Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

This is our Ha'penny Horrid 'Hursday episode, the second of our two weekly shows. It comes in two parts, to-wit:

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS," 0:00 — 45:30:

• 01:00: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: A priest is prosecuted for clobbering a parishioner with his umbrella after she converted to Protestantism (Dec. 11, 1852).
• 03:10: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 70-71: Sir Richard leads the party to the captive cook’s bakehouse-prison so that they can witness his captivity, and also to exchange letters with him. The letters are orders for him to carry out in the role he is to play in bringing Mrs. Lovett to justice. Then Sir Richard tells the others there is something else he must show them … something, he adds, “more horrible than all the horrors your imagination can suggest.” … He's not kidding.
• 31:10: GRIM/DARK BROADSIDE: “Horrible Murder at Nantwich!” A brief story, and a lengthy poetical lament, about a drunken domestic quarrel that ended in murder.
• 35:40: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: (With Illustration) A grisly account of the 25-year run of the “Monster of Scotland,” a highway robber and serial murderer who, with his equally criminal wife, moved into a secret cave on the remote coast of Scotland and lived on the flesh of the travellers they robbed.

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS," 46:00 — 1:21:30:

• 46:30: BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD (starring HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN), Chapter 38-39: Tom and Dick pass through the door, re-lock it, and bar it on the other side. Then they look around. It’s a strange room … and in the center of it, they find a piece of equipment that explains a good deal about why Mr. Waghorn didn’t want the officers to follow them into the basement … but for Dick and Tom, the more important question is, is there a way out? We shall see …
• 1:07:05: SOME STREET POETRY from an 1830s “broadside”: “The Beggar-Girl” and “The Rose of Britain’s Isle.”
• 1:11:30: A VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONG: "Beating an Attack; or, The Drummer in Arms in the Park” (about a young lady who conceived a passion for a well-dressed Army drummer, and their subsequent frolic in a secluded part of the park).
• 1:16:50: A FEW MILDLY DIRTY JOKES from what passed in 1830 for a dirty joke book: "The Joke-Cracker."

* The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• PRIME COVES: Sporting men of the first order.
• FLY DOXIES: Dashing, possibly dangerous women.
• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.
• TO SPEND: To ejaculate.
• SWADDY: A soldier.
• SHERRY OFF: To run away at top speed. Adopted from the nautical term "to sheer off."
• FLATS: Suckers.
• FLY TO: Wised-up about, aware of.
• FAKEMENT: Plot or scheme.
• BUMS: Bailiffs.

There are more! But we’re out of space here. A full glossary of all the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

This is our main one-hour Sunday-night episode. Including, after the break, the "Sixpenny Spookies" segment. COMING OUT A DAY EARLY!

PART I: “The HALF-CROWN CAMPIES” segment: 0:00 — 32:00:

• 02:50: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 28: Henry, the admiral and Mr. Marchdale follow the trail the Admiral saw Charles Holland follow when leaving the house, and on the other side of the fence there are the signs of a mighty struggle. Even Marchdale has to admit it’s clear Charles got waylaid. So, what is to be done?
• 25:10: BROADSIDE CATCHPENNY: A little street humour: Milord came home and found milady in tears. Oh no! What could be the matter? If only he would stop wailing, gnashing his teeth, and long-windedly demanding to know what was wrong long enough for her to explain …
• 29:00: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: He woke up from a terrible dream, that his cook was dead. Hurrying downstairs, he found her in the same clothes from his dream — a wedding dress! Meanwhile, outside, her boyfriend, the gardener, was digging a shallow grave in the petunia bed ….

