History

Black and white image of a vintage steam locomotive with smoke billowing, parked on train tracks.

A Tale Of TubaChristmas: The Accidental Holiday Ritual That Put The Low-End Brass Front and Center

What started as a respectful nod to a Christmas-born tuba legend somehow grew into a roaming, globe-spanning holiday ritual involving hundreds of horns, civic pride, and more breath control than most of us manage all year. Contributing Author Bill Bois traces the unlikely rise of this gloriously oversized tradition—from ice rinks to small-town churches—proving that nothing says seasonal joy quite like “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” played at maximum booming-brass density.

December 22, 2025

by Bill Bois

150 views

History·MUSIC

The Road Before And After “(Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay”

Pop spent decades coughing politely, speaking in code, and pretending it was “just a character” before finally blurting out “(Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay.” Contributing Author Bill Bois traces the long, strange journey from green carnations and raised eyebrows to a punk singalong that left subtlety waiting outside with its coat.

December 18, 2025

by Bill Bois

194 views

History

The Dark Side of Music Row: Untangling the Cash Box Murder Mystery

Contributing Author Bill Bois examines a Music Row murder shaped by corruption, fear, and the quiet mechanisms that once powered an entire industry. His account traces the long arc from a single night’s violence to the slow, uneasy unraveling of a system that preferred its shadows intact.

December 12, 2025

by Bill Bois

200 views

History·MUSIC

From “Jet Airliner” to Tuvan Earthquake: The Astonishing Journey of Paul Pena

In this week’s dispatch, Contributing Author and historian Bill Bois introduces us to a man who heard a weird noise on Radio Moscow and thought, quite reasonably, that his radio had finally given up. Instead, it turns out Paul Pena was just warming up for his eventual career as Tuva’s most improbable “Earthquake,” proving once again that the universe rewards curiosity—and occasionally, bathroom acoustics.

December 4, 2025

182 views

History·MUSIC

Richard Feynman: The Brilliant Physicist Who Made Science Sing

Richard Feynman, a Nobel-winning mind used curiosity, clarity, and a bit of showmanship to change history. In a piece that captures that rare mix of brilliance, mischief, and pure joyful curiosity, Contributing Author and Historian Bill Bois delivers a wonderfully bright portrait of the physicist who treated the universe like a favorite percussion instrument.

November 27, 2025

213 views

History

The Singing Revolution: How Music Helped A Country Gain Its Independence

In a world that often mistakes volume for power, Estonia quietly proved otherwise: sometimes all you need is 100,000 people singing in tune and refusing to go home. In this remarkable piece by Contributing Author And Historian Bill Bois, we revisit the nights when a nation found its courage not behind barricades, but behind a melody.

November 13, 2025

258 views

History

The Girls Who Beat the Germans: How Chalk, War Games, and Wit Helped Win the Battle of the Atlantic

Contributing Author and Historian Bill Bois revisits a forgotten victory, one fought not with torpedoes or tanks, but with chalk lines on the floorboards. It’s a story of intellect over instinct, and of a handful of women who used strategy, not strength, to turn the tide at sea.

October 30, 2025

348 views

History·MUSIC

Joey Ramone: American Heartthrob

Not traditionally handsome. Not polished. And at first glance, entirely unforgettable: But Joey Ramone proved that charm isn’t a face, it’s a presence. Contributing Author Bill Bois dives into classic duets from Punk’s dorkiest hero, who still had everyone swooning from the hey, ho get-go..

October 23, 2025

346 views

"National Recording Registry vinyl record by the Library of Congress."

Film TV And New Media·History

30 Culturally, Historically, and Aesthetically Significant Recordings for the National Recording Registry

What recordings—musical or otherwise—should be preserved as part of the nation’s collective memory? In this sharp and entertaining roundup, Contributing Author Ozmoe makes the case for 30 recordings—from “As Time Goes By” to “Uptown Funk”—that prove culture, history, and rhythm are inseparable.

September 30, 2025

368 views

"Elegant wooden cello illuminated on stage with vibrant flower arrangements in vases."

History

Music and Fragrance:
The Forgotten Multisensory Experience of Baroque Concerts

From rosewater to ambergris, music once came with its own fragrance, equal parts artistry and atmosphere.
Contributing Author and Music Historian Bill Bois traces the fascinating history of concerts that engaged more than just the ears.

September 4, 2025

501 views

"Close-up of Ticket to Ride board game with colorful train pieces and destination cards."

Fun And Games·History

The Story Of Alan R. Moon And The Rise Of ‘Ticket to Ride’

He doesn’t just punch your ticket, he upgrades you to first class. Contributing Author and Historian
Bill Bois tells the history of the board game classicTicket to Ride in a fast-moving journey of wit, insight, and rail-bound suspense. Read it, and you’ll never look at El Paso → Dallas the same way again.

August 28, 2025

562 views

"Primm Valley Resort and Casino exterior view with palm trees."

History·Travel

For a Dying Desert Gambling Town:
Music Helps Keep the Lights On

A wistful, sharply observed journey through the barely-beating heart of a roadside Vegas satellite where Latin Pop and “The Price Is Right Live” might be the future.
Contributing Author Alex Chrisman captures the crumbling charm and improbable resilience of Primm, a place where the bugs still flock, the dice still roll, and the music—just barely—plays on.

August 5, 2025

694 views

Vintage collage featuring a gramophone, three iconic performers, and a thoughtful man, highlighting the jazz age.

History

About This Time 100 Years Ago…
It’s The Hits Of July-ish 1925!

From the cutest story ever to come out of the Georgia legislature, to a sultry dance craze that rattled the moralists, this piece has it all: politics, pianos, and not a small amount of pelvic motion.
Contributing Author DJ Professor Dan masterfully unpacks the untamed energy of 1925 with humor, detail, and the quiet resignation of someone who’s read all 2,700 pages of Ben Bernie’s joke file.

July 27, 2025

450 views

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