This 2018 episode covers the craze in the 1800s when orchids became a status symbol and the cornerstone of a high-dollar industry. Collecting the plants involved adventure and excitement -- and a high death rate.

This 2018 episode covers the craze in the 1800s when orchids became a status symbol and the cornerstone of a high-dollar industry. Collecting the plants involved adventure and excitement -- and a high death rate.

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

SYMHC Classics: Victorian Orchidelirium

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/09ddd603-5967-407b-a25e-b21c003c09b2/transcript

This 2021 episode covers how The Nutcracker is a Russian adaptation of a German story that wasn’t really a Christmas staple in its home country.

This 2021 episode covers how The Nutcracker is a Russian adaptation of a German story that wasn&rsquo;t really a Christmas staple in its home country.

SYMHC Classics: Nutcracker

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6893f95a-8af4-44de-a7ad-b3ab007d3cd0/transcript

Tracy shares how her Charles Sumner research yielded a three-part episode. Holly mentions that while there's not a lot of scholarly work about Cassius Coolidge's life, he is featured in a lot of newspaper mentions from his time. 

Tracy shares how her Charles Sumner research yielded a three-part episode. Holly mentions that while there's not a lot of scholarly work about Cassius Coolidge's life, he is featured in a lot of newspaper mentions from his time.&nbsp;

Behind the Scenes Minis: Much Charles, Many Dogs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d028168a-440c-4d67-97d4-b3aa00285742/transcript

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s most well-known art is the Dogs Playing Poker series. He was a true Renaissance man, and even patented a style of kitsch art. 

