Roll out the VCR and pull up a folding chair, because it’s time for a good ol’ PSA. That’s right, we’re going old-school this week at This Was a Thing, and rewinding to a more innocent time when the classrooms were full of happiness, juice boxes, and policemen leading improvisation exercises where you pretended to sell drugs to your friends. 

Rob teaches Ray about Drug Abuse Resistance Education, a.k.a. D.A.R.E., and how it grew from a small pilot program in L.A. schools to a multi-million dollar, tax-funded behemoth taught to kids across the country; why Rob takes issue with Nancy Reagan’s famous three-line slogan; Ray’s memories from his own D.A.R.E. experience; the controversy that erupted after when studies demonstrated that D.A.R.E.’s methods might actually be counterproductive; Rob’s favorite celebrity anti-drug PSAs; the program’s iconic merch; and what D.A.R.E.’s fall from prominence tells us about the United States’s changing opinion about drug education.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Reefer Madness Original Trailer - 1936 (Not the Full film)

Helen Hunt , Just Say “No”! (Or, “Mad About Crank”)

“Just Say No” Nancy Reagan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4rVJsy8z8)

Nancy Reagan on Diff’rent Strokes

Dare commercial

12:21:1992 D a R E on Channel 6 News

Newcomerstown Elementary 1985 D.A.R.E. Program

News of the Death of John Belushi 1982

Len Bias: News Report of His Death: June 19, 1986

A Very Special Episode | Punky Brewster - Just Say No

1987 Classic “Brain Frying Pan” + “From You!” Drug PSAs Tv Commercial

Pee Wee Herman Talks About Crack Cocaine - PSA

Dea Say No to Drugs Ads 1980s compilation

D. a. R. E. Program Officials Admit Defeat; the Failure of the War on Drugs (1993)

“Happy Bee” and “Hotrock”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Whether it’s insider trading or nepo babies, people usually have an issue with others using exclusive privileges for personal gain. But in the world of sports betting, profiting from inside information isn't just frowned upon - for officials, it’s actually illegal. And yet that didn’t stop a certain NBA referee from doing just that, and causing one of the biggest scandals yet in the basketball league's history.

Ray teaches Rob about NBA referee Tim Donaghy and his illicit gambling scheme; how Jimmy Battista and his group of professional gamblers known as “The Animals” found out about Donaghy’s thrift, and used it for their own gain; why Ray is glad he’s never gotten into gambling; how the FBI eventually caught on to Donaghy’s and Battista’s machinations; and why the NBA’s response to the accusations against Tim Donaghy may have indicated that it wasn’t just Tim who was part of some fishy business… 

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Inside the Gambling Ring of Nba Referee Tim Donaghy

Pacers / Pistons Brawl (2004) Original

Ron Artest 2010 Nba Finals Post-Championship Interview (HD)

Referee Tim Donaghy Explains Why He Bet on Nba Games

NBA’s David Stern Talks to the WSJ’s Lee Hawkins

This Was A Thing 1.06 - The 1919 World Series Scandal; Or The Rise of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Kurtis Blow - Basketball (Official Music Video)

La Lakers Rap - Just Say No!

“Happy Bee,” “Wah Game Loop,” and “Porch Blues”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Here at This Was A Thing, we’re no fashionistas (although Ray would argue otherwise), but even with our limited knowledge, it’s hard to avoid noticing the current trend of tapered, tighter clothes. But in the early 1900s, a garment rose to popularity that shunned that trend toward tightness, boasting extra fabric and a looser fit. More than that, this particular clothing item became so identified with certain groups that its name was used when describing a notable riot in the 1940s that was emblematic of social tensions of that time, and involved United States servicemen, the Latin-X and Mexican-American community and a mysterious, unsolved murder…

Ray teaches Rob about the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots which occurred 80 years ago this week, and the events which precipitated so much violence and unrest; how London’s “drape suit” traveled across the pond, got a name change, and was sported by celebrities from Cab Calloway to Frank Sinatra; the 1990s swing revival that brought back both the music and clothing of that era (and produced some famous earworms); and why these riots provide one of the earliest examples of clothing styles becoming synonomous with cultural tensions between different social and ethnic groups.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Cherry Poppin’ Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot (Full Length Mp3 + Lyrics)

A Zoot Suit (For My Sunday Gal) ~ Bob Crosby & His Orchestra (1942)

Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher

The Who - Zoot Suit

Royal Crown Revue - Hey Pachuco

“Happy Bee” and “Private Eye”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

In honor of pride month, this week is a special episode focused on the franchise that began life as a landmark French boulevard stage comedy, and was then adapted into acclaimed films and musical. And even though the love story at the center of the story was between two men, it has captured the hearts of audiences from all sexual orientations. It also answers the age old question: what happens when you put the composer of Hello Dolly!, the director of West Side Story, and Edna Turnlad in a room together? The answer: Broadway magic.

Rob teaches Ray about the history of Jean Poiret’s play La Cage Aux Folles and its many adaptations; how competing producers (including ThWAT favorite Allan Carr) fought to secure the chance to both film and musicalize La Cage; Jerry Herman’s hummable, Tony-winning score and the anthem it provided the gay rights movement; Nathan Lane’s breakout movie performance; and all the ways in which this property has been and continues to be celebrated by audiences across the world.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Mike Wallace The Homosexuals 1967 - YouTube

La Cage Aux Folles (1979) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel - YouTube

Epiphany - George Hearn (1982) - YouTube

La Cage aux Folles 2 Trailer

La Cage aux Folles 3 Trailer

"Color and Light" from Sunday in the Park with George

Columbo Pilot Episode - “Prescription Murder” costarring Gene Barry - Clips - YouTube

I Am What I Am - YouTube

Song on the Sand (La Da Da Da) - YouTube

I Am What I Am - Official Gay Anthem For The World - Gloria Gaynor - YouTube

The Best of Times - YouTube

Jerry Herman wins 1984 Tony Award for Best Original Score - YouTube

The Van Johnson Saga on Letterman, April & May 1985 - YouTube

La Cage Aux Folles the Musical Original Broadway Advert - YouTube

La Cage aux Folles - Broadway TV Commercial (1986) - YouTube

The Birdcage - Original Trailer - YouTube

The Birdcage - Robin Williams & Nathan Lane Rehearsal Funny HD - YouTube

The Birdcage (3/10) Movie CLIP - Act Like a Man (1996) HD - YouTube

The Birdcage (1/10) Movie CLIP - Albert Will Not Dance (1996) HD - YouTube

“Happy Bee”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Prelude" from "La Cage aux Folles (Original Broadway Cast)"

La Cage Aux Folles (Original Broadway Cast)

℗ 1983 BMG Music

Released on: 1988-10-24

Associated Performer: La Cage Aux Folles Orchestra

Lyricist: Harvey Forbes Fierstein

Producer: Thomas Z. Shepard

Orchestrator: Jim Tyler

Recording Engineer: Paul Goodman

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

When a neighborhood in Niagra Falls is named "Love Canal," you might think it would be a perfect place for a weekend get-away, or an idyllic spot to raise one’s family. Tragically, as its residents discovered in 1978, a chemical company had already put this area to use as a dumping site for highly toxic chemicals - which they then covered up, literally and figuratively. But it couldn’t, and didn’t, stay buried forever, and once the citizens actually learned about the horrific compounds stored in the very soil they lived on, there was only one thing to do: get out as soon as humanly possible.

Rob teaches Ray about any terrible history of Love Canal, New York, where deadly chemicals were discovered and identified as the cause of persistent health and safety issues that were afflicting the adults and children of the community; why the United States government originally allowed the Hooker Chemical Company to use the area as a dumpsite before it was populated; how this catastrophe impacted local and national politics; how Hooker managed to sell off the contaminated area; and how the story of Love Canal provided a tragic example to the entire nation about the dangers of industrial waste and its impact on those living near it. 

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon or on Apple Podcasts.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

The Love Canal Disaster: Toxic Waste in the Neighborhood | Retro Report | the New York Times

Love Canal TRAGEDY..PT 1 of 3

Abc News Close-Up: The Killing Ground (1979)

Love Canal Tragedy (Part 2 of 3)

“Happy Bee”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

When Beatlemania swept the nation in the 1960s, the only logical and properly capitalistic response was to ask: “How can we steal this idea and turn it into a good ol’ American money grab?” And thus was born the idea for a show featuring four talented, eccentric bandmates who just want to make some noise, shake a timbourine, and go on some wild adventures. But when these fictional band buddies decided to break the fourth wall of their TV show by taking control of the music production itself, things went, well, a little bananas…

Ray teaches Rob about the Monkees, a uniquely American creation that shamelessly ripped off and riffed on the success of the Beatles; how producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider (no relation) found their four lead actors; how the only Monkee with no drumming experience ended up behind the kit; Don Kirschner’s “Golden Ear”; why you shouldn’t believe everything you read about Monkees album sales; and whether, after all is said and done, the Monkees were a legitimate band, or just a wannabe group of actors with instruments.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Smash Mouth - I’m a Believer

I’m a Believer - the Monkees

Jay & the Americans Come a Little Bit Closer

Fats Domino - Be My Guest

The Monkees - Opening Theme (H.Q)

The Monkees - Last Train to Clarksville 1966

The Monkees - Steppin’ Stone [WideScreen]

