THE LATEST FROM

Alex Hanton

Freelance writer

How Laughing Gas Created America’s First Comedy Boom

The 1840s saw Americans across the country acting like a bunch Jokers

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: May 09, 2023

The Guy Who Impersonated A Russian Tsar So Well They Made Him King for Real

Back in the 18th century, plenty of grifters attempted to pass themselves off as royalty, but no one did it quite like Scepan Mali, aka ‘Stephen the Small,’ who somehow convinced the citizens of Montenegro to hand over their country to him

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: November 23, 2022

The Time Neil Armstrong Got Suckered Into Searching For Ancient Aliens

Armstrong learned about his mistake mid-flight to South America.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: November 03, 2022

The Lost Civilization Adventures Of The Dude Who Invented The Human Cannonball

Spoiler alert: he had a terrible personality.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: November 02, 2022

The Real Time The USSR Tried To Visit A Magical City

To the mystical city of Shambhala, comrade.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: November 01, 2022

"Rectal Dilators" Were Once Considered A Medical Miracle

The health fads of the past don't really hold up 120 years later.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: October 29, 2022

GUBU, or The Wild Crime Spree That Rocked Ireland In The 1980s

If you're looking for the most wanted criminal in the land, check the attorney general's house first.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: October 15, 2022

That One Time An Evil Baron Stole A Ton Of Arizona

How do you steal 20,000 square miles? With history's most complex ARG.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: October 06, 2022

1920s Illinois Lived In Fear Of The Priest-King Of The Flat Earth

Before being confined to unhinged YouTube videos, Flat-Earthers tried to set up their own government.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: September 04, 2022

When A Guy Named 'Preserved Fish' Ruled New York City - Wikipedia Deep Dive

Wealthy, powerful, inexplicably named: meet Preserved Fish.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: August 19, 2022

The Decline And Fall Of Melchizedek, History's Most Imaginary Empire

Nobody seemed to be able to find the Dominion of Melchizedek on a map. So just where was this mysterious nuclear power, and why was it at war with France?

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: July 31, 2022

In the 1500s, 'The Minions' Were Murderous Swordsmen With Great Hats

Get ready for a tale of intrigue, swordplay, and a blademaster with one heck of a name.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: July 23, 2022

Empires of Crap - Billy Bowles: Teen Prince Of Florida

Imagine if a person tried to live their dreams only to discover that they actually were a charismatic leader, a talented pirate, and a surprisingly good escape artist. That's the story of Willam Augustus Bowles, aspiring King of Florida, who lived one of the coolest lives of the 18th century before his own delusions of grandeur ate him alive ...

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: July 03, 2022

Word of the Day: 'Blockula,' Or The Devil's Secret Island In Sweden

Sweden's island of the devil actually sounds pretty awesome.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: June 18, 2022

The Epic War For Sealand: The World's Realest Fake Country

What if you could find a loophole so good that it effectively lets you start your own country, free from the rule of law? Well, that’s happened exactly once in modern memory, and oh boy, did it get weird.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: May 22, 2022

The Epic Death Of The Mad King Of Lake Michigan

Over the years, a surprising number of Americans have tried to set themselves up as kings and queens. James Strang, the Mad King of Lake Michigan, was more successful than most.

Authors: By Alex Hanton
Published: May 01, 2022