On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1966, Twister looked like a flop. Retailers thought Milton Bradley's new game was too risqué, Sears refused to put it in its Christmas catalog, and the company was preparing to pull it from stores. Then Johnny Carson spread the colorful mat across the stage of The Tonight Show and invited actress Eva Gabor to play.

Our Ameican Stories regular contributor Christopher Klein shares what happened next. As Carson and Gabor tangled themselves across the mat, the studio audience erupted in laughter and millions watched at home. The next morning, shoppers went looking for Twister. Soon, factories were struggling to keep up with demand.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1966, Twister looked like a flop. Retailers thought Milton Bradley's new game was too risqu&eacute;, Sears refused to put it in its Christmas catalog, and the company was preparing to pull it from stores. Then Johnny Carson spread the colorful mat across the stage of The Tonight Show and invited actress Eva Gabor to play. Our Ameican Stories regular contributor Christopher Klein shares what happened next. As Carson and Gabor tangled themselves across the mat, the studio audience erupted in laughter and millions watched at home. The next morning, shoppers went looking for Twister. Soon, factories were struggling to keep up with demand.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

How Johnny Carson Saved Twister

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dc4c7d98-95af-4a37-a946-b4cc0171a229/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, few commercials have left a mark like Coca-Cola’s “Hey Kid, Catch!” starring "Mean" Joe Greene. Greene, already one of the greatest defensive players in the NFL, gained a new kind of fame as the spot played during football broadcasts nationwide.

Our own Greg Hengler (and others) share the story of how a 60-second spot became one of the most memorable moments in sports and advertising history.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, few commercials have left a mark like Coca-Cola&rsquo;s &ldquo;Hey Kid, Catch!&rdquo; starring "Mean" Joe Greene. Greene, already one of the greatest defensive players in the NFL, gained a new kind of fame as the spot played during football broadcasts nationwide. Our own Greg Hengler (and others) share the story of how a 60-second spot became one of the most memorable moments in sports and advertising history.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

 “Hey Kid, Catch!” The Coca-Cola Ad That Made Mean Joe Greene a Legend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f8dbdead-8691-423b-bdcf-b4cc0174f060/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, we use them without thinking. Someone gets “sold down the river.” A project has to “start from scratch.” An idea “steals our thunder.” But behind these familiar expressions are stories involving ancient athletes, biblical passages, British sailors, American slavery, theater rivalries, and baseball.

Andrew Thompson, author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases, shares another surprising history hiding inside the words and phrases we use every day.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, we use them without thinking. Someone gets &ldquo;sold down the river.&rdquo; A project has to &ldquo;start from scratch.&rdquo; An idea &ldquo;steals our thunder.&rdquo; But behind these familiar expressions are stories involving ancient athletes, biblical passages, British sailors, American slavery, theater rivalries, and baseball. Andrew Thompson, author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F1612436684%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C3a305c4df8e5422f9d9108df18136941%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639256143818829523%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=G8UqbZSz9tHri1vfh3tEH7FLMldZ7iFMRbujggkHKks%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases</a>, shares another surprising history hiding inside the words and phrases we use every day.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

“Son of a Gun” & “Steal My Thunder” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/534e2a0d-d07e-4cb9-83a1-b4cc0174f05f/transcript

Marker 01

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Leven was studying law at the University of Chicago when a bad grade sent him to his professor's office looking for help. Instead, the professor gave him a verdict: “You don't understand contracts, and I don't think you ever will.” Mike walked out, sold his law books, and went home. His legal career was over almost as soon as it had begun.

Leven would go on to become one of America's most successful hoteliers, but he never forgot how it felt to have someone in authority dismiss him so completely. Mike shares how that painful encounter shaped the way he approached leadership, parenting, and some of the hardest conversations of his career, especially when he was the person with the power to change someone else's life.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Leven was studying law at the University of Chicago when a bad grade sent him to his professor's office looking for help. Instead, the professor gave him a verdict: &ldquo;You don't understand contracts, and I don't think you ever will.&rdquo; Mike walked out, sold his law books, and went home. His legal career was over almost as soon as it had begun. Leven would go on to become one of America's most successful hoteliers, but he never forgot how it felt to have someone in authority dismiss him so completely. Mike shares how that painful encounter shaped the way he approached leadership, parenting, and some of the hardest conversations of his career, especially when he was the person with the power to change someone else's life.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Empathy Is Not Optional: The Professor Who Changed Mike Leven's Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96fc071a-be75-4a0c-ac95-b4cc0174f061/transcript

How Johnny Carson Saved Twister

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