Podcast Episodes

The Boy Mayor of New York

As New York City enters the final stages of a rather strange mayoral election in 2025, let’s look back on a decidedly more unusual contest over 110 years ago, pitting Tammany Hall and their estranged…

Published on 3 months ago

#468 Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue": A Jazz-Age Drama

On January 3, 1924, 25-year-old George Gershwin was shooting pool in a Manhattan billiard hall when his brother Ira Gershwin read aloud a shocking newspaper article: "George Gershwin is at work on a …

Published on 3 months ago

History Daily: Pirate Tales!

We love the podcast History Daily, a co-production from award winning podcasters Airship and Noiser, so we're presenting two episodes with a very similar theme -- pirates!

-- July 6, 1699. The arrest …

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

#467 The Brooklyn Theatre Fire: The Forgotten Gilded Age Tragedy

On the evening of December 5, 1876, the glorious Brooklyn Theatre caught fire, trapping its audience in a nightmare of flame and smoke. The theater sat near Brooklyn City Hall (today's Brooklyn Borou…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

#466 Pete's Tavern and McSorley's Old Ale House

The ultimate bar crawl of Old New York continues through a survey of classic bars and taverns that trace their origins from the 1850s through the 1880s.

And this time we're recording within two of Ame…

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

#465 The Oldest Bars in New York City

We’ve put together the ultimate New York City historic bar crawl, a celebration of the city’s old taverns, pubs, and ale houses with 18th- and 19th-century connections. And along the way, you’ll lear…

Published on 4 months ago

#464 New York: The City of Oysters

Once upon a time New York City oysters were not only plentiful and healthy in the harbor, they were an everyday, common food source. The original fast food!

For that reason, the oyster could be an off…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

#463 Gilded Age Golden Girls (Live At City Winery)

A special presentation of our live show Bowery Boys History Live, recorded at City Winery, July 2, 2025

Bowery Boys History Live is a storytelling cabaret of all-true tales and spellbinding secrets fr…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Spirits Podcast: Urban Legends with Greg Young

Ready for a little summertime spookfest? This week we're thrilled to present to you a podcast appearance Greg made back in April on the Spirits Podcast. Hosted by Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

#462 The Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916

TERROR ON THE BEACH! Seaside resorts from Cape May, New Jersey, to Montauk, Long Island, were paralyzed in fear during the summer of 1916.

Not because of the threat of lurking German U-boats and sabot…

Published on 5 months ago