Moves By Directors Behind Famous Movies: https://goo.gl/JB88mh

Article: Cracked: 6 Famous Films You Had No Idea Were Hell Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/KoDcf7

Article: Cracked: 6 Great Movies That Were A Disaster Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/aElYpy

​Article: Cracked: 5 Famous Movies That Were Insane Parties Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/lvZLQy

Article: Cracked: 7 Insane Behind The Scenes Problems Recent Movies Dealt With: https://goo.gl/3MlTNb

Article: Cracked: 6 Classic Movies Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment: https://goo.gl/dKgBU

Article: Cracked: 5 Great Movie Scenes Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment: https://goo.gl/81V33

Article: Cracked: 12 Classic Movie Moments Made Possible By Abuse And Murder: https://goo.gl/hvav0

Video: Marlon Brando Reads Cue Cards Off A Baby in Superman: https://goo.gl/eGiezr

​Video: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Clip: https://goo.gl/fYCf45

Video: Master of Disguise - Turtle Club Clip: https://goo.gl/wU2VLS​

Every cheesy soap opera gives it away from the start-- the dashing Dr. Iago Montana is back from the dead...with a goatee. We as the audience know: IT'S NOT HIM, IT'S HIS EVIL TWIN! SEND HIM BACK FROM WHENCE HE CAME!

Again, it's easy to spot this from a mile away when you see it on a soap opera or a children's cartoon. The crazy thing is, whether you know it or not, every movie and TV show uses a special shorthand to convey if a character is good, evil, happy, sad, trustworthy or complicated. And more often than not, this shorthand is baked into how a character presents themselves. You just need to know what to look for.

That's why in our new podcast mini-series sponsored by Dollar Shave Club, Cracked senior editor Soren Bowie and head of video Daniel O'Brien will dissect how characters' grooming habits, costumes and make-up are the biggest spoilers of all. This week on episode one, the guys will take a look at Superman's dueling hair styles, what different types of facial hair say and what it means when a character chooses to be bald.

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping. That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month. This offer is exclusively available at ​www.dollarshaveclub.com/cracked​.

Every cheesy soap opera gives it away from the start-- the dashing Dr. Iago Montana is back from the dead...with a goatee. We as the audience know: IT'S NOT HIM, IT'S HIS EVIL TWIN! SEND HIM BACK FROM WHENCE HE CAME!

Again, it's easy to spot this from a mile away when you see it on a soap opera or a children's cartoon. The crazy thing is, whether you know it or not, every movie and TV show uses a special shorthand to convey if a character is good, evil, happy, sad, trustworthy or complicated. And more often than not, this shorthand is baked into how a character presents themselves. You just need to know what to look for.

That's why in our new podcast mini-series sponsored by Dollar Shave Club, Cracked senior editor Soren Bowie and head of video Daniel O'Brien will dissect how characters' grooming habits, costumes and make-up are the biggest spoilers of all. This week on episode one, the guys will take a look at Superman's dueling hair styles, what different types of facial hair say and what it means when a character chooses to be bald.

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping. That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month. This offer is exclusively available at ​www.dollarshaveclub.com/cracked​.

Checking the news right now, things are a little, how do you say...fucked. But there is some hope. As one of our guests puts it, "Rome wasn't burnt down in a day." Despite your Richard Spencers, your animated frog avatars and the whole extended cast of characters hell-bent on returning America to its pre-civil rights glory ("a hot dog cost a nickel and you could physically assault any person of color you saw! ") there are still people fighting for good in this country.

That's why this week we're chatting with comedians/podcasters/activists and all-around cool dudes W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu. Their podcast "Politically Reactive" is the modern guide to surviving in the age of Trump-- from how to be an active part of the resistance to just how to stay happy and not let the whole dumpster fire weigh you down on a day-to-day basis. First, Jack O'Brien and Daniel O'Brien chat with W. Kamau Bell about his show "United Shades of America," what it was like interviewing Richard Spencer and a KKK leader and how he would go about fixing the violence in Chicago. Later, Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin speak with Hari Kondabolu about #covfefe, how being a touring comedian gives you a different view of America and an absolutely crazy video of Malcom X on a Canadian Game show.

If you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast Merch. And for a limited time, get 20% off your order when you use the code CRACKED at checkout: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Also, make sure to stay tuned to the Cracked Podcast feed for a special three-part miniseries hosted by Soren Bowie starting this Friday, June 17th. Soren and Daniel O'Brien are dissecting movie make-up and costumes to show that how a character appears is the biggest spoiler of them all.