PART II: "THE SIXPENNY SPOOKIES," 32:30 — 1:15:45:

• 32:45: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Wake Not the Dead, by Ernst Raupach, Part 1 of 4: The story opens on the scene of Walter, a powerful lord in Burgundy, sobbing over the grave of his first wife, the beautiful black-haired Brunhilda. Obviously delusional, he keeps begging her to wake up and “clasp him to her bosom,” if you know what he means. He does this night after night, until a sorcerer comes and tells him he can magically restore Brunhilda to life … but urges Walter not to do it. “Lasst die Todten ruhen,” he warns ominously. But Walter, of course, is in no condition to listen to reason …
• 56:25: A SHORT GHOST STORY from the scrapbook of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax: The many hauntings of Hinton Ampner, a great English country-house in Hampshire; recounted by a lady who lived there for seven years.
• 1:11:15: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

*The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a deep forest glade west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• • ACK PIRATES: Riverboat robbers.
• • BLACKLEGS: Fast-and-loose gambling men.
• • KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• • CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• • CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.
• • NIPPERKIN: Half-pint measure (two quarterns). Please note that I was just kidding, please do not drink a whole pint of gin while listening to the show today!
• • STARK NAKED: Strong gin, of the dry (non-cordial) type, taken neat.
• • RUM BEAKS: Bribe-able magistrates and law-enforcement officers.
• • LAMBSKIN COVES: Judges.
• • VADE MECUM: Latin for "hand book."

There are more! But we’re out of space here. A full glossary of all the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS," 0:00 — 42:00:

• 00:55: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: The account of a murderous attack made on a landlord’s steward made 174 years ago today.
• 03:00: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 68-69: Late that evening, at St. Dunstan’s Church, four gentlemen arrive and let themselves in with a key. They are Sir Richard Blunt, with the senior churchwarden, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary’s assistant. They are soon joined by the Lord Mayor of London. They are there on an official visit to the vaults below St. Dunstan’s. Sir Richard has something he wants to show the others….
• 28:45: A TRUE-CRIME BROADSIDE: “HORRID MURDER Committed by a Young Man on a Young Woman.” A “catchpenny” — that is, an article that claims to be true but probably isn’t.
• 32:10: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: The story of the crime, sentencing and execution of the Earl of Ferrers for murdering a servant in cold blood in 1769.

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS," 42:30 — 1:23:45:

43:00: BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD (starring HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN), Chapter 36-37: Tom and Dick pass through the door, re-lock it, and bar it on the other side. Then they look around. It’s a strange room … and in the center of it, they find a piece of equipment that explains a good deal about why Mr. Waghorn didn’t want the officers to follow them into the basement … but for Dick and Tom, the more important question is, is there a way out? We shall see …

1:08:45: SOME STREET POETRY from an 1830s “broadside.”

1:12:55: TWO VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONGS: "The Pensioner” (about a gent whose ladyfriend brings home the bacon in the Oldest Professional way) and “The Upright” (“upright” was slang for “erection”).

1:19:50: A FEW MILDLY DIRTY JOKES from what passed in 1830 for a dirty joke book: "The Joke-Cracker."

*The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• • BOBTAIL: A naughty lady.
• • BON VIVANT: A choice spirit.
• • KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• • CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• • CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.
• • PENSIONER: A man who lives off the earnings of a prostitute.
• • DONE BROWN: Done to perfection, finished off very neatly.
• • BLOWEN: A prostitute, or at least a lady of very easy virtue.
• • BLUNT: Money, with the implication that there is plenty of it.
• • MEAT: Generic slang for naughtybits, especially ladies’. Also MUTTON.
• • ROOT: Penis.
• • TREE: Word-playing reference to a very large “root.”
• • COVES: Informal reference to men, like “dudes” in modern slang.
• • COME IT FLASH: Cut a flashy figure on the scene.
• • FANCY GAL: A hot, sexy-dressing blowen.
• • GAY: Sporty, possibly naughty.
• • SHERRY OFF: To run away at top speed. Adopted from the nautical term "to sheer off."
• • FLATS: Suckers.

There are more! But we’re out of space here. A full glossary of all the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

PART I: “The HALF-CROWN CAMPIES” segment: 0:00 — 35:00:

• 01:05: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 27: Henry, the admiral and Mr. Marchdale present the three letters to Flora, anticipating she will be offended and angry with Charles for treating her so. Instead, they are surprised when she cries, “Where did you get these disgraceful forgeries? What has happened to Charles? Has someone waylaid him and murdered him?” … It’s a pretty good question, isn’t it?
• 24:05: STREET BROADSIDE : A “catchpenny” broadside telling the story of the experiences of a man of the cloth who awakened in his coffin just before burial, with what you might call a “hellacious” story of his out-of-body adventures while dead.
• 30:55: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: Tells of the almost miraculous rescue of a starving sailor stranded on his disabled ship.

PART II: "THE SIXPENNY SPOOKIES," 35:30 — 1:14:00:

• 35:50: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 9 of 9: An extraordinary-looking gnome-like man now makes an appearance. This is BARON VORDENBURG, who has committed his life to research of vampires in general and Countess Mircalla in particular. He traces a map in the chapel with the general, and they end up identifying a spot in the wall, where a tablet is uncovered with “Mircalla Countess Karnstein” carved upon it. The general is delighted, and says the Inquisition will be held the following morning. … It is done. Laura’s life is thereby saved. So … why does it feel so much like a bereavement to her?
• 57:25: A SHORT GHOST STORY from the scrapbook of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax: An account by Mrs. Alured Brooke of her experience when, staying in Wrotham House near Maidstone in Kent, she was visited three times by a ghostly man in a grey suit who sucked all the heat from the room.
• 1:10:25: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time!

* The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a deep forest glade west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• ACADEMICIANS: Bordello ladies.

• AUTEM DIVERS: Pickpockets who work the crowd at religious gatherings. Also used to refer to churchwardens and overseers of the parish poorhouse.

• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.

• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").

• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.

• YARD OF OLD TOM: Large serving of top-shelf gin.

• FLICKER OF KILL-DEVIL: Glass of coarse, cheap gin or other spirit served raw and unaged, fresh from the still.

• YELPERS: People who lament piteously over trifles.

• CAKES: Silly fellows — cakes being made like them, of soft dough not over-well baked.

There are more! But we’re out of space here. A full glossary of all the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

This is our hour-long Ha'penny Horrid 'Hursday episode, the second of our two weekly shows.

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS”: (Horrid, as in “horror”!)

• 01:00: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: An account of a 21-year-old man who stole jewels worth north of half a million modern pounds Sterling … and nearly got away with it!
• 04:03: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 66-67: Johanna and Arabella get ready to implement their plan. The decide she’ll go over and ask for the job in the morning. … Meanwhile, Todd is musing about the strange fact that his customers always come by twos. He jumps up. “Yes,” he says, “the game is up. I am watched. Off and away.” And then he starts packing up his plunder, preparatory to hopping the twig, leaving Fleet-street in a great blaze behind him … then someone enters the shop. It’s a customer! Todd darts behind him — and bolts the shop door.
• 29:10: BROADSIDE: The Trials and Sentences of Prisoners at the Old Bailey in 1852 … including a lad who was put in the pillory for perjury after his testimony sent an innocent man to the gallows.
• 32:31: THE ‘REST OF THE STORY’ ABOUT THE MURDERING BURKERS: Trust me, it’s way more horrible than we realized when we read that Execution Broadside, two weeks ago!

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS”:

This second segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter or two of Dick Turpin's adventures, along with all the more salacious, cheeky, and naughty elements of the week — INCLUDING ...

• 44:08: BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD (starring HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN), Chapter 34-35: Dick and Tom stop at the Samson and Lion and ask the ostler to look after their horses. He is very surly and insolent until they pay him some money, at which point he snaps into line. Dick does a little bragging about Black Bess, which he quickly realizes was a big mistake as it is no part of their plan to reveal who they are … how big a mistake it was, our lads will soon be finding out!
• 1:08:15: SOME STREET POETRY from a broadside ballad: “The Archer-boy,” “Nan o’ the Valley,” “The Unkind Shepherdess,” and “I Love Thee Night and Day Love.”
• 1:12:55: A VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONG: "THE WAGER; or, THE HOLY OLD MAID.” In which, we learn that Aunt Sally isn’t nearly so spinsterish as her neighbours think …
• 1:17:20: A FEW SALTY AND SPICY JOKES from a somewhat edgy 1800s joke book: "The Joke-Cracker."

*The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• • CAPER MERCHANTS: Dancing teachers.
• • BITS O’ MUSLIN: Pretty girls.
• • KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• • CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• • CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.

• • FLATS: Suckers.
• • FLY TO: Wised-up about, aware of.
• • FAKEMENT: Plot or scheme.

There are more! But we’re out of space here. A full glossary of all the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

• 03:20: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 26: Henry, the admiral and Mr. Marchdale present the three letters to Flora, anticipating she will be offended and angry with Charles for treating her so. Instead, they are surprised when she cries, “Where did you get these disgraceful forgeries? What has happened to Charles? Has someone waylaid him and murdered him?” … It’s a pretty good question, isn’t it?
• 23:20: BROADSIDE BALLAD: A tale of four teen-age girls seized and carried away by His Satanic Majesty for visiting a fortune-teller’s shop. All maidens, beware! This could happen to YOU! An image of this broadside is in this episode’s notes at pennydread.com/discord
• 28:00: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: A German anatomy professor saves the life of a specimen who, after being hanged for desertion, woke up in the dissecting-room.

PART II: "THE SIXPENNY SPOOKIES," 34:49—1:18:00:

This second segment of the show brings you Victorian ghost stories, spooky street literature, and sundry other tidbits — INCLUDING ...

• 35:12: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 8 of 9: An extraordinary-looking gnome-like man now makes an appearance. This is BARON VORDENBURG, who has committed his life to research of vampires in general and Countess Mircalla in particular. He traces a map in the chapel with the general, and they end up identifying a spot in the wall, where a tablet is uncovered with “Mircalla Countess Karnstein” carved upon it. The general is delighted, and says the Inquisition will be held the following morning. … It is done. Laura’s life is thereby saved. So … why does it feel so much like a bereavement?
• 56:27: A SHORT GHOST STORY from the scrapbook of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax: The ghosts of Castle Glamis, in Angus, Scotland, according to the Earl of Strathmore and family. A photo of Glamis Castle is in this episode’s notes at pennydread.com/discord
• 1:14:30: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

* The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a deep forest glade west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• WOOD PECKER: Joker, punster, and/or word-player.

• SMASHING COVES: Housebreakers.

• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.

• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").

• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.

• BRUSHER: Large, full glass.

• LIGHT BLUE JACKY: Gin. You could also call it just-plain “light blue,” or just-plain “jacky,” and be perfectly understood.

• TOWN TODDLERS: Marks or flats — naïve lads easily taken in by sharpers.

• LAMBSKIN COVES: Judges.

• VADE MECUM: Latin for "hand book."

There are more! But we’re out of space here. A full glossary of all the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

This is a one-hour Ha'penny Horrid 'Hursday episode! In two parts, to-wit:

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS," 0:00 — 38:00:

This first segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter of Sweeney Todd, along with the more darksome, loathly, and horrifying tidbits of the week: Tales of horrid murders, public executions, disasters, brutal crimes, and similar rays of sunshine — INCLUDING ...

• 01:05: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: A tragic accident along the railway.
• 02:40: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 64-65: Watson puts the bite on Todd for a little monthly help. Todd is going along with it, obviously working to get Watson to lower his guard so that he can kill his way out of the blackmail situation, when Watson says, “That boy used to say some odd things of you, Mr. Todd. … Have you, by any chance, heard anything more of him?” Then, in chapter 65: Sweeney Todd invites Peter Watson into his parlour for a glass of brandy and the full satisfaction of the blackmail touch. After a couple good tumblers-full, Todd goes behind Watson’s chair to get some biscuits. Sweeney Todd seems like a bad fellow to turn one’s back on … doesn’t he?
• 34:30: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: The would-be murderer slipped into the rich guest’s room, knife in one hand and dark lantern in the other, to find … someone had already done him in!