Research:
Arn, Jackson. “Why This Painting of Dogs Playing Poker Has Endured for over 100 Years.” Artsy. June 6, 2018. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-painting-dogs-playing-poker-endured-100-years
Barry, Dan. “Artist’s Fame Is Fleeting, But Dog Poker Is Forever.” New York Times. June 14, 2002. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/14/nyregion/artist-s-fame-is-fleeting-but-dog-poker-is-forever.html
“The bicycling fraternity …” The Evening World. Oct. 17, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/50674735/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22
Coolidge, Asenath Carver. “The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury.” Hungerford-Holbrook Company. 1905. https://books.google.com/books?id=-04LAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22cassius+coolidge%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Coolidge, Cassius M. (as Kash). “The Accomodating Lender.” The Cosmopolitan. Volume 2. Schlicht & Field, 1887. P. 120. https://books.google.com/books?id=P5rNAAAAMAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Coolidge, Cassius M. “Improvement in the processes of taking photographic pictures.” U.S. Patent Office. April 14, 1874. https://patents.google.com/patent/US149724
“Dog Poker Art Fetches Big Bucks.” CBS News. Feb. 16, 2005. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-poker-art-fetches-big-bucks/
Edwards, Phil. “Ever stick your face in a cutout? Meet the kitsch genius who invented them.” Vox. May 29, 2015. https://www.vox.com/2015/5/29/8682601/carnival-cutouts-inventor
“The exciting road race …” The Evening World. Sept. 26, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/163980688/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22
“Gallinipper Mosquitos & Other Insects.” Nebraska Extension Disaster Education. https://disaster.unl.edu/gallinipper-mosquitos-other-insects/
“George A. Banker received this week …” Pittsburg Dispatch. Aug. 16, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/76578744/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22
Haddock, John A. “The Growth of a Century: as Illustrated in the History of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894.” Sherman and Company, 1894. https://books.google.com/books?id=KyUVAAAAYAAJ&dq=antwerp+cassius+coolidge+bank&source=gbs_navlinks_s
“King Gallinipper.” New York Times. April 28, 1892. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1892/04/28/104126214.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
Lewis, Joel. “Boat Unloading: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge,” Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow 7. Issue 7, part 2014. https://books.google.com/books?id=Zu__BgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA205&dq=coolidge%20%22september%2018%2C%201844%22&pg=PA205#v=onepage&q&f=false
McManus, James. “Play It Close to the Muzzel and Cards on the Table.” New York Times. Dec. 3, 2005. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/sports/othersports/play-it-close-to-the-muzzle-and-paws-on-the-table.html
Martinovic, Jelena. “Beloved By All But The Art World - The Dogs Playing Poker Painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.” Artsper. Feb. 27, 2025. https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/dogs-playing-poker-painting/
“Mr. Cassius M. Coolidge, the New York artist and playwright …” Sun-Journal. Oct. 3, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/828104988/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22
“A Notable Game of Poker.” The Sun. Sept. 17, 1893. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030272/1893-09-17/ed-1/?sp=7&st=pdf&r=0.147%2C0.847%2C0.213%2C0.088%2C0
“Rehearsals for ‘King Gallinipper,’ …” The Evening World. April 20, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/50663243/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22
“Reviewed Work(s): A Prophet of Peace by Asenath Carver Coolidge and Cassius M. Coolidge.”The Advocate of Peace (1894-1920), Vol. 70, No. 5 (MAY, 1908), p. 117. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20665503
“Teachers’ Institute.” Democrat and Chronicle. June 9, 1876. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/135109029/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22
“The wheelmen of the Manhattan Atheltic Club …” The Evning World. Sept. 23, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/163977579/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge&rsquo;s most well-known art is the Dogs Playing Poker series. He was a true Renaissance man, and even patented a style of kitsch art.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Arn, Jackson. &ldquo;Why This Painting of Dogs Playing Poker Has Endured for over 100 Years.&rdquo; Artsy. June 6, 2018. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-painting-dogs-playing-poker-endured-100-years</li>
<li>Barry, Dan. &ldquo;Artist&rsquo;s Fame Is Fleeting, But Dog Poker Is Forever.&rdquo; New York Times. June 14, 2002. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/14/nyregion/artist-s-fame-is-fleeting-but-dog-poker-is-forever.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;The bicycling fraternity &hellip;&rdquo; The Evening World. Oct. 17, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/50674735/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
<li>Coolidge, Asenath Carver. &ldquo;The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury.&rdquo; Hungerford-Holbrook Company. 1905. https://books.google.com/books?id=-04LAAAAIAAJ&amp;dq=%22cassius+coolidge%22&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s</li>
<li>Coolidge, Cassius M. (as Kash). &ldquo;The Accomodating Lender.&rdquo; The Cosmopolitan. Volume 2. Schlicht &amp; Field, 1887. P. 120. https://books.google.com/books?id=P5rNAAAAMAAJ&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s</li>
<li>Coolidge, Cassius M. &ldquo;Improvement in the processes of taking photographic pictures.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. April 14, 1874. https://patents.google.com/patent/US149724</li>
<li>&ldquo;Dog Poker Art Fetches Big Bucks.&rdquo; CBS News. Feb. 16, 2005. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-poker-art-fetches-big-bucks/</li>
<li>Edwards, Phil. &ldquo;Ever stick your face in a cutout? Meet the kitsch genius who invented them.&rdquo; Vox. May 29, 2015. https://www.vox.com/2015/5/29/8682601/carnival-cutouts-inventor</li>
<li>&ldquo;The exciting road race &hellip;&rdquo; The Evening World. Sept. 26, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/163980688/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Gallinipper Mosquitos &amp; Other Insects.&rdquo; Nebraska Extension Disaster Education. https://disaster.unl.edu/gallinipper-mosquitos-other-insects/</li>
<li>&ldquo;George A. Banker received this week &hellip;&rdquo; Pittsburg Dispatch. Aug. 16, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/76578744/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
<li>Haddock, John A. &ldquo;The Growth of a Century: as Illustrated in the History of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894.&rdquo; Sherman and Company, 1894. https://books.google.com/books?id=KyUVAAAAYAAJ&amp;dq=antwerp+cassius+coolidge+bank&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s</li>
<li>&ldquo;King Gallinipper.&rdquo; New York Times. April 28, 1892. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1892/04/28/104126214.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>Lewis, Joel. &ldquo;Boat Unloading: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge,&rdquo; Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow 7. Issue 7, part 2014. https://books.google.com/books?id=Zu__BgAAQBAJ&amp;lpg=PA205&amp;dq=coolidge%20%22september%2018%2C%201844%22&amp;pg=PA205#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false</li>
<li>McManus, James. &ldquo;Play It Close to the Muzzel and Cards on the Table.&rdquo; New York Times. Dec. 3, 2005. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/sports/othersports/play-it-close-to-the-muzzle-and-paws-on-the-table.html</li>
<li>Martinovic, Jelena. &ldquo;Beloved By All But The Art World - The Dogs Playing Poker Painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.&rdquo; Artsper. Feb. 27, 2025. https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/dogs-playing-poker-painting/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Mr. Cassius M. Coolidge, the New York artist and playwright &hellip;&rdquo; Sun-Journal. Oct. 3, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/828104988/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;A Notable Game of Poker.&rdquo; The Sun. Sept. 17, 1893. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030272/1893-09-17/ed-1/?sp=7&amp;st=pdf&amp;r=0.147%2C0.847%2C0.213%2C0.088%2C0</li>
<li>&ldquo;Rehearsals for &lsquo;King Gallinipper,&rsquo; &hellip;&rdquo; The Evening World. April 20, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/50663243/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Reviewed Work(s): A Prophet of Peace by Asenath Carver Coolidge and Cassius M. Coolidge.&rdquo;The Advocate of Peace (1894-1920), Vol. 70, No. 5 (MAY, 1908), p. 117. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20665503</li>
<li>&ldquo;Teachers&rsquo; Institute.&rdquo; Democrat and Chronicle. June 9, 1876. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/135109029/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;The wheelmen of the Manhattan Atheltic Club &hellip;&rdquo; The Evning World. Sept. 23, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/163977579/?match=1&amp;terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22</li>
</ul>

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s most well-known art is the Dogs Playing Poker series. He was a true Renaissance man, and even patented a style of kitsch art. 

Cassius Coolidge and Dogs Playing Poker

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0c2a92f6-04a7-4af2-bac3-b3a70106aef1/transcript

SYMHC Classics: Victorian Orchidelirium

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