Ohio Mysteries

Hello and Welcome to another episode of Ohio Mystery Backroads. Step right up folks… but don’t get too close to Laffin Sal. In this chilling episode, we explore the wild history of one of America’s most unsettling carnival icons—a life-sized laughing figure whose cackling once echoed across midways and funhouses. Known for her wide grin, towering presence, and relentless mechanical laughter, Laffin Sal was designed to entertain… but for many, she did the exact opposite. We’ll trace Sal’s origins at a paper cache company in Canton, Ohio on to early 20th-century amusement parks, uncover how she became a staple attraction, and dive into the strange stories that followed her—from frightened children to lingering rumors that her laughter carried something far more sinister than simple amusement. Why does she still unsettle people today? And how did a piece of vintage entertainment become a symbol of pure nightmare fuel? Join us as we pull back the curtain on carnival history, nostalgia, and the thin line between fun and fear—because once you hear Laffin Sal… you may never forget it. You are invited to join me, your co-host Dan, for a fun discussion of your favorite Ohio Mysteries episodes on Thursday, April 16th at 7pm at the Music Box Supper Club at the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland, Ohio. It's 100% free event and open to all ages. So come and say hello and get ready for a night of laughter, stories and fun. Click the link and I will see you there! https://musicboxcle.com/event/famous-mysteries/ Check out our Facebook page!: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558042082494¬if_id=1717202186351620¬if_t=page_user_activity&ref=notif⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please check other podcast episodes like this at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ohiomysteries.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dan hosts a Youtube Channel called: Ohio History and Haunts where he explores historical and dark places around Ohio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5x1eJjHhfyV8fomkaVzsA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cleveland

Hello and Welcome to another episode of Ohio Mystery Backroads. In the shadows of the Midwest, far beyond the famous sightings in Point Pleasant, whispers persist that the legend never stayed contained. It crossed rivers, followed highways, and found new life in the quiet corners of the Buckeye State. In this episode of Ohio Mysteries Backroads, we dive into chilling reports of the Mothman seen soaring over rural roads, lurking near abandoned structures, and terrifying witnesses across Ohio. From glowing red eyes piercing the darkness to massive wings cutting through the night sky, these encounters raise one unsettling question—did the Mothman ever really leave, or has it been here all along? We’ll explore the eerie patterns that connect Ohio to one of America’s most enduring cryptid legends. Is this creature a harbinger of disaster, a misidentified animal, or something far stranger? Turn down the lights, keep your eyes on the sky… and listen closely. Because in Ohio, the legend may still be watching. You are invited to join me, your co-host Dan, for a fun discussion of your favorite Ohio Mysteries episodes on Thursday, April 16th at 7pm at the Music Box Supper Club at the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland, Ohio. It's 100% free event and open to all ages. So come and say hello and get ready for a night of laughter, stories and fun. Click the link and I will see you there! https://musicboxcle.com/event/famous-mysteries/ Check out our Facebook page!: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558042082494¬if_id=1717202186351620¬if_t=page_user_activity&ref=notif⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please check other podcast episodes like this at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ohiomysteries.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dan hosts a Youtube Channel called: Ohio History and Haunts where he explores historical and dark places around Ohio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5x1eJjHhfyV8fomkaVzsA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel back to 2021 for this unsolved case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Ohio Mysteries Backroads listeners. In this episode we step into the shadowy underworld of early 20th-century Akron, where whispers of extortion, secret societies, and coded threats gripped immigrant communities in fear. In this gripping episode, we uncover the story of Rosario Borgio—a name tied to the chilling rise of the Black Hand in Northeast Ohio and spurned the rise of organized crime. Borgio was a ruthless killer and brutal enforcer who sought to wage war against law enforcement. His rise to power left a wave of death and violence in his wake. Borgio even offered a bounty on any policeman that was killed in the line of duty. This episode dives into the broader impact of Black Hand activity across Ohio, examining how fear spread through tight-knit immigrant neighborhoods and how law enforcement struggled to combat a secretive and deeply rooted network. Join us as we peel back the layers of crime, culture, and consequence in a story that feels ripped from the pages of a gangster novel—but is all too real. Check out our Facebook page!: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558042082494¬if_id=1717202186351620¬if_t=page_user_activity&ref=notif⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please check other podcast episodes like this at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ohiomysteries.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dan hosts a Youtube Channel called: Ohio History and Haunts where he explores historical and dark places around Ohio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5x1eJjHhfyV8fomkaVzsA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices