Hopped Up History The Use of Amphetamines During WWII   History comes at us from unusual places.  Take for example this online history feature by The Fix, a website about addiction and recovery that explores these issues from a wide range of perspectives, including the history of drug use.  If we believe the connection between drug use and war is a modern phenomenon (think of […]

Vittorio Zippi Shoot My Cousins On this episode of Argot: Audio Short Stories from the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Collection, WWII veteran Vittorio Zippi of Jeannette, Pennsylvania grew up in the mostly Italian community of Crabtree and was among the first to be drafted into the army during WWII.  “Would you shoot the Italians?” asked his officers.  “Hell yes if they were shooting at […]

You Call That Real Food? Thoughts on food heritage for public historians   “Seriously, do you call this real Italian food?” exclaimed a disappointed patron at one of those touristy red-white-green strip mall eateries. “Sure I do,” replied the twenty-something manager seemingly unfazed by the criticism. “Our food is as good as Olive Garden.  What’s wrong with it?”  Getting up to walk out, the patron […]

Dead Man’s Hollow On episode 25 of Tony Lavorgne’s Legends and Lore Podcast, we go on-location to Pittsburgh paranormal hotspot, Dead Man’s Hollow, source of several haunted folktales dating as far back as the unsolved mystery in the woods of a brutal 1874 hanging.       SUPPORT LOCAL PODCASTING Let’s keep local podcasting alive!  If you like our podcast, please help us continue this great […]