They seemed like the perfect couple: retired schoolteachers, quiet neighbors, world travelers... and secret art thieves? In this jaw-dropping true story, we uncover the shocking double life of Jerry and Rita Alter — an unassuming New Mexico couple who lived modestly, yet had a stolen $160 million painting hanging in their bedroom. For decades, no one suspected a thing.Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro0:57 - The Theft4:29 - The Investigation 5:48 - Jerry’s Early Life7:25 - Jerry & Rita16:49 - Settling the Estate21:26 - Surprising Discovery 25:08 - Getting it back to where it belongs 30:48 - Continued Investigation 32:19 - Evidence against the Alters36:36 - Other Crimes41:47 - Other Valuable Items48:06 - Internet Sleuth Under covers More 50:34 - Final Thoughts ►Sources:https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/unclassified-fbi-files-unveil-clues-in-stolen-de-kooning-painting-discovered-behind-bedroom-door/287-b3a9910f-6193-4e48-adce-060c2fc8aafa 1st Documentary: https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/originals/discovering-the-de-kooning-a-wfaa-original-documentary/287-503975958#longform_chapter_5 2nd Documentary: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.6cdc30a1-2592-4b3c-910c-247543403954?autoplay=0&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb https://www.ksfr.org/criminal-justice/2025-06-06/after-40-years-stolen-art-comes-home-to-taos https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/29/the-thief-collector-review-the-ordinary-married-couple-behind-a-massive-art-heist https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2022/10/06/who-were-jerry-and-rita-alter-missing-de-kooning-found-couples-home/8195231001/https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/the-missing-masterpiece-2caebd788a9d More stolen works: https://www.scdailypress.com/2024/03/15/california-writer-finds-two-stolen-works-estate-now-famous-cliff-couple/ RETURNED: https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/detour-artwork-recovered-32bbb154a170 https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/taos-homecoming-83219e93512a https://www.kunc.org/film-reviews/2023-06-09/film-review-a-true-story-stranger-than-fiction https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/arts/de-kooning-higgins-sharp-harwood-fbi.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XU8.hQDd.JxNCDG5HEN96 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/03/a-small-town-couple-left-behind-a-stolen-painting-worth-over-100-million-and-a-big-mystery/ https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/de-kooning-art-theft https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/the-missing-masterpiece-2caebd788a9d https://www.kunc.org/film-reviews/2023-06-09/film-review-a-true-story-stranger-than-fiction Support the show
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Pin-Up Girls: The Iconic Bombshells Who Shaped Pop Culture
Timeline:0:00 - Intro 0:27 - Shout out1:27 - Summary of Pin-up Girls 3:30 - Pre-Pin Up 5:09 - The Safety Bicycle7:51 - How the Bicycle Changed Women’s Fashion11:37 - Public Outrage13:34 - The Gibson Girl And Calendar Girls16:33 -World War I & Pin-Up Propaganda18:43 -The Petty Girl & Nose Art21:55 -1930s-1950s:24:13 -WWII Propaganda29:40 -From Illustrations to Photography33:23 - Postwar:38:38 - 1960’s and BeyondSOURCES:https://www.si.edu/spotlight/si-bikes/si-bikes-safety https://velocipedienne.com/2016/06/02/dressing-for-the-safety-bicycle/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/pin-up-girls-history https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pin-up-girl-history_n_6077082 https://cyclehistory.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/women-on-the-move-cycling-and-the-rational-dress-movement/ https://citizendium.org/wiki/Pin-up_art https://historycollection.com/what-the-world-doesnt-know-about-pin-up-girls/ https://medium.com/@peterdeleuran/pin-up-girls-through-history-from-objectification-to-empowerment-a59dec97d15a https://iro.uiowa.edu/esploro/outputs/doctoral/The-Birth-of-the-Pin-Up-Girl/9983949490902771#file-0 https://shs.cairn.info/revue-inflexions-2018-2-page-181?lang=en https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/world/the-lost-art-of-the-american-pin-up https://www.scarlettgasque.com/blogs/blog/pin-up-fascination-why-were-pin-up-girls-so-significant?srsltid=AfmBOoqFApU613XFdKcSI-JgDRxApEPm7PBh-kUBdPjzR-fKUfJM1L_5 https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/category/pinup-art https://www.biography.com/actors/marilyn-monroe-playboy-first-issue-didnt-pose https://justlikeapinup.com/blogs/pinup-blog/pinup-history-from-then-till-now?srsltid=AfmBOornNhNDz7Xh62DsC2yb_1Cx0hlw_QQzePV6hfxV0YQMACVTp789 Pin-Up Grrrls: Feminism, Sexuality, Popular Culture. Maria Elena Buszek. Duke University Press. 2006.Support the show
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Growing Up on Alcatraz - The Children and Families of Alcatraz
Happy FlexiSpot Prime Flash Sales, UP TO 65% OFF! You also have the chance to win free orders. Use my code ''YTE730'' to get extra $30 off on the E7 Standing desk.FlexiSpot E7 standing desk:https://bit.ly/44Sr0Jl (US) https://bit.ly/3Gfb1vJ (CAN)In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing the children who grew up on Alcatraz Island! ~ Christina Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro0:21 - Flexispot2:18 - Thank YOU & Disclaimer 2:41 - Alcatraz - The Beginning7:45 - Alcatraz Families10:24 - Life on the Island14:57 - My Angola Story lol 15:47 - Leaving The Island 20:24 - Life for the Inmates23:53 - Escape Attempts28:07 - End of an EraSources: https://dozr.com/blog/how-its-built-alcatraz-island https://www.alcatrazhistory.com/factsnfig.htm Mhttps://historycollection.com/the-children-that-grew-up-on-alcatraz-had-a-more-fun-childhood-than-you-might-imagine/ https://storyworks.scholastic.com/issues/2023-24/030124/growing-up-on-alcatraz.html?language=english#900L-1000L (same as magazine) https://www.bop.gov/about/history/alcatraz.jsp https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/alcatraz-escape Children Who Once Called Alcatraz Home: ‘For Us, It Was a Big Playground.’ Caitlin Nolan. Inside Edition. 2018 / Kids tell life ‘On the Rock’. CNN/Reuters. 2003.Children Who Grew Up on Alcatraz. Inside Edition. YouTube. 2018.https://alcatrazguidedtours.com/blog/growing-up-on-alcatraz-qa-with-a-former-resident/ Did the 1962 escapees survive? https://www.nydailynews.com/2018/01/24/new-evidence-emerges-that-infamous-alcatraz-inmates-survived-treacherous-escape/ Jolene Babyak: http://jolenebabyakauthor.com/author-info/ https://www.clairerudolfmurphy.com/excerpt-children-alcatraz/ https://www.cityexperiences.com/blog/growing-up-on-alcatraz/ https://www.insideedition.com/the-children-who-once-called-alcatraz-home-for-us-it-was-a-big-playground-41719 https://historycollection.com/the-children-that-grew-up-on-alcatraz-had-a-more-fun-childhood-than-you-might-imagine/ https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/alcatraz-escape Support the show
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Who Killed Little Red Riding Hood? Muriel Drinkwater Murder
Timestamps:0:00 - Intro 0:40 - Content Warning + Summer Time!1:31 - Muriel Joan Drinkwater 3:16 - Missing 5:19 - Investigation Begins7:44 - Persons of Interest12:09 - Harold Jones16:34 - Cold Case & DNA Technology20:05 - DNA Clears Potential Suspects23:30 - New Possible Suspect 26:36 - Effects On The Family & An Unanswered Question30:07 - Final Thoughts Cold Trace Video - Documentary where they were testing the sound of shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yrRcHi0zl8&t=130s https://metro.co.uk/2025/06/23/one-britains-longest-unsolved-crimes-murder-schoolgirl-muriel-drinkwater-23349284/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7708974.stm https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/the-muriel-drinkwater-case-can-they-crack-the-coldest-murder-case-lg98xvhzqlh?region=global https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/unsolved-murder-12-year-old-19232081 https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/muriel-drinkwater-murder-harold-jones-16207548 https://herald.wales/national-news/crime/the-unsolved-murder-of-muriel-drinkwater/ https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/detectives-link-muriel-drinkwater-and-sheila-martin-murders-vw3fx2ltcsp https://morbidology.com/the-little-red-riding-hood-murder-of-muriel-drinkwater/ https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/muriel-drinkwater-murder-file-is-declared-secret-at-request-of-police-q62dm0jg93m https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20181019/281895889216744 The Times, 24 March, 2009 – “Even if it was 100 Years Ago, We’d Still Search”South Wales Evening Post, 19 October, 2018 – “The Chilling Little Red Riding Hood Murder Which is Still Unsolved Today”South Wales Echo, 2 May, 2019 – “DNA Rules out Valleys Child Murderer as Killer of Young Muriel in 1946” Another Documentary: https://tv.apple.com/gb/episode/muriel-drinkwater/umc.cmc.3yapmfrq6hja2vtrkmtsquci3?showId=umc.cmc.41vif7hpzcg5mmxge9iqjd89z Support the show
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How Monopoly was used to Free POWs during WWII
0:00 - Intro0:25 - Disclaimer & Inspo for todays episode 1:21 - The Origin of Monopoly2:44 - The REAL Origin of Monopoly12:49 - The History of MI915:33 - Christopher Clayton Hutton 20:45 - Maps & Monopoly 25:58 - Getting the games into the POW Camps30:18 - Knowing what to look for31:42 - Sending a message34:08 - Other ways they snuck stuff in35:17 - The American Effort36:43 - Game Over38:22 - Declassified Sources: https://www.visitforgottonia.com/lizzie-magie-inventor-of-monopoly/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62285/how-brilliant-intelligence-officer-used-monopoly-free-wwii-powshttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ruthless-monopolys-secret-history/ https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/mi9-the-ingenious-secret-service-of-the-second-world-war https://www.thelegendofq.co.uk/christopher-clayton-hutton.html http://www.ww2rafcollection.co.uk/RAF_Collection/Aircrew_Evasion_&_Escape.html A ton of other sources are linked on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hutton https://invention.si.edu/invention-stories/woman-inventor-behind-monopoly https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=ohiou1651700929726961&disposition=inline Support the show
On this podcast we discuss lesser known characters and events from history. Some of the details of these historical accounts may be debated and on this show YOU get to decided: Is it History? Or is it Hearsay?
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