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS," 38:20 — 1:13:30:

This second segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter or two of Dick Turpin's adventures, along with all the more salacious, cheeky, and naughty elements of the week — INCLUDING ...

• 38:48: HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN in BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD, Chapter 32-33: Ostler Alf’s Cunning Plan turns out to be to climb into the hayloft and come upon the officers from inside the house, knowing they’ll be watching at the door. As they are preparing their attack, the two highwaymen can hear the officers singing a merry song inside, obviously well on their way to a jolly evening involving lots of good things to drink. Moving during the choruses of the songs when all the officers are singing along, the highwaymen slip up and pounce….
• 1:01:00: THREE VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONGS: "The Little Black (furry) Thing,” “The Mouse-trap,” and “With Mike Hunt I Have Travel’d All Over the Town.”
• 1:10:50: A FEW SALTY AND SPICY JOKES from an 1804 joke book titled "The Joke-cracker."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time!

* The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• BEAU TRAPS: Well-dressed swindlers, fortune hunters.
• ARCH DOXIES: Underworld ladies of high rank.

• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.

A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at ⁠https://pennydread.com/discord⁠ in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

This is our main one-hour Sunday-night episode. Including, after the break, the "Sixpenny Spookies" segment.

The first segment of the Sunday show contains a chapter of Varney the Vampire, along with sundry other tidbits of early-Victorian street literature — INCLUDING ...

• 01:06: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 25: Charles Holland consults his uncle and borrows 50 pounds, which he intends to place at Henry Bannerworth’s disposal to relieve his money woes. He asks the admiral if ever he has seen something so weird as this vampire business, and the admiral describes an encounter with a strange character at sea who appeared on his ship in defiance of the captain’s desires, seemed to command the weather, and vanished just before they arrived in port. We are left wondering, as the admiral obviously does, it that character might have been Sir Francis Varney himself …
• 33:15: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: The curriculum vitae of a very interesting juvenile delinquent named Leary, whose exploits in theft, pickpocketing, and highway robbery have resulted in his being transported to Australia for life.

PART II: "THE SIXPENNY SPOOKIES," 0:38:10 — 1:09:30:

This second segment of the show brings you Victorian ghost stories, spooky street literature, and sundry other tidbits — INCLUDING ...

• 38:42: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 7 of 9 (chapters 11 and 12): General Spielsdorf tells his story — a story of a strange noble lady in velvet who suddenly has to fly on a matter of life and death in her travelling-coach, leaving her beautiful dark-haired daughter Millarca in the care of the general and his young ward Bertha. The lady, the daughter, the travelling-coach — everything sounds so much like Carmilla’s story. Is it her? Or her twin sister? We will, hopefully, soon find out …
• 58:05: A SHORT GHOST STORY from a street broadside of the type called a “catchpenny” — which claims to be a true story, but probably isn’t: The ghost of a murdered woman appears to a miller to demand he help bring her killer to justice.
• 1:05:30: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time!

* The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a deep forest glade west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• NABOBS: Swell coves who have made their fortunes abroad and returned home to Old Blighty to enjoy it.
• NATTY LADS: Good-looking young pickpockets.
• FLICKER: Drinking glass.
• EYE WATER: Gin — utility grade, not the good stuff.
• JOBBER KNOTS: Tall stupid fellows.
• BLUNDERBUSSES: Blustering ignorant fellows.
• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.

A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at https://pennydread.com/discord in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

A one-hour Ha'penny Horrid 'Hursday episode! In two parts, the first grim and dark, the second salty and spicy; to-wit:

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS," 0:00 — 34:50:

This first segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter of Sweeney Todd, along with the more darksome, loathly, and horrifying tidbits of the week: Tales of horrid murders, public executions, disasters, brutal crimes, and similar rays of sunshine — INCLUDING ...

