Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
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, when all they do is sit around and talk about skincare products and 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 Jul 01, 2024
Monday Jul 01, 2024
When Helen Colton went to pick up her longtime partner Robert Lees, a once prominent screenwriter, for a gala at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, she anticipated an evening of fun and laughter. However, when she arrived at his home to find his newspaper still sitting on the porch and a door to his house ajar, her body immediately filled with dread. Nothing could prepare her for what she was about to uncover.
Episode Sources:
“Trusting, to the end” by Martin Miller, LA Times, Jul. 5, 2004
“Double Hollywood Murder: Producer and Doctor BEHEADED By a Go Go Boy” - a conversation between Helen Colton and Scott Michaels (Dearly Departed Tours), Nov. 27 2015
“Man gets life for beheading screenwriter, killing second man” LA Daily News, Apr. 4, 2008
Scott Michaels’ Find a Death - Robert Lees
“SUSPECT IN GRISLY MURDERS HAD TROUBLED HISTORY” by Ryan Oliver, Hermiston Herald, Jun. 18, 2004
“Transient Is Arrested in Slayings of 2” by Regine Labossiere, Andrew Blankstein & Nikki Usher, LA Times, Jun. 15, 2004
“In Memoriam to My Cousin Bobby Lees” by Karin Badt
"The outlaws” by Tom Dewe Mathews, The Guardian, Oct. 7, 2006
“Voices of the 60s and 70s” - Sex After the Sexual Revolution by Helen Colton, May 5, 2013
“Ex-Marine Pleads Guilty In Beheading, Murder” CBS2, Feb. 26, 2008
“Relatives express rage at killer of 2” by Jack Leonard, LA Times, Apr. 5, 2008
“Man admits guilt in two gruesome killings in 2004” by Tiffany Hsu and Andrew Blankstein, LA Times, Feb. 27, 2008
“Keven Lee Graff Murders 2 Hollywood Men In California” Jun. 8, 2015
“Blacklisted Screenwriter Murdered” CBS/AP, Jun. 15, 2004
Robert Lees obituary as printed in “The Independent,” by Dick Vosburgh, Jun. 17, 2004
Helen Colton Obituary, orig. published in LA Times, Jan. 5, 2014
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Monday Jun 24, 2024
Monday Jun 24, 2024
It's Pride Month! Join us as we explore the captivating life and tragic end of Mexican silent film icon Ramon Novarro. From his seductive dagger dances to his rise as a silver screen sensation, we delve into how this silent movie heartthrob captivated Hollywood. But beneath the allure of fame, Novarro's life was marked by hidden struggles, including his sexuality. After his shocking murder, the trial sensationally put his private life in the spotlight.
Episode Sources
“The Murder ofRamon Novarro”by J. J. Maloney from Crime Magazine: An Encyclopedia of Crime on Crime Magazine via Web Archive
“The Violent Death of Ramon Novarro” by John Harding,posted in: Hollywood history, John W. Harding
“Forgotten Hollywood: Ramon Novarro, a Bona Fide Silent Movie Idol by Noel de Souza, Golden Globe Awards
“A star is killed: Hollywood’s deadly secret” by John Rechy on August 24, 2003, Los Angeles Times
“Ramon Novarro - Nominee” by The Legacy Project, Legacy Project Chicago
“Ramon Novarro Slain on Coast; Starred in Silent Film 'Ben-Hur'; Ramon Novarro, Silent Era Star, Slain” by Special to The New York Times, November 1, 1968: The New York Times
“Ramon Novarro Slain on Coast” by Special to the New York Times, November 1, 1968, The New York Times
“Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ” TRIVIA on imdb.com
“He was the hottest lover in Hollywood but Ramon Novarro was tortured by his demons” by Troy Lennon, February 6, 2019, The Daily Telegraph
“Scandalous Facts About Ramon Novarro, The Tragic Idol” by Dancy Mason, October 13, 2020, Factinate
“The Hustlers and the Movie Star” by William Van Meter, May 23, 2012, Out.com
“Samuel-Novarro Residence” from Historic Place in L.A., Los Angeles Conservancy
Live Journal Entry about Ramon Novarro by tim1965, Live Journal
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Monday Jun 17, 2024
Monday Jun 17, 2024
We're feeling a little pre-pre-pre-pre October up in here, so we've got a spooky episode for ya! We've got the ghost of a theatre owner who insists on dressing like a Catholic priest (uh, he was NOT a priest nor was he even Catholic), and just wait 'til you hear who - or what - Laura Linney saw when she was performing at the Belasco, said to be the most haunted Broadway theatre in NYC.
Episode Sources:
"The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 3" by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, 2016
“A Broadway Haunt” by Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, Jun 25, 2006
David Belasco Obituary - The New York Times, May 15, 1931
“The Last of Belasco’s Legendary Duplex” - The New York Times, Jul 17, 1980
Eulogies of David Belasco
“AT THIS THEATRE: The Newly Renovated Belasco Theatre” - Playbill
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Monday Jun 10, 2024
Monday Jun 10, 2024
We're delving into the wild world of MTV's controversial reality show, "Buckwild." In this episode, we explore the highs and lows of the series that captivated audiences with its portrayal of carefree youth in rural West Virginia. We'll discuss the show's instant popularity, the intense backlash from locals, and the real-life consequences that followed. Central to this story is the tragic and untimely death of Shain Gandee, a beloved cast member whose accidental passing shook fans and castmates alike.
