Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged

KEEP CLAM AND CARRY ON

What happens when a prankster, folk singer, and restaurateur accidentally gets elected to public office… and wins? Meet Ivar Haglund—the man who turned Seattle’s waterfront into a playground of clams, chaos, and community.
🌊 Seattle’s Strangest Success Story
(Facts)
Ivar Haglund wasn’t just the founder of Ivar’s Seafood—he was a full-blown Seattle phenomenon. From opening Seattle’s first aquarium to launching the iconic Acres of Clams restaurant in 1946, he built an empire rooted in humor, storytelling, and seafood culture.
He memorized hundreds of folk songs, hosted radio shows, and performed alongside major figures in the folk music world.
By the 1960s, his playful experimentation had turned into serious wealth—enough to buy Pier 54 and later the historic Smith Tower.
🐙 Pranks, Publicity, and Pure Chaos
(Facts + Folklore)
Ivar didn’t just run businesses—he staged experiences.
Created Seattle’s first aquarium using seawater pumped from Elliott Bay
Paraded a dressed-up seal through Pike Place Market
Hosted outrageous stunts—including octopus “wrestling”
(Speculation / Cultural Myth)
His legacy inspired one of Seattle’s greatest hoaxes: the infamous underwater billboards, which people believed he had planted decades earlier as a long-term marketing stunt.
🗳️ The Joke That Became Real
(Facts)
In 1983, frustrated with waterfront issues, Ivar filed paperwork to run for the Port Commission—as a joke.
He didn’t campaign. He didn’t promote himself.
And… he still won—by a huge margin.
Seattle had officially elected a prankster.
🐚 “Clam Culture” and a Lasting Legacy
(Facts)
Ivar created more than restaurants—he created a worldview. He called it “clam culture”, where humor, seafood, and community intersected.
Even his marketing leaned into absurdity:
“Keep Clam” slogans
Fake postage stamps
Salmon windsocks atop skyscrapers
After his death in 1985, his legacy endured—not just in business, but in spirit.
(Takeaway)
Ivar Haglund gave Seattle permission to be weird.
🔗 RELATED EPISODES
Was Seattle Built on Sex and Scams
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/was-seattle-built-on-sex-and-scams
Seattle’s Odd Couple: Doc Maynard and Chief Sealth
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/seattles-odd-couple-doc-maynard-and-chief-sealth
Starvation Heights and Linda Hazzard
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/28-starvation-heights-and-linda-hazzard-quack-doctor-or-murderer

Ivar Haglund founded Seattle’s first aquarium using Elliott Bay seawater
His restaurant “Acres of Clams” launched in 1946 and became iconic
He built a personal brand around humor called “clam culture”
Ivar staged bizarre publicity stunts to attract crowds and media
He accidentally won a Port Commission election without campaigning
His marketing included fake stamps, slogans, and theatrical protests
He owned major Seattle landmarks including Pier 54 and Smith Tower
His legacy inspired the “underwater billboard” hoax
Ivar blended entertainment, folklore, and business into one persona
He helped define Seattle’s identity as a city that embraces weirdness

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Please join us at McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma on September 16, 2026!
https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theater
This week’s episode is a little different—and a lot more personal.
Jody and Shea sit down for a vulnerable, honest conversation about what it really takes to create Rainy Day Rabbit Holes. From the behind-the-scenes work that makes the show possible to the incredible community that’s grown around it, this episode pulls back the curtain in a way we never have before.
We also share something difficult: after a lot of reflection, Jody made the decision that she can’t continue producing the podcast in the same way right now. The past few years have been challenging, and she opens up about the personal struggles that led her to this point.
But this isn’t goodbye.
Instead, we’ve found a middle ground—Jody will be stepping away for six months to rest and reset, while Shea continues the show with the support of this amazing community.
And that’s where you come in.
Rainy Day Rabbit Holes has always been more than just a podcast—it’s a shared curiosity, a collective deep dive into the weird, the historical, and the unexplained. So we’re inviting listeners to help shape what comes next.
If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the show—whether that’s:
Researching rabbit holes
Helping write episodes
Assisting with social media
Or even joining as a guest
We’d love to hear from you.
📧 Reach out at: shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com
More than anything, this episode is about gratitude—for where we’ve been, where we’re going, and the incredible people who make it all worthwhile.
Thank you for being here. Truly.
Key Points
A candid, behind-the-scenes look at producing the podcast
Jody shares personal struggles from the past few years
Announcement: Jody is taking a six-month break
Shea will continue the show during this time
Call for community involvement in production
Deep appreciation for listeners and supporters
Call to Action
Want to help keep the rabbit holes going?
Email Shea at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com to get involved.

