Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
**2025 Ambie Award Nominee: Best Indie Podcast Hosts** Kate and Kevin met way back when they worked together at a (likely haunted) theatre and the two became fast friends. Skip ahead a few years to present day, where they mostly sit around and talk about true crime. From horrific homicides to unsolved mysteries, spooky haunts to behind-the-scenes secrets, these two are here to bring you all the drama - and trauma - of Tinseltown. Settle in, Misfits.
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Episodes
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
*If you'd like to skip our banter in the beginning, fast forward about 8 minutes.
In 1988 Bob Samuels was busy working as a camera assistant on "Lethal Weapon 2," the latest in a long string of films for the 40-year-old. He seemingly had everything he'd ever wanted - the woman of his dreams, an adopted daughter, and a career in the film industry. But when he was found murdered in his home in December of '88, detectives were stumped. With everyone in his life describing what a generous, hard-working guy Bob was, it begged the question: who on earth would want to hurt him?
Episode Sources:
People v. Samuels, Supreme Court of California, June 27, 2005
“‘Green Widow’ Convicted in Deaths of Husband, Hit Man” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, July 2, 1994
“‘Green Widow’ Masterminded Hits on Estranged Husband and His Killer, Took Nude Photo Covered in Insurance Money” by Joe Dziemianowicz, Oxygen True Crime, Nov 10, 2023
“Murder Defendant’s Daughter Says Her Stepfather Raped and Beat Her” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, May 6, 1994
“Wife Faces Charges of Hiring Assassins—Twice” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Mar 21, 1994
“Attorney Pleads for Life of Woman Who Planned 2 Murders” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, July 15, 1994
“Strange Case of Mary Ellen Samuels Unfolds” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Apr 12, 1994
“The Real Murders of Los Angeles: S1 E6 - Dark Side of the Lens” Oxygen True Crime, Nov 10, 2023
“The Prosecutors: In Pursuit of Justice - S1 E6 - Green Widow” New Dominion Pictures, Oct 30, 2000
“Judge Sentences Samuels to Death” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Sep 17, 1994
“Man Fatally Shoots Girlfriend, Self” by Timothy Williams, LA Times, July 23, 1993
“Naive or Deadly--2 Images of Wife to Dominate Trial” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Mar 7, 1994
“Murder Trial Tells Tales Seedy and Bizarre” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Apr 19, 1994
“Jury Urges Execution of Woman” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, July 22, 1994
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Monday Aug 18, 2025
Monday Aug 18, 2025
Richard D. May was finally living his dream. He had just been cast in a professional production, ready to take the stage in Death of a Salesman at the African-American Shakespeare Company in San Francisco, CA. He had the talent, the drive, and a powerful presence that turned heads. But just hours before opening night, everything changed. This is the story of a rising actor and the heartbreaking twist that came too soon.
Episode Sources:
“Pedestrian killed in SF 2-car crash was on his way to fulfilling life dream of being stage actor” by Alice Wertz, October 31, 2023, KTVU FOX 2
“San Francisco man Richard D. May, 65, who overcame homelessness to achieve his dream of becoming an actor is knocked down and killed by BMW while walking to rehearsal for debut performance in Death of a Salesman” by Emma Richter, November 2, 2023, updated November 5, 2023, Daily Mail
“Pedestrian killed Saturday at Post & Hyde Streets in Nob Hill marks 16th this year” Press Release from Walk San Francisco, October 31, 2023
“Richard D. May” website
“The Richard D. May Studio A.C.T. Scholarship Program” from American Conservatory Theater
“The African-American Shakespeare Company” on Facebook
“Actor Richard D. May’s Family Expenses” on GoFundMe
“Bay Area theater company cancels ‘Death of a Salesman’ after key actor was killed in S.F.” by Lily Janiak, November 3, 2023, San Francisco Chronicle
“‘Death of a Salesman’ revival in San Francisco canceled after cast member killed in pedestrian accident” by Randy McMullen, November 3, 2023, Bay Area News Group, Marin Independent Journal
“City of San Francisco Cancels $14 Million in Dream Keeper Initiative Funding” by Shannon Faulise, April 4, 2025, KQED
African-American Shakespeare Company
“Official Obituary of Richard Darnell May” from Duggan’s Serra Mortuary
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Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Carole Lombard and William Powell were lovers-turned-spouses-turned-exes-turned-lovers again-turned-exes for real this time-turned-BFFs. Together they starred in the 1936 screwball comedy "My Man Godfrey," and despite both of them shining on screen, behind the cameras each faced periods of darkness and tragic loss. Then at the age of 33, a person's mistake brought Carole's life to a horrifying end.
We're joined by Emma and Katie, the fabulous ladies of "Go Get Your Girl" - and you can catch us on the August 10th episode of their podcast about "My Man Godfrey," available now!
Episode Sources:
“Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3” by Robert D. Matzen, 2014
“Screwball: The Life of Carole Lombard” by Larry Swindell, 1975
“Investigation of Aircraft Accident: TWA: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: 1942-01-16” Civil Aeronautics Board, Jan 16, 1942
“Carole Lombard feared dead in plane crash” Eugene Register-Guard, Jan 17, 1942, p. 1
“4 Gave Seats In Death Plane To Army Fliers” Greeley Daily Tribune, Jan 17, 1942
“Tales of Vegas Past: The death of Carole Lombard” by Gregory Crosby, Las Vegas Mercury, Mar 06, 2023
“End of a Mission” Time Magazine, Jan 26, 1942
“Crash that killed actress Carole Lombard, 21 others near Las Vegas still echoes after 75 years” by Keith Rogers, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jan 15, 2017
“The life of Carole Lombard (Part 1)” Baha’i Concepts, Dec 17, 2019
“The life of Carole Lombard (Part 2)” Baha’i Concepts, Dec 17, 2019
“Made for Each Other: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard’s Real Romance” by Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, May 13, 2022
“{Rumor Mill} Clark Gable and Lana Turner” Dear Mr. Gable, Feb 04, 2012
“Carole Lombard, Clark Gable and The Baby That Never Was” Dear Mr. Gable, Oct 24, 2016
“Russ Columbo Victim of ‘Unloaded Gun’” Berkeley Daily Gazette, Sep 05, 1934
“Lombard and…Columbo?” Carole_and_co LiveJournal, July 16, 2007
“Bill and Carole: Post-Divorce BFFs” by Cazbar Pintar, The William Powell Site, Jan 16, 2017
“Lux Radio Theatre: My Man Godfrey” Once Upon A Screen, Jan 16, 2018
“How Carole Lombard’s career was almost over before it began” by Michelle Morgan, The History Press, Sep 29, 2016
“Clark Gable Joins Search for Plane Wreckage Holding Fate of Carole Lombard and 21 Others” Spokane Daily Chronicle, Jan 17, 1942
“‘I Think That ‘E’ Made The Whole Fucking Difference’” by Alex Belth, Deadspin, July 15, 2013
“STRONG AND TENDER: The Story of Carole Lombard and Bess Peters” Backlots, Oct 29, 2019
“William Powell” on IMDb
“Biography” from William Powell Society
“Gentleman: The William Powell Story” posted by Molly on August 9, 2017, dreaminginthebalcony
“William Powell–A Gentleman and a Survivor” by Hilary Hattenbach, September 6, 2024, In with the Old, Hilary Hattenbach Blog
“William Powell, Film Star, Dies at 91” by Peter B. Flint, March 6, 1984, The New York Times
“William Powell: The Life and Times” by Roger Bryant, 2006 Publication from Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, archive.org
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Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
In the center of downtown DeKalb stands the Egyptian Theatre—an architectural tribute to ancient times. But this isn’t just a historic theater; it’s a place where the past lingers in more ways than one. Built in 1929, the Egyptian has survived economic collapse, near demolition, and decades of change. Today, it’s not only a beloved cultural landmark but also one of the most haunted buildings in Illinois, where stories of strange sightings and ghostly encounters are as much a part of its legacy as the shows on stage.
Episode Sources:
“Professor suffers fatal heart attack” by Suzanne Tomse, November 14, 1988, Northern Star
“History of DeKalb” from City of DeKalb
Dorman, Peter F., Faulkner, Raymond Oliver. "Ramses II". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 May. 2025
“Real-life haunts at DeKalb’s Egyptian Theatre” by Aimee Barrows, July 31, 2024, Shaw Local News Network
Egyptian Theatre Website
“The discovery of King Tut’s tomb” by Allyson Shaw, National Geographic Kids
“The Curse of KIng Tut: Facts & Fable” by Benjamin Radford, October 24, 2022, Live Science
“Egyptian Theatre” from HauntedUS
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Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Zhang Yiyang was known for writing and singing love songs, which helped him gain celebrity status in his home country of China. His fame only grew once he transferred his talents to the screen, performing in various shows and films. So imagine the shock of his fans when they learned he'd committed an act so vile that he was sentenced to death.
Episode Sources:
“China bans reality talent shows to curb behaviours of ‘idol’ fandoms” by Vincent Ni, The Guardian, Sep 02, 2021
“The love song "I only care about the people who care about me" sings the love of my heart.” NetEase Entertainment, Sep 12, 2016
“Chinese Actor Zhang Yiyang Executed For Murdering Girlfriend, 1st Celebrity To Face Death Penalty” by Grace Cyril, News 18, updated July 23, 2025
“Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang sentenced to death for killing 16-year-old girlfriend” DIMSUM DAILY, July 21, 2025
“Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang revealed to have been executed for murder of 16-year-old girlfriend” by Syarifah Nadhirah, Asia One, July 21, 2025
"Toxic partner: First Chinese actor executed for killing 16-year-old girlfriend” The Standard, July 22, 2025
“Chinese Actor Executed For Murder Of 16-Yr-Old Girlfriend; The First Artiste In China Sentenced To Death” by Jiamun Koh, 8Days, July 22, 2025
“China singer-actor Zhang Yiyang was executed in 2024 for murder of teenage girlfriend, court confirms” by Charis Gan, Channel News Asia, July 22, 2025
“China executed four Canadians for drug crimes, says Ottawa” by Koh Ewe, BBC News, Mar 20, 2025
Zhang Yiyang - Weibo
“China leads in executions amid record spike: Amnesty International” Phayul, Apr 12, 2025
“Zhang Yiyang deeply interpreted the pain of love "Crying Man”” NetEase Entertainment, Sep 14, 2016
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Monday Jul 21, 2025
Monday Jul 21, 2025
A summer scare rooted in urban legend and real-life horror. From the hook-handed tale that haunted teenage lovers, to the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, to the film I Know What You Did Last Summer—and the chilling true story of author Lois Duncan’s murdered daughter. What begins as a cautionary campfire story spirals into a web of true crime, pop culture, and devastating personal loss. The truth behind the fiction is darker than you think.
Episode Sources:
“The Texarkana Moonlight Murders” by Micheal Whelan, September 30, 2018, Unresolved Podcast
“Legend of The Hookman” by Delphini Riddle, June 14, 2020, The Business Standard
“Hook Man Legend” last edited on July 14, 2014, Supernatural Wiki
“Urban Legend Fact or Fiction: The Hook Hand Killer” by Amy Davis, May 30, 2023, NerdBot
“Texas Cold Case: Texarkana Moonlight Murders” by Dusty Ellis, October 5, 2022, Concho Valley
“Texarkana Moonlight Murders” by Nancy Hendricks, Arkansas State University, June 16, 2023, Encyclopedia of Arkansas
“Texarkana Murder Mystery” by Prudence Mackintosh, December 2014, TexasMonthly
“The Hook” retold by S.E. Schlosser, excerpted from “Spooky Campfire Tales” by S.E. Schlosser
“Spooky Campfire Tales” by S.E. Schlosser
“Creepy Backstories and Versions of the Hook Man Legend” by Katherine Ripley, September 23, 2021, Ranker
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” on IMDb
“Kaitlyn Arquette” from Unsolved Mysteries
“‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Author Was ‘Horrified’ by the Movie’s ‘Sensationalized Violence’ After Her Teenage Daughter’s Murder” by William Earl, July 16, 2025, Variety
“APD Releases Details of 3rd Cold Case Murder Tied to Same Suspect” from the City of Albuquerque, October 15, 2021
“Chief Medina reacts to 45-year sentence of serial killer in three cold case homicides” from the City of Albuquerque, January 26, 2024
“The Texarkana Moonlight Murders: The Unsolved Case of the 1946 Phantom Killer” by Michael Newton, Published by McFarland Incorporated Publishers, May 21, 2013. Google Books.
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Monday Jul 14, 2025
Monday Jul 14, 2025
Have you heard of the 'Superman' curse? We're not entirely convinced one actually exists, although the number of lawsuits, accidents, deaths and faltering careers would suggest otherwise...