Episode Sources:
“‘Buckwild’ Star Died of Accidental Carbon Monoxide Poisoning” by Krishnadev Calamur, April 2, 2013, NPR
“Buckwild star Shain GAndee died from carbon monoxide poisoning, tests show” by Dominic Rushe, April 2, 2013, The Guardian
https://web.archive.org/web/20130730181737/http://www.mtv.com/shows/buckwild/cast_characters.jhtml
“MTV Gets ‘Buckwild’ with New Series Premiering on Thursday, January 3 at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT” on November 29, 2012, from a Press Release from MTV, The Futon Critic
“New reality show follows W.Va. teens” by Mackenzie Mays, December 6, 2011, The Daily Athenaeum, thedaonline.com
“Buckwild Trailer 1 (2013) HD - MTV” from TVShowTrailerTVSpot on YouTube
“Buckwild” on MTV.com
“MTV’s ‘Buckwild’ - Where Are They Now?” by Anonymous, July 12, 2017, UWM Post
“Inside the MTV show ‘Buckwild’” by Lisa Respers France, April 3, 2013, CNN
“MTV Cancels ‘Buckwild’ Following Star Shain Gandee’s Death” by Lacy Rose, April 9, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter
“Shain Lelyn Gandee” obituary on Legacy.com
“‘Buckwild’s Shain Gandee: 10 Best Quotes” by E! Online
“Manchin asks MTV to cancel ‘Buckwild’” from Joe Manchin, December 7, 2012, Joe Manchin (manchin.senate.gov)
“Feeling Dragged Through the Mud, as MTV Comes to West Virginia” by Trip Gabriel, January 1, 2013, The New York Times
“On MTV’s Buckwild: A Rebuttle from a true West Virginian” by Kelsey Thomas, January 24, 2013, College Magazine
“‘Buckwild’ Star Shain Gandee Was Found By A Friend” by Katie Atkinson, April 1, 2013, MTV.com News
“Buckwild producer attacks MTV’s decision to cancel show” by Mark Sweney, April 10, 2013, The Guardian
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Monday Jun 03, 2024
Monday Jun 03, 2024
When Ron Goldman saw Nicole Brown Simpson being brutally attacked, he could have saved himself and run away...but that's not who Ron was. He jumped in a tried to help her, and tragically it cost him his life. In Part 2 we'll talk about how each of Ron's family members found out about his death, the media circus going on all around them, and some aspects of the trial that you might not have heard about before, like Judge Lance Ito's "trial rules."
Episode Sources:
“His Name Is Ron: Our Search for Justice” by the family of Ron Goldman, with William and Marilyn Hoffer
Confronting O.J. Simpson: The Life and Death of Ron Goldman
Who Was Ron Goldman? | 20/20 Barbara Walters Interview | 16 September 1994
Ron Goldman's Autopsy Report
The O. J. Simpson Trial: The Jury
The Plaintiffs' Witnesses in the Civil Trial
Kim Goldman's website
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Monday May 27, 2024
Monday May 27, 2024
Ron Goldman could put a smile on anyone's face; just ask any of the inner-city kids that looked up to him as their camp counselor, or one of the cerebral palsy patients he used to dance with at the residence home where he worked. As the oldest of five siblings, he embraced the role of big brother and couldn't wait to have a family of his own. He was always looking out for others, whether it was giving them a pep talk or bringing them leftover food from Mezzaluna, the restaurant where he waited tables. Tragically, it would be a similar act of kindness that would land him in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Episode Sources:
“His Name Is Ron: Our Search for Justice” by the family of Ron Goldman, with William and Marilyn Hoffer
Confronting O.J. Simpson: The Life and Death of Ron Goldman
“Victim Thrived on Life in Fast Lane, His Friends Recall” by Matthew Mosk & Carla Hall, LA Times, Jun. 15, 1994
“Ron Goldman, murdered 25 years ago at age 25 – ‘He was too young’” by Rachel Burchfield, Jun. 17, 2019
“Dreams of Better Days Died That Night : Ronald Goldman: A young man was finding his way through the maze of L.A.” by Carla Hall & Greg Krikorian, LA Times, Jul. 3, 1994
“Who Was Ron Goldman, The Man Who Was Killed Alongside O.J. Simpson’s Ex-Wife?” by Rivy Lyon, Edited by Jaclyn Anglis, Mar. 25, 2024
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Monday May 20, 2024
Monday May 20, 2024
**Hi there, Misfits! We originally posted this episode on our Patreon back in April but have decided to release it for everyone. We hope you find this story as important as we did!**
CW: This episode contains discussion of rape.
Before Rose McGowan spoke out against Harvey Weinstein, before "MeToo" became a hashtag, before hashtags even existed, there was Patricia Douglas. Patricia - or Patsy, as she liked to be called - was a talented dancer living in Los Angeles in the 1930s. Her talent led her to dance in films with Ginger Rogers and Busby Berkeley, and her innocent nature and complete indifference to fame and celebrity attracted the friendship of several stars, including Bing Crosby and William Frawley. But that would all come to an abrupt end. On what should have been a typical night of work at MGM studios, Patsy and dozens of other underage girls were shuttled to a remote location and tricked into thinking they were extras in a movie. Things couldn't have been further from the truth.
Episode Sources:
“It Happened One Night . . . at MGM” by David Stenn, Vanity Fair, Apr. 1, 2003
“Remembering Patricia Douglas, the first woman to call out Hollywood for sexual assault” by Raechal Shewfelt, Oct. 19, 2017
“The Systematic Crushing of a #MeToo Pioneer” by David Stenn, New York Times, Jan. 5, 2018
“How a Hollywood Studio Got Away With Rape in 1937” by Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, Nov. 13, 2017
“MGM’s Eddie Mannix and the lives he ruined” by Karina Longworth, Nov. 6, 2015
“Girl 27: The Patricia Douglas Story” Mar. 2, 2024
“The Mammoth Book of Hollywood Scandals: The Rape of Patricia Douglas” by Michelle Morgan
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Monday May 13, 2024
Monday May 13, 2024
Murders, stolen land, a curse, multiple ghost sightings...Griffith Park runs the gamut of nefarious acts and the paranormal. This popular Hollywood filming location also happens to be a preferred dumping ground of serial killers. Just something to think about.
Episode Sources:
“The Cursed Tale of Griffith Park” by Rebekah Rosewood, Jun. 14, 2023
“The Strange, and We Mean STRANGE, Curse of Griffith Park” by Seth Styles, John Hart Real Estate, Mar. 7, 2023
“Delusions of Grandeur: The Scandalous Crime of a Los Angeles Millionaire” by Dean Jobb, CrimeReads, Dec. 15, 2023
“Griffith Park — The Haunted And Cursed — Heart Of Los Angeles” by Paige Austin, Patch, Oct. 26, 2019
Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
“1800s curse led to the birth of one of America’s oldest urban parks” by Steve Chiotakis, KCRW, Oct. 31, 2023
“The Complex Life of Griffith J. Griffith” by Hadley Meares, PBS SoCal, Oct. 16, 2019
“Griffith Park: The Untold History" - Lost L.A. S4, E1
“Riots, Love Fests, Buried Secrets: Griffith Park's Hidden Histories” by Carren Jao, PBS SoCal, Oct. 16, 2019
“Griffith Park tops list of most popular L.A.-area filming sites” by Richard Verrier, LA Times, Jan. 28, 2015
“The Strangest Club in Los Angeles, The L.A. Breakfast Club” by James Bartlett, PBS SoCal, Mar. 16, 2017
The Los Angeles Breakfast Club
“Coexisting With Film Crews in Griffith Park” by Lucinda Phillips, Sep. 9, 2021
“150 years of misfortune in L.A.’s Griffith Park: A curse, ghosts and, now, an unknown woman’s skull” by Sarah Kaplan, The Washington Post, Mar. 28, 2016
“Griffith Park: Los Angeles’ Unofficial Graveyard” The True Crime Edition, Nov. 24, 2021
“Curse of Griffith Park” L.A. Almanac
“Griffith Park Fire Tragedy, 1933” L.A. Almanac
“The Fire of ’33"
“Rancho Los Feliz: An Anza Expedition Legacy” Noticias de Anza, Sep. 1997
“Ghost stories from Los Feliz” by Hadley Meares, Curbed Los Angeles, Oct. 31, 2017
“The Féliz Family: Pioneers of Los Angeles” y John Schmal, Indigenous Mexico
“Colonel Griffith J. Griffith one of L.A.’s more colorful figures” by Alison Bell, LA Times, Jun. 12, 2011
“California becomes the 31st state in record time”
“A Brief History Of LA's Indigenous Tongva People” by Annie Lloyd, LAist, Oct. 8, 2017
“Gabrielino/Tongva Nation of the Greater Los Angeles Basin” Native American Heritage Commission
“Griffith Park is named for a guy who shot his wife — and other true stories of L.A. parks” by Patt Morrison, LA Times, May 3, 2022
“Griffith Park: LA’s Greatest Gift” by Christopher Westbrook and Damien Blackshaw, The Real Los Angeles Tours, Apr. 26, 2022
“The Guide to Griffith Park in Los Angeles” Discover Los Angeles, Sep. 27, 2023
“Griffith Observatory: One of Hollywood’s biggest stars” by Edwin Folven, Beverly Press, Oct. 14, 2022
“Griffith Park is most popular LA filming location” Bakersfield Now, Jan. 27, 2015
For further reading: https://laghosttour.com/the-old-zoo-at-griffith-park/
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