Astonishing Legends

Legend:

There are many different levels of torment that some ghosts seem to offer, but what could be worse than mocking?

Background:

When our guest was 12 years old and home alone in upstate New York he experienced an encounter with something heard but not seen. Was it real? What would you have done? Listen to his tale and try to decide if you could have handled it differently.

Stories

If you can't click on these links, visit our website. 

Woodstock, New York The Lenape Tribes of the Eastern US The Mahican Tribes The Magic Meadow An Article on The Magic Meadow A Blog Entry on the Magic Meadow (The Campfire) The Buddhist Monastery Neighboring the Magic Meadow

 Interesting Facts:

There is a Buddhist Monastery neighboring the Magic Meadow. The woods surrounding the meadow are filled with Buddhist shrines were many offerings are routinely made. For well over 100 years, people have been making journeys to the meadow to make offerings of all different kinds.

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 013 - 'The Laughing Indian' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design   Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved. 

Legend:

Time traveler stories have abounded throughout history, but one of the most enduring ones of the past hundred years is the legend of John Titor, a man from the year 2038 who's story of how time travel works proves to be plausible.

Background:

There are more than few recent stories of folks appearing out of town in old photos or even a Chaplin film and we will visit the most famous of them. Even the guy who found a wormhole while fixing his kitchen sink.

If you can't click on these links, visit our website. 

The Blue Dress The 25 Best Time Travel Movies Stories of Time Travel - Including John Titor The Solway Firth Spaceman JohnTitor.com The Patent for Titor's Time Machine The Y2038 Problem Schrodinger's Cat Definition of Akimbo Is Everyone a Time Traveler When They're On a Plane? John Titor on Pinterest The C204 Time Displacement Machine Some Background on the 5100 More on the 5100 Current Day Info on IBM's Project Chameleon? More on Chameleon

Interesting Facts:

There are many UNIX embedded systems that do not keep track of time as it is not relevant to their operation. These machines are not threatened by the Y2038 problem.

I was completely wrong about the pronunciation of IMGUR. I apologize to Forrest.

Imgur (pronounced /ˈɪmədʒər/like image-er; imager[2] and stylized as imgur)

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 012 - 'John Titor and Other Time Travelers' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design   Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved. 

Legend:

In the 1890's an illicit affair centered around a hotel in Norway ends badly. Are the departed lovers still hanging around the original section of the hotel's top floor?

Background:

Marc Brugnoni and Marisol McIlvain work for a large travel and entertainment company in their marketing department. This means they frequently are sent to exotic locations around the world to produce high-end filmed content to inspire people to come and visit. On this 2013 trip to the Geiranger Fjord in Norway, they both experience something unexplained in their rooms and their denial of the events drop away when it comes up just prior to the beginning of the next shooting day at breakfast, and that wasn't the end of it.

Stories:

For more information on this episode visit our website!

The Geiranger Fjord Geiranger, Norway The Hotel Union Geiranger More on the Hotel The Hotel Union Oye The Munch Museum in Oslo The Maya Illusion The Radiolab Episode - Seeing in Tongues

Credits:

Episode 011 - 'The Flirting Ghosts of Norway' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design   Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved. 

 

Legend:

A spirit visits two siblings multiple times a week for several months during their highschool years. Neither one of them knew it was happening to the other.

Background:

Comedy and Improv performers, writers and producers, Liz and Craig Cackowski were both visited by something almost nightly for over a year when they were in highschool. It visited them in nearly the identical way several nights a week. They never spoke of it to anyone until 10 years later when they were both out with friends telling ghost stories and Liz found out that her brother had been visited by the same spectral being that haunted her 8 years after him.

Stories:

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Woodbridge, Virginia History of Woodbridge Welcome to the town of Occoquan Wikipedia on Occoquan The House on the Hill in Occoquan Liz Cackowski on Wikipedia Craig Cackowski on the Thrilling Adventure Hour Website Craig doing an interview at Comic Con Sleep Paralysis Hypnagogia Hypnopompic The Intruder from the Dream Dictionary A Stanford Professor's take on Intruders in Dreams

Credits:

Episode 010 - 'The Cackowski Intruder' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design   Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved. 

photos: The Cackowski Home Copyright Astonishing Legends 2015 All Rights Reserved, The Poltergeist Movie House, The Hallway Outside the Kid's Rooms, Copyright Astonishing Legends 2015 All Rights Reserved, The Cackowski Mirror Wall, Copyright Astonishing Legends 2015 All Rights Reserved, Liz Cackowski Photo by Joe Pugliesi for The Hollywood Reporter, Craig Cackowski photo from Box Angeles Podcast Episode #13, Featured Image - 'The Nightmare' by John Henry Fuseli; Public Domaiun

Legend:

Bird flies at the window, death knocks at the door.

According to legend, if a bird crashes into a window in your house and dies from the collision, it is a portent that someone close to you is going to die.

Background:

Can someone who's passed away send the living messages by manipulating our world and even other living things in it? That's what Eric Robinson says happened to him and his entire family and when you hear the details, you'll have a hard time drawing a different conclusion.

Stories:

If you can't click on this link, visit our website. 

Eric's story starts out with the passing of his mom in 2004 and the events that lead up to that and followed it as well.

A Great List of Eerie Bird Superstitions Bird Flies at the Window, Death Knocks at the Door

Moses Maimonides

The Wikipedia Page on Maimonides

Hervey Medellin

The Crime The Arrest of the Perpetrator

Interesting Fact: 

On the day that Lucille Ball's dad passed away from Typhoid Fever, a bird flew into her house becoming trapped and knocking down a picture. After that event, she had a fear of birds (ornithophobia) for the rest of her life. She didn't even like to see them flying outside and forbid the use of wallpaper with birds on it everywhere she went.

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 009 - 'The Birds, the Psychic and Ollie the Crime-Fighting Dog' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design   Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved. 

photos: Bird Smack by Scott Philbrook Copyright 2015 All Rights Reserved, Robinson Family photo (from Left, Eric's sister, Eric, and his mom about a month before she passed, Copyright Eric Robinson 2015 All Rights Reserved, Eric's Dad's Barbershop via Google Streetview, Moses Maimonides public domain, Ollie the dog, Copyright Eric Robinson 2015 All Rights Reserved, Hervey Medellin and the man who killed him.

Background:

Have you ever encountered someone other-worldly? Someone who seemed to exude a dark charisma that frightened you with their ability to be so magnetic?

Legend:

Talented comedy writer, Paula Pell, joins us in this episode for a glimpse over her shoulder at an event from her past that while fleeting, was so poignant it stuck with her for the rest of her life. A chance crossing of paths with what on the surface seemed to be a man, but upon closer inspection felt like much, much more than that.

Stories:

If you can't click on this link, visit our website. 

This story is a personal one and it took place years ago so there are not many images to offer with this particular posting, but we are including at least a link Paula's IMDB page. The crux of this story is in the interview. We hope you enjoy! Happy New Year!

Paula's IMDB page with her credits.

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 008 - 'The Devil in the Diner' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved. 

 

All pictures from The Running of the Butt Mandle in Bertchesgaden, Germany, Dec 6th 2014. Photos property of Astonishing Legends/Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014 - All Rights Reserved

Background:

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Krampus? Every part of the world has different traditions at the end of the year. Have you ever stopped to think about the origins of those traditions? Ever stop to think they might be Pagan in nature? Well we not only stopped to think about it, we dove into it and came back with some amazing information, bolstered with an iPhone movie taken only days ago in Germany at one of the strangest, but most interesting traditions of them all, The Krampus!

Legend:

Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring except for The Krampus on the front porch waiting for the bad kids so he could kidnap them in the basket on his back and take them away.

Stories:

If you can't click on these links, visit our website. We've got some good stuff for this one. 

Chuck Jones, born in the regions of Mr. F.M. Burgess. Perry Futard (yes I mispelled that on purpose to aggravate Forrest) A link to one of our inspirations, Jim Harold and Scott's favorite show of his, Campfire. Friends of the show, George and Ashley have agreed to share their video from The Running of the Butt Mandle, shot just days ago on December 6th, 2014, clicking this link will put it in your downloads folder, don't worry, it's only 20MB and about 1 minute long. Kindle version of Mary Beth Crain's book, 'Haunted Christmas'. The Venture Brothers - A Very Venture Christmas

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 007 - 'A Krampus Christmas' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved. 

photo sources: All photos by Astonishing Legends, Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Background:

Marc D'Andre our Correspondent at Large, is back with one of his special tours of the final resting place of not only Marilyn Monroe, but countless Hollywood icons of film and television. Put your headphones on and be transported to the park with Marc as he tells you a little bit about its residents who are probably all going to be glad to know you still care about them.

Legend:

A large collection of some of the most famous people in the world have been put to rest in this small, unassuming cemetery that is nearly impossible to find if you don't know exactly where it is.

Stories:

Links for this episode, compiled and curated by Marc D'Andre. If you can't click on these, visit our website.

The Park on Wikipedia

On Natalie Wood

Rebel Without a Cause Trailer w/Natalie Wood A recent article looking into Natalie's death

On Bob Crane

The Private Passions of Bob Crane Bob's Official Website

On Eddie Albert

The Green Acres Opening

Interesting Fact:

While we weren't looking for him, we also stumbled across Jay Sommers at Pierce Brothers. He is buried a short walk from the star of the show he created, based somewhat on an old radio show that he worked on 15 years prior, called "Granby's Green Acres".

On Richard Conte

Godfather Wiki

On Roy Orbison

Roy performs 'Pretty Woman' not too many years before he passed away at a concert backed by music giants

On Jim Backus

Jim's last TV appearance, as Mr. Howell, in an Orville Redenbacher commercial with 'Lovey' from Gilligan's Island Backus as Mr. Magoo

On Frank Zappa

Frank talks about drugs

On Dorothy Stratten

Dorothy on Carson from 1980 A people magazine article on Peter Bogdonavich and Dorothy (We linked to both of these in our first show as well)

On Carl Wilson

Carl performs 'God Only Knows' in a small setting.

On Dominique Dunne

A People Magazine article on Dominique from 1983 A Vanity Fair article from 1984 about her dad and the case

On James Coburn

Bruce Lee training at home with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Coburn. James Coburn on The Muppet Show

On Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee, 'Is That All There Is?' Peggy Lee and the Benny Goodman Orchestra, 'Why Don't You Do Right' 1942 Peggy Lee on the Judy Garland show singing 'I Like Men' in a duet with Judy

On Janet Leigh

1995 Article on Janet Leigh in the New York Times about Psycho The infamous 'Psycho' shower scene

On Ray Bradbury

His official website The Wikipedia page on him A short film on Mr. Bradbury

On Carrie Hamilton

The Wikipedia page on her An anti-drug PSA she made when she was younger

On Eric Douglas

The Wikipedia page on Eric An Interview with Eric

On Karl Malden

An Interview with Karl Malden Karl Malden's monologue from 'On The Waterfront'

On Walter Matthau

The Trailer for 'The Bad News Bears' Walter's monologue for Jack Lemmon when Jack received the AFI lifetime achievement award

On George C. Scott

A HuffPo piece on Mr. Scott The movie trailer for 'Patton'

On Merv Griffin

The Wikipedia page on Merv Buy 'The Merv Griffin Show' An LA Times article from the Wednesday before this posting (12.10.14) Don Rickles and Mr. T on the Merv Griffin Show

On Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett: A Life in Pictures (Time Magazine) Vanity Fair on Farrah

On Rodney Dangerfield

Rodney on bio.com Some of Rodney's best jokes The movie trailer for 'Ladybugs'

On Peter Falk

A great article on Falk and Cassavettes Falk from 'The In-Laws"

On Carroll O'Connor

The 'Dean Martin Celebrity Roast' of Carroll O'Connor An article about the death of Carroll's son

On Billy Wilder

'The Paris Review' on Billy Wilder The end of 'Some Like It Hot', written and directed by Wilder

On Jack Lemmon

Roger Ebert interviews Jack Lemmon What role Walter Matthau really wanted to play A great scene from 'Grumpy Old Men'

On Sage Stallone

An article about Sage and Sly The Wikipedia page on Sage

On Dean Martin

Martin and Lewis, 'Singin' in the Rain' Dean Martin, Ted Knight & Tim Conway

On Burt Lancaster

Roger Ebert interviews Burt Lancaster Movie trailer for 'Birdman of Alcatraz'

On Marilyn Monroe

Vanity Fair on Marilyn Monroe Crime Library on her death Her Life Magazine covers from '52 to '62

On Richard Poncher

The bid on the slot above Marilyn at Pierce Brothers Crypt remains unsold

On Buddy Rich

Buddy's appearance on 'The Jerry Lewis Show' Buddy on 'The Muppet Show'

On Christopher George

A great review of 'Pieces' A scene with Christopher from 'Pieces'

On Mel Torme´

The Wikipedia page on Mel Mel's music streaming

On Swifty Lazar

A Hollywood Reporter piece on Swifty Cher and Swifty at the Oscars in 1986

On John Cassavettes

The New York Times on Cassavettes Roger Ebert on Cassavettes

On Eva Gabor

Some great quotes by Eva Eva as Mystery Guest on 'What's My Line?' with Jim Backus as a bonus!