• 01:40: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: A tragic story of a young boy who was infected with rabies by a beloved neighborhood dog.
• 04:45: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 62-63: As Johanna and Arabella walk home from the Temple-garden meeting, Johanna is in a maudlin mood and talking crazy about death and destiny and eternity. Arabella, a little alarmed, tries to settle her down by proposing a plan of action, to take her mind off things. Unfortunately, that plan is — for Johanna to dress in boys’ clothes and apply for the vacant job as a “pious boy” in Todd’s shop! Too late, she realizes what a terrible and dangerous idea this would be. But, can she unring that bell, now that Johanna has heard her idea? And will Johanna follow through with it?
• 24:25: BROADSIDE BALLAD: The story of the trial and execution of a gang of “burkers” for murdering a poor Italian boy to sell his corpse to the nearest medical college.

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS," 35:10 — 1:09:25:

This second segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter or two of Dick Turpin's adventures, along with all the more salacious, cheeky, and naughty elements of the week — INCLUDING ...

• 35:45: BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD (starring HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN), Chapter 30-31: Arriving at the stable where Black Bess was lodged, Tom and Dick pay a street urchin to watch their horses for them, and creep toward the stable. Soon Dick spots the ostler, Alf, and calls him over. Alf confirms the five officers are all in the stable, along with Tom Davis, whom they have taken prisoner. Tom and Dick decide to make a frontal attack, thrash the officers, and make their escape with Tom. But, it’s two against five. Can they bring it off? Not to worry, Alf says — he’s got a Cunning Plan ….
• 57:10: A FEW DIRTY JOKES from a salty joke book titled “The Joke-Cracker” (1803).
• 1:00:10: TWO VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONGS: "The Slap-Up Blowing” (a celebration of a particularly amazing lady of the evening) and “Oh no, I never mention it” (a young man’s musical tribute to a particular but unnamed lady’s “naughty bits”)
• 1:05:50: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time. (5:37 p.m. is Dick Turpin Scragging Hour: It's 17:37 in military time, and Dick Turpin — the historical figure — was hanged in 1737 A.D.)

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

• * The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode at https://pennydread.com/discord .

Our main one-hour Sunday-night episode!

This first segment of the Sunday show contains a chapter of Varney the Vampire, along with what we think of as the more humourous, melodramatic, and high-campy tidbits from this week’s explorations of early-Victorian street literature — INCLUDING ...

• 02:02: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 24: Admiral Bell, back from his meeting with Varney, confesses his plot to take the heat off Charles by usurping his role as duellist. Then a note comes from Varney himself, inviting Charles to meet him at midnight in the garden, alone, to talk things over or, if he likes, fight. Charles looks forward to it. He takes leave of Flora — kisses her for the first time — but as he leaves her room, he is oppressed by a foreshadowing sense that he will not see her again for a long, long time, if ever …
• 22:45: BROADSIDE BALLAD: The man who was hanged, who is still alive! This is an early-day form of clickbait, but it gave us a reason to look at failed hangings. Turns out several people, over the years, have survived being hanged.
• 29:35: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: The ship was on fire! How to get the baby to safety? This mariner opted to tie the little tyke to the back of a sheep and let him ride the wooly beasty to shore … and it worked!
• 33:00: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 6: Unexpectedly (to Laura) the little doctor arrives at the schloss to examine her. Her father has sent for him without telling her. The doctor hears her story with increasingly evident alarm and horror; inspects her throat — finding a small blue speck on the skin where she recalls the twin-needle pain. The doctor and the father have a long, animated colloquy before he delivers his prescription: She is never to be allowed to be alone. Madame is charged with staying close by her at all times. Then, Laura’s father sets out for Castle Karnstein in the carriage, for a visit and picnic. They leave at noon, before Carmilla wakes up, and Mademoiselle is going to bring her along later. On the way they meet the bereaved General Spielsdorf, he who has dedicated his life to destroying a monster. He also is going to Karnstein … he says, to perform “a pious sacrilege here, which will relieve our earth of certain monsters”...
• 51:27: A SHORT GHOST STORY from the scrapbook of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax: An English family rents a gorgeous French house for cheap … then learns why it was so inexpensive! “Madame, monsieur; il y a un revenant ici!”
• 1:06:20: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London! A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time.

• * The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode at https://pennydread.com/discord .