Based on a True Story

BOATS TODAY (SEPT 5, 2024) — After four days of fighting the flames, the Great Fire of London was finally extinguished on this day in 1666 so today we'll learn more about how the events from exactly 358 years ago today were shown in the TV miniseries called The Great Fire. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Watch it now: Find where The Great Fire is streaming Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/345 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (SEPT 2-8, 2024) — On this day almost two thousand years ago, the Battle of Actium decided power in Rome. Not coincidentally, we'll learn about that today from a TV show called Rome. The second event from this week in history according to the movies comes from the 1993 film called Geronimo: An American Legend, because Wednesday this week marks the 138th anniversary of that event. For our third event, we'll learn about one of Jesse James' infamous holdups from September 7th, 1876 as it's shown in the movie The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from This Week in History Monday: Rome Wednesday: Geronimo: An American Legend Saturday: The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid Birthdays from This Week in History Tuesday: James "Whitey" Bulger in Black Mass Thursday: Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford | BOATS #166 Friday: Marquis de Lafayette in Turn: Washington's Spies | BOATS #139 Saturday: Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age | BOATS #106 (Elizabeth) | BOATS #112 (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) A Historical Movie Releasing This Week Friday: 1992 Mentioned in this episode Krakatoa and Edvard Munch's The Scream Original newspaper reports of each Jack the Ripper victim Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/343 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor's Note: The fire started after midnight on September 2nd in London, so if you're in the United States like I am then you might see this minisode release on September 1st due to time zones. BOATS TODAY (SEPT 2, 2024) — The Great Fire of London started exactly 358 years ago today, so we'll learn how well the TV miniseries called The Great Fire shows the way it all started. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Watch it now: Find where The Great Fire is streaming Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/344 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (AUG 26-SEPT 1, 2024) — Tomorrow marks the 60th anniversary of Disney's Mary Poppins premiered, and that event is shown in the 2013 movie called Saving Mr. Banks about the making of Mary Poppins. If that's too confusing, give the episode a listen to unravel it all. From there, we'll travel to the west of Java to the movie incorrectly titled Krakatoa, East of Java. It got the geography wrong in the title, but we'll find out how well it shows the eruption of Krakatoa from August 28th, 1883. Then we'll go to London in 1888 because this Saturday is the anniversary of the first Jack the Ripper victim being discovered; an event from the movie From Hell. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from This Week in History Tuesday: Saving Mr. Banks Wednesday: Krakatoa, East of Java Thursday: From Hell | BOATS #93 | Jack the Ripper newspaper reports Birthdays from This Week in History Tuesday: President Lyndon B. Johnson in LBJ Friday: Mary Shelley in Mary Shelley Saturday: Caligula in The Robe Historical Movies Releasing This Week Friday: 1992 Mentioned in this episode Krakatoa and Edvard Munch's The Scream Original newspaper reports of each Jack the Ripper victim Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/342 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (AUG 19-25,2024) — Historical events from the movies start with The Crucible and how it depicts the Salem witch trials from this week in 1692. Then, we'll learn a bit about Patsy Cline's hit song "Crazy" because it was this week in 1961 that she started recording it in the studio, and that's shown in the 1985 biopic about her life called Sweet Dreams. For our third event, we'll learn about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius as it was shown in the movie Pompeii. Editor's note: The filmmakers couldn't have known this, but there's a good chance it didn't actually happen this week in history. Listen to the episode to learn more. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from this week in history Monday: The Crucible Wednesday: Sweet Dreams Saturday: Pompeii Birthdays from this week in history Friday: King Louis XVI of France in Marie Antionette Saturday: William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace Sunday: Ivan Vasilyevich "Ivan the Terrible" in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Historical movie released this week in history Wednesday: Inglorious Basterds Also mentioned in this episode Photos from the real Pompeii Schindler's List with Dr. Dan McMillan Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/341 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mummy (1999) is packed with supernatural powers, Hollywood magic, and...maybe some truth? After all, mummies were a real thing. We'll chat with acclaimed Egyptologist Dr. Aidan Dodson to find out how much of the movie is based in history. Where to start learning more of the true story Monarchs of the Nile Sethy I, King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife More from Aidan's Lives and Afterlives series Nefertiti, Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt: Her Life and Afterlife The First Pharaohs: Their Lives and Afterlives Tutankhamun, King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife The Nubian Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives Aidan's author page Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/discord Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/340 Support our sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Remove the ads by supporting the show: https://links.boatspodcast.com/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (AUG 12-18,2024) — Today is the 81st anniversary of the conspiracy theory from the 1984 movie The Philadelphia Experiment. Or is it? Tune in to find out. After that, we'll move into the Shakespearean classic-turned-modern movie Macbeth (2015) because this Wednesday is the 984th anniversary (1040 CE) of King Duncan I of Scotland's death. This week also marks the 79th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, so our third event will come from the HBO miniseries The Pacific. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from This Week in History Monday: The Philadelphia Experiment Wednesday: Macbeth Thursday: The Pacific | BOATS The Pacific Miniseries Birthdays from This Week in History Tuesday: Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun Wednesday: Doc Holliday in Tombstone | BOATS #59 | BOATS #142 (Chris Wimmer) | BOATS #317 (Tom Clavin) Thursday: Napoleon Bonaparte in Napoleon | BOATS Napoleon Miniseries Friday: T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia | BOATS #49 Historical Movies Released This Week in History Thursday: Apocalypse Now Saturday: Monty Python's Life of Brian Mentioned in this episode The Philadelphia Experiment II The Philadelphia Experiment (2012) Potsdam Conference photos Chris Wimmer's Legends of the Old West podcast Tom Clavin's Tombstone book Louis Sarkozy's book Napoleon's Library Alexander Mikaberidze's book The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History Lt. Col. John Stockton photo Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/339 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (AUG 5-11,2024) — This week's events from historical movies starts with Monday's 719th anniversary (August 5th, 1305) of William Wallace's (Mel Gibson) capture shown in the movie 'Braveheart.' In the History Channel's dramatic miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys", we'll see how it portrays the feud between their two families turning to bloodshed for the first time on August 7th, 1882. It was also on August 7th, but in the year 1974, that Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) became the only person in history to ever walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. We'll learn about that from the 2015 Robert Zemeckis film "The Walk." Finally, we'll learn about President Nixon's (Frank Langella) resignation from August 8th, 1974 as it was shown in the Ron Howard film "Frost/Nixon." And last but certainly not least, our 'based on a true story' movie from this week in history is the comedy-drama from August 7th, 2009 "Julie & Julia." Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from This Week in History Monday, August 5th: Braveheart | BOATS #45  Wednesday, August 7th: Hatfields & McCoys Wednesday, August 7th: The Walk Thursday, August 8th: Frost/Nixon | BOATS #4 Birthdays from This Week in History Monday, August 5th: Neil Armstrong in First Man | BOATS #144 Wednesday, August 7th: Mata Hari in Mata Hari | BOATS #74 Sunday, August 10th: Herbert Hoover in The Day the Bubble Burst A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Wednesday, August 7th: Julie & Julia Mentioned in this episode Frost/Nixon: President Nixon's resignation address Julie & Julia: Julie Powell's book Julie & Julia: Julia Child's book Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/338 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (JUL 29-AUG 4,2024) — There were two major disaster this week in history. The first we'll learn about is an event many consider the worst shark attack in history, which began on July 30th, 1945, and is shown in the movie USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage.  Our next historical disaster marks its 48th anniversary on Thursday this week, and we'll watch the racing movie starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl called Rush, because it was on August 1st, 1976, that Daniel Brühl's character in that movie, Formula One legend Niki Lauda, nearly died in a fiery wreck during the German Grand Prix. Then, we'll learn about the "Slap Heard 'Round the World" from the World War II movie Patton, because this Saturday is the 81st anniversary of when General George S. Patton slapped U.S. Army Private Charles Kuhl. Last but certainly not least, our 'based on a true story' movie from this week in history is yet another disaster movie: Ron Howard's 2022 movie called Thirteen Lives. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from This Week in History Tuesday: USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage | BOATS #48 Thursday: Rush | BOATS #70 Saturday: Patton | BOATS #163 Birthdays from This Week in History Monday: Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie Thursday: William Travis in The Alamo | BOATS #172 Sunday: Louis Armstrong in Louis A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Monday: Thirteen Lives Mentioned in this episode Rush: Original footage of Niki Lauda's crash Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/337 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS TODAY (JULY 24, 1969/2024) — Apollo 11 splashed down exactly 55 years ago, so today we'll wrap up our 3-part miniseries with the end of Apollo 11 mission. Need to catch up?  Apollo 11 Launch: https://links.boatspodcast.com/333 Apollo 11 Lunar Landing: https://links.boatspodcast.com/334 Apollo 11 Splashdown: https://links.boatspodcast.com/336* Watch the Movie Movie: Find where First Man is streaming True Story: Watch historical coverage Apollo 11's splashdown Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/336 *Additional note: That's this episode, because listing a 3-part miniseries needs a list of 3 parts. This is basically the Dorothy Boyd to my Jerry Maguire: It completes (the list). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we'll delve into Dick Cheney’s political rise in the Nixon and Ford administrations and his role in post-9/11 policies as they were shown in the 2018 political satire comedy-drama "Vice" from director Adam McKay. Get William's book How America Works . . . and Why It Doesn’t: A Brief Guide to the US Political System: https://links.boatspodcast.com/335book Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/discord Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/335 Support our sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Remove the ads by supporting the show: https://links.boatspodcast.com/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (JULY 22-28,2024) — Events from this week in history include Jeffrey Dahmer's confession on July 22nd, 1991. We'll learn how well Netflix's 2022 smash hit series Monster shows that happening. This week also marks the end of the Apollo 11 mission on July 24th, 1969, but we'll have a special minisode coming out on Wednesday for that, so today we'll back up a couple days to compare the movie First Man's depiction of the lunar landing from a couple days ago on July 20th, 1969. Our final event takes us to France this week in 1890 to where Vincent van Gogh was shot...by himself? Or someone else? We'll compare history with how the movie At Eternity's Gate shows this week's event. And last but certainly not least, our 'based on a true story' movie from this week in history is an action movie called Shamshera, which released on July 22nd, 2022. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from this week in history Monday: Dahmer | BOATS #217 Wednesday: First Man | BOATS #144 Saturday: At Eternity's Gate | BOATS #193 Birthdays from this week in history Thursday: Amelia Earhart in Amelia Friday: Carl Jung in A Dangerous Method Saturday: Bugs Bunny in A Wild Hare A historical movie released this week in history Monday: Shamshera Mentioned in this episode First Man: Original footage of Neil Armstrong's first step Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/334 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS TODAY (JULY 16, 1969/2024) — We'll introduce the concept of BOATS Today while we learn about Apollo 11's launch sequence from today in history as it was shown in the movie Men in Black 3. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Mentioned in this episode Movie: Find where Men in Black is streaming True Story: Watch NASA's footage of Apollo 11's launch Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/333 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BOATS THIS WEEK (JULY 15-21,2024) — Events from this week in history include Napoleon’s surrender aboard HMS Bellerophon that happened on July 15th, 1815, and we'll learn how it was shown in the 2023 biopic.  Then, we'll learn about the Apollo 11 miniseries that we’ll launch tomorrow on the exact anniversary of the launch from July 16th, 1969, before finishing up in the animated classic Anastasia for the murder of the Romanovs on July 17th, 1918. In the birthday segment, “Machine Gun” Kelly, Lizzie Borden, Alexander the Great, and my mom (remember to say "hi" to your mom this week). And last but certainly not least, we did our own special Barbieheimer mashup to celebrate those two movies releasing exactly one year ago this week, on July 21st, 2023. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from this week in history Monday: Napoleon | BOATS Napoleon Miniseries Tuesday: Men in Black 3 Wednesday: Anastasia | BOATS #94 Birthdays from this week in history Thursday: "Machine Gun" Kelly in Machine-Gun Kelly Friday: Lizzie Bordeon in Lizzie Saturday: Alexander the Great in Alexander| BOATS #157 A historical movie released this week in history Sunday: Barbie Sunday: Oppenheimer Mentioned in this episode Napoleon: The Surrender of Napoleon by Frederick Lewis Maitland Men in Black 3: Convert time zones with World Time Buddy Oppenheimer: US Army's Trinity Test Site Open House Oppenheimer: Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/332 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between July 8th and July 14th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history. Events from This Week in History Wednesday: The Battle of Britain Thursday: Hamilton Sunday: One Nation, One King Birthdays from This Week in History Wednesday: Nikola Tesla in Tesla | BOATS #201 Thursday: Robert the Bruce in Braveheart | BOATS #45 Sunday: Woody Guthrie in Bound for Glory A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Tuesday: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl | BOATS #216 Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/331 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between July 1st and July 7th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history. Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this into your browser: https://links.boatspodcast.com/330 Events from This Week in History Monday: The Trench Wednesday/Thursday: 1776 Thursday: The Pride of the Yankees Saturday: Lawrence of Arabia | BOATS #49 Sunday: Project Blue Book | BOATS Series Birthdays from This Week in History Monday: Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (my favorite, what's yours?) Monday: Seretse Khama in A United Kingdom Friday: P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman Saturday: John Paul Jones in John Paul Jones Sunday: Satchel Paige in Don't Look Back A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Monday: Public Enemies (2009) Tuesday: Boneyard (2024) Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/330 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Starz TV series Black Sails is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel "Treasure Island." It's a story filled with squashbuckling pirates who dare to wage war against self-described civilized nations. Are you ready to travel back to the Golden Age of Piracy? We'll be joined today by Colin Woodard, the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Republic of Pirates. Get Colin's book: The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down https://links.boatspodcast.com/329book Find more of Colin's work: https://links.boatspodcast.com/329guest Did you enjoy this episode? Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/329 Get the BOATS email newsletter: https://links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Support our sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Unlock ad-free episodes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/value Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 24th and June 30th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history. Events from This Week in History Tuesday: They Died with Their Boots On | BOATS #198 Friday: 37 Days Sunday: Gettysburg | BOATS #280 Birthdays from This Week in History Monday: General Kitchener | Young Winston | BOATS #259 Tuesday: George Orwell | Mr. Jones Friday: King Henry VIII | The Other Boleyn Girl | BOATS #92 A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Lansky Did you enjoy this episode? Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/328 Get the BOATS email newsletter: https://links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Support our sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Unlock ad-free episodes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/value Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 17th and June 23rd as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history. Events from This Week in History Monday: Amelia Monday: All the President's Men | BOATS #122 Thursday: Lizzie Saturday: The Hobbit | BOATS LoTR Series Birthdays from This Week in History Wednesday: Lou Gehrig | The Pride of the Yankees Saturday: John Dillinger | Public Enemies Sunday: Alan Turing | The Imitation Game | BOATS #147 A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Surrounded Did you enjoy this episode? Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/327 Get the BOATS email newsletter: https://links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Support our sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Unlock ad-free episodes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/value Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 10th and June 16th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as recommendations for a movie that was released this week in history. Events from This Week in History Wednesday: Loving | BOATS #76 Saturday: Waterloo | BOATS #174 Saturday: J. Edgar | BOATS #185 Birthdays from This Week in History Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank | BOATS #253 John Nash in A Beautiful Mind | BOATS #32 Ernesto "Che" Guevara in Che! | BOATS #115 A Historical Movie Released This Week in History Tag | BOATS #140 Did you enjoy this episode? Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/326 Get the BOATS email newsletter: https://links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Support our sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Unlock ad-free episodes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/value Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices