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The Box of Oddities

The Box of Oddities

Freaks, Feathers, and Yellow Fever

The Box of Oddities · Sep 2, 2026 · 39:30

0:0039:30

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A sideshow performer known as Koo-Koo the Bird Girl becomes one of the most unforgettable faces in Tod Browning’s 1932 film Freaks—yet the real Minnie Woolsey remains almost a mystery. We trace the strange, sad, and surprisingly human story behind the feathers, enormous glasses, and a few seconds of dancing that outlived nearly everything else known about her.

Then: a young doctor named Stubbins Ffirth sets out to prove that yellow fever isn’t contagious by conducting one of history’s most stomach-turning medical experiments on himself. Plus, cow muffin bingo, lawnmower races, frog jumping, crab beauty pageants, and other wonderfully odd Labor Day traditions.
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Episodes: The Box of Oddities

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