Life Upon the Wicked Stage

Upstage Right
  • 5.0 (5)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Under the spotlight of arts and entertainment, Jen, Olivia, and Ashley (who are, in fact, three different people) unpack details of "murder, mayhem, and Mame" in sagas of crime, scandal, hauntings, and more!

  1. 4D AGO

    Blimps, Betrayal, and Boy Bands: The Lou Pearlman Scam(s)

    T Olivia recaps the docuseries "Dirty Pop: The Life and Times of Lou Pearlman," and traces Pearlman's path from a bullied, document-forging kid with an obsession with blimps to founding Airship International, allegedly aided by a Nazi-affiliated businessman and mafia-linked backing. They describe how Pearlman created Transcontinental Records, formed and controlled Backstreet Boys and NSYNC (rehearsing in a blimp hangar, touring schools, sent to Germany to break big), presented himself as "Big Papa," and kept bands unpaid while signing himself as a "sixth member" to collect royalties, ultimately extracting a $64 million buyout. As investors and authorities closed in, an Employee Investment Savings Account and fake "German savings bank" documents unraveled into a massive fraud: about 2,000 victims, $300 million, plus $200 million in bank fraud; a questioned death of associate Frankie Vasquez; Pearlman's Bali arrest; a 25-year sentence; death in prison in 2016 (spoiler alert); and only $10 million recovered. And of course, Olivia's very personal connection to it all. 00:00 Listener Warning 00:16 Meet the Hosts 00:42 Why Lou Pearlman 03:34 Lou Early Life 06:16 Blimp Business Origins 07:11 Nazis and Mob Money 12:58 Boy Band Blueprint 14:03 Backstreet Boys Rise 22:47 Germany Breakthrough 26:34 NSYNC Rival Setup 29:44 Money Disputes Explode 32:54 Blimp Crashes Insurance 36:18 Lawsuits and Buyouts 42:08 Transcon New Roster 42:36 Intermission Break 43:30 Natural and Flashy Life 46:22 Billionaire Mindset Gap 46:43 9/11 Jet Clearance Story 48:50 Transcon Empire Shopping Spree 52:21 Employee Savings Ponzi Pitch 55:04 Regulators Close In 56:28 Fake Checks Trigger FBI 58:56 Frankie Vasquez Tragedy 01:01:09 Natural Breakup and IRS Shock 01:06:39 FBI Raids and Global Run 01:11:46 Bali Tipoff and Arrest 01:15:45 Fraud Exposed in Court 01:22:18 Prison Calls and Survivor Guilt 01:29:23 Death and Aftermath

    1h 33m

  2. APR 10

    The Gig is Up: Hollywood Actor Gig Young's Tragic End

    Ashley delves into the life and death of Hollywood actor Gig Young (born Byron Ellsworth Barr), a prolific Golden Age performer with over 100 film credits, Oscar nominations, and a Best Supporting Actor win for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), yet persistent feelings of inadequacy rooted in an emotionally cold childhood and alleged sexual abuse by a caregiver. Known as the charming second lead who "loses the girl," Young struggled with insecurity, career frustration, and alcoholism, leading to lost roles including Blazing Saddles and the original voice of Charlie on Charlie's Angels. Married five times, he had one daughter, Jennifer, and fought child support before later being linked to controversial psychologist Eugene Landy. On October 19, 1978, three weeks after marrying fifth wife Kim Schmidt, Young fatally shot her and then himself in their Osborne Apartments unit in Manhattan; no motive or note was found, and the case was ruled murder-suicide.   00:00 Listener Warning 00:17 Meet the Hosts 00:37 Elderberry Cold Open 02:32 Case Reveal Gig Young 05:06 Early Life and Family 14:12 Abuse and Insecurity 18:17 Acting Breakthrough 22:27 Second Lead Career 30:25 Oscar and Downfall 33:51 Sexuality Rumors 40:12 Five Marriages Timeline 45:14 Patreon and Ratings 46:09 Paternity Fight Fallout 48:12 Fifth Wife Kim Schmidt 49:50 Career Collapse Alcoholism 52:55 Osborne Apartments Detour 56:48 Meet Dr Eugene Landy 01:03:45 Brian Wilson Control Scheme 01:11:19 Landy Treats Gig Young 01:13:57 Murder Suicide Discovery 01:21:16 Aftermath Motives Legacy 01:28:07 Closing Reflections Next Pod

    1h 33m

  3. MAR 27

    Jerry Lee Lewis: Great Balls of Fire, Indeed

    The hosts discuss Jerry Lee Lewis's career and controversies, including his rise at Sun Records, membership in the "Million Dollar Quartet," and hits like "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," alongside stories of ego and volatile behavior. They outline his marriages and family tragedies: a bigamous second marriage before his first divorce finalized; marriage at 22 to 13-year-old cousin Myra Gale Brown, which derailed his British tour; and allegations of physical and mental abuse. They cover the drowning death of Myra's child, later deaths and scandals involving Lewis, and the disputed deaths of wives Jaren Pate (1982 pool drowning) and Shawn Stevens (1983 methadone overdose), citing a Rolling Stone account of blood, bruising, and inconsistencies. The episode emphasizes how fame, power, and systems allegedly protected him. 00:00 Listener Warning 00:15 Valentines Banter 02:16 Meet Jerry Lee Lewis 06:10 Early Life and Sun Records 12:26 Hits and Wild Persona 15:20 Child Bride Scandal 27:58 Backlash and Dark Turn 36:45 Intermission and Plugs 37:39 Wife Four and Threats 40:55 Fourth Wife Drowning 42:29 Power Shields Scandal 47:29 Fifth Wife Dies Fast 50:03 Blood Bruises Questions 51:53 Methadone Explained 01:00:06 Needle Marks Struggle 01:07:15 Exit Plan Cut Off 01:10:43 Why No Indictment 01:16:39 Celebrity Accountability 01:20:23 Wrap Up And Outro

    1h 22m

  4. MAR 13

    Missing Masterpieces: The Gardner Museum Heist

    The hosts of Wicked Stage Pod introduce an episode about the still-unsolved 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in Boston, including background on Isabella Gardner's Venetian-palace-style museum, her restrictive will, and spotty security. On March 18, 1990, two men posing as Boston police were buzzed in, handcuffed and duct-taped two guards in the basement, and spent 81 minutes stealing 13 works, including Vermeer's The Concert and Rembrandt's Christ in a Storm on the Sea of Galilee, cutting canvases from frames; the guards were later found unharmed. The discussion covers mishandled evidence (missing VHS tape and duct tape), theories involving organized crime and art thief Miles Connor, alleged sightings and attempted deals in the late 1990s, FBI focus on the Rossetti crew, and later investigations, with the empty frames still hanging and a $10 million reward outstanding. 00:00 Listener Warning 00:15 Meet the Hosts 00:49 Cold Weather Banter 03:45 Heist Episode Setup 05:33 Gardner Museum Origins 07:18 Isabella's Ironclad Will 09:55 St Patrick's Night Security 17:39 Morning Discovery of Break In 28:05 Missing Art and Masterpieces 34:33 Guards' Story Fake Cops 40:05 81 Minutes Inside Theories 46:05 Inside Job Suspicions 50:48 Guard Lets Them In 51:48 Evidence Mishandled 53:41 Scotland Yard And Mobs 56:06 Italian Crew Suspects 59:21 Cold Case And Storage Shed 01:01:36 Warehouse Art Proof 01:04:27 Paint Swatch Showdown 01:08:56 Rosetti Sightings And Deaths 01:13:54 Wiretap And Loomis Plot 01:20:31 Gentile Sting And Trapdoor 01:27:38 FBI Names Suspects 01:30:32 Where Things Stand Today 01:34:40 Final Wrap And Next Episode

    1h 37m

  5. FEB 27

    William Desmond Taylor: ScaDAL in Hollywood

    The hosts of a true-crime arts-and-entertainment podcast discuss the 1922 unsolved murder of silent film director William Desmond Taylor, who was found shot in the back inside his Los Angeles bungalow; early crime-scene contamination and a mysterious "doctor" who wrongly declared a stomach hemorrhage complicated the case. Born William Cunningham Deane-Tanner in Ireland, Taylor immigrated to the U.S., married actress Ethel May Harrison, had a daughter, then disappeared in 1908, later resurfacing in California under a new name and building a successful directing career, including work with Mary Miles Minter. Suspects and theories include Mabel Normand (last known to see him, cocaine addiction), Minter and her mother Charlotte Shelby (who owned a .38 and claimed to discard it in a Louisiana bayou), former valet Edward Sands (criminal who vanished), valet Henry Peavy (a person of color targeted by sensational press), a drug-hit theory, and actress Margaret Gibson's uncorroborated deathbed confession. 00:00 Listener Warning 00:15 Meet the Hosts 00:59 Robe Reveal Banter 02:42 Case Introduction 04:40 Early Life and Dude Ranch 08:10 New York Marriage and Disappearance 15:20 Reinvention in Hollywood 20:34 War Service and Rising Fame 24:16 Body Found and Crime Scene Chaos 27:05 Autopsy Clues and Missing Cash 35:05 Media Circus and Coverup Claims 39:33 Suspect Mabel Normand 44:19 Intermission and Sponsor Break 45:10 Theories and Next Suspect Tease 45:52 Minter Letters Scandal 49:24 Press Fallout and Alibi 53:11 Stage Mom Prime Suspect 55:00 Bayou Gun Disposal 01:00:17 Valet Vanishes 01:05:32 Peevy and Profiling 01:09:20 Hitman and Confession 01:16:21 Hollywood Moral Panic 01:21:40 Final Theories and Wrap

    1h 30m

  6. FEB 13

    The Murder of Sharon Tate: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    In this episode of 'Life Upon the Wicked Stage,' hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia dive deep into the chilling events surrounding the Tate-LaBianca murders orchestrated by Charles Manson and his followers. They explore the brutal details of the crimes, discuss various motives including the infamous helter-skelter theory, failed music ambitions, and potential drug connections. The discussion also highlights the profound impact these murders had on Hollywood and American culture in the late 60s. The episode concludes with the fates of the perpetrators and fascinating, lesser-known connections Manson had with Hollywood's elite, including Dennis Wilson, Neil Young, and even Angela Lansbury's family.   00:00 Listener Discretion Advised   00:15 Meet the Hosts   00:39 New Year Resolutions   00:53 Beverage Choices   01:45 Upcoming Episodes   02:20 Introducing the Manson Murders   02:44 Benedict Canyon's Dark History   05:31 The Night of the Murders   10:21 The Horrific Details   24:06 The Aftermath and Trials   39:09 Cultural Impact and Hollywood's Dark Turn   45:03 The End of the Production Code   46:37 The Rise of Manson Exploitation Films   51:08 Exploring Possible Murder Motives   01:11:00 Manson's Hollywood Connections   01:19:32 Conclusion and Reflections