On Armand Hammer

The Straight Dope on Armand Hammer and Arm & Hammer The Wikipedia page on Armand Hammer

On Don Knotts

The New York Times on Knotts bio.com on Knotts Don Knotts as The Nervous Weatherman

On Truman Capote

A Vanity Fair Article on Truman And another Capote and Groucho Marx on Dick Cavett

On Heather O'Rourke

Snopes.com report on the strange deaths surround the 'Poltergeist' movie Bio.com on the 'Poltergeist Curse'

On Groucho Marx

Some great Groucho quotes Cemetery Guide on Groucho

 

Interesting Fact:

People often leave tokens of love and appreciation on gravestones. Sometimes they leave change. Although the origins of this are muddy, some believe that if you leave some change, the deceased will grant you a wish. Others believe in the change as an offering that dates back to being able to pay the toll to be ferried across the River Styx by Charon (Greek Mythology).

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 006 - 'Celebrity Cemetery' Produced by Scott Philbrook,Forrest Burgess, & Marc D'Andre, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved. 

photo sources: all photos by Scott Philbrook for Astonishing Legends. 

Legend:

Did Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan live short lives as castaways, or were they lost at sea after running out of fuel and ditching their Lockheed Electra 10E? Maybe they were taken prisoner, interrogated and eventually executed by the Japanese in Saipan? If none of those are right, maybe Amelia changed her identity and lived her days out as a woman named Irene Bolam who settled down in New Jersey?

This episode is part 2 of a special about aviation's most famous disappearance of all time, that of Amelia Earhart.

Stories:

Normally we break these down a little more, but it's Thanksgiving Day and I've got to get in the kitchen. All links as promised from this episode are below. If you can't click on these, visit our website.

Triangulating Amelia's last radio signals, Youtube. TIGHAR's Smoking Gun, Artifact 2-2-v-1, The Aluminum Panel The 1991 LA Times Article by Paul Dean discounting 2-2-v-1 Earhart and Noonan's Take-off from Lae, Papua New Guinea. TIGHAR's Wire & Rope Movie Mike Campbell's Blog, Earhart Truth. TIGHAR's Debris Field Analysis TIGHAR on the Bevington Object Prepping the Electra for the trip. The In Search Of on Amelia Earhart The SS Norwich City The Consolidated PBY on Wikipedia TIGHAR's PBY Rebuttal, posted just days ago TIGHAR's page on the Norwich City shipwreck. TIGHAR on feasibility of Betty Klenck hearing Amelia. A diagram of Betty Klenck's shortwave radio antenna. Betty Klenck's notes from the day she thought she heard Amelia. SKIP on CB Radios. Documentary, Earhart's Electra. World of Mysteries Documentary supporting Elgen Long's hypothesis. The Chater Report. Flight Route Map Nauticos Mike Campbell's Book, The Truth at Last on Amazon. Richard Martini's Film, Earhart's Electra on Amazon. Earhart on Saipan, Martini and Mike Harris' website.

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 005 - 'Amelia Earhart Vanishes (Part 2)' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved. 

Background:

Amelia Earhart is one of the most famous aviators in the world and she flew into the history books in July of 1937 when she and her navigator, Fred Noonan, took off from Lae, Papua New Guinea for Howland Island. They never made it. Come with us on part 1 of this 2 part special while we take you back to what her life was really like in the years leading up to her vanishing.

Legend:

There are dozens of theories about Amelia's disappearance, most of which don't hold water, but there are three or four that any one of which proven true would make for one of the most fantastic tales ever told.

This episode is about aviation's most famous disappearance of all time, Amelia Earhart.

Stories

(Links work best in iOS on iTunes or on our webpage at astonishinglegends.com)

On Amelia Earhart:

The Wikipedia Page on Amelia Her Official Website A great History Channel Page on Amelia The 99's Her Lockheed Electra 10E Special Her Lockheed Vega 5B

Interesting Facts: Contrary to popular belief, Amelia was considered by many, including close friends, not to be a great pilot. Paul Mantz supposedly cited pilot error after their failed take-off in Hawaii (he later died of pilot error himself). Her lack of finesse was also apparent on various occasions when she would compete in air races and finish far in the field with a bouncy landing in front of all the spectators.

No one on Earth ever doubted her courage however. 

On Fred Noonan:

The Wikipedia Page on Fred A History Channel Page on Fred

Interesting Facts: Noonan had reportedly wanted to open a navigation school and saw his participation in the circumnavigation as a way to generate interest. Unfortunately he was lost at sea. 

On Paul Mantz:

Wikipedia Page on Mantz Youtube Video showing Paul Mantz's final fatal accident.

Interesting Facts: Paul Mantz became a movie stuntman and died filming 'Flight of the Phoenix'.

For more information on this episode visit our website!

Credits:

Episode 004 - 'Amelia Earhart Vanishes (Part 1)' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved.