Celebrate Creativity

Send us Fan Mail Why are some of Poe’s works called vampiric (even though there are no vampires?) What do you think Spirits of the Dead about? Why is The Raven considered vampiric? Why is Ullalme almost (but not quite) about Halloween? What was Poe’s last complete poem? How is the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart unreliable? 00:00 Intro 00:41 Notes about script and language 04:13 Spirits of the Dea...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with rats - in Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum - and the possibly anti-Jewish rat-like vampire in Nosferatu.   The Nosferatu vampire is especially portrayed as vermin, and some scholars believe this was subtle propaganda towards viewing Jewish people as "less than human" - and rationalizing their extermination.  All in all - a very dark (and import...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Eighty Rats, Rats, Rats, Part One What are some of the differences between Dracula and Nosferatu? How does Nosferatu look repulsive? What changes did Nosferatu make to avoid copyright infrigement? How did it work out? How is Nosferatu thought of today? Who did Herzog want for Nosferatu? How is Nosfertu one of the (if not THE) greatest vampire movie? 00:00 Intro and podcast...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a summary and review of the 1931 motion picture of Dracula.  The episode talks about some of the dynamics and film history surrounding the filming, and offers some opinion from a current viewpoint. The episode ends with a section from Bram Stoker’s book - pointing out that Stoker (like Poe) could create vivid images in your mind - images that would be all but impos...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with the accepted copy of Bram Stoker's 1897 horror classic - Dracula.   The book is rather lengthy, so George talks about the main characters and the unique epistolary style (a style that uses letters, journals, newspaper articles, etc. instead of a narrative to tell the story.)  George reads some of those entries (associating them with specific characters...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast episode deals with "Dracula's Guest" - a work that was NOT published with Bram Stoker's novel (but after his death.) While the work is surrounded by controversy, Bram Stoker's widow at the time pointed out some pretty convincing arguments that the work was actually a part of Bram Stoker's masterpiece. Could the content of today’s episode...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with the "dominant/slave" - relationship between Sir Henry Irving and Bram Stoker.  Irving acts as the autocratic figure while the submissive Stoker obeys him without question.  (sounds creepy!) Many scholars believe (with good reason) that Irving served as the model for Dracula.   Listen to this podcast, and decide for yourself! Episode Seventy Six -...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with two American heroes separated by almost 200 years. 1. Gilbert Hunt - a former member of the enslaved population who is famous because of his bravery at the Richmond Theatre Fire. 2. Father Mychal (Father Mike) - a charismatic priest who was the first official fatality of 9/11 What was America’s first major disaster? What did Gilbert Hunt do at the Richmond...

Send us Fan Mail This episode continues a look at the possible inspirations for Bram Stocker’s Dracula.  Surprisingly, many scholars feel the best candidate is poet Walt Whitman.  George takes a look at  the rather nervy “love letter” that Stoker send out of the blue to Whitman, and their interesting friendship - with their written communication that actually includes a variation on “call me by yo...

Send us Fan Mail WARNING!  Not for weak stomachs!  You may be grossed out! This episode is about two military characters of history who may have served as inspiration for two famous pieces of literature - Vlad the Impaler for Dracula by Bram Stoker, and the historical character of Tamerlane for Tamerlane by Edgar Allan Poe. Why is this episode so gross? Where did Stoker get the name “Dracula” What...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Seventy Two - Carmilla and Countess Dracula This episode deals with two female vampires - one literary and the other a historical “monster.”  Carmilla, by Sheridan LaFanu, is frequently cited as the first lesbian vampire story.  And Elizabeth Bathory (largely because of her habit of bathing in the blood of young girls) has been suggested as a possible source for Bram Stoke...

Send us Fan Mail What is generally agreed to be the oldest known story of a vampire? What happened to Sekhmet when her beer (which she thought was blood) was dyed red? Who is Lilith, and what does she have to do with feisty ladies? When does the manananggal drink the blood of pregnant women? How did George keep his pants from falling when he was interpreting for a Shakespearean play?  And was the...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with one of Bram Stoker’s best short stories - The Squaw.  This is a story about a black cat that definitely gives Poe's The Black Cat a run for its money! George will read the story (with a few sound effects) and hope you are not too grossed out. What is The Squaw and why is it considered offensive today in its original form? What is an Iron Maiden? (not t...

