From (A)rsenic to (Z)ombies, Macabre: A Dark History Podcast exhumes the darkest corners of the past. We dig deep into deadly devices, ghastly crimes, and sinister secrets that history tried to bury. Join us as we unearth the truth—one morbid tale at a time through a not-so-serious approach to storytelling, MACABRE offers a uniquely entertaining escape into the strange and sinister corners of the world.
Warning: This podcast explores graphic and disturbing themes. Listener discretion is advised.
#morbid #macabre #darkhistory #truecrime #darkhumor
From (A)rsenic to (Z)ombies, Macabre: A Dark History Podcast exhumes the darkest corners of the past. We dig deep into deadly devices, ghastly crimes, and sinister secrets that history tried to bury. Join us as we unearth the truth—one morbid tale at a time through a not-so-serious approach to storytelling, MACABRE offers a uniquely entertaining escape into the strange and sinister corners of the world.
Warning: This podcast explores graphic and disturbing themes. Listener discretion is advised.
#morbid #macabre #darkhistory #truecrime #darkhumor
Think Christmas has always been wholesome and holy? Think again.
In A Very Pagan Christmas, we rip the halo off the holiday and dive headfirst into its messier origins — from the boozy chaos of Saturnalia, to bonfires, goat symbolism, and the general “let’s survive winter” vibes of Yule. We even take a detour into the nightmare fuel that is Perchtenlauf — because nothing says seasonal cheer like demon masks and public terror.
We unpack how Christianity quietly rebranded all of this into Christmas, why the joy-killing Puritans literally banned the holiday, and how the Victorian era dragged it back from the dead, added mistletoe, and told us all to behave.
It’s festive. It’s forbidden. It’s historically unhinged — and it’ll make you question everything you were taught about Christmas.
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SOURCES:
🎄 Pagan & Pre-Christian Traditions
Saturnalia
Yule
Perchtenlauf
https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas.shtml
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/christmas-history-pagan-origins
In this chaotic Drunken History episode, Halley and Blaire stumble through the electrifying feud between Thomas Edison, the greedy showman who stole ideas as easily as he shocked animals for PR and Nikola Tesla—the eccentric genius with wild experiments and an unsettling devotion to pigeons . Together, we drunkenly unravel their inventions, their pettiness, and how their rivalry changed the course of history forever.
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⚡ Edison vs. Nikola Tesla — Source List
Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World – Jill Jonnes
Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age – W. Bernard Carlson
https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691164543/tesla
Edison: A Life of Invention – Paul Israel
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Edison%3A+A+Life+of+Invention-p-9780471362706
The Executioner’s Current – Mark Essig
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/121694/the-executioners-current-by-mark-essig/
Tesla: Man Out of Time – Margaret Cheney
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Tesla/Margaret-Cheney/9780743215367
Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla – John J. O’Neill
https://archive.org/details/prodigalgeniusli00onei
War of the Currents (Overview)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_currents
Edison vs. Tesla – U.S. Department of Energy
https://www.energy.gov/articles/edison-vs-tesla
How Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse Battled to Electrify America – History.com
https://www.history.com/articles/what-was-the-war-of-the-currents
Thomas Edison & Nikola Tesla Feud – Biography.com
https://www.biography.com/inventors/thomas-edison-nikola-tesla-feud
Edison Papers Project – Rutgers University
https://edison.rutgers.edu/
Ash fell like snow.
The sky went black at noon.
And an entire city took its final breath… frozen in time.
In this Part 2 MACABRE Feature, The Fall of Pompeii series, "And Gods Turned Their Gaze" , Blaire takes you deep into the last hours of Pompeii—a city that lived fast, loved boldly, and died in an instant under the fury of Mount Vesuvius. Immerse yourself in this tragic tale of humanity and the wrath of nature.
This is one of our most atmospheric features yet—packed with cinematic scoring, immersive sound design, and Blaire’s dark, poetic narration that brings ancient tragedy straight into your headphones.Want More MACABRE? Spotify subscribers get ad free content, early access and exclusive bonus episodes .
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Resources: Vesuvius | Facts, Location, & Eruptions | Britannica
Pompeii: Bodies, Mount Vesuvius & Herculaneum | HISTORY
Pompeii: A Snapshot of Ancient Roman Life | History Hit
What Was Life Like in Pompeii Before Mount Vesuvius Erupted Nearly 2,000 Years Ago?
Archaeologists find records of Pompeii survivors that reveal how they rebuilt their lives | PBS News
A Guide to the Pompeii Excavations
A minute-by-minute account of the Pompeii eruption, revealed in agonizing detail | Science | AAAS
Pompeii casts: where they are found and what they are
The two letters written by Pliny the Younger describing the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD
Lupanar of Pompeii: Secrets, Erotic Frescoes & Visitor Guide
Gladiatorial games in Pompeii - Pompeii Online
History of archaeological excavations of Pompeii (Italy)
In tonight’s Macabre Feature, Part 1, The Fall of Pompeii, of Plight and Precipice, we’re traveling back to a moment frozen beneath ash and fire.
This is one of our most atmospheric features yet—packed with cinematic scoring, immersive sound design, and Blaire’s dark, poetic narration that brings ancient tragedy straight into your headphones.
A city that never saw the sky turning black, or the mountain waking up angry.
A place where life… stopped mid-breath
We’re peeling back the ash, sifting through the final seconds, and walking through a tragedy so sudden it feels like the world held its breath and never exhaled.
This is history at its most catastrophic… and its most human.
Want More Macabre?
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Resources: Vesuvius | Facts, Location, & Eruptions | Britannica
Pompeii: Bodies, Mount Vesuvius & Herculaneum | HISTORY
Pompeii: A Snapshot of Ancient Roman Life | History Hit
What Was Life Like in Pompeii Before Mount Vesuvius Erupted Nearly 2,000 Years Ago?
Archaeologists find records of Pompeii survivors that reveal how they rebuilt their lives | PBS News
A Guide to the Pompeii Excavations
A minute-by-minute account of the Pompeii eruption, revealed in agonizing detail | Science | AAAS
Pompeii casts: where they are found and what they are
The two letters written by Pliny the Younger describing the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD
Lupanar of Pompeii: Secrets, Erotic Frescoes & Visitor Guide
Gladiatorial games in Pompeii - Pompeii Online
History of archaeological excavations of Pompeii (Italy)
Step into the wardrobe… if you dare.
In this episode of MACABRE: Dark History, Halley struts down the blood-soaked runway of Fashion Victims Throughout History — where the looks were lethal, the makeup was murderous, and the wigs had more bugs than a motel mattress.
From deadly eyeliner that blinded, to makeup that could kill you faster than a jealous corset, to the unhinged world of Coochie Couture (yes… we’re talking merkins), Halley serves the unfiltered, unpowdered truth behind style trends that literally took people out.
We’re talking:
💄 Toxic cosmetics
👠 Heels that slayed — and not in a cute way
🎀 Wigs that crawled, exploded, and sometimes combusted
🩸 Fashion statements that made their final statement
Perfect for fashion lovers, haters, and anyone who has ever muttered “I’d die for that outfit” and meant it a little too literally.
Grab your poisoned rouge and your towering wig cage — it’s time to walk the runway of ruin.
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SOURCES:
Ancient Egyptian Eyeliner & Cosmetics
Kohl (cosmetics) – FIT Fashion History
https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/kohl/
“Eyeliner: A Cultural History” – NPR Illinois
https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-11-29/eyeliner-a-cultural-history-traces-the-historical-significance-of-the-iconic-cosmetic
“Hair and Makeup in Ancient Egypt” – Curationist
https://www.curationist.org/editorial-features/article/hair-and-makeup-in-ancient-egypt
Victorian Pale-Face Cosmetics, Toxic Makeup & Arsenic
“Deadly Beauty: The Poisons Used in Makeup Through the Ages” – Discover Magazine
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/deadly-beauty-the-poisons-used-in-makeup-through-the-ages-44253
“Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder: How Victorians Used Common Poisons” – Molly Brown House Museum
https://mollybrown.org/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-how-victorians-used-common-poisons-to-become-drop-dead-gorgeous/
“Killer Clothing Was All the Rage in the 19th Century” – National Geographic
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/dress-hat-fashion-clothing-mercury-arsenic-poison-history
Wigs, Wig Cages, Crawling Hairpieces
18th-Century Wigs & Wigmakers – Georgian Era
https://georgianera.wordpress.com/2023/01/09/18th-century-wigs-and-wigmakers/
“A Hairy Subject — Secrecy, Shame and Victorian Wigs”
https://georgianera.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/a-hairy-subject-secrecy-shame-and-victorian-wigs/
Crinoline Fires, Dress Fires & Flammable Fashion
(Multiple confirmed deaths & historical accounts)
“Fatal Fashion: 21 Historical Fashion Trends that Led to Death” – Medium
https://perfectmess.medium.com/fatal-fashion-21-historical-fashion-trends-that-led-to-the-death-of-many-d1d3e58207d6
Radium Cosmetics & Radioactive Beauty
“Radioactive Cosmetics and Radiant Beauty” – Actas Dermo
https://www.actasdermo.org/en-radioactive-cosmetics-radiant-beauty-articulo-S1578219020302730
Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History — goodreads edition: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40828078-killer-style
Welcome back for Part 2 of this MACABRE Feature. The Black Dahlia , A City of Suspects.
As Los Angeles reeled from the Black Dahlia case, the investigation exploded into a frenzy of false leads, confessions, and high-profile suspects. In Part Two, we walk into the chaos that followed — the detectives, the tabloids, the theories, and the men who suddenly found themselves in the crosshairs. Some were legitimate. Some were liars. Some just wanted the attention. And one of them might just be the killer.
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Sources – The Black Dahlia
FBI Vault – The Black Dahlia Case File
https://vault.fbi.gov/The%20Black%20Dahlia
George Hodel’s District Attorney Files & FBI Surveillance Transcripts
http://www.stevehodel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/dist-atty-files-hodel-black-dahlia-1.pdf
Steve Hodel – Black Dahlia Avenger (Official Site & Blog)
https://www.stevehodel.com/
Larry Harnisch – The Daily Mirror (Research Blog)
https://ladailymirror.com/
Los Angeles Times Archives – Black Dahlia Coverage (1947)
https://www.latimes.com/archives
Newspapers.com – Black Dahlia Search (Filtered: 1947)
https://www.newspapers.com/search/?query=%22black%20dahlia%22&dr_year=1947-1947
History.com – “Black Dahlia Murder: The True Story”
https://www.history.com/news/black-dahlia-murder-true-story
Biography.com – “Elizabeth Short – The Black Dahlia”
https://www.biography.com/crime/elizabeth-short
Crime Museum – “The Black Dahlia Murder”
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/famous-murders/the-black-dahlia-murder/
The Sowden House – Official History (George Hodel Residence)
https://www.thesowdenhouse.com/history
In 1947, a young woman with Hollywood dreams became the center of one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history. In Part One of this MACABRE Feature, we focus on who Elizabeth Short really was — beyond the headlines, beyond the sensationalism, before she became the legend. We dig into her life, her search for belonging, the world she fell into, and what set the stage for her final days in Los Angeles.
This is the story of the woman at the center of the mystery — before the crime scene photos and before the world gave her a name she never asked for.
Be sure to follow for next week's shocking conclusion.
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Sources – The Black Dahlia
FBI Vault – The Black Dahlia Case File
https://vault.fbi.gov/The%20Black%20Dahlia
George Hodel’s District Attorney Files & FBI Surveillance Transcripts
http://www.stevehodel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/dist-atty-files-hodel-black-dahlia-1.pdf
Steve Hodel – Black Dahlia Avenger (Official Site & Blog)
https://www.stevehodel.com/
Larry Harnisch – The Daily Mirror (Research Blog)
https://ladailymirror.com/
Los Angeles Times Archives – Black Dahlia Coverage (1947)
https://www.latimes.com/archives
Newspapers.com – Black Dahlia Search (Filtered: 1947)
https://www.newspapers.com/search/?query=%22black%20dahlia%22&dr_year=1947-1947
History.com – “Black Dahlia Murder: The True Story”
https://www.history.com/news/black-dahlia-murder-true-story
Biography.com – “Elizabeth Short – The Black Dahlia”
https://www.biography.com/crime/elizabeth-short
Crime Museum – “The Black Dahlia Murder”
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/famous-murders/the-black-dahlia-murder/
The Sowden House – Official History (George Hodel Residence)
https://www.thesowdenhouse.com/history
Join the ladies of MACABRE for part two of executions throughout history. From ancient history to the industrial executions of the modern era, humanity has always treated death as a form of macabre theatre—sometimes with audience participation. Strap in for your double dose of medical macabre, shocking ingenuity, and blood-soaked execution history. Now… flip that switch!
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Sources
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/botched-executions-0017362
https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/botched-executions
https://www.history.co.uk/article/8-famous-botched-executions
Ward, Richard, editor. A Global History of Execution and the Criminal Corpse. Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. “Introduction: A Global History of Execution and the Criminal Corpse.” NCBI Bookshelf, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK379343/
“Garrote.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/garrote. Accessed [add access date].
“Garrote.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrote. Accessed [add access date].
“Salvador Puig Antich.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Puig_Antich. Accessed [add access date].
“Spanish Executions.” Capital Punishment U.K., www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/spain.html. Accessed [add access date].
Harmon, Jennifer, et al. “Strangulation Injuries.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459282/. Accessed [add access date].
Petrocelli, Michael, and Richard A. Jaffe. “Ligature Strangulation: Forensic and Medico-Legal Aspects.” PubMed Central, U.S. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/. Accessed [add access date].
Constitución Española de 1978.Gobierno de España, 1978. Official legal document abolishing the garrote and capital punishment in civilian law.
“History of the Death Penalty” – Death Penalty Information Center (U.S.)
Link: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/resources-high-school/about-the-death-penalty/history-of-the-death-penalty Death Penalty Information Center
Good for U.S. historical timelines of execution practices.
“Executions Overview” – Death Penalty Information Center
Link: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/executions-overview Death Penalty Information Center
“Introduction: A Global History of Execution and the Criminal Corpse” – National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) / Book chapter
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK379343/ NCBI
"13 of the most brutal execution methods from the ancient world” – History UK
Link: https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-most-brutal-methods-of-execution-from-the-ancient-world Sky HISTORY TV channel
“Readings – History of the Death Penalty | The Execution” – PBS / FRONTLINE
Link: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/history-of-the-death-penalty/ PBS
“Historical Federal Executions” – U.S. Marshals Service
Link: https://www.usmarshals.gov/who-we-are/history/historical-reading-room/historical-federal-executions U.S. Marshals Service
Join the ladies of MACABRE for part two of executions throughout history. From ancient history to the industrial executions of the modern era, humanity has always treated death as a form of macabre theatre—sometimes with audience participation. Strap in for your double dose of medical macabre, shocking ingenuity, and blood-soaked execution history. Now… flip that switch!
Join the ladies of MACABRE for part one of this two-part plunge into the twisted world of executions throughout history. From ancient arenas to modern death chambers, humanity has always treated death as a form of macabre theatre—sometimes with audience participation, or animals, and insects. Buckle up for your dose of medical macabre, shocking ingenuity, and blood-soaked history. Now… off with their heads.
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Sources
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/botched-executions-0017362
https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/botched-executions
https://www.history.co.uk/article/8-famous-botched-executions
Ward, Richard, editor. A Global History of Execution and the Criminal Corpse. Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. “Introduction: A Global History of Execution and the Criminal Corpse.” NCBI Bookshelf, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK379343/
“Garrote.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/garrote. Accessed [add access date].
“Garrote.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrote. Accessed [add access date].
“Salvador Puig Antich.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Puig_Antich. Accessed [add access date].
“Spanish Executions.” Capital Punishment U.K., www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/spain.html. Accessed [add access date].
Harmon, Jennifer, et al. “Strangulation Injuries.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459282/. Accessed [add access date].
Petrocelli, Michael, and Richard A. Jaffe. “Ligature Strangulation: Forensic and Medico-Legal Aspects.” PubMed Central, U.S. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/. Accessed [add access date].
Constitución Española de 1978.Gobierno de España, 1978. Official legal document abolishing the garrote and capital punishment in civilian law.
“History of the Death Penalty” – Death Penalty Information Center (U.S.)
Link: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/resources-high-school/about-the-death-penalty/history-of-the-death-penalty Death Penalty Information Center
Good for U.S. historical timelines of execution practices.
“Executions Overview” – Death Penalty Information Center
Link: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/executions-overview Death Penalty Information Center
“Introduction: A Global History of Execution and the Criminal Corpse” – National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) / Book chapter
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK379343/ NCBI
"13 of the most brutal execution methods from the ancient world” – History UK
Link: https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-most-brutal-methods-of-execution-from-the-ancient-world Sky HISTORY TV channel
“Readings – History of the Death Penalty | The Execution” – PBS / FRONTLINE
Link: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/history-of-the-death-penalty/ PBS
“Historical Federal Executions” – U.S. Marshals Service
Link: https://www.usmarshals.gov/who-we-are/history/historical-reading-room/historical-federal-executions U.S. Marshals Service
Beyond its crumbling gothic façade lies one of America’s darkest mysteries.
In this episode of MACABRE: A Dark History Podcast, we descend into the halls of Eastern State Penitentiary—once the most feared prison in the world. From its radical experiment in solitary confinement to the brutal punishments like the iron gag and the mad chair, Eastern State was designed to “break” spirits…some of which might still remain inside its walls.
Join us for the final episode of spooky season behind this infamous prison's walls.
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SOURCES:
Eastern State Penitentiary Official Site – History https://easternstate.org/about/history-of-eastern-state-penitentiary
Wikipedia – Eastern State Penitentiary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary
Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia – Eastern State Penitentiary https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/eastern-state-penitentiary
Library of Congress – Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) – architectural photos & documents https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/pa1067/
This episode slithers into the murky world of American cryptids. From the bayous of Louisiana to Midwestern riverbanks, we hunt three legendary beasts that refuse to stay folklore.
Rougarou – The Cajun werewolf curse lurking in Louisiana swamps.
Loveland Frogman – A wand-waving, glowing-eyed amphibian that left Ohio police stunned.
Muddy Monster – A towering, mud-caked terror that threw an Illinois town into panic.
We explore eyewitness sightings and ocal legends. Monsters may hide in the dark—but they also live in our minds.
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It's that time again! It’s here! Your Listener Tales Spooktacular—Season 3 episode. This one is packed with tiny doors, disappearing objects, spiritual pranksters, cemetery playmates, and unexplainable wilderness weirdness. Thanks for the spoop worthy submissions dear listeners we hope you keep em coming our way… now turn out the lights (if you dare) and hit the play button.
Fair warning: This one has fright and feels.
This episode is NOT sponsored by Kleenex, but it should be.
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Grab your flashlights and circle up—because it's SPOOKTOBER, and we’re diving into the eerie world of spooky games you should (or really shouldn’t) play in the dark. From classic sleepover dares like Bloody Mary, to modern internet legends like the Elevator Game and the Midnight Game, these rituals blur the line between folklore, fun, and the supernatural.
We’ll uncover the chilling origins of these games, the rules that supposedly summon spirits, and the psychological theories behind why people are drawn to play them. Along the way, expect plenty of creepy storytelling, and of course—our signature blend of humor and shivers.
By the end, you’ll be asking yourself: are these just harmless party tricks… or invitations you should never send?
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Kick off Spooky Season with a trip down the aisle of the afterlife!
This episode of Macabre explores haunted wedding venues, ghostly gowns that move on their own, honeymoons with a deadly twist, and chilling love stories from beyond the grave. We’ll also uncover eerie marital traditions from cultures around the world — some that celebrate the living, and others that honor the dead.
By the end, you’ll be asking yourself: Was that mannequin in the bridal shop window just plastic… or something disturbingly human?
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Friendly neighbor. Serial killer. Welcome to the Houston Mass Murders.
Meet Dean Corll — the "Candy Man" of Houston, whose friendly smile hid one of the most disturbing crime sprees in U.S. history. With teenage accomplices Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks, Corll lured neighborhood boys to their deaths, burying dozens in boat sheds, lakes, and beaches.
This episode dives into the shocking murders, the night Henley turned on Corll, and the investigation that uncovered the Houston Mass Murders — a case so horrifying it changed the way America thought about serial killers forever.
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He was no longer Herman Mudgett—he was H.H. Holmes, and Chicago was his playground. As the city prepared for the glittering World’s Fair of 1893, Holmes began constructing something far darker: a hotel designed not for comfort, but for control, cruelty, and death. Step inside as we follow Holmes’ arrival in Chicago, and the rise of his sinister empire in the shadow of the White City.
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SOURCES:
https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-h-h-holmes
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/h-h-holmes
https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbc0001.2015gen22698/?sp=1&st=slideshow&utm
Franke, David. The Torture Doctor. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1975. Well-researched and detailed discussion about Holmes.
Geary, Rick. The Beast of Chicago: The Murderous Career of H. H. Holmes. New York: NBM Comics, 2003.
Holmes, H. H. Holmes’ Own Story. Philadephia: Burk & McFetridge, 1895. Holmes’s autobiography.
Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. New York: Vintage, 2004. Schechter, Harold. Depraved: The Shocking True Story of America’s First Serial Killer. New York: Pocket, 1994. Another accessible, detailed account of Holmes’s criminal career.
Wilson, Colin. “H. H. Holmes: The Torture Doctor.” In The Mammoth Book of Murder, edited by Richard Glyn Jones. New York: Carroll & Graf, 1989. Brief but useful, with minor errors.
The History of Murder. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2000. Contains a slightly revised version of the essay .
Long before he built his ‘Murder Castle,’ he was just a boy named Herman Mudgett. But even in childhood, the shadows were already there—strange fascinations, disturbing behaviors, and the twisted beginnings of the man who would become America’s first serial killer. In this Macabre Feature, we peel back the layers of H.H. Holmes’ early years, tracing the origins of a monster in the making.
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Patreon members get ad free content, early access and exclusive bonus episodes Paid supporters, Join us for Macabre Movie Nights and Game Nights : Macabre Patreon
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SOURCES:
https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-h-h-holmes
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/h-h-holmes
https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbc0001.2015gen22698/?sp=1&st=slideshow&utm
Franke, David. The Torture Doctor. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1975. Well-researched and detailed discussion about Holmes.
Geary, Rick. The Beast of Chicago: The Murderous Career of H. H. Holmes. New York: NBM Comics, 2003.
Holmes, H. H. Holmes’ Own Story. Philadephia: Burk & McFetridge, 1895. Holmes’s autobiography.
Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. New York: Vintage, 2004. Schechter, Harold. Depraved: The Shocking True Story of America’s First Serial Killer. New York: Pocket, 1994. Another accessible, detailed account of Holmes’s criminal career.
Wilson, Colin. “H. H. Holmes: The Torture Doctor.” In The Mammoth Book of Murder, edited by Richard Glyn Jones. New York: Carroll & Graf, 1989. Brief but useful, with minor errors.
The History of Murder. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2000. Contains a slightly revised version of the essay .
Rome’s most infamous emperor wasn’t just a tyrant—he was a spectacle of madness, cruelty, and decadence. From bizarre banquets to unspeakable acts, Caligula’s reign blurred the line between ruler and monster. Was he truly insane, or just history’s favorite villain? Join us as we dive into the blood-soaked, scandalous world of Caligula—where absolute power really did corrupt absolutely. Strap in for a wild episode!
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Welcome back to Macabre: A Dark History Podcast. A Macabre Feature on The
Affair of the Poisons. Part III: All the Venomous People.
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Resources: Affair of the Poisons | Poison Plot, Louis XIV, Witchcraft | Britannica
La Voisin | French criminal | Britannica
La Voisin
Women and Poisons in 17th Century France
Marie-Madeleine-Marguérite d’Aubray, marquise de Brinvilliers | Poisoner, Murderer,
Executed | Britannica
Master: Marquise of Brinvilliers
Aristocratic Poisoning in 17th-Century France - HubPages
Welcome back to Macabre: A Dark History Podcast. The hunt for the occult
underground in Paris continues in this Affair of the Poisons series. Part II: Image is Everything.
VOTE FOR HALLEY to become the "FACE of HALLOWEEN" here (until Sept. 2nd) :
https://faceofhalloween.org/2025/heidi-2
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Resources: Affair of the Poisons | Poison Plot, Louis XIV, Witchcraft | Britannica
La Voisin | French criminal | Britannica
La Voisin
Women and Poisons in 17th Century France
Marie-Madeleine-Marguérite d’Aubray, marquise de Brinvilliers | Poisoner, Murderer,
Executed | Britannica
Master: Marquise of Brinvilliers
Aristocratic Poisoning in 17th-Century France - HubPages