Episode Sources:
“Up, Up and Awa-a-y! The Rise of Superman, Inc.” by John Kobler, Saturday Evening Post, June 21, 1941
“Exhibit honors Superman's Cleveland roots: Leon Bibb Then and Now” by Leon Bibb and Susan Moses, WKYC, June 26, 2025
“Origin Story: The Creation of Superman” by Cassandra Burris, Ohio History Connection, Dec 01, 2017
“Creation of a Superhero” by Jerry Siegel, (unpublished) c. 1978
“Superman’s Copyright Saga” by Yuanxiao Xu, Authors Alliance, Apr 08, 2025
“Dean Cain Worries James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Is Just Too “Woke”” by James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, July 10, 2025
“Joanne Siegel, the Model for Lois Lane, Dies at 93” by Bruce Weber, The New York Times, Feb 15, 2011
“The Selling of Superman: Correspondence between Jack Liebowitz and Jerry Siegel” by Tom Brevoort, The Tom Brevoort Experience, June 03, 2023
Kirk Alyn obituary, by Ronald Bergan, The Guardian, Mar 23, 1999
“Superman George Reeves Died of a Single Gunshot Wound in 1959. Inside the Confusing Case — and the Controversial Theories Surrounding It” by Caroline Blair, People, June 17, 2025
Unsolved Mysteries: George Reeves
“From the Archives: George Reeves, Superman of TV, Kills Himself in His Home” Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1959
“A Life With a Before and an After; For Christopher Reeve, It Isn't as Simple as Superman or Victim” by Dinitia Smith, The New York Times, Apr 30, 1998
“A Timeline of the Nxivm Sex Cult Case” by Carla Correa, The New York Times, July 05, 2023
“After 'the most public freak-out in history,' Margot Kidder became one of Hollywood's most prominent mental health advocates” by Suzy Byrne, Yahoo, may 14, 2018
“Brandon Routh reveals career setbacks led to a crippling video game addiction” by Eric Francisco, Inverse, Mar 09, 2020
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Monday Jul 07, 2025
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Haing experienced extraordinary success in the entertainment industry after settling in the U.S., but did he make enemies along the way? Just as he pulled into his carport one evening, before he even had a chance to get out of the car, he was shot in the chest and killed. However, the gunman sped away without taking the thousands of dollars in cash Haing had on him at the time. Three men were charged with his murder...based on no physical evidence whatsoever.
Episode Sources:
“A Cambodian Odyssey” by Haing Ngor with Roger Warner, 1987
“Khmer Rouge: Cambodia's years of brutality” BBC, Nov 16, 2018
Strangeland Season 3: The Killing Fields of L.A. hosted by Ben Adair and Mayly Tao, Audiochuck, Aug 16, 2024
“World Report 2024: Cambodia” Human Rights Watch
“Cambodia 1975-1979” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
“Khmer Rouge Ideology” Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
“Khmer Rouge” Britannica
TAK SUN TAN v. RUNNELS (2005)
“World News Briefs; Poltical Motive Alleged In Killing of Cambodian” The New York Times, AP, Feb 29, 1996, Sec. A, p. 12
“For Haing Ngor, Sorrow Marks a Return Home” by Elizabeth Lu, Los Angeles Times, Sep 12, 1989
“`KILLING FIELDS' OF L.A. CLAIM CAMBODIAN HERO” Deseret News, AP, Mar 03, 1996
“Unauthorized play about Oscar-winner Haing S. Ngor causes friction” by David Ng, Los Angeles Times, July 17, 2013
“The day Haing S. Ngor won the Oscar” by Roger Ebert, Dec 14, 2012
“Three Men Convicted of Killing Ngor” by Daniel Yi and Greg Krikorian, Los Angeles Times, Apr 17, 1998
“Revisiting Haing Ngor's murder: 'Killing Fields' theory won't die” by My-Thuan Tran, Los Angeles Times, Jan 21, 2010
“Cambodian Physician Who Won an Oscar for 'Killing Fields' Is Slain” by Kenneth B. Noble, The New York Times, Feb 27, 1996
“Great Niece Of Famous Doctor Returns To Cambodia As Part Of PCOM GA Mission Trip” by Chris Starrs, Gwinnett Daily Post, Sep 15, 2024
“Tragedy Behind the ‘Killing Fields’ Star Who Won a Supporting Actor Oscar” by Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, Feb 24, 2016
"Who Killed Haing Ngor?" Mary Patricia Nunan
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