The Bombshell Effect

Kate Santos
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  • Film History
  • Every two weeks

Follow writer Kate Santos (Playboy, Vice, The Hollywood Reporter) as she steps inside the hidden history of famous haunts in and around Hollywood. From Jean Harlow's scandal-soaked days and nights at Chateau Marmont to Paris Hilton's paparazzi era at Les Deux, this podcast traces how a single place in time can transform culture at large. For those who care about keeping the places that have shaped Hollywood alive, consider donating to the LA Conservancy. Or follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laconservancy

Episodes

  1. 15 Sept

    Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz & Hollywood's Cursed Movie Sets (feat. director Jay Cheel)

    Can a film set actually be cursed? If you were a producer on The Omen or a background actor on The Wizard of Oz, you might believe it. This episode of The Bombshell Effect explores Judy Garland's early career, the career-making studio heads that put her on a diet of barbituates and cigarettes, and the urban legends surrounding the filming of The Wizard of Oz, and other films where the actors and crew barely made it out alive.  We feature *special guest* director Jay Cheel, the filmmaker behind V/H/S/BEYOND, Shudder's CURSED FILMS, HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE, and more. He's also the host of Film Junk Podcast.  This podcast is brought to you by the host Kate de los Santos, and our producer July Diaz.

  2. 10 Mar

    Episode Three: The Beverly Hills Hotel & The Hollywood Power Lunch

    The Beverly Hills Hotel literally invented a neighorhood. What was once cursed ranchland became a place for mansions and "pedigreed" movie stars. The hotel is a symbol of GLAMOUR, glitz, and was once a staple for A-listers, from Robert DeNiro (and his 7 cats) and Elizabeth Taylor (and her 5 husbands).  In this episode of The Bombshell Effect, we talk the early history of Los Angeles, Howard Hughes' hidden roast beef sandwiches, the Kennedy children's pet monkey and a ghost that haunted so hard, she took down a mansion.  We also feature *special guest* Evan Lovett from LA In A Minute. He adores everything Los Angeles and gives us his take on the state of the Hollywood Power Lunch.  This podcast is brought to you by the host Kate de los Santos, and our producer July Diaz.

  3. 10 Feb

    Chateau Marmont: Jean Harlow's Affairs, Belushi's Overdose, and Lohan's Outrageous Hotel Bill (feat. Psychic Medium Patti Negri)

    Chateau Marmont is one of the most famous hotels in Los Angeles– a symbol of Old Hollywood glamour, celebrity excess, and Hollywood tragedy. Located in West Hollywood, this iconic Hollywood hotel has been the site of legendary bungalow parties, secret love affairs, and infamous deaths that shaped film and pop culture history.  In this episode of The Bombshell Effect, we dive into the real stories, myths, and ghosts of Chateau Marmont, exploring why this historic Los Angeles hotel continues to captivate celebrities, artists, and Hollywood insiders.  This podcast is brought to you by the host Kate de los Santos, and our producer July Diaz.  Special thanks to our guest, psychic medium and *good witch* Patti Negri (instagram.com/patti.negri). www.pattinegri.com

    Chateau Marmont: Jean Harlow's Affairs, Belushi's Overdose, and Lohan's Outrageous Hotel Bill (feat. Psychic Medium Patti Negri)

  4. 16/12/2025

    Mini Episode: Cole's French Dip, The Noir Hangout of Mickey Cohen, Charles Bukowski, and more (feat. Kim Cooper of Esotouric)

    Los Angeles may be losing one of its last true landmarks. Cole's French Dip, open since 1908 and a favorite hot spot to mobsters, detectives, burlesque dancers, boozy politicians, and Charles Bukowski himself, is closing forever on December 31st. In this urgent special episode, Kate de los Santos takes listeners down to the streets of DTLA and into the noir-esque world of Cole's, a bar that had survived for over a century.  Along the way, Kate unpacks the legendary rivalry between Cole's and Philippe's, the mythology surrounding the birth of the French Dip sandwich, the rise and decline of the Pacific Electric Building, and the ways Cole has shaped and reflected the neighborhood around it.  This podcast is brought to you by the host Kate de los Santos, and our producer July Diaz.  Special thanks to author and fellow LA obsessor Kim Cooper (esotouric.com/kimcooper) for providing more context on Cole's history and the reasons these places continue to be important.

    Mini Episode: Cole's French Dip, The Noir Hangout of Mickey Cohen, Charles Bukowski, and more (feat. Kim Cooper of Esotouric)

  5. 04/12/2025

    Episode One: Barney's Beanery: Janis Joplin, 1970s Laurel Canyon and Quentin Tarantino

    Legendary gossip columnist Hedda Hopper once described West Hollywood's Barney's Beanery as the place "where the stars go!"– and she wasn't exaggerating. Throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood, this shadowy little den off Santa Monica Boulevard was frequented by stars like Clara Bow and Rita Hayworth. Dean Martin hosted parties there in the 1950s and in the 1960s, Jim Morrison was banned.  Barney's is the kind of institution that's weathered Dennis Hopper brushing shoulders with Marlon Brando, Hunter S. Thompson breaking his ankle diving off the bar, and Kris Kristofferson holding court with Janis Joplin. Nowadays, the magic is there for a new generation of artists. More than a greasy dive with pool tables, Barney's has cemented itself a true Hollywood landmark. And some say the famous ghosts haven't left the building. This podcast is brought to you by your Host Kate de los Santos, you can follow her on Instagram here, and our Producer July Diaz, who you can follow on Instagram here. Special thanks to historian and scholar Lillian Faderman (https://www.lillianfaderman.net/) for providing more context on early Hollywood.

    Episode One: Barney's Beanery: Janis Joplin, 1970s Laurel Canyon and Quentin Tarantino
  • 5 Episodes

About

Follow writer Kate Santos (Playboy, Vice, The Hollywood Reporter) as she steps inside the hidden history of famous haunts in and around Hollywood. From Jean Harlow's scandal-soaked days and nights at Chateau Marmont to Paris Hilton's paparazzi era at Les Deux, this podcast traces how a single place in time can transform culture at large. For those who care about keeping the places that have shaped Hollywood alive, consider donating to the LA Conservancy. Or follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laconservancy

Information

  • Creator
    Kate Santos
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Bombshell Effect
  • Provider

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