Davy Jones “Girl” - the Brady Bunch *HQ*

The Fonz | Top 10 Aaayyys

The Archies - Sugar,Sugar (Original 1969 Footage HD)

(Theme From) The Monkees - The Monkees | Karaoke Version | KaraFun

“Happy Bee” and “Malt Shop Bop”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Long before the barricades of Les Mis arose, before Adele Dazeem defied gravity, and before Mr. Alexander Hamilton took his shot, musical theatre in America had already emerged from one of the most formative and productive periods in theatre history. It only lasted 21 years, but those years gave the public such an expansive slate of shows and groundbreaking performances that it would take a professional historian to summarize in a single podcast episode. Lucky for you, one of our hosts has a career teaching and lecturing about the history of musical theatre!

Penn State's very own Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, Mr. Rob W. Schneider, teaches Ray all about the Golden Age of American Musical Theater which spanned from 1943 to 1964; how Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma pushed the musical comedy into brand new territory; which musical accomplished the rare feat of winning the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; why Cole Porter had to be on his game when writing for Ethel; Rex Harrison’s backstage drama; and whether the current state of musical theatre qualifies as a “second” Golden Age.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

My Fair Lady “Rehearsal” 1/29/60

Fugue for Tinhorns - Guys and Dolls (1955)

South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording: You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught (Voice)

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Gypsy: Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Runyonland

Gypsy - Everything’s Coming Up Roses (Karaoke Version)

Lullaby of Broadway - Vintage Sheet Music

“Happy Bee”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Do you ever feel like there’s just no getting away from the texts, emails, and Slack messages? Like life would be so much easier if there were a dedicated place you could go to talk with people, rather than feeling your pocket buzz at every single moment? Well, break out the cringey screen names and Away Messages, because this week, we taking AIM at a topic that’s sure to warm the modems in every early Internet kids heart. Just make sure no one needs the landline for the next few hours.

Ray teaches Rob how the Internet grew from a DARPA military project to a breeding ground for a new frontier of instant communication; how the CB radio was an integral part of early marketing for chat rooms; what Richard Nixon might’ve used chat rooms for; and who’s still using these outdated forms of communication today.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Aol (Sign on - Dial Up)

CompuServe - First Internet Commercial - October of 1989

Aol- the Sweetest Sounds

Early Aol Commercial (1995)

Yahoo! Jingle (Yodel)

Msn Messenger Message Sound

Cb Bears Intro

“Happy Bee” and “Feelin Good”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s almost impossible to avoid the constant flood of news, whether it’s coming from our TVs, phones, or computers. So give your brain a break and cast your mind back to a time when news was just another segment on TV, and the idea of a 24-hour news cycle was almost unheard of – that is, until one small toddler in Midland, Texas, took an unexpected fall in her backyard…

Rob teaches Ray about the harrowing tale of Baby Jessica McClure, and how the broadcast of her rescue glued audiences to their screens; earlier examples of news stories that also captured the nation; the wonderful, and also tragic, outcomes for both for Jessica’s family and for those involved in her rescue; Ray’s recommendation for a new HGTV show; and how Baby Jessica’s story may have set the stage for the today's world of news bombardment and public scrutiny.

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Abc News - Baby Jessica Rescue - 1987

Jessica McClure Rescue (Cbs) 10–16–87

Baby Jessica: 30 Years After Being Rescued From the Well | PeopleTV

Everybody’s Baby the Rescue of Jessica McClure 1989 Abc Sunday Night Movie Promo

“Happy Bee”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Unless you’ve been holed up in a Fortress of Solitude for the past hundred years, there’s no escaping the cultural impact of Superman. After starting life on the pages of comic books, a number of actors have donned the yellow “S” on TV and in movies. But for one man in particular, the cape of Krypton became more of a burden than a blessing. And when his death lead to murder accusations, George Reeves’s personal life became as much of a public fascination as his bespectacled and muscled alter ego… 

Ray teaches Rob about how the “Uber Mench” rose from a man plucked out of a bread line to the most recognizable comic book hero of all time; how the Man of Steel successfully transitioned from radio, to TV, to the Hollywood silver screen; why George Reeves traded in cesspools for Spandex; why everyone should go buy stamps; Reeves’s struggle to escape from the Superman stigma; the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death; and how comic book heroes have made the remarkable leap from derided second-tier roles to cultural icons. 

If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

Old Radio Program Intro - “The Adventures of Superman” (1940–1951)

The Original Superman Cartoon opening

Superman 1948 Serial - #1A

Gone to the Wind

Rare George Reeves Audition Tape the Adventures of Superman

’50s Adventures of Superman - Intro

Stamp Day for Superman (1954)

George Reeves - Superman - I Love Lucy (1957)

“Happy Bee” & “At Launch”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro