Dearly Departed Podcast

In this “mini episode” we talk about Liberace, Anna Nicole Smith, Dollywood, The Beatles and more!
Also, we just launched on Patreon.com, so please go to patreon.com/dearlydepartedpod to SUPPORT THIS PODCAST! You can sign up for as little as just $2 per month. Mini-episodes like this one will only be available to our patrons there from now on, so please sign up to keep getting every episode of the Dearly Departed Podcast.

We remember to avoid the brown acid as we dance through the history of Woodstock! Also discussed: Rush drummer Neil Peart, Buck Henry, The Beatles, Brittany Murphy, Nashville and Dollywood, famous LA houses, Tupac, and more. And we got our first sponsor!

It's the premiere of our first "mini episode" which focuses on historical deaths-of-the-month, starting with January! We discuss New Years, old celebrity-owned restaurants, the band Type O Negative, Cher, The Kennedys, Coco Chanel, David Bowie, and more.

Another episode of the Dearly Departed Podcast gets its wings as the hosts reveal the fates of the cast of the holiday film classic It's a Wonderful Life, with stories about stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, director Frank Capra, and more! They also discuss legendary producer Robert Evans, Hollywood street performers like the late Christopher Dennis (aka "Hollywood Boulevard Superman"), and other recent Hollywood-related news.

It's a spooky Halloween special as we dig up stories about the Poltergeist franchise and the tragic early deaths of some of its stars, including the murder of Dominique Dunne and death of child actor Heather O'Rourke. We also tell some of our personal ghost stories and share some of host Scott Michaels' ghostly "EVP" recordings.

SOCK! POW! ZOK! We take on the Dynamic Duo and the original Batman television series from the 1960s, and the fates of its many cast members, including Adam West, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Julie Newmar, and Vincent Price! We also discuss the passing of Cars frontman Ric Ocasek and singer Eddie Money, host Scott Michaels' days of prank-calling celebrities, and more.
 

Co-host Mike Dorsey with Burt Ward (Robin) at a martial arts event at Hollywood Park in 2012


Envelope from Cesar Romero to host Scott Micheals with Oprah invitation included to keep an enclosed photo from bending
 

Thank you note from Vincent Price to Scott

We creepy crawl into Quentin Tarantino's epic Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and host Scott Michaels' credited contributions to the film as a historical consultant. Hear fun behind-the-scenes stories about the film from both hosts, and explore the connections to their 2009 documentary The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter. Also discussed: Peter Fonda, Easy Rider, and more!
***SPOILER ALERT!*** We talk openly about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, so if you haven't seen the film yet, DO NOT listen to this episode until you have!
 

Dearly Departed podcast host Scott Michaels with Quentin Tarantino at the former home of Manson victim Jay Sebring



Scott in front of the Nicole Brown Simpson murder crime scene, which spawned hate mail

ARTICLE: The Hollywood Ripper is convicted of murder and attempted murder
ARTICLE: Body of man missing for 10 years found behind grocery store coolers

We "dive" into the iconic disaster film The Poseidon Adventure and the true fate of its cast. We also discuss the new Tarantino film, ALF's Max Wright, and other odd news of the day!
VIDEO: Host Mike Dorsey’s video of the 4th of July earthquake in Southern California
LISTING: The LaBianca house is for sale
ARTICLE: Former Mouseketeer Dennis Day’s handyman arrested in his death
ARTICLE: Holocaust survivor run over by lady in Valley Village, CA
ARTICLE: Man pulled over with rattlesnake, uranium and open bottle of whiskey
ARTICLE: Woman killed by steel straw
VIDEO: Teaser for the Judy Garland biopic Judy
ARTICLE: Max Wright tabloid scandal
VIDEO: Trailer for The Poseidon Adventure
ARTICLE: Story about Shelley Winters auditioning
VIDEO: Watch Mike's short documentary Happy for FREE on Vimeo
VIDEO: Scott's "Goddess Bunny" video

Roddy McDowall's Powder Room Display
(Photos: Scott Michaels)








Memorial for Shelley Winters at Silver Spoon
(Photos: Scott Michaels)

Come and listen to our story 'bout a man named Jed... We talk The Beverly Hillbillies and the cast's fate! We also discuss OJ Simpson, the Oklahoma City bombing, LA's famous Formosa Cafe, Gloria Vanderbilt, and more!
ARTICLE: The massive fire at Universal and the scandal brewing from it
TWITTER: OJ Simpson's Twitter account
WATCH: Two audio recordings of the OKC bombing explosion


Host Scott Michaels' photos of the OKC bombing site
ARTICLE: Is LAX’s Theme Building coming back to life as part of an on-airport hotel?



Scott's photo of the Beverly Hillbillies house, also known as Chartwell


Nancy Kulp's "interesting" photo spread

Scott with Louis Nye, who was Sonny Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies and Zombo on The Munsters

Scott with Buddy Ebsen aka Jeb

Scott with Max Baer Jr. aka Jethro

We talk about music producer Phil Spector, actor Robert Blake, and the murders of Lana Clarkson and Bonny Lee Bakley! We also discuss Doris Day and her son Terry Melcher, Tarantino's new film, and more.
WATCH: Host Mike Dorsey's Tupac and Biggie documentary Murder Rap on Amazon Prime (it's also on iTunes and other sites)



Host Scott Michaels with the late Anthony Bourdain


WATCH: The Albert Dekker scene from Scott and Mike's first documentary, Dearly Departed Vol. 1
WATCH: The official trailer for Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

WATCH: The famous Tim Conway Dentist and Elephant Story sketches
ARTICLE: Tarantino, Pitt and DiCaprio in Esquire
WATCH: Mike Dorsey's short documentary Happy (FREE!) about WWII flying ace and Hollywood assistant director Larry "Happy" Powell
LISTEN: Bonny Lee Bakley's Just A Fan "70s Stalker Pop"



Bonny Lee Bakley crime scene (via Getty and TMZ)


WATCH: Lana Clarkson as Little Richard

 
Phil Spector's Pyrenees Castle, scene of Lana Clarkson's murder (credit: Jeremy Spann, courtesy of Ladd Jackson/Hilton & Hyland, via Curbed)


Lana Clarkson murder scene (via Getty Images)
WATCH: The trailer for TNT's James Dean film starring James Franco
READ: Virginia Graham's "Manson, Sinatra and Me"

We're all revved up and ready to go as we talk about the Ramones! Scott and Mike also have updates on Luke Perry and former Disney Mouseketeer Dennis Day, and talk about 80s action sports movies, Wes Anderson, Nipsey Hussle, CBGB, and more!

The poster for David Winters' Thrashin' (1986) starring Josh Brolin. It's "totally insane"!

Listen: Scott's favorite Ramones song, I Just Want To Have Something To Do

Dearly Departed Podcast host Scott Michaels with C.J. Ramone (left) and Tommy Ramone (right)



Scott's Ramones ticket from the roller rink show in Detroit



Scott's Ramones graffiti



The paparazzi photo of Jack Osbourne with Mike partially in the shot :)

We take a fateful trip to Gilligan's Island and talk about the real life fates of the show's creator and 7 main "castaways." We also talk Scott Walker, Bea Arthur, and more!



Dearly Departed Podcast host Scott Michaels' photo of Sherwood Schwartz's grave marker



Scott Walker (Dezo Hoffman/REX/Shutterstock)


Watch: Tribute to Richard Erdman's "Leonard" character on Community
Article: Deputy Digby Rowe tackles Charles Manson in court
Buy: The Gilligan's Island DVD set (it's also on Amazon Prime)
Watch: The original Gilligan's Island intro from the pilot before the show was changed
Article: Read about Newton Minow's famous "Television and the Public Interest" speech

Watch: The Howells' last TV appearance together for Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn

Watch: Russell Johnson (The Professor) talks about his Gilligan's Island castmates


Alan Hale's Lobster Barrel restaurant, circa 1985 (Flickr)




Scott Michaels with members of the Gilligan's Island cast, including Alan Hale Jr., Bob Denver, and Dawn Wells

Scott Michaels with Sherwood Schwartz

We talk the deaths of Rebel Without a Cause's James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Natalie Wood. And we also discuss Luke Perry, Jan-Michael Vincent, Brody Stevens, Karl Lagerfeld, The Black Dahlia, and more!

Scott's The Monkees drum head denying the Manson rumor
Video: Comedian Brody Stevens on "The Meltdown"

Video: Brody Stevens "The Half Hour" on Comedy Central
Link: Read about the Magic Castle Suicide - "He hung himself, and the great irony is that he was really good at rope magic."
Link: "Family searching for original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer Dennis Day"
Video: Rebel Without a Cause official trailer

Last photo of James Dean before leaving the LA area in his Porsche 550 Spyder on the day he died (Corbis)

Scott Michaels with producer Lloyd Adams and Dearly Departed Podcast co-host Mike Dorsey following James Dean's last drive
Link: Information on the Remembering James Dean Festival in Fairmount, Indiana.
Video: One of the last interviews with Sal Mineo, on the set of P.S. Your Cat is Dead.

Sal Mineo's apartment in West Hollywood

Sal Mineo murder scene
Link: "Cracking the Case of Murdered Actor Sal Mineo" - James Ellroy
Video: Sal Mineo's "Start Movin'"
Video: Lana Wood confronts Robert Wagner about her sister's death
Buy: Black Dahlia, Red Rose by Piu Eatwell

We talk about the death of Walt Disney, and also about the Disney theme parks, with a special guest who played characters at Walt Disney World! We also discuss Yvette Vickers, the Black Dahlia, and more!
Video: See Scott explore the home of Yvette Vickers before it was torn down!
Link: Check out the channel for Ask A Mortician.
Video: Watch actor Dick Miller tell Corey Feldman to shut the %#@! up.
Video: The cousin of Manson murder victim Gary Hinman speaks out against his killer, Bobby Beausoleil, getting released from prison.
 

The former Silver Spoon Restaurant, now gone



Guns N' Roses at Canter's Deli (photo credit Reckless Road via Rolling Stone's website)
Buy: Get Marc Canter's book Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction!



Building where Kurt Cobain rented an apartment on Spaulding Ave. in Los Angeles,
a few blocks east of Canter's Deli
Link: Check out Scott's Black Dahlia Mystery Tour!
Buy: Black Dahlia Avenger by Steve Hodel
...AND Exquisite Corpse: Surrealism and the Black Dahlia Murder
...AND Black Dahlia, Red Rose by Piu Eatwell!
Watch: The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story about Walt Disney's music writing duo.
Article: Read about the guy who played Jack Sparrow at Disneyland (the original article has disappeared).
Watch: Escape from Tomorrow, the indie film shot guerrilla-style at Disneyland without permission.
Watch: Scott takes someone else's tour and calls it out (starts about 3 1/2 minutes in).
Watch: The dragon burns at Walt Disney World!

Scott and Mike discuss The Addams Family and the deaths of cast members Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, and Ken Weatherwax. We also talk a little about Carol Channing, the Manson Family, the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and more!
Video: Watch a short video of Dearly Departed Tours and Museum's Sharon Tate Birthday Party, with their newly acquired personal effects (Link)
Link: Check out LA Woman Tours!
Article: Read about Manson follower Bobby Beausoleil getting recommended for parole (Link)

Video: There used to be a recording online of Beausoleil and fellow former Manson follower Clem Grogan playing in a band together in prison (probably Beausoleil's "Freedom Orchestra" band) where we're pretty sure Beausoleil called Grogan out by name, but the link appears to have been taken down. However, this live video of the band from 1978 appears to show the two of them performing together (Link)
Link: Support Justice for Homicide Victims
Buy: In Morticia's Shadow: The Life & Career of Carolyn Jones
...and Addams Chronicles: An Altogether Ooky Look at the Addams Family by Stephen Cox


Some of the cremains of Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley)
on display at Dearly Departed Tours and Museum in Hollywood

Link: Check out the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Article: Judy Garland's remains moved to LA (Link)
Article: Read about the man buried in the crypt over Marilyn Monroe (Link)
Video: Amazing newsreel footage about the lynching of the accused murderers of Jackie Coogan's college friend, Brooke Hart (Link)



Jackie Coogan's roadster after the crash that killed both his father
and his best friend, fellow actor Junior Durkin
Article: An interesting blog post about the crash and Coogan's friendship with Durkin (Link)



Dearly Departed Podcast co-host Mike Dorsey with Batman series actor Burt Ward (Robin) in 2012

In this episode we discuss the bizarre murder of B-movie actress Susan Cabot, AKA Roger Corman's The Wasp Woman! 
Covered in this Episode:
IN THE NEWS
Article: People Magazine's 1987 write-up on the missed interview between Molly Ringwald and Lillian Gish (Link)
Article: Ringwald's defense of the missed interview (Link)
"Early in my career I was asked to do an interview with Lillian Gish and I was really excited. But then everything got screwed up, I smashed my finger in a door, the taxi took me to the wrong end of town, it was the middle of winter, I couldn't get another taxi, and I was heart-broken because they said she didn't want to do it anymore. So I got flowers and wrote her a note and said how sorry I was, and they just wrote this sort of... like... horrible piece on how I stood up this sweet old woman who had a plate of cookies waiting for me. I mean they couldn't have written it to be worse. They got a much better article out of me that way than if I'd showed up, and it started this feeling that I was a bratty actress who didn't care and left people waiting. I've never been the kind of person who would do that."


MAIN FEATURE
:: The Wasp Woman ::
 

The Wasp Woman (1959)
Article: JFK files: CIA lined up actress for date with Jordan's King Hussein during visit to United States (Link)



Jordan's King Hussein (1957)



Timothy Scott Roman, Susan Cabot's son


Article: Scott's write-up on the death of Susan Cabot at FindADeath.com!



Susan Cabot's house and the scene of her murder



Bold laundry detergent - murder weapon hiding spot


Susan Cabot's grave marker, made possible by Scott Michaels and friends

WRAP-UP
Article: Death Tour Owner Makes Sure Forgotten Actors Get a Headstone (Link)



Actor Johnny Arthur's grave marker, made possible by Scott Michaels and friends
Article: Scott's write-up on the death of actor Herve Villechaize at FindADeath.com!

Bullet hole from gun that killed actor Herve Villechaize

Video: My Dinner with Herve trailer (Link)
Link: Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas

The Dearly Departed Podcast explores the dark side of Hollywood history. It is led by famed Hollywood historian Scott Michaels -- who operates LA's Dearly Departed Tours and FindADeath.com, and who has been featured as an expert on E! Entertainment multiple times, as well as in his own documentaries like The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter -- and co-hosted by filmmaker Mike Dorsey (The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter, Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders, Demon House). Every two weeks we will explore a different Hollywood death or other dark and fascinating story from Tinseltown's sordid history!
Covered in this Episode:
IN THE NEWS

Penny Marshall, left, and Cindy Williams as the title characters in the ABC sitcom “Laverne & Shirley.”
Ms. Marshall’s success on the show paved the way for her directing career. Credit ABC

Please Support: LA Conservancy and Hollywood Heritage


Article: Owner who demolished Neutra house ordered to build exact replica (Link)
Article: Neutra House in Palm Springs Destroyed (Link)


MAIN FEATURE
:: Death of Santa Claus ::
Article: Ho Ho Ho! Read bout Leroy Scholtz aka Santa Claus at FindADeath.com!
:: Dean Martin ::

Dean Martin (Getty Images)


Video: Watch the Martin and Lews Reunion from 1976! 
Article: FindADeath's writeup on the death of Dean Martin

The old Hamburger Hamlet that Deano used to hang out at


Scott's Dean Martin beer bottle
:: Tiny Tim ::



Video: Watch Tiny Tim perform his hit Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Article: Tiny Tim on FindADeath
 
WRAP-UP
Article: Kevin Smith survives 'massive' heart attack: 'I would've died tonight' (Link)
Download: Scott's FindADeah Death A Day App!
 
 
Special Thanks again to LA's El Coyote Restaurant!