    1h 30m

  7. 12/24/2025

    A Very Floozy Christmas

    Holiday Horrors: JonBenét Update & Krampus' Legend In this Christmas-themed episode of the Wicked Stage Pod, the hosts delve into the darker side of the festive season. They start with Jen discussing ghost stories' deep roots in Christmas traditions, tracing back to medieval Europe and Charles Dickens' influence. Ashley updates listeners on the ongoing JonBenét Ramsey case, revealing new forensic analysis and potential breakthroughs. Olivia wraps up with an exploration of Krampus, the mythical anti-Santa of Alpine folklore, detailing his origins, cultural impact, and modern resurgence in pop culture and festivals. The episode balances dark true crime and folklore with festive cheer, ending with a surprising twist connecting host Jen to a Kevin Smith movie.  00:00 Listener Discretion Advised 00:17 Meet the Hosts  00:42 Life Updates and Holiday Cheer 02:08 Olivia's Birth Story 04:24 Floozy Merch Announcement 04:56 Special Christmas Episode 08:16 The Tradition of Christmas Ghost Stories 19:25 The Victorian Era and Charles Dickens 27:35 JonBenet Ramsey Case Overview 52:38 The Santa Theory 54:13 DNA Evidence and CODIS 56:41 New Forensic Analysis 57:05 Burke Ramsey's Interview 58:15 Annual Update from Boulder Police 01:00:24 The Role of Orum Labs 01:01:32 Genetic Genealogy and the JonBenet Ramsey Case 01:02:43 Speculations and Theories 01:08:29 Krampus: The Dark Side of Christmas 01:10:01 Krampus in Modern Culture 01:11:02 Krampus Festivals and Celebrations 01:28:07 Krampus in Pop Culture 01:35:09 Surprise Krampus Twist  01:37:59 Wrapping Up and Future Plans

    1h 40m
  8. Halloween Special: Jack the Ripper

    10/30/2025

    Halloween Special: Jack the Ripper

    In this special Halloween crossover episode, the Wicked Stage Podcast joins forces with the Fish 'N' Brits Podcast to delve into the infamous mystery of Jack the Ripper. The episode explores the historical context of the Whitechapel murders, examines different suspects including Joseph Barnett, John Pizer, and even the legendary Sergeant Boston Corbett, and discusses the sensational impact of the media at the time. With a detailed analysis of the canonical five victims and a review of modern theories, the podcast offers an in-depth look into one of the most captivating unsolved cases in history. Expert commentary, insightful discussions, and a touch of humor make this a must-listen for true crime enthusiasts. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:40 Meet the Hosts 01:21 Podcast Crossover Chaos 04:01 Historical Context: London in 1888 06:54 Living Conditions in Whitechapel 12:22 Policing and Crime in Whitechapel 13:53 Prostitution and Social Issues 24:08 The Whitechapel Murders 39:38 Police Incompetence and Early Investigations 40:40 Press Involvement and Public Pressure 42:13 Introduction of Inspector Frederick Abberline 43:10 Details of the Murders and Victim Profiles 54:44 The Double Event: Two Murders in One Night 01:02:21 The Final Canonical Victim: Mary Jane Kelly 01:09:01 Letters from Jack the Ripper 01:21:12 Cannibalism and Jack the Ripper's Letters 01:23:20 Media Frenzy: The Role of Newspapers 01:27:25 Theories and Suspects: Criminal Profiling Begins 01:28:58 John Pizer: The Leather Apron Suspect 01:37:41 Montague John Druitt: The Educated Suspect 01:45:54 James Maybrick: The Diary Confession 01:52:15 Joseph Barnett: The Jealous Lover 01:58:43 George Chapman: The Poisoner Barber 02:02:41 William Gull: The From Hell Theory 02:07:16 Debunking the Jack the Ripper Suspect: Dr. Thomas Neill Cream 02:07:54 The Tragic Life of Jimmy Kelly James 02:09:55 The Great Escape: Kelly's Connection to the Ripper Murders 02:12:20 Boston Corbett: The Unlikely Suspect 02:15:47 Jill the Ripper: A Feminist Twist 02:20:47 Aaron Kosminski: The DNA Controversy 02:31:10 Final Thoughts and Speculations 02:47:56 Outro and Where to Find Us

    2h 50m
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Under the spotlight of arts and entertainment, Jen, Olivia, and Ashley (who are, in fact, three different people) unpack details of "murder, mayhem, and Mame" in sagas of crime, scandal, hauntings, and more!

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