Most Notorious! A True Crime History Podcast MOST NOTORIOUS +
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- Geschichte
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Serial killers. Gangsters. Gunslingers. Victorian-era murderers. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Each week, the Most Notorious podcast features true-life tales of crime, criminals, tragedies and disasters throughout history. Host Erik Rivenes interviews authors and historians who have studied their subjects for years. Their stories are offered with unique insight, detail, and historical accuracy.
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338: The Death of James Dean & the "Curse of the Little Bastard" w/ Lee Raskin
On September 30, 1955, 24-year-old James Dean became immortal. While his young life ended in a car crash, James Dean passed into the realm of American folklore, where his memory remains today. What exactly happened on that fateful day 60 years ago? What events led to the tragic accident that cost Dean his life? What became of the people and vehicles involved in that unguarded moment at Cholame? Is there any truth to the idea of a "curse" associated with Dean and his Porsche Spyder?
My guest is James Dean historian and author Lee Raskin. He has been on a lifelong quest to not only learn everything he can about life and death of Dean, but also the journey of the car he died in. His book is called "James Dean: On the Road to Salinas".
The author's website: http://leeraskin.net/
More about him at Stance & Speed: https://www.stanceandspeed.com/lee-raskin/
Visit us at https://www.mostnotorious.com/
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337: The General Slocum Disaster w/ Edward T. O'Donnell
There were few experienced swimmers among over 1,300 Lower East Side residents who boarded the General Slocum on June 15, 1904. It shouldn’t have mattered, since the steamship was chartered only for a languid excursion from Manhattan to Long Island Sound. But a fire erupted minutes into the trip, forcing hundreds of terrified passengers into the water. By the time the captain found a safe shore for landing, 1,021 had perished.
"Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum" draws on firsthand accounts to examine why the death toll was so high and how the city responded. Masterfully capturing both the horror of the event and the heroism of men, women, and children who faced crumbling life jackets and inaccessible lifeboats as the inferno quickly spread, historian Edward T. O’Donnell brings to life a bygone community while honoring the victims of that forgotten day.
Edward O'Donnell's website: https://edwardtodonnell.com/
The author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthepastlane/
The author on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inthepastlane
The author on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/InThePastLane
The author on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InThePastLanePodcast
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336: The Witch of Mansfield: Phebe Wise w/ Mark S. Jordan
Phebe Wise was believed to be a witch by many locals in late 19th and early 20th century Mansfield, Ohio. Bucking societal norms, she lived alone on a large piece of property and would often march into town wearing her deceased mother's antique Civil War gowns. She also had her share of adversity, which included being the target of violent robbers and an obsessed stalker. And her showdown with her stalker would lead to gunfire and death.
My guest this week is Mark Sebastian Jordan, author of "The Witch of Mansfield: The Tetched Life of Phebe Wise." He shares stories from the life of this remarkable and eccentric woman.
The author's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mark.jordan.794
The author's publisher page: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467155212/
Buy the book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Mansfield-Tetched-Phebe-Generic/dp/1467155217/
The author's Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/MarkSebastianJordan
This episode is sponsored by Factor. Go to https://factormeals.com/notorious50 to get 50% off! Use code notorious50.
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335: The "Bulldog Detective" William J. Flynn w/ Jeff D. Simon
William J. Flynn, nicknamed "The Bulldog Detective", had a fascinating and accomplished career in law enforcement. While in the Secret Service he not only battled the Mafia in New York City, but also uncovered a sophisticated German spy ring on the cusp of America's entry into World War I. As Director of the Bureau of Investigation, he devised the first counterterrorist strategy in United States history. He was a writer as well, contributing articles both to journals and to a true crime detective magazine which bore his name.
My guest is author and terrorism expert Jeffrey D. Simon, and his recently published book is called "The Bulldog Detective: William J. Flynn and America's First War against the Mafia, Spies, and Terrorists." He shares highlights from Flynn's riveting life and career.
Jeffrey Simon's website: https://www.futureterrorism.com/
This episode is sponsored by Factor. Go to https://factormeals.com/notorious50 to get 50% off! Use code notorious50.
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Today in MoNo History: The 1889 Murder of Herman Umberger
On February 27th, 1889, two men knocked on the door of the Umberger farm house in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania. A terrible murder followed, and two brothers would be arrested for the crime.
References:
Pittsburgh Dispatch 3/25/1891 p. 9-10
The Pittsburgh Press 4/02/1891 p. 1
Altoona Tribune 4/3/1891 p. 3
The Somerset Herald 4/8/1891 p. 2
Herman Umberger’s grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82840687/herman-umberger -
334: The Birth of the Mafia w/ Louis Ferrante
My guest this week is bestselling author Lou Ferrante. He was an associate in the Gambino crime family before going to prison, where he studied history and began writing books. He joins us to talk about the origins of the Sicilian Mafia and how they followed Italian immigrants to the United States, initially establishing themselves in crime-ridden New Orleans alongside a corrupt police force.
His new book is called "Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia", the first volume of his Mafia trilogy.
More about Lou Ferrante and his work on his website: https://louisferrante.com/
Lou Ferrante's Simon & Schuster Publisher Page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Borgata/Louis-Ferrante/Borgata-Trilogy/9781639366019
Lou Ferrante on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/louferrante
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