Episode 3 - The Lucky 13 Club Escapade

New Zonderlings

Step right up and marvel at the audacious tale of the 13 Club, where superstitions tremble in their spooked-out boots! Noah and I chuckle our way through history, sharing the story of Captain William Fowler and his cheeky cohorts. They dined on a menu fit for Dracula, with 13 courses, beneath ladders and amidst shattered mirrors – all to thumb their noses at the fear of the number 13. We'll whisk you back to a time when the Victorian era was rife with irrational fears, and introduce you to the club that expanded across oceans and embraced the notion that Fridays and 13s could mean good fortune after all.
Have you ever hesitated to walk under a ladder or wondered why the 13th floor is often missing in hotels? We've got the scoop on how the 13 Club's hilariously peculiar traditions, from coffin-shaped dessert containers to grand gatherings, made a mockery of such superstitions. Discover how their influence reached the highest echelons of society, even convincing Theodore Roosevelt to join as an honorary member. And the kicker? Their antics may have played a hand in making Saturdays the coveted half-holiday we cherish today. We'll regale you with the evolution of their defiant dinners, the inclusion of women, and the lasting legacy they left on our cultural norms.
To wrap up, we share the musings of Arthur Lehman, the club's last chief ruler, who led a life blissfully free from superstitious shackles. We reflect on the enduring charm of age-old superstitions, from avoiding black cats to the peculiar "three on a match" belief. Join Noah and me as we muse over our own brushes with luck and fortune, and entertain the thought of resurrecting this bold assembly in today's world. Could the 13 Club make a comeback, or are superstitions just too enticing to ignore? Tune in and be part of the conversation, as we explore these timeless beliefs that still send a shiver down our collective spine.

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Bab

1. Exploring the 13 Club Phenomenon (00:00:10)

2. Origins of the 13 Club (00:09:11)

3. Superstitions and the 13 Club (00:19:49)

4. Common Superstitions and Beliefs (00:26:26)