Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

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, 202...

WE WANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD! Grab your garlic and crucifixes, Misfits. This week we’re talking about the history and hauntings of Dracula’s Castle, aka Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania. The castle was the inspiration for Dracula’s Castle in Bram Stoker’s classic novel “Dracula.” But the legend of Dracula goes deeper than a blood-sucking vampire maniac…there’s another psycho in our midst, and his name is Vlad the Impaler! Settle ...

Cristie Schoen Codd was an actress, a stunt performer and a movie set caterer. Her husband, JT Codd, was a key grip on a variety of TV shows and films. When the two decided to move from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood to the quiet mountain town of Leicester, NC, they never expected the horrors that awaited them in their serene new surroundings.

Episode Sources:

“A Good ...

It's the 112th Anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. This horrendous maritime tragedy is the basis of one of Hollywood's greatest hit movies: "Titanic" (1997). The production was fraught with challenges; on one particular night during filming some of the cast and crew enjoyed a meal of seafood chowder then soon began feeling..."iffy."  What happened next was a WILD and raucous adventure, leavin...

Misfits, it's a morning recording and Kevin hasn't had his coffee yet. We're a little unhinged in this one - bear with us!

Born in 1891, B.H. DeLay was a pioneering aviator and entertainer, so working as a stunt pilot in the movie industry seemed like the perfect job. He was performing tricks in the air that had literally NEVER been done before! He was incredibly skilled, so taking a friend up for a ride in his plane seemed like no...

On Halloween night, 1992, Britain’s BBC 1 presented one of the most talked about programs in television history. The program was called "Ghostwatch" and it would eventually become one of the great “do you remember” moments of British television. The controversial airing left the public terrified and allegedly contributed to the suicide of an 18-year-old boy and PTSD in other children and adults. Today it is considered a cult classi...

This case is BANANAS, Misfits. When character actor Albert Dekker failed to show up for a planned date with his fiancée, she grew concerned. When she went to his apartment to see if he was okay, she fainted at what she saw.

No one could have imagined his life would end the way it did, but did detectives make the right call? Or did they rush the investigation in order to quickly close the case? Let us know what you think because we'...

Known as the Merry Widow, Los Angeles socialite Mimi Boomhower was the toast of the town. Her husband passed away in 1943, leaving Mimi a large sum of money from a linoleum fortune and a vast collection of animal heads...from big game hunting. But the money didn't last long and Mimi could no longer keep up with her lavish lifestyle. On August 18, 1949, Boomhower vanished and was never seen again. She left a salad on her dining room...

CW: This episode contains discussion of suicide, sexual assault and domestic assault.

Here it is! We wanted to make sure you got the conclusion of the Gig Young story before the Oscars aired. We left off in Part 1 with Gig's marriage to Elizabeth Montgomery coming to a hostile end. Well misfits, things don't get any better from here. In this episode we'll get to Gig's final two marriages. When he moves into an apartment with his fi...

Ahhh...the Academy Awards - a night of fashion, festivity and future murderers. Wait, what?

Gig Young was quite the hottie back in his day (think George Clooney but in the mid-1900s). He had Hollywood starlets falling at his feet and a career many actors could only dream of. But he also had a lot of inner demons stemming from an abusive and traumatic childhood, and left untreated (or mistreated, as was often the case) those demons ...

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, located in London's West End, has a storied history dating back to its opening in 1663. It has been a significant venue for theatrical performances, witnessing numerous iconic productions and hosting renowned figures in English theatre. Theatre Royal Drury Lane is not only celebrated for its contributions to the arts but is also associated with various ghostly tales and hauntings. Legends include the s...

CW: This episode discusses domestic assault.

She was a Playboy model who loved playing football and riding motorcycles; he was a reality TV star boasting a $2.5 million net worth. By the end of the summer in 2009, both of them were dead.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Episode Sources:

“True crime: The murder that changed reality TV” by Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly, Jan. 30, 2020

“Jasmine Fiore's Life and Tragic End” ...

Alfred Hitchcock was a legendary filmmaker celebrated as the Master of Suspense. His six-decade career produced iconic films, innovative techniques and enduring contributions to the thriller and horror genres. He directed actors with a demanding and unconventional style, aiming for "authenticity." We’re covering Hitchcock’s life, his break into the movie business and his directing style…which was certainly questionable to some.

E...

We're embarking on a turbulent journey through the life of one of the most influential figures in entertainment history – the man behind the magic, Walt Disney (1901-1966). Walt was a pioneering American entrepreneur, animator, film producer, and creator of one of the most renowned entertainment companies in the world. But the beloved creator of Mickey Mouse faced a slew of criticism around accusations of gender bias, antisemitism,...

Larry Austin had three loves: "Murder She Wrote", his cat (Sir Purity) and silent films. The idea that anyone could have anything against the 74-year-old theatre owner seemed unfathomable. So the community was shocked when he was gunned down in the lobby of his own theatre in what appeared to be a robbery gone wrong. Detectives found the whole situation odd. For one thing, Larry didn't put up any resistance when the shooter demande...

CW: This episode contains heavy discussion of rape and sexual assault.

18-year-old Sally Anne Bowman had two main goals in life: appear on the cover of Vogue Magazine and perform at the Royal Albert Hall with famed actor/singer Michael Ball. As a student at the BRIT School - which boasted such alumni as Adele, Tom Holland and Jessie J - along with winning a modeling contest to become the face of SWATCH, it seemed Sally was well on ...

CW: This episode discusses the sexual assault of a child.

Happy New Year, Misfits! We're back after a much needed holiday break, and we have a doozy of a case for you.

Roman Polanski, a French and Polish movie director, producer, screenwriter and actor, is a huge name in Hollywood. He has received several of the movie industry's top accolades for his original and popular films, but his ultimate downfall occurred in 1977 when he was...