The Victorian Variety Show

If you always believed the myths that the Victorians were “prudish” and “repressed,” this podcast may inspire you to reconsider! In each episode, host Marisa D discusses a not-so-well-known aspect of life during the Victorian Era (1837 - 1901) that will intrigue and surprise you.

Episodes

TVVS is going on hiatus until December

October 7, 2023 • 8 mins

Just a (not so) quick and (mostly unscripted) explanation of why the show is going on hiatus until December, which ends with my reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “Spirits of the Dead.” ***** References Poe, Edgar Allan. “Spirits of the Dead.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48632/spirits-of-the-dead Wikipedia. “Poems by Edgar Allan Poe.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poems_by_Edgar_Allan_Poe#Spirits_of_the_Dead_(1827) ...

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2 Sides of Sir William Crookes, Part 2: The Spiritualist

September 24, 2023 • 32 mins

In the second episode of my 2-part examination of the life and career of Sir William Crookes (1832-1919), I explore events that inspired his interest in spiritualism, his unique methods of combining his studies in this area with his scientific background, and his work with some well-known 19th-century mediums, as well as the reception his work with mediums received from the scientific and spiritualist communities. ***** Reference...

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2 Sides of Sir William Crookes, Part 1: The Scientist

September 10, 2023 • 23 mins

I first learned about British physicist and chemist Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) several months ago, while working on my episode on X-rays. Recently, while reading Violet Tweedale’s Ghosts I Have Seen and Other Psychic Experiences, I learned that Sir William had an interest in spiritual and paranormal matters in addition to the sciences. In this episode, I focus on some of his better known scientific discoveries (and will discus...

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Lifting the Lid of the Fisk Patent Air-Tight Metallic Burial Case

August 26, 2023 • 23 mins

If you spend any time learning about Victorian Era funeral and burial etiquette, chances are you’ll come across an illustration of a Fisk Patent Air-Tight Metallic Burial Case…and once you do, you’ll never forget it. I discuss the circumstances that inspired the creation of this unique coffin and some of its benefits, as well as how it’s often viewed from a modern perspective. ***** References American Civil War Medicine & Surgi...

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Figure Skating, Victorian-Style: A Conversation with Ryan Stevens

August 12, 2023 • 39 mins

In this Season 3 premiere, I bring you my recent conversation with Ryan Stevens, in which we talked briefly about the history of figure skating, as well as its increased popularity in the 19th Century and Victorian Era “Skate King,” Jackson Haines. About Ryan Stevens: I am a former figure skater and judge from Halifax, Nova Scotia. I have been writing about figure skating history since 2013, on my blog Skate Guard. I also write f...

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Mrs. Beeton and Victorian-Era Household Management, Part 2

July 29, 2023 • 32 mins

In the second episode of my 2-part miniseries on Isabella Mary Mayson Beeton (a.k.a. “Mrs. Beeton”), I delve deeper into her voluminous Book of Household Management. Catch episode 1 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cBEAgXffA4uv8doOxpm6l?si=doVWQOEYT5qbHki5lua8zg ***** References Beeton, Isabella. The Book of Household Management (1861 edition). https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10136/pg10136.html Beeton, Isabella. Th...

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Introducing Mrs. Beeton and Victorian-Era Household Management, Part 1

July 15, 2023 • 25 mins

If you’re a fan of vintage food and cooking (like I am), you’ve probably heard the name “Mrs. Beeton,” and may even have seen an edition of her voluminous Book of Household Management. But who was Mrs. Beeton, and what are some reasons her book has stood the test of time? ***** References Beeton, Isabella. The Book of Household Management. https://archive.org/details/b21536193/page/n1/mode/1up Discover Britain. “Isabella Beeto...

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“X” Marks the Spot: Exposing the Late Victorian Fascination with X-Rays

July 2, 2023 • 24 mins

I (& my dog) recently had X-rays, & it hit me that X-rays were a pretty big (albeit short-lived) fad toward the end of the Victorian Era. I discuss the history of the X-ray, & explore why X-rays were initially so popular & why that popularity eventually faded. ***** References Click Americana. “How X-rays were discovered – Victorian medical tech we still use every day.” https://clickamericana.com/topics/discoveries-inventions/ho...

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A Journey Into the Life and Works of Edith Nesbit

June 17, 2023 • 24 mins

I briefly explore the life of writer Edith Nesbit, a.k.a. “E. Nesbit” (1858-1924), and read excerpts from some of her works. ***** References Banerjee, Jacqueline. “E. Nesbit, Rudyard Kipling and The Strand Magazine.” https://victorianweb.org/authors/nesbit/kipling.html Britannica. “Fabian Society.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fabian-Society Fabian Society. “Our History.” https://fabians.org.uk/about-us/our-history/ Morb...

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To Laugh, or Not to Laugh? A Brief Overview of Victorian-Era Humor

June 3, 2023 • 24 mins

What with popular attribution of the phrase “We are not amused” to Queen Victoria and the widespread belief that Victorians were obsessed with etiquette and death, it’s easy to get the impression that many people during this period lacked a sense of humor. However, I will explain why I’ve found the opposite to be the case, and provide examples of Victorian humor. ***** References Nicholson, Bob. “Actually, we are amused – how th...

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If Books Could Kill (um, actually, they can…): Robert C. Kedzie and Shadows from the Walls of Death

May 20, 2023 • 27 mins

In this episode, I discuss Robert Clark Kedzie (1823-1902), a Michigan doctor, chemist, and professor, and explain why his 1874 book, Shadows from the Walls of Death, can be considered one of the deadliest books ever written. ***** References Bien, Laura. “In the Archives: Poison Pages.” https://annarborchronicle.com/2012/05/03/in-the-archives-poison-pages/index.html Harvey, Mark. “Shadows from the Walls of Death.” https://mich...

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In the Victorian-Era Kitchen, with Charles Elmé Francatelli!

May 6, 2023 • 26 mins

I discuss what I was able to find about the life of Charles Elmé Francatelli (1805-1876), one of the Victorian Era’s “celebrity chefs,” who spent part of his career cooking for The Queen and Prince Albert, and look at 2 of his cookbooks, The Modern Cook and A Plain Cookery Book for the Working Classes. ***** References Cook’s Guide, The. “Charles Elmé Francatelli.” http://www.thecooksguide.com/articles/francatelli.html Cook’s I...

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Getting “Physical” with the Victorians (Part 2): What Was “Muscular Christianity”?

April 22, 2023 • 31 mins

You can’t talk about physical culture during the Victorian Era without discussing “Muscular Christianity.” I describe how this movement developed in the mid-19th century, ways in which it was practiced within and outside the UK, and how it intersected with phenomena that are still with us today, such as nationalism, imperialism, and eugenics. ***** References Graham, Alex. “Friedrich Ludwig Jahn & German Nationalism.” https://co...

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Getting “Physical” with the Victorians: 19th Century Physical Fitness, Part 1

April 1, 2023 • 25 mins

In this episode, I explore the stages in which fitness culture evolved in the 19th Century, as well as the rise of strongman athletes and fitness “gurus,” some popular fitness equipment of the period, and early gymnasiums. ***** References Barford, Vanessa, and Lucy Townsend. “Eugen Sandow: The man with the perfect body.” https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19977415 BBC News. “'Manly exercise' manual found at Cambridge college.” ...

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Knocking on the Door of the Victorian “Haunted” House

March 18, 2023 • 26 mins

When you think of “haunted” houses, there’s a good chance that structures built during the Victorian Era come to mind. I look at some characteristics of “Victorian” houses, and explore how and when their association with ghosts came about. ***** References Ayers, Vivienne. “Georgian house style – what it is and how to get the look.” https://www.homesandgardens.com/house-design/georgian-house-style D’Costa, Krystal. “Why are Vic...

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Getting Our Hands Dirty with Pteridomania (Victorian-Era “Fern Fever”)

March 4, 2023 • 26 mins

The fern has been associated with myth and mystery for centuries, but the Victorians took their appreciation for this plant species to new levels. I discuss some events and circumstances that led to pteridomania (“fern fever”), as well as ways in which the magical fern was incorporated into the everyday lives of millions of Victorians. ***** References American Fern Society. https://www.amerfernsoc.org Brain, Jessica. “The Ward...

