Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

The Reckless Murder of Barbara Colby

Barbara Colby was a rising star, best known for her illustrious theatre career and roles on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Phyllis. But her life was tragically cut short in a senseless and brutal act of violence. On a fateful night in 1975, Barbara and her colleague, James Kiernan, were gunned down in a quiet Venice parking lot, leaving Hollywood stunned. What led to the shocking murder of this beloved actress? Tune in as we unravel the dark details of Barbara Colby’s untimely death.
 
Episode Sources:
“The Return of Barbara Colby” by Robert Taylor, November 12, 1972, Page 149, Oakland Tribune
“Barbara Colby: New Breed of Professional Repertory Actress” by John Weisman, March 8, 1970, Page 398, The Los Angeles Times
“The Unsolved Murder of Barbara Colby” by Jennifer Bladwin, August 4, 2021, Published in CrimeBeat, Medium
“176. Looks Like A Spinoff Into Tragedy - The Senseless Murder of Barbara Colby” by Just The Tip-Sters: True Crime Podcast, February 2, 2021
“Six Youths Seized In Three Slayings And Thefts on Coast” from July 26, 1975, Page 7, The New York Times
“The Barbara Colby Murder Case” from Namu Wiki, last modified May 5, 2024
“Phyllis” on IMDb
“Barbara Colby” on IMDb
“TV OFFICIAL FOUND DEAD IN L. I. HOME; Robert Levitt, Controller's Brother, Left Note -- Had Been Hearst Executive” special to The New York Times, January 28, 1958, Page 15
“Former SF Actress, 2 Others Slain” from The Times, San Mateo, California, July 26, 1975, Page 69
“The Son of Ethel Merman” by David Lobosco, January 28, 2023, A Trip Down Memory Lane
“Episode review: Columbo Murder by the Book” by columbophile, October 21, 2015, The Columbophile Blog
“This week in TV Guide: April 3, 1976” by Mitchell Hadley, April 3, 1976, It’s About TV!
“He Paid Penalty, Now His Goal Is to Assist Others” by Rick Reilly, March 18, 1985, Los Angeles Times
“Mission and History” of the Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré
 
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The Murder of Stephanie Spears

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When Stephanie Spears began dating Manuel Benitez Velasco in 1996, she had no idea he was former child actor Mark Everett. Manny, as we'll refer to him in this episode, co-starred in several TV shows and movies, most notably "Pee Wee's Big Adventure." Once the spotlight faded, however, Manny's path took a dark and dangerous turn.
 
Episode Sources:
“The Chilling Story of Pee Wee Actor Mark Everett - Murderer” - Dearly Departed Tours with Scott Michaels
“Former Child Star Now Man Wanted For Murder” America’s Most Wanted, Dec. 27, 2008
“SoCal man killed by cops was 2004 murder suspect” by Raquel Maria Dillon, AP, Dec. 24, 2008
“Child Star Turned Fugitive Killed During Standoff” America’s Most Wanted, Dec. 23, 2008
“Ex-child actor killed after taking son hostage” NBC News, Dec. 23, 2008
“Fugitive ex-actor killed after hostage drama” by Greg Risling, SF Gate, Dec. 25, 2008
“El otro 'hijo secreto' de El Cordobés” El Economista, Apr. 2, 2016
“Manuel Benítez El Cordobés: la trágica historia de su hijo que murió tiroteado” Pronto, Aug. 7, 2021
“La dramática historia del hijo del Cordobés: mató a su pareja y murió en un tiroteo” Chic, Mar. 5, 2016
“Police kill man sought in ’04 slaying” by Greg Risling, The Seattle Times, Dec. 25, 2008
“Actor Killed by Cops Was '04 Slaying Suspect” NBC Washington, Dec. 23, 2008
“Son reunited with grandmother after father killed in El Monte shootout” by Larry Altman, Los Angeles Daily News, Dec. 24, 2008
“Standoff leads to rescue of kidnapped boy from Hawthorne” by Larry Altman, Whittier Daily News, Dec. 25, 2008
Find a Grave: Stephanie Rochelle Spears
Homicide: Stephanie Rochelle Spears, LA Times
 
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"As Above, So Below": The Paris Catacombs

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Join us for a spine-chilling descent into the depths of Paris as we unravel the enigmatic history of the Catacombs and the haunting mysteries that shroud them. In this episode, we explore the labyrinthine tunnels filled with millions of bones, delve into the legends of lost souls and eerie apparitions, and uncover the real-life tales that inspired the horror film "As Above, So Below." Discover the hidden world beneath the City of Lights, where history, myth and cinema intertwine to create an unforgettable subterranean journey.
 
Episode Sources:
“Site History” from Les Catacombes De Paris, Paris Musees, 2024
“History Paris Catacombs” from Catacombs Tour
“Who is Buried in the Paris Catacombs?” posted on December 28, 2022 from City Experiences Blog
 “The unusual history of the Paris Catacombs” by Antoine Vitek, October 27, 2021, Cultures-Vous
“The Dark Origins of the Paris Catacombs” by Jessica Pearce Rotondi, November 27, 2023, History
“Beneath Paris’ City Streets, There’s an Empire of Death Waiting for Tourists” by Natasha Geiling, March 28, 2014, Smithsonian Magazine
“In a secret Paris cavern, the real underground cinema” by Jon Henley, September 8, 2004, The Guardian
“No popcorn, then?” by Andrea Hubert, December 7, 2007, The Guardian
“‘Another layer to Paris’: Inside the secret world of the cataphiles” by Carla Pelosoff, October 24, 2022, Dazed
“Paris’ secret subterranean world” by Elaine Ganley, September 29, 2004, NBC News
“Filming in the Paris Catacombs for As Above, So Below” by Annie Epstein, August 13, 2014, Motion Picture Association
“As Above, So Below” on IMDb
“Man Gets lost in the Catacombs of Paris Part 1 of 2” from AMAZERINGvids on YouTube
“Catacombs Folklore: Ghosts, Vampires & the Holy Grail” by Icy Sedgwick, November 12, 2022, Icy Sedgwick
“‘As Above/So Below’ directors: guess that actor’s claustrophobia helped his performance” by Gregory Ellwood, August 20, 2014, Hitfix, Uproxx
“On Location with Ben Feldman” by Adam Rathe, DUJOUR
“Bone-Chilling Paris Catacombs Legends and Myths” by Sean Finelli, February 22, 2023, The Tour Guy Travel Blog
 
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The Poisoning of Olive Thomas

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If you'd rather not hear our banter/biznasty, skip ahead 5 minutes. We've got a tale for you today that is considered to be the first Hollywood scandal: the death of Olive Thomas. Olive was just 25 years old and at the height of her career when she died tragically while vacationing with her husband, Jack Pickford (yes, of THOSE Pickfords). Was it an accident, or something more sinister?
 
Episode Sources:
“From $2.75 to $4,000 Weekly as a Movie Star” by James A. Baubie, The Pittsburgh Press, p. 19 & 27,  Feb. 4, 1931
“Olive Thomas leaves no will, estate is valued at $25,000” The Pittsburgh Press, p. 16, Oct. 5, 1920
“Olive Thomas Left $27,644” The New York Times, Jul. 15, 1922
“Women Faint at Olive Thomas Rite” The New York Times, Sep. 29, 1920
“Olive Thomas’ Death Declared An Accident” The Vancouver Sun, Sep. 14, 1920
“Bichloride of Mercury Killed Olive Thomas” The Toronto World, Sep. 15, 1920
“Memories of Olive"
“The Most Beautiful Girl in the Movies” Herald-Journal, p. 13, Oct. 22, 1919
“The Life & Death of Olive Thomas” Taylorology, edited by Bruce Long, Sep. 1995
“$30,000 Realized as Olive Thomas’ Effects Are Sold” The Pittsburgh Press, Nov. 23, 1920
“Poisonings Throughout History: Olive Thomas” Maryland Poison Center, Aug. 31, 2023
“DEADLINES PAST | The death and afterlife of the ‘most beautiful girl in New York City’” by Elizabeth Perry, West Hills Gazette, Sep. 28, 2023
"Olive Thomas: Everybody’s Sweetheart"
“The Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic” by Nimisha Bhat, Museum of the City of New York, Jul. 1, 2014
“The Flapper” (1920) starring Olive Thomas - Silent Hall of Fame
 
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Jeepers Creepers: The Dark Side of Victor Salva

We're delving into the unsettling story of Victor Salva, a celebrated filmmaker with a dark past. Salva groomed and sexually abused young actor Nathan Forrest Winters for six years. Discover the chilling details of their history, from the making of "Clownhouse" to Salva's shocking crimes and eventual return to Hollywood. This episode uncovers the harrowing impact on Winters and raises questions about redemption and accountability in the film industry.
 
Episode Sources:
“Victor Salva’s horror stories” by Patrick Goldstein, June 11, 2006, Los Angeles Times
“Former Child Actor Nathan Forrest Winters - Full Interview” from The Millennial Report, YouTube
“Former child actors reveal sexual abuse in Hollywood” by Sky News, November 7, 2017, Sky News
“Powder (1995)” on IMDb
“Jeepers Creepers (2001)” on IMDb
“Victor Salva Biography” on IMDb
“Something in the Basement (1986)” on IMDb
“Clownhouse Molestation Survivor Nathan Forrest Winters Speaks Out in New Documentary” by Steve Barton, August 3, 2017, Dread Central
“Fathom Events Re-Releasing ‘Jeepers Creepers 3,’ Despite Director’s Child Sex Abuse Conviction” by Chris Lindahl, September 12, 2019, IndieWire
“Victor Salva Loves Terrorizing Semi-Naked Youths” by Charlie Graham-Dixon, March 29, 2012, Vice
“Why Francis Ford Coppola is Cursed” by Zoe Dumas, June 20, 2023, MovieWeb
“Nathan Forrest Winters Biography” on IMDb
“Disney Movie’s Director a Convicted Child Molester | Hollywood: he says, ‘I paid for my mistakes dearly,’ but victim of incident several years ago urges boycott of ‘Powder.’” by Robert W. Welkos, October 25, 1995, Los Angeles Times
“The Convicted Hollywood Pedophile Who Won’t Go Away” by Kate Aurthur, October 27, 2017, BuzzFeed News
“Film director, convicted paedolphile Victor Salva, featured jokes about child abuse in new Jeepers Creepers film” by Jacob Stolworthy, October 16, 2017, The Independent
 
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Welcome to Horrorwood

From horrific homicides to unsolved mysteries, spooky haunts to behind-the-scenes secrets, Kate and Kevin are here to bring you all the drama - and trauma - of Tinseltown.

Crawdads and Controversy: The Story of Mark and Delia Owens

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens was THE hit novel of 2018, with a popular movie version in 2022. Taylor Swift even wrote a song for the film! However, author Delia and her now ex-husband Mark are still wanted for questioning in a murder case in Zambia. The killing was broadcast on TV in 1996 for a documentary featuring Mark and Delia Owens, American conservationists fighting a battle against poaching in Africa. Join us as we explore the allegations, where a passion for wildlife turned violent. We'll also answer any questions you have about crawdads...
 
Episode Sources:
“Biographical Sketch of Mark and Delia Owens” from The Owens Foundation Website
“Books by Mark and Delia Owens” from The Owens Foundation Website
“The Hunted” by Jeffrey Goldberg, March 29, 2010, The New Yorker
“Where the Crawdads Sing: Why Author Delia Owens Is Wanted for Questioning in a Real-Life Killing” by Savannah Walsh, July 15, 2022, Vanity Fair
“The Dark History Behind the Year’s Bestselling Debut Novel” by Laura Miller, July 30, 2019, Slate
“What to Know About the Controversy Surrounding Where the Crawdads Sing” by Annabel Gutterman, published July 13, 2022, updated July 14, 2022, Time
“Wanted for Questioning: Who is Delia Owens’ ex-husband, Mark Owens?” by Jennifer Roback, published July 19, 2022, updated July 19, 2022, The U.S. Sun 
“Americans Tried to Save Elephants in Zambia. Were They the Good Guys?” by Ruth Maclean and Collins Chilumba Sampa, July 6, 2023, The New York Times
“A Shooting in Zambia” Video, Jeffrey Goldberg discusses a scene from the ABC show "Turning Point," in which a suspected poacher is shot and killed, The New Yorker
“Crayfish (crustacean)” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, last revised and updated June 15, 2024 by Adam Augustyn, Britannica
“About the Author” on Delia Owens website
“True story that inspired murder mystery on Netflix with impressive Rotten Tomatoes score” by Niamh Shackleton, April 26, 2024, Unilad
“Where the Crawdads Sing” on IMDb
“Review: Where the Crawdads Sing is a mystery so messy not even Taylor Swift can save it” by Barry Hertz, July 12, 2022, The Globe and Mail
“Where the Crawdads Sing review – hit novel crashes on the big screen” by Adrian Horton, July 12, 2022, The Guardian
 
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Silent Hill: Beyond the Fog

Join us in this spine-chilling episode as we dive deep into the twisted world of Silent Hill, where the lines between reality and nightmare blur in a haunting embrace. We’ll unravel the eerie history of Centralia, Pennsylvania, the ghostly town that inspired the Silent Hill movies. From its smoke-filled streets to the chilling lore that continues to haunt its ruins, discover how this real-life ghost town shaped the chilling atmosphere of Silent Hill. Buckle up, because this episode is about to get wonderfully creepy! 🔥👻
 
Episode Sources:
“Silent Hill: True Story & Real Town’s History Explained” by Mara Bachman & Stephen Barker, November 11, 2023, ScreenRant
“Can someone explain the Silent Hill lore to me basically?” from MarkT_D_W on Reddit
“Discovering Centralia: The Silent Hill of Pennsylvania” from In Dark Tourism, April 18, 2014 on Explore Destinations Unknown
“Silent Hill: the terrifying story of the real American town that inspired the iconic series” by The Editorial Board, October 25, 2022, En-Vols
“The True Story Behind Silent Hill” by Eosty, May 7, 2023, Medium
“PSA: The town of Silent Hill is NOT based on Centralia, Pennsylvania” from Darkknight2149, Reset Era
“Silent Hill (2006)” on IMDb.com
“Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)” on IMDb.com
“Silent Hill: Ascension (2023)” on IMDb.com
“Silent Hill Review” by Joe Fielder, February 23, 1999, GameSpot
“Silent Hill” by Francesca Reyes, February 24, 1999, updated May 21, 2012, IGN
“Silent Hill 2” by Doug Perry, September 25, 2001, IGN
“Interview with Christophe Gans (About)” by “About,” July 18, 2005, Silent Hill Memories
“Silent Hill: Revelation” on RottenTomatoes
“Silent Hill” on RottenTomatoes
“Silent Hill: Ascension” on IMDb.com
 
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