Life Upon the Wicked Stage

The Floozies open with personal travel updates, including Ashley's "soft elopement" wedding before an Italy trip, Jen's Lisbon Filmapalooza trip with Rotten Rabbit TV (including making a short film) followed by 10 days in Paris, and Olivia's private-jet travel to an Alice Cooper concert where she reconnects with theater contacts. They then introduce the episode's topic: Gianni Versace's life and m...

Jen, Ashley, and Olivia discuss theories about Marilyn Monroe's death, separating documented facts from speculation, following Donald Wolfe's 1998 book Last Days of Marilyn Monroe. They review claims that Monroe may have been a homicide victim tied to alleged Kennedy relationships and potential political fallout, including testimony from Deputy DA John Miner suggesting drugs entered through the la...

Jen, Ashley, and Olivia open their true-crime-in-entertainment podcast with personal updates and then begin a two-part episode on Marilyn Monroe, including a warning about disturbing content and an apology for misnaming Peter Lawford. Jen recaps Monroe's early life as Norma Jean Mortenson (born June 1, 1926), marked by her mother Gladys Baker's severe mental illness, foster care and an orphanage,...

Ashley dives into the "Twilight Zone: The Movie" disaster, detailing the July 23, 1982, on-set helicopter crash in California that killed actor Vic Morrow and child actors Micah Dinh Le (7) and Renee Shin-Yi Chen (6) and injured six others. They discuss John Landis's "Time Out" segment and explain how studio concerns about an unsympathetic protagonist led Landis to add a Vietnam rescue ending invo...

Jen dives into the post–World War II Red Scare in Hollywood, framing it as a true-crime-like witch hunt driven by fear rather than evidence. Beginning with HUAC's October 20, 1947 investigation, they explain how subpoenas, the question "Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?", and pressure to "name names" split witnesses into "friendly" and "unfriendly," leading to the...

T Olivia recaps the docuseries "Dirty Pop: The Life and Times of Lou Pearlman," and traces Pearlman's path from a bullied, document-forging kid with an obsession with blimps to founding Airship International, allegedly aided by a Nazi-affiliated businessman and mafia-linked backing. They describe how Pearlman created Transcontinental Records, formed and controlled Backstreet Boys and NSYNC (rehear...

Ashley delves into the life and death of Hollywood actor Gig Young (born Byron Ellsworth Barr), a prolific Golden Age performer with over 100 film credits, Oscar nominations, and a Best Supporting Actor win for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), yet persistent feelings of inadequacy rooted in an emotionally cold childhood and alleged sexual abuse by a caregiver. Known as the charming second le...

The hosts discuss Jerry Lee Lewis's career and controversies, including his rise at Sun Records, membership in the "Million Dollar Quartet," and hits like "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," alongside stories of ego and volatile behavior. They outline his marriages and family tragedies: a bigamous second marriage before his first divorce finalized; marriage at 22 to 13-year-o...

The hosts of Wicked Stage Pod introduce an episode about the still-unsolved 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in Boston, including background on Isabella Gardner's Venetian-palace-style museum, her restrictive will, and spotty security. On March 18, 1990, two men posing as Boston police were buzzed in, handcuffed and duct-taped two guards in the basement, and spent 81 minutes stealing 13...

The hosts of a true-crime arts-and-entertainment podcast discuss the 1922 unsolved murder of silent film director William Desmond Taylor, who was found shot in the back inside his Los Angeles bungalow; early crime-scene contamination and a mysterious "doctor" who wrongly declared a stomach hemorrhage complicated the case. Born William Cunningham Deane-Tanner in Ireland, Taylor immigrated to the U....

In this episode of 'Life Upon the Wicked Stage,' hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia dive deep into the chilling events surrounding the Tate-LaBianca murders orchestrated by Charles Manson and his followers. They explore the brutal details of the crimes, discuss various motives including the infamous helter-skelter theory, failed music ambitions, and potential drug connections. The discussion also highl...

Holiday Horrors: JonBenét Update & Krampus' Legend In this Christmas-themed episode of the Wicked Stage Pod, the hosts delve into the darker side of the festive season. They start with Jen discussing ghost stories' deep roots in Christmas traditions, tracing back to medieval Europe and Charles Dickens' influence. Ashley updates listeners on the ongoing JonBenét Ramsey case, revealing new forensic...

In this special Halloween crossover episode, the Wicked Stage Podcast joins forces with the Fish 'N' Brits Podcast to delve into the infamous mystery of Jack the Ripper. The episode explores the historical context of the Whitechapel murders, examines different suspects including Joseph Barnett, John Pizer, and even the legendary Sergeant Boston Corbett, and discusses the sensational impact of the...

The First Annual Floozy Awards - Celebrating a Year of Stories, Laughs, and True Crime In this special episode, hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia celebrate the one-year anniversary of their true-crime podcast 'Life Upon the Wicked Stage' by presenting the first annual Floozy Awards. The hosts discuss various memorable episodes from the past year, highlighting their favorite moments, one-liners, shocki...

This podcast episode, featuring hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia, delves into the tragic on-set shooting that occurred during the filming of the movie 'Rust' on October 21, 2021. The hosts discuss the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of cinematographer Helena Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza by a live round discharged from a revolver handled by actor Alec Baldwin. They highl...

In this episode, hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia delve into the true crime story of Vivian Gordon, also known as the Broadway Butterfly. The podcast explores her life, her involvement in the seedy underworld of 1920s and 30s New York, and the events leading up to her mysterious murder. The story includes her early life, attempts to escape the showgirl lifestyle, her ultimate entanglement in organize...

In this episode hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia delve into the tumultuous relationship of Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart and Mayo Method. Known as the 'Battling Bogarts,' their marriage was marked by public brawls, violence, and Mayo's increasing paranoia and alcoholism. The episode covers Bogart's rise to fame, Method's early career, and their eventual split after Bogart falls in love with Laure...

This episode delves into the notorious NXIVM cult, uncovering its malicious inner workings and the harrowing experiences of its members. Hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia shine a light on the guise of self-improvement sold to recruits, the manipulative strategies employed by leader Keith Raniere, and the distressing ordeals faced by those involved, including forced labor, branded rituals, and sexual a...

In this episode, Jen, Ashley, and Olivia from the 'Wicked Stage' podcast interview Matt Palm, a notable writer and critic for the Orlando Sentinel. They discuss Matt's extensive focus on arts and culture, specifically his unique experiences covering the 'Basquiat art scandal' at the Orlando Museum of Art. Matt shares his journey, from his start as a theater and arts critic to handling the complexi...

This episode of the podcast dives into a controversial and gripping true crime story in the art world. Hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia discuss the case of 25 alleged Basquiat paintings displayed at the Orlando Museum of Art. The episode explores the dubious provenance of these paintings, their eventual seizure by the FBI, and the downfall of art museum director Aaron De Groft. Despite expert warning...

In this episode, hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia delve into the mysterious and spooky history of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, often referred to as 'The Scottish Play' due to its infamous curse. The program begins with a listener discretion warning due to descriptions of violence. The trio, dressed in eclectic outfits inspired by theater green rooms, discuss the history and superstitions surroundin...

In this episode of 'Life Upon the Wicked Stage,' hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia delve into the suspicious death of George Reeves, the original Superman. The episode explores the night of Reeves' death, the controversial ruling of his demise as a suicide, and the complex web of relationships and events leading up to his passing. The hosts uncover shady findings, including suspicious accidents and po...

Hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia delve into the chilling true crime case of Helen Mintiks, a talented violinist who was murdered during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1980. Through a detailed narrative, the hosts explore the investigation led by detectives Mike Struck and Jerry Giorgio, uncovering the involvement of stagehand Craig Crimmins, who ultimately confessed to the crime. Th...

In this episode, Jen leads the discussion on Olive Thomas, an American silent film actress, model, and Ziegfeld girl who is rumored to haunt the New Amsterdam Theater in New York  (and they celebrate Olivia finally getting a professional microphone). The episode details Olive's rise to fame, tumultuous marriage to Jack Pickford, and her mysterious death at age 25 from mercury poisoning under uncle...

This episode dives into the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth. Hosts Jen, Ashley, and Olivia explore how Booth's Confederate sympathies led him to kill Lincoln, detailing his failed plan to also assassinate other government leaders. They highlight Booth's methodical approach, his escape, and eventual capture, while juxtaposing this with Edwin Booth's life and ca...