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An Exploration of Victorian-Era “Fainting Culture”

February 18, 2023 • 29 mins

Fainting women were a pretty common trope in 19th century literature. I discuss some reasons why Victorian-Era women were likely to faint, but also explore how much of what we know about “fainting culture” might have been myth, and how much was likely reality. ***** References Agnew, Molly Elizabeth. “The Truth About Corsets: Busting the Myths.” https://thevintagewomanmagazine.com/the-truth-about-corsets-busting-the-myths/ Aust...

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“Don’t Be Mine!” Victorian Valentines With a Splash of Vinegar

February 4, 2023 • 25 mins

Although Valentine’s Day existed prior to the 19th century, the Victorians helped to make this day what we know and love (or hate) today. I briefly discuss the history of the day, then talk about the many “vinegar valentines” Victorians looking to insult rather than flirt could choose from. **** References Andersen, Charlotte Hilton. “What Is Valentine’s Day, and Why Do We Celebrate It?” https://www.rd.com/article/history-of-val...

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A Taste of Victorian-Era Fairy Tales from “Rays of Sunshine” (Minisode)

January 21, 2023 • 14 mins

I read 2 fairy tales from the 1893 children’s book, Rays of Sunshine: “A Frog He Would a Wooing Go” and “Death and Burial of Cock Robin.” ***** References “A Frog He Would A Wooing Go.” Rays of Sunshine. New York: M'Loughlin Bros., 1893. https://archive.org/details/raysofsunshine00unse/page/n7/mode/2up “Death and Burial of Cock Robin.” Rays of Sunshine. New York: M'Loughlin Bros., 1893. https://archive.org/details/raysofsunshin...

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More Than a “Toy”: The Zoetrope (Minisode)

January 7, 2023 • 15 mins

In this minisode, I discuss the history of the zoetrope & explain why, even though it was generally marketed as a “toy,” I believe it was much more than that. ***** References Coterill, Chris. “Early Pioneer: William George Horner.” https://animationgeek.blogspot.com/2011/01/early-pioneer-william-george-horner.html Object Lessons. “Zoetrope, Victorian, Replica.” https://www.objectlessons.org/childhood-and-games-victorians/zoetr...

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The Victorian Variety Show

Episodes

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.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}2 Sides of Sir William Crookes, Part 2: The Spiritualist

2 Sides of Sir William Crookes, Part 1: The Scientist

Lifting the Lid of the Fisk Patent Air-Tight Metallic Burial Case

Figure Skating, Victorian-Style: A Conversation with Ryan Stevens

Mrs. Beeton and Victorian-Era Household Management, Part 2

Introducing Mrs. Beeton and Victorian-Era Household Management, Part 1

“X” Marks the Spot: Exposing the Late Victorian Fascination with X-Rays

A Journey Into the Life and Works of Edith Nesbit

To Laugh, or Not to Laugh? A Brief Overview of Victorian-Era Humor

If Books Could Kill (um, actually, they can…): Robert C. Kedzie and Shadows from the Walls of Death

In the Victorian-Era Kitchen, with Charles Elmé Francatelli!

Getting “Physical” with the Victorians (Part 2): What Was “Muscular Christianity”?

Getting “Physical” with the Victorians: 19th Century Physical Fitness, Part 1

Knocking on the Door of the Victorian “Haunted” House

Getting Our Hands Dirty with Pteridomania (Victorian-Era “Fern Fever”)

An Exploration of Victorian-Era “Fainting Culture”

“Don’t Be Mine!” Victorian Valentines With a Splash of Vinegar

A Taste of Victorian-Era Fairy Tales from “Rays of Sunshine” (Minisode)

More Than a “Toy”: The Zoetrope (Minisode)

Popular Podcasts

TVVS is going on hiatus until December

2 Sides of Sir William Crookes, Part 2: The Spiritualist