Send us Fan Mail What three “biggies” were published the same day by the same publisher? What makes Rip Van Winkle one of the first time travel stories? How was The Vampyre written?  And who was the REAL author? What was the first comedic vampire story?  (And it wasn’t “Love at First Bite”) Why is The Black Vampyre important?  Why is it confusing? And why does the fact that it is confusing make it...

Send us Fan Mail Free tickets to a cool production of A Midsummer Night's Dream! https://www.indyshakes.com/2021-a-midsummer-nights-dream Link to recording of all 38 of Shakespeare's plays! https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Arkangel-Shakespeare-Fully-Dramatized-Plays/dp/1932219005/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=archangel+shakespeare&qid=1626755205&sr=8-1 How can I get free ticket...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with translating poetry using the example of Baudelaire’s “The Vampire” - and ends with a preview of the next episode - an examination of the process of interpreting/signing a Shakespeare comedy into American Sign Language. Who was the most famous translator of Poe? Are all translations of the same poem identical? How can you translate/sign 10 words using two wo...

Send us Fan Mail 00:00 Introduction to Bram Stoker 01:45  Student goes to judge’s house 05:20 Student learns about house’s past - the plot thickens! 12:20 Student encounters giant rats 33:40 Student encounters Ghost of Judge 46:38 The hate-filled smile 47:10 Sources 48:06 Future episodes Who is Bram Stoker? Do you think “The Judge’s House” is more about the judge or giant rats? Do you think the st...

Send us Fan Mail Learn how George chooses vampire stories for this podcast Increase your “perception” of vampires What is so strange about Mrs. Amworth? How is Mrs. Amworth like Count Dracula? How is Mrs. Amworth different from Count Dracula? Would you like a neighbor like Mrs. Amworth? 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Poe and Vampire Stories (introduction) 02:25 Mrs. Amworth 05:33 Enter Urcombe 08:08 Ent...

Send us Fan Mail Learn about Oscar Wilde’s life How is The Oval Portrait like A Picture of Dorian Gray? How did Wilde meet Bosie? What was the father’s reaction to Wilde’s relationship with his son? What is DeProfundis? What were Wilde’s last years like? Why do we remember Wilde? 00:00  Introduction 01:05 Oscar Wilde’s life 03:15 Meeting of Wilde and Whitman (part 2) 04:09 The Oval Portrait 7:08 A...

Send us Fan Mail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG-wl2qqD7Y   BTW - this should be over 2,000 downloads for Celebrate Poe, with listeners in 46 countries.  Thank you for your support - you have no idea how much it means to me! This specific episode is about the many facets of America’s Poet - Walt Whitman.  For Pride Month, George pays homage to Whitman and attempts to take a deep dive into some...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about the tragic relationship between Fitz-Greene Halleck and Joseph Rodman Drake (two of America's greatest 19th century poets. )  The first American novel to deal with same sex attraction (Joseph and His Friend) is largely based on their love for each other. 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Fitz-Greene Halleck early life   04:39 Discussion of Hearing Loss  07:55 Fit...

Send us Fan Mail 00:00 Introduction  02:46 Was Poe gay? 06:07 Intro to Bayard Taylor  08:18 Edgar Allan Poe on Bayard Taylor 08:56 Joseph and His Friend 12:16 Plot of novel 15:40 Reactions to novel 17:41 Excerpt from Joseph and His Friend 30:59 Sources 31:55 Preview of episodes after June 35:50 Preview of Pride Month Episodes 34:57 Outro Learn about what is generally agreed to be the first America...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a reprise of Becoming Poe - the Celebrate Poe episode with the second highest number of downloads. I make some opening remarks, and a preview for 1st episode of this podcast, followed by a brief preview of the next episode (The First American Gay Novel) REPRISE OF EPISODE ONE This episode basically explains where I am coming from regarding this podcast - my (almost...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 59 Anastasia and Other Imposters Vortigern (Shakespeare’s Lost Play) https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/ireland-vortigern Inspired’ by Mary Shelley’s “The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck,” this episodes examines 4 fascinating imposters - Perkin Warbeck, Thomas Chatterton, Henry Ireland, and Anna Alexander (Anastasia) 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Perkin Warbeck, School, and Po...

Send us Fan Mail This episode examines The Rocky Horror Show, and compares it with three of Poe’s works - The Fall of the House of Usher, Enchanted Palace, and Dreamland. 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Beginnings of Rocky Horror  04:02 Movie Adaptation 06:01 Rocky (Horror) as longest-running movie  06:40 Importance of movie 09:40 Personal reaction to movie 11:58 Ghost of Poe enters 13:40 Comparison with...