Stories from the Attic
Stories from the Attic
Greg Van Antwerp, History Hunter, public speaker@
Greg has been hunting for hidden history in the basements and attics of America for over 30 years. He is a public speaker, historian and preservationist and this podcast presents the stories behind some of his favorite discoveries. Along with Co-host Martin Blanco, they discuss the items with a bent towards humor, while promoting the importance preservation and the accessibility for anyone to conduct their own search for hidden history.
Happy Belated Birthday, America!
In this episode, Greg and Martin discover what happened to America in, not the last 50 years, but the 200 before that.Two casual but timely "finds" reveal a blast from Martin's past and America's. Could some company know for its Models of american history also create the perfect tribute to the Bicentennial AND include as a narrator the irascible Don Rickles!?The answer may surprise you as much as it did Greg. Now, listener beware! The full uninterrupted recording exists, but on Greg's other "secret" Channel:https://youtu.be/446HMZ9rVos
Jul 16
31 min
Special Guest: Detectorist, Victoria Keating
Greg and Martin welcome their very first guest Victoria Keating. Victoria and Greg were given permission to revisit a Port Chester home built in 1865. Victoria, and her Mum with metal detector searched outside, Greg, with his flashlight searched inside. What we found was kindred spirits for historic preservation. In this episode you see the home and receive some very useful information as to how you too can find hidden history.
Jun 17
28 min
How to win at Russian Roulette
Join Greg and Martin in a listening party as we try to decipher another fascinating piece of of hidden history from an attic dig.Can you really win at Russian Roulette? Listen in and see... um , or hear! Vintage audio is a viable hobby. Enthusiasts shop for gear like turntables, amplifiers and audio decks for one reason: The recorded media is still out there, still sounding great and also rare - some of these recordings did not make it to the newer formats. In this episode, we have a one-of-akind recording that presents more than one a humorous and poignant mystery.
May 2
24 min
Technically Speaking...
Is technology passing you by? Join Greg and Martin in this light-hearted talk about the woes of chasing advances, innovating, and building vintage tech in the moment to recover home movies a family had never seen until Greg found....(Cue title)
Mar 18
24 min
Sex and Cigarettes
In 1954, A psychologist meets a friend in the city. This friend introduces him to a reporter covering a story on intimacy and smoking. The good doctor unwittingly speaks freely with the reporter. What happens next sets in motion a panic in which the doctor must recover his reputation from unintentional exposure. Can he? Does he? The answer comes from this important question: How does Marilyn Monroe fit into her bloomers?
Mar 5
34 min
An Honor and a Privilege
It's a true opportunity to sit down with someone who has owned an historic home, but who also has a rich and vibrant memory of their own history. This is John Reed. As superintendent of Newtown CT schools, he and I collaborated on a series called "Schools and Schooling." John with his vast knowledge of education, and me with my community studio anxious to have as many people use as possible. We were able to give high school students the opportunity to participate in the creation of TV programming and consider it as a possible career path. John is moving from a house that was built as the first Library in Newtown in 1900. Small in stature but built to last, an it has, with just a few alterations in the 1930s to transform it in to a residence. This first episode of season 3 was created to promotion for the sale this very weekend. While you may be reading this after the fact, consider the quest for hidden history your opportunity to see and touch the past before it os gone forever.
Jul 31, 2025
23 min
Abandoned in Greenwich
"10 buildings on one street in Greenwich, CT to be demolished" was all Martin Blanco and I needed to hear, and we were on our way to hunt for history, or get stuck in an attic while the wrecking ball moved closer. It was hot and exhausting and mostly empty, but we made the most ofit and found some treasure along the way.
Jun 20, 2025
8 min
Movie Props for Sale
In this quick episode Martin and I grab the gear and head to Hastings on Hudson to look for the elusive Wire Recorder used in the film "Death of a Salesman" which featured Dustin Hoffman. The home of a long-time film industry sound editor is also the place where numerous film props he collected can be purchased. Take a look at them while Matin and I power tossing a brick (prop) at either Frank Whalley or Nathan Lane.
Jun 6, 2025
11 min
Tips from a 1750s House - Don't Smoke your Meat!
"Stories From The Attic" Podcast: A colonial estate in Wilton, CT is the setting for this episode. Greg and Martin stay in the Backyard and use a very old doll house to show where the treasure is sometimes hidden. Examples of things found in an old house are: A bag of 75 year old bird seed; An 1863 almanac from Rhode Island; An 19th century unopened jar of smoke flavor for meat, which ends the problem of your smoke house burning down all the time.
May 29, 2025
13 min
Tackling the Hoard Part 2
The dig so big...it needed two episodes. Note: we are taping shorter episodes now, and in the future they may get shorter. You're busy; we get that. Back in the studio, Martin Blanco and I review the journey to Wilton and share before and after footage of the non-hoarder hoard. There was a lot in this house but the owners were just doing what everyone else tries to do - Live a full life and save little pieces of it. When it's time to clear out and you want to keep history from becoming lost, and then have it preserved - somehow - call us first. Reach out here!
May 21, 2025
18 min
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