History is full of ridiculous legal loopholes, moral panics, and unhinged bureaucracy. Join us as we uncover the true, documented historical cases that make you stop and ask: Who approved this?
Can playing a game of pinball actually land you in jail?
In 1942, New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia officially outlawed pinball machines across all five boroughs, declaring them corrupting gambling devices run by organized crime. What followed was one of the most over-the-top legal panics in American history.
From NYPD raids on neighborhood candy shops to Mayor La Guardia personally smashing thousands of pinball machines with sledgehammers and dumping the debris into the East River, Susan and Lisa dive into NYC's wild 34-year pinball ban—and the legendary Babe Ruth-style shot in 1976 that finally saved the game.
📜 The Main Story: How NYC banned pinball for over three decades, recycled seized machines into World War II scrap metal, and how pinball expert Roger Sharpe proved it was a game of skill live in front of the City Council.
🎯 1 Real & 1 Fake Game: Can you spot the real historical prohibition law among the absurd fakes?
📍 Modern Status Check: Do bizarre, outdated arcade and gaming regulations still exist on the books today?
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4 Aug 2026
Episode 03 - IS Bad Singing Actually a Crime?
Ep 3: Is Bad Singing Actually a Crime? (State v. Linkhaw, 1872)
Can singing off-key actually get you arrested?
In today’s episode, Susan and Lisa travel back to 1872 to uncover the legendary story of William Linkhaw—a devout North Carolina churchgoer who loved God, loved hymns, and was unequivocally the worst singer in North America.
From a pastor who stopped congregational singing altogether just to keep William quiet, to a judge who made him sing a hymn in a live courtroom (resulting in total chaos), we break down the hilarious true story of State v. Linkhaw.
📜 The Main Story: How a devout man’s deafeningly terrible singing led to an indictment for "disturbing the peace"—and a landmark 1873 North Carolina Supreme Court ruling.
🎯 1 Real & 1 Fake Game: Spooked British police horses vs. cows that hate bagpipes... can you spot the real noise law?
📍 Modern Status Check: Can you legally be thrown in jail for butchering a karaoke song today?
🔔 Enjoying the show? Tap the + Follow button on Spotify and leave us a 5-star rating to help more history buffs find Who Approved That?!
30 Jul 2026
Episode 02 - Can you mail a Building?
🎙️ In this episode:
🧱 The Math: How 80,000 bricks traveled 400 miles via train, narrow-gauge railroad, and 6-horse freight wagons on Parcel Post.
✉️ The Telegram: The local postmaster's emergency wire to Washington: "Some S.O.B. is trying to ship a whole building!"
📜 The Glitch Fixed: The emergency USPS rule change on November 7, 1916, that capped daily postal shipping at 200 lbs forever.
🎯 1 Real & 1 Fake Game: Can you spot the real historical postal ordinance?
📍 2026 Status Check: Is the infamous "Brick Bank" still standing today?
28 Jul 2026
Episode 01 - I mailed my BABY?
📮 THE LESSON: Always double-check your fine print before launching a national postal system.
Welcome to Episode 1 of Who Approved That?—the podcast that uncovers history's most ridiculous legal glitches and societal panics.
This week's case file:👶 The Topic: The 1913 Parcel Post Child Mailing Loophole📍 The Incident: Shipping a 5-year-old girl 73 miles across Idaho💵 The Cost: 53 cents in stamps (cheaper than a train ticket!)🎮 The Game: 1 Real & 1 Fake Legal Fact
Hosted by Susan (The Storyteller) and Lisa (The Curious Co-Host).
🔔 Follow the show on Spotify to catch Episode 2 dropping right now!
25 Jul 2026
Who Approved That?
Welcome to Who Approved That?—the history podcast dedicated to the world’s most ridiculous legal glitches, bureaucratic blunders, and unhinged loopholes. Join hosts Susan and Lisa as they dig into real court transcripts, original newspaper archives, and dusty legal codes to expose the moments where the law failed... spectacularly. From parents mailing toddlers across state lines for 53 cents to shipping an entire 80,000-brick bank through the postal service, truth is definitely stranger than fiction. Hit subscribe—Episodes 1 & 2 are dropping soon!
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