Episode #203 | 10.21.24
Poltergeist Curse: Paranormal Activity, a Plane Crash, and Murder
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In this episode
Four different actors from the 1980s horror franchise Poltergeist died within a 6-year span. Dominique Dunne was murdered. Julian Beck succumbed to stomach cancer. Will Sampson suffered from a degenerative disease. And Heather O’Rourke’s death at the age of 12, was deemed “distinctly unusual.” Was it an eerie coincidence...or something more sinister?
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including descriptions of domestic violence and graphic descriptions of violence.
Sources
Steven Spielberg actually directed Poltergeist, crew member confirms (Independent)
An American Tragedy That Brought Death to Actress Dominique Dunne Now Brings Outrage to Her Family (People)
Strangled Actress: Did Slayer’s Penalty Fit His Crime? (LA Times)
Book Excerpt: Cinemaphagy: On the Psychedelic Classical Form of Tobe Hooper by Scout Tafoya (RogerEbert.com)
Oliver Robbins Looks Back on ‘Poltergeist’ at New Beverly Cinema (The Ultimate Rabbit)
The Sad Discovery Made in Poltergeist Star Heather O’Rourke’s Autopsy Report (Grunge)
House of Flying Objects (Life Magazine)
‘Poltergeist’ Star Heather O’Rourke Dies at Age of 12 (LA Times)
Doctors: Unusual Circumstances Surrounded Actress’ Death (AP News)
Survivors Marvel at Good Fortune, Recall Terrifying Ordeal With PM-La Guardia Crash (AP News)
Crash at La Guardia; Survivors of Mangled Plane Recall Fire, Water, Terror (NY Times)
Richard Lawson on Oprah (Part 1)
Richard Lawson on Oprah (Part 2)
Richard Lawson on Oprah (Redux)
MGM Ponders Selling of ‘Poltergeist III’ (LA Times)
Credits
Hosted by Jake Brennan.
Written by Zeth Lundy
Copy edited by James Sullivan.
Scored and mixed by Sean Cahalin.
Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.
DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak