Ya Dere, Hail Atlantis!
I happened to catch Wierd U.S. on the History Channel last night, and I must say that it looks very promising. Yesterday's episode dealt with the bizarre case of the Wallet Man, french immigrant Antoine LeBlanc, who was executed in 1833 for murder, and subsequently skinned; his tanned hide was used to make wallets, purses, lampshades and book jackets!
Other cool segments in the show dealt with New Jersey's abandoned Nike missile bases from the Cold War and the community of Gibsonton, Florida, where sideshow freaks come to spend the winter and enjoy their golden retirement years.
And I'm prouder than punch to see that my own fair state is well-represented. Gee, who'da thunk that Atlantis was right here in our own backyard? Maybe Donovan needs to update his lyrics?
Way down
Below Rock Lake, Wisconsin
Is where I wanna be
She may be
via the Presurfer
Comments
Darn, I missed it. Hopefully they'll repeat it. Thanks for the links though. Fascinating stuff.
Posted by: Swapatorium | December 12, 2004 7:55 PM
I hope this wasn't a one-shot. It doesn't look like they have any new episodes in the works.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | December 12, 2004 8:12 PM
funny, i saw that florida episode on the knowledge channel here, but i don't know if they also showed those other episodes. i'm not even sure the show had the same name, i wonder if they've chopped up the stories to be used differently in different markets? of course i came in in the middle of the show so it's hard to know.
Posted by: william | December 14, 2004 2:43 AM
I wouldn't be surprised if the History Channel strip-mines these kinds of shows and repackage them for different markets.
Sadly, it looks like they aren't planning to produce any more episodes of this program. I thought I'd finally found something to rescue me from the endless stream of fashion makeover and reality game shows, but alas.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | December 14, 2004 9:05 AM
There are some pix of the Rock Lake pyramids n' such here:
http://www.rocklakeresearch.com/gallery.htm
I think Tyranena Brewing Co. (also in Lake Mills) has a beer named for them.
Posted by: czeltic girl | December 14, 2004 4:17 PM
Cool beans, CG. Thanks! I'm pretty sure I've had the beer before.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | December 14, 2004 5:43 PM