Footnotes:

Podcast: Politically Reactive: https://goo.gl/Nxh4Iv

Website: W. Kamau Bell: https://goo.gl/zHt0Y3

Website: Hari Kondabolu: https://goo.gl/WAFZFH

Website: United Shades of America on CNN: https://goo.gl/JV0kde

Book: The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: https://goo.gl/HTjbXk

Album: Hari Kondabolu's New Material Night Volume One: https://goo.gl/945WUm

Video: Malcom X on Canadian Game Show: https://goo.gl/eJEn3W

Checking the news right now, things are a little, how do you say...fucked. But there is some hope. As one of our guests puts it, "Rome wasn't burnt down in a day." Despite your Richard Spencers, your animated frog avatars and the whole extended cast of characters hell-bent on returning America to its pre-civil rights glory ("a hot dog cost a nickel and you could physically assault any person of color you saw! ") there are still people fighting for good in this country.

That's why this week we're chatting with comedians/podcasters/activists and all-around cool dudes W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu. Their podcast "Politically Reactive" is the modern guide to surviving in the age of Trump-- from how to be an active part of the resistance to just how to stay happy and not let the whole dumpster fire weigh you down on a day-to-day basis. First, Jack O'Brien and Daniel O'Brien chat with W. Kamau Bell about his show "United Shades of America," what it was like interviewing Richard Spencer and a KKK leader and how he would go about fixing the violence in Chicago. Later, Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin speak with Hari Kondabolu about #covfefe, how being a touring comedian gives you a different view of America and an absolutely crazy video of Malcom X on a Canadian Game show.

If you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast Merch. And for a limited time, get 20% off your order when you use the code CRACKED at checkout: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Also, make sure to stay tuned to the Cracked Podcast feed for a special three-part miniseries hosted by Soren Bowie starting this Friday, June 17th. Soren and Daniel O'Brien are dissecting movie make-up and costumes to show that how a character appears is the biggest spoiler of them all.

Footnotes:

Podcast: Politically Reactive: https://goo.gl/Nxh4Iv

Website: W. Kamau Bell: https://goo.gl/zHt0Y3

Website: Hari Kondabolu: https://goo.gl/WAFZFH

Website: United Shades of America on CNN: https://goo.gl/JV0kde

Book: The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: https://goo.gl/HTjbXk

Album: Hari Kondabolu's New Material Night Volume One: https://goo.gl/945WUm

Video: Malcom X on Canadian Game Show: https://goo.gl/eJEn3W

Serious Talk. It's Jack's last episode. After 11 years at Cracked, our intrepid editor-in-chief and podcast host extraordinaire Jack O'Brien is hanging up the cleats to tackle new projects, end world hunger and find the Zodiac killer.

But that doesn't mean this podcast is going anywhere. Jack is joined this week by NEW Cracked Podcast host Alex Schmidt as they sit down with Michael Swaim, Daniel O'Brien, Soren Bowie and Jason Pargin (aka David Wong) to reminisce over Jack's 11 years of service, how they all landed at Cracked and their favorite Cracked Podcast topics from the first 182 episodes.

To keep up with Jack, be sure to follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/jack_obrien

To follow your new Cracked Podcast host, you can find him on Twitter: twitter.com/alexschmidty

And if you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast MERCH: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Also, be sure to come see the next live taping of the Cracked Podcast on Saturday, June 10th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theater in Los Angeles. Guests inlcude Daniel O'Brien, Tom Reimann, Jamie Loftus (The Bechdel Cast) and Dave Schilling (Bleacher Report, Grantland, Vice) as the Cracked crew discusses insane behind the scenes stories from movies and tv shows. Tickets are $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/lsCBDm

Footnotes:

Video: TED: James Flynn: Why Our IQ Levels Are Higher Than Our Grandparents: https://goo.gl/MMRp4L

Video: Clip from Fractured Flickers: https://goo.gl/UPBhG2

Book: Michael Shermer: Why People Believe Weird Things: https://goo.gl/fXBHp7

Podcast: Cracked: Insane Simpsons Easter Eggs (Explained By Simpsons Writers): https://goo.gl/zhfWQb

Podcast: Cracked: More Simpsons Writer's Room Stories (From a Simpsons Writer): https://goo.gl/7HVBM6

Book: Daniel O'Brien: How to Fight Presidents: https://goo.gl/yXfDjH

Article: Esquire: Todd Marinovich: The Man Who Never Was: https://goo.gl/C89avK

Podcast: Cracked: Why Class in America Isn't About Income: https://goo.gl/2tliZx

Article: Siderea: Class (American): https://goo.gl/tlmX4S

Article: Slate Star Codex: Staying Classy: https://goo.gl/2eYdF6

Article: Slate Star Codex: I Can Tolerate Anything Except the Outgroup: https://goo.gl/ZrwgcS