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A Forgotten Life Hidden in Seattle’s History
Seattle is full of legends—underground tunnels, ghost stories, cryptids—but this episode explores something far stranger:
👉 a real historical figure whose story was nearly erased
Moses Seattle, the grandson of Chief Seattle, lived a life that sits between recorded history, oral tradition, and unsettling mystery. His story raises difficult questions about how—and why—some histories are remembered while others are buried.
And the person bringing this forgotten story back into light?
➡️ Historian, filmmaker, and author David Norman Lewis
👉 Explore David’s books here:
https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/david-norman-lewis?srsltid=AfmBOorWkxSgPcvxOK6hQTgqHTTS5jxpxeIrytgQf3ZCphRm_AgNgxM5
👉 Listen to more episodes:
https://rainydayrabbitholes.com
Who Was Moses Seattle?
FACT: Moses Seattle was the grandson of Chief Seattle and part of a high-status Indigenous family.
FACT: He lived a complex life shaped by boarding schools, cultural change, and shifting identity between Indigenous and settler worlds.
FACT: He worked odd jobs, played accordion at community dances, and briefly entered the world of traveling entertainment.
SPECULATION: Some accounts suggest he may have been involved in labor organizing among hop pickers, though evidence is limited.
Culture, Folklore, and Identity
FOLKLORE: His origin story intersects with Indigenous beliefs about spirits, healing practices, and reincarnation.
FACT: Oral traditions play a major role in how his story survives—blending lived experience with cultural interpretation.
FACT: His life reflects the realities of assimilation, boarding schools, and identity pressures in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
A Tragic and Forgotten Ending
FACT: Moses Seattle’s death followed a violent incident tied to alcohol, conflict, and systemic conditions of the time.
FACT: Accounts describe severe burns and a prolonged survival before his passing.
FACT: No clear accountability followed, and responsibility remains unclear in historical records.
FACT: His story faded from public memory for decades.
Why This Story Matters
This episode isn’t just about one man—it’s about:
how history is preserved (or erased)
whose voices are recorded
and how uncomfortable stories disappear
David Norman Lewis reconstructs a powerful narrative that forces us to confront the gaps between official history and lived experience.
🎧 Related Episodes (Explore More Indigenous History)
If this story resonated with you, continue down the rabbit hole:
👉 Ishi: The Last of His Tribe
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/ishi-the-last-of-his-tribe
👉 How Did the Muckleshoot Rise Again?
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/how-did-the-muckleshoot-rise-again
👉 Seattle’s Odd Couple: Doc Maynard & Chief Sealth
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/seattles-odd-couple-doc-maynard-and-chief-sealth
These episodes explore Indigenous history from different angles—personal stories, resilience, and the people who shaped the Pacific Northwest.

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🧠 Ever Wondered What Happens When the FBI Investigates Bigfoot?
Spoiler alert: it does not end in a dramatic Sasquatch reveal.
In this Five Minute Friday episode, we dig into the FBI’s real-life Bigfoot files—yes, those exist—and unpack one of the strangest (and funniest) government investigations you’ve probably never heard of.
From mysterious hair samples to very polite scientific disappointment, this is the story of how Bigfoot almost became official… and then immediately didn’t.
🕵️ The FBI vs Bigfoot (A Very Polite Letdown)
Back in the 1970s, a cryptozoology group sent the FBI a batch of mysterious hair samples they couldn’t identify. Naturally, they believed this might finally be proof of Sasquatch.
And the logic was simple:
If we can’t identify it… it must be Bigfoot.
The FBI, in a rare moment of curiosity (or maybe boredom), agreed to analyze the samples—despite normally only handling criminal investigations.
After careful examination using the technology available at the time, they came back with their official conclusion:
It was deer.
That’s it. That’s the story.
Dreams crushed. Case closed. Hair returned.
🌲 The Atlas That Sparked Sasquatch Fever
This whole situation started when a 1975 government atlas casually included references to Sasquatch sightings in the Pacific Northwest—complete with maps.
Yes. A real government document basically said:
Here’s the plants
Here’s the animals
Also… Bigfoot might be out there
That single detail sparked public curiosity, media attention, and a wave of people demanding answers from the FBI.
Because nothing fuels belief faster than:
Vague government statements
“Unknown” scientific results
And a creature that refuses to be photographed clearly
🧬 Facts vs Folklore vs Speculation
FACT:
The FBI tested alleged Bigfoot hair and determined it came from deer.
FOLKLORE:
Sasquatch has been a staple of Pacific Northwest legends for decades, with countless sightings and stories.
SPECULATION:
Before modern DNA testing, “unknown” samples created space for imagination—and Bigfoot filled that gap perfectly.
🚨 The Part We Tried to Forget (But Won’t Let You)
At one point in this episode, we briefly revisit something we wish we could unlearn:
Bigfoot erotica.
Yes. It exists.
No. You should not Google it.
If you’re curious (or dangerously brave), we covered it in a past episode that lives safely behind our Patreon paywall—where it can hopefully do less harm.
Support the show and unlock that deeply questionable content here:
👉 rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
You’ve been warned.
🐾 Final Thought
The FBI says Bigfoot isn’t real.
But also…
They tested the hair.
So.
Draw your own conclusions.
🔗 Related Episodes
This episode pairs perfectly with our deeper dive into Sasquatch legends and sightings. If you want more Bigfoot chaos, mythology, and history, check out:
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/6-this-is-not-a-bigfoot-podcast-sasquatch-and-ape-canyon

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Welcome to the Intergalactic House of Pancakes
👽 Pancakes from a UFO?
When you think of UFO encounters, you probably imagine abductions, bright lights, and terrifying alien experiments. But what if one of the strangest alien mysteries ever recorded involved… pancakes?
In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, host Shea Drury is joined by Amanda and Trevin from the Live, Laugh, Larceny podcast to explore one of the most bizarre, weird, and outrageous UFO encounters in history. Check out their show here:
👉 https://www.livelaughlarceny.com/

🛸 The 1961 Wisconsin UFO Encounter
Facts
In April 1961, Joe Simonton, an ordinary man living in Eagle River, Wisconsin, reported seeing a silver, disc shaped UFO land in his driveway.
Inside were three human-like men who communicated using gestures. After requesting water, one of them was seen cooking pancakes on a strange, flameless grill inside the craft.
Simonton claimed he received several pancakes before the UFO flew away, leaving no physical evidence behind except the food itself.
Adding to the mystery, a second witness nearby reported seeing a disc shaped object in the sky at roughly the same time.

🧪 Government Investigation and Testing
Facts
This strange UFO encounter was investigated by the United States Air Force under Project Blue Book during the Cold War.
The pancakes were tested in a lab and the results were completely ordinary:
Wheat and buckwheat ingredients
No radiation
No unknown materials
In other words, the so-called alien pancakes were just pancakes.

🤔 Folklore, Speculation, and Theories
This case stands out in UFO lore because of how oddly normal it feels.
Folklore: This has become one of the weirdest alien stories because it involves a calm interaction instead of abduction or fear
Speculation: Some theories suggest a misunderstanding involving humans, experimental aircraft, or even time travel
Skeptical view: No physical evidence of a landing was ever found
Believer view: Simonton never changed his story and was considered credible
It is a mystery that sits right between the ordinary and the impossible.

🔗 Related Episodes
Want to explore more UFOs, aliens, and mysteries? Check out these related episodes:
🌀 Explore early UFO sightings and Men in Black origins in the Pacific Northwest
👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/33-summer-of-saucers-ufos-and-the-men-in-black-in-the-pnw

🇯🇵 Dive into historical UFO folklore in Japan’s oldest recorded encounter
👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/japans-oldest-ufo-mystery

🛸 One of the most famous alien abduction stories in America
👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/travis-walton-the-most-famous-ufo-abduction-in-america

🐇 Final Thought
No abduction. No missing time. No terrifying encounter.
Just a quiet morning… and a handful of pancakes from something that should not exist.
And somehow, that makes this one of the most bizarre UFO mysteries ever told.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Joe Simonton UFO encounter is one of the strangest alien stories involving pancakes instead of abduction
A Wisconsin man reported a flying saucer landing in his driveway in 1961
The UFO occupants appeared human-like and communicated using gestures
The visitors requested water and gave pancakes in exchange
The pancakes were analyzed and found to contain normal Earth ingredients
Project Blue Book investigated the case during the Cold War
A second witness reported seeing a disc-shaped object nearby
Simonton maintained his story and was considered credible
The case blends UFO folklore with unusually mundane details
The incident remains unexplained despite scientific testing

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