Alhambra, CA | Famed music producer Phil Spector‘s enraged reaction stunned police when they showed up to his castle to find actress Lana Clarkson dead in his foyer. But even more shocking was the story Phil Spector and his defense team told at his murder trial, especially when compared to the forensic evidence.

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📚 In a world where anyone can publish anything and skip giving credit to their sources, we do right by the many historians, journalists, and experts who made this episode possible by citing their work. Our key sources for this episode are listed below. A complete list can be found on our website.

-Barber, M. (1985, July 11). As Sleeping Beauty was in the fairy tale, Alhambra Castle is being awakened by love. Los Angeles Times.
-Grimes, W. (2021, January 22). Phil Spector, famed music producer and convicted murderer, dies at 81. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/arts/music/phil-spector-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
-Gupta, P. (2013, March 15). Friends of Lana Clarkson protest HBO film "Phil Spector". Salon. https://www.salon.com/2013/03/15/friends_of_lana_clarkson_protest_hbo_film_phil_spector/
-Los Angeles Times. (1939, December 3). Fables of Alhambra mystery castle explode.
-Meares, H. (2013, October 4). Phil Spector's Pyrenees Castle: The fairytale castle that became home to a nightmare. PBS SoCal. https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/phil-spectors-pyrenees-castle-the-fairytale-castle-that-became-home-to-a-nightmare
-Sippell, M. (2024, December 9). 7 chilling details from Phil Spector’s murder of Lana Clarkson. MovieMaker. https://www.moviemaker.com/phil-spector-murder-lana-clarkson-details/
-Sonksen, M. (2013, December 6). On location: Alhambra. PBS SoCal.
-Wrensmoor. (n.d.). https://www.wrensmoor.com

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Alhambra, CA | What’s the story behind Alhambra’s castle on the hill? Wrensmoor Castle stands like a stately gift from the past, modeled after the grand châteaus of the Pyrenees, the homeland of its original builder, Sylvester Dupuy. Behind its stately facade is a layered history shaped by opulence, challenges, and moments of dark intrigue. From hidden passages to a séance room, the castle has seen it all—including the downfall of legendary music producer Phil Spector, who once called it home.

This episode’s topic was chosen by the highest bidder at a recent fundraiser hosted by the Asian Real Estate Association of America Greater Los Angeles (@areaagla on Instagram). We were thrilled to auction off a custom episode to support relief efforts following the January Los Angeles fires. Thank you to our winning bidder @thelenderlife on Instagram, based in Arcadia and specializing in helping clients find the right mortgage for their unique situations.

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✉️ Email:  [email protected] 

📚 In a world where anyone can publish anything and skip giving credit to their sources, we do right by the many historians, journalists, and experts who made this episode possible by citing their work. Our key sources for this episode are listed below. A complete list can be found on our website.

-Barber, M. (1985, July 11). As Sleeping Beauty was in the fairy tale, Alhambra Castle is being awakened by love. Los Angeles Times.
-Grimes, W. (2021, January 22). Phil Spector, famed music producer and convicted murderer, dies at 81. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/arts/music/phil-spector-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
-Gupta, P. (2013, March 15). Friends of Lana Clarkson protest HBO film "Phil Spector". Salon. https://www.salon.com/2013/03/15/friends_of_lana_clarkson_protest_hbo_film_phil_spector/
-Los Angeles Times. (1939, December 3). Fables of Alhambra mystery castle explode.
-Meares, H. (2013, October 4). Phil Spector's Pyrenees Castle: The fairytale castle that became home to a nightmare. PBS SoCal. https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/phil-spectors-pyrenees-castle-the-fairytale-castle-that-became-home-to-a-nightmare
-Sippell, M. (2024, December 9). 7 chilling details from Phil Spector’s murder of Lana Clarkson. MovieMaker. https://www.moviemaker.com/phil-spector-murder-lana-clarkson-details/
-Sonksen, M. (2013, December 6). On location: Alhambra. PBS SoCal.
-Wrensmoor. (n.d.). https://www.wrensmoor.com

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Wood Island, Maine | Wood Island is so haunted, even bestselling horror writer J.D. Barker won’t stay the night - and he’s here to share how its chilling history inspired his upcoming book, Something I Keep Upstairs.  Just as the Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King’s The Shining (and J.D. shares a terrifying story from his own stay there!), Wood Island’s dark past—plagued by disease, starvation, vanished bodies, and eerie paranormal activity—laid the foundation for his latest novel.  Most chilling is J.D.'s revelation that while writing the novel, he repeatedly created fictional scenes only to later discover he had accurately described actual historical events—information he had no prior knowledge of.

You can preorder a signed copy of Something I Keep Upstairs at dbarker.com. If you are not entirely terrified of Wood Island by the end of this episode, you can enter the contest to stay overnight at https://woobox.com/vcevs2.  If you win, you have to write to us at [email protected] and share all of the details!

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Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | What did Christa Helm know that got her killed? Or was she the victim of a jealous rage? On February 12, 1977, Christa was brutally stabbed to death in a quiet West Hollywood neighborhood. The night she was murdered, she carried a personal diary filled with high-profile names, secrets, and scandals—one that mysteriously vanished and has never been found. Decades later, her killer remains unknown. The eerie coincidences surrounding her death are just as numerous as the people who may have had a motive to silence her. Joining us to unravel the mystery is Jamey DuVall, Christa’s biographer and producer of the podcast Movie Geeks United.

You can submit a tip or stay updated on Jamey’s work and his upcoming book at www.whokilledchristahelm.com, or follow him on Instagram and Facebook @whokilledchristahelm.

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Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | How does a cafeteria owner in 1930s Los Angeles, dedicated to providing affordable meals for all, become the driving force behind exposing and dismantling corruption? Today we are joined by Robert Petersen, host of the podcast The Hidden History of Los Angeles, to talk about Clifford Clinton—a man who took on the city’s power structure and won, but whose own personal life tells a far more complicated story.

You can check out Robert’s podcast The Hidden History of Los Angeles at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-history-of-los-angeles/id666596114, or follow him on Instagram @hiddenhistoryla.  

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✉️ Email:  [email protected] 

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Was Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle a scapegoat or a villain? Did George Reeves take his own life, or was there something more sinister at play? In this episode, we dive into two of Hollywood’s most infamous tragedies—Arbuckle’s scandalous trial that destroyed his career and Reeves’ mysterious death that still fuels conspiracy theories. Decades apart, both cases captivated the public and left behind more questions than answers. And even though Arbuckle received an official verdict and Reeves’ death was ruled a suicide, both stories remain unsettled to this day.

📚 In a world where anyone can publish anything and skip giving credit to their sources, we do right by the many historians, journalists, and experts who made this episode possible by citing their work. Our key sources for this episode are listed below. A complete list can be found on our website.

-Alexandra, R. (2018, July 9). The Superman curse: A look at all the death, destruction and destitution. KQED. https://www.kqed.org/pop/101544/the-superman-curse-a-look-at-all-the-death-destruction-and-destitution
-Dotinga, R. (2014, February 28). 'Room 1219' author Greg Merritt discusses what really happened in the 1921 Fatty Arbuckle case. The Christian Science Monitor. https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2014/0228/Room-1219-author-Greg-Merritt-discusses-what-really-happened-in-the-1921-Fatty-Arbuckle-case
-Eagan, D. (2011, November 16). More on Fatty Arbuckle: His films and his legacy. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/more-on-fatty-arbuckle-his-films-and-his-legacy-1-251402/
-Gross, E. (2024, November 2). George Reeves on Superman, fame and life’s struggles: “He never knew how loved he was”. Woman’s World. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/george-reeves-the-life-of-tvs-first-superman
-Los Angeles Times. (1959, June 17). From the archives: George Reeves, Superman of TV, kills himself in his home. Obituaries. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-george-reeves-19590617-20160615-snap-story.html
-Moran, T. (2013, October 4). Book review: 'Room 1219' by Greg Merritt. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304213904579095361344867906
-Murray, E. A. (2015). Forensic history: Crimes, frauds, and scandals [Guidebook]. Wondrium. https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/forensic-history-crimes-frauds-and-scandals?tn=632_tray_Course_2_6_5304&lecplay=8
-Patterson, J. (2013, September 6). 'Room 1219,' by Greg Merritt. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/room-1219-by-greg-merritt-4793811.php
-Schulman, M. (2021, October 4). Fatty Arbuckle and the birth of the celebrity scandal. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/11/fatty-arbuckle-and-the-birth-of-the-celebrity-scandal
-The State Bar of California. (2019, January 24). The many trials of Fatty Arbuckle. https://www.sfbar.org/blog/sfam-the-many-trials-of-fatty-arbuckle/
-Superman’s estate left to wife of friend. (1959, June 23). Los Angeles, California. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/380676506/?match=1&terms=%22george%20reeves%22
-The case of Virginia Rappe (2022, June 6). Morbid [Podcast episode 323]

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Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles is burning, and the impact is personal.  We delve into the current status of the devastating fires, discuss the factors that made them so catastrophic, and explore what they mean for the city's future.

Linked Resources/How to Help:
California Wildfires: Palisades and Eaton Fires (AP)
L.A. Wildfires: Help and Resources List (KCRW)
Mental Health Support for Fire Victims (LAist)
How to Help L.A. Fire Victims (LAist)
Wildfire Awareness Post on Instagram (PBS SoCal)

Linked Sources Referenced:
Palisades Fire Wednesday Live Updates (KTLA)
Wildfire Destroys Historic Home, Structures at Southern California State Parks (KTLA)
Southern California Wildfire History (LAist)
California Fires: Possible Causes (AP)
California Fires: Victims and Aftermath (NYT)
Weather Factors in L.A.’s Fires (LA Times)
Santa Ana Winds and Wildfires (NPR)
Federal Aid Amid Fires (LA Times)
Maps and Visuals of L.A. Wildfires (CNN)
Why L.A. Struggled With Modern Fires (NPR)
History of Wildfires in Los Angeles (Wildfire LA)
Fire Spike in L.A. (NBC Los Angeles)
Bunny Museum Rebuild After Fire (LA Times)
Power Lines and Fire Causes (LA Times)

The title of this episode is inspired by a post from Blair Imani Ali, auth

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Former LAPD homicide detective Steve Hodel once asked himself the unthinkable: Could his own father have killed Elizabeth Short? In this episode, we conclude the tragic story of Short’s 1947 murder with Steve Hodel, now a New York Times bestselling author, as he shares the chilling evidence that turned suspicion into conviction. Steve's investigation reveals a complex web of connections linking Dr. Hodel to the art world, the disturbing crime scene, and widespread corruption within the LAPD.  You can see the works of art referenced in this episode by clicking on the linked titles below. NOTE: Viewer Discretion Advised - These links contain graphic and upsetting material related to the Black Dahlia case.
The Lovers by Man Ray
Minotaur by Man Ray
Q - Quarrel by Man Ray
It's Midnight Dr. _____ by William Copley

Steve Hodel is a New York Times bestselling author. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he spent twenty-four years with the LAPD, where, as a homicide detective, he worked on more than three hundred murder cases and achieved one of the highest “solve rates” on the force. His first book, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder, was a NYT bestseller and was nominated for an MWA Edgar Award in the Best Fact category. Steve’s investigations and nine books, now spanning two decades, have been featured on NBC Dateline, CBS 48 Hours, Court TV, and Bill Kurtis Cold Case Files, CNN Anderson Cooper, and Discovery Channel. In 2019, Steve appeared on The Today Show, as well as Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, where he and other family members discussed the making of the hit podcast Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia Murder. This podcast was the companion piece and true story to the Patty Jenkins/Chris Pine fictionalized six-part miniseries I Am the Night (2009). Steve was not consulted, nor did he participate in the fictional version, but he did provide extensive interviews in the Root of Evil podcast. In 2022, Steve moved to Birch Bay, Washington State, and now resides there.

To read more about Steve’s work, visit his website at stevehodel.com/ and explore his collection of published books at stevehodel.com/books/.

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👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Join us for an audio tour of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles’ most haunted locations and infamous crime scenes with James T. Bartlett, journalist and author of Gourmet Ghosts Volumes 1 & 2. From the lingering spirit of Marilyn Monroe to the poetic capture of a murderer, this journey will give you a new perspective on these iconic locations. 

To read more about James’ work and order Gourmet Ghosts (there are many more locations we could not cover in the episode!), visit his website at gourmetghosts.com and follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/gourmetghosts/.

A quick list of the locations we cover: 
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Roosevelt Hotel
Barclay Hotel
Biltmore Hotel
Holland Hotel
The Suicide Triangle (Cecil Hotel, Haywood Hotel, Rosslyn Hotel)

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Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Elizabeth Short’s 1947 murder (also known as the Black Dahlia) still haunts Los Angeles. We press closer to the truth, tearing into the most gripping theories about who claimed Elizabeth Short’s life.

*Note: Since the troubled teen industry came up at the beginning of the episode, we wanted to take the opportunity to share a few links on how you can help stop the abuses in this system:  stopinstitutionalchildabuse.com and unsilenced.org.  It's a cause we are passionate about and we will continue to bring awareness and advocate for change wherever we can!

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📚 In a world of viral history clips and quick hot takes, we do right by the many historians, journalists, and researchers who made this episode possible by citing their work.  Our key references for this episode are below.  For a full list of sources, visit us at www.darkcitypodcast.com.

-Eatwell, Piu. Black Dahlia, Red Rose: The Crime, Corruption, and Cover-Up of America's Greatest Unsolved Murder. Liveright. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2017
-Hodel, Steve. Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder: The True Story. Arcade. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2012
-Hodel, Steve. Black Dahlia Avenger II: Presenting the Follow-Up Investigation and Further Evidence Linking Dr. George Hill Hodel to Los Angeles' s Black Dahlia and other 1940s Lone Woman Murders. Thoughtprint Press. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2014
-https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/the-black-dahlia

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)