Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

In the 80's when Universal Studios Orlando was just in the planning stages, it only made sense to base one of the rides off of the first ever summer blockbuster:  JAWS.  But making a ride where a 25 foot animatronic shark jumps out of the water to attack a real boat of real people is easier said than done.   Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries

Today Host Austin and Host Brenda are joined by comedian, television writing, and hopefully soon to be best-selling author Joey Clift to talk about that lasagna-loving orange cat, Garfield.  Pre-Order Joey's Book "We've Been Here the Whole Time!  A not-so-sacred Guide to All Things Native America" Here!And find Joey on social media:  https://www.instagram.com/joeycliiiiiift/https://bsky.app/profile/joeytainment.bsky.social Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries

How does a simple carpet pattern come to be known and loved by thousands of convention attendees?  When the Atlanta Mariott made the decision to replace their aging hotel carpet in 2015, they had no idea how important it was to a whole community, and how far people would go to keep its memory alive.    Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries

The greatest themepark in the United States isn't Disneyworld.  It isn't Cedar Point.  It's Dollywood, a family run passion project born from the remains of a defunct railway.   Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries

In the wake of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish citizens found a new way to make their voices heard:  Cinema.  Despite extreme poverty in a nation that was cut off from the rest of the world, Turkish filmmakers found a way to make movies using what they had on hand.   Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries