Astonishing Legends

Latest Episodes:

Amelia Earhart Vanishes Part 2 Nov 27, 2014

Show notes

Legend:
Did Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan live short lives as castaways, or were they lost at sea after running out of fuel and ditching their Lockheed Electra 10E? Maybe they were taken prisoner, interrogated and eventually executed by the Japanese in Saipan? If none of those are right, maybe Amelia changed her identity and lived her days out as a woman named Irene Bolam who settled down in New Jersey?
This episode is part 2 of a special about aviation's most famous disappearance of all time, that of Amelia Earhart.
Stories:
Normally we break these down a little more, but it's Thanksgiving Day and I've got to get in the kitchen. All links as promised from this episode are below. If you can't click on these, visit our website.
Triangulating Amelia's last radio signals, Youtube. TIGHAR's Smoking Gun, Artifact 2-2-v-1, The Aluminum Panel The 1991 LA Times Article by Paul Dean discounting 2-2-v-1 Earhart and Noonan's Take-off from Lae, Papua New Guinea. TIGHAR's Wire & Rope Movie Mike Campbell's Blog, Earhart Truth. TIGHAR's Debris Field Analysis TIGHAR on the Bevington Object Prepping the Electra for the trip. The In Search Of on Amelia Earhart The SS Norwich City The Consolidated PBY on Wikipedia TIGHAR's PBY Rebuttal, posted just days ago TIGHAR's page on the Norwich City shipwreck. TIGHAR on feasibility of Betty Klenck hearing Amelia. A diagram of Betty Klenck's shortwave radio antenna. Betty Klenck's notes from the day she thought she heard Amelia. SKIP on CB Radios. Documentary, Earhart's Electra. World of Mysteries Documentary supporting Elgen Long's hypothesis. The Chater Report. Flight Route Map Nauticos Mike Campbell's Book, The Truth at Last on Amazon. Richard Martini's Film, Earhart's Electra on Amazon. Earhart on Saipan, Martini and Mike Harris' website.
For more information on this episode visit our website!
Credits:
Episode 005 - 'Amelia Earhart Vanishes (Part 2)' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved.

Amelia Earhart Vanishes Part 1 Nov 14, 2014

Show notes

Background:
Amelia Earhart is one of the most famous aviators in the world and she flew into the history books in July of 1937 when she and her navigator, Fred Noonan, took off from Lae, Papua New Guinea for Howland Island. They never made it. Come with us on part 1 of this 2 part special while we take you back to what her life was really like in the years leading up to her vanishing.
Legend:
There are dozens of theories about Amelia's disappearance, most of which don't hold water, but there are three or four that any one of which proven true would make for one of the most fantastic tales ever told.
This episode is about aviation's most famous disappearance of all time, Amelia Earhart.
Stories
(Links work best in iOS on iTunes or on our webpage at astonishinglegends.com)
On Amelia Earhart:
The Wikipedia Page on Amelia Her Official Website A great History Channel Page on Amelia The 99's Her Lockheed Electra 10E Special Her Lockheed Vega 5B
Interesting Facts: Contrary to popular belief, Amelia was considered by many, including close friends, not to be a great pilot. Paul Mantz supposedly cited pilot error after their failed take-off in Hawaii (he later died of pilot error himself). Her lack of finesse was also apparent on various occasions when she would compete in air races and finish far in the field with a bouncy landing in front of all the spectators.
No one on Earth ever doubted her courage however.
On Fred Noonan:
The Wikipedia Page on Fred A History Channel Page on Fred
Interesting Facts: Noonan had reportedly wanted to open a navigation school and saw his participation in the circumnavigation as a way to generate interest. Unfortunately he was lost at sea.
On Paul Mantz:
Wikipedia Page on Mantz Youtube Video showing Paul Mantz's final fatal accident.
Interesting Facts: Paul Mantz became a movie stuntman and died filming 'Flight of the Phoenix'.
For more information on this episode visit our website!
Credits:
Episode 004 - 'Amelia Earhart Vanishes (Part 1)' Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved.

Greyfriars Kirkyard Halloween Special Oct 30, 2014

Show notes

Welcome to episode 3 of Astonishing Legends!
This episode is about the most well documented ongoing physical haunting in the world at the legendary Greyfriars Kirkyard
Links for folks who are interested!
(Links not clickable in all podcast apps, visit our website if they aren't working for you.)
The Kirkyard -
The Wikipedia entry on Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Greyfriars Bobby -
The Wikipedia page on Bobby.
The Disney Movie.
Covenanter's Prison -
On Covenanters.
A memorial to the battle.
Bloody George Mackenzie -
The Wikipedia page on Bloody George.
Interesting Fact about Mackzenzie:
He had several male children, but every single one of them died before they could father a child.
The Black Mausoleum -
Pictures of the source of evil.
The Battle of Bothwell Brig -
Wikipedia page on the battle.
St. Giles Kirk -
The High Kirk of Scotland, where it all started.
Plague Masks -
Fun visit from the Doctor?
City of the Dead Tours -
Website
Outstanding Book if you're interested in this story -
The Ghost that Haunted Itself, by Jan-Andrew Henderson
AL003
For more information on this episode visit our website!

Queen Mary & The Haunted Valentine Oct 17, 2014

Show notes

Welcome to episode 2 of Astonishing Legends!
This episode is about the floating hotel that the RMS Queen Mary has become and how she treats a couple of guests who've selected her for a romantic Valentine's Day getaway.
Links for folks who are interested!
(Links not clickable in all podcast apps, visit our website if they aren't working for you.)
The RMS Queen Mary -
The Wikipedia entry on the Queen Mary..
The award for the fastest Atlantic crossing by a cruise ship, the Blue Riband.
A timeline of her history from the Hotel website.
Some amazing older photos of her.
The Queen Mary during World War II from the Hotel Website.
A great article on rogue waves, including the one that hit the Queen Mary.
A brief page on hauntings aboard her. There are many hundreds of websites on this.
Here's a page detailing WWII troop crossings, aboard her.
More amazing photos of her history.
John Pedder & Watertight Door 13 -
A brief site discussing the death of John Pedder at watertight door #13.
The Munich -
The Munich and the story as it's understood about her sinking.
The HMS Curacoa -
Here's the wikipedia entry on the HMS Curacoa.
Indrid Cold -
A good page on Indrid Culd.
The Poseidon Adventure (original 1972) -
One of the best original disaster movies there is, inspired by the Queen Mary and her brush with capsizing.
AL002
For more information on this episode visit our website!

Hollywood Ending Oct 02, 2014

Show notes

Welcome to the first episode of Astonishing Legends!
This episode is about what The City of Angels gives back when you come here seeking fame and fortune and includes a death tour among the Hollywood Hills with a visit to a particularly macabre destination at the end.
Links for folks who are interested!
(Links work best in iOS only on iTunes or on our webpage at astonishinglegends.com)
Full URL's shared at bottom of text if your podcast app doesn't show them as clickable.
On Dorothy Stratten -
A fan site dedicated to Dorothy.
The Wikipedia entry on Dorothy.
An interview with Peter Bogdanavich from People Magazine in 1989 about Dorothy.
Dorothy on Johnny Carson in 1980.
Pictures of Dorothy and Paul Snider, the loser pimp and her murderer.
More on Dorothy and Paul and her Death.
Interesting Fact: Sleazeball Paul Snider had to get Dorothy's mom to sign a waiver so he could have her professionally photographed nude when he 'discovered' her in Canada because she was underaged.
Paul, strangely, was also friends with Max Baer (Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies), and Max, at one point dated Sharon Tate.
On the Manson-Tate Murder and 10050 Cielo Drive -
10050 Cielo Drive, the infamous house.
The Wikipedia entry on Sharon Tate.
This day in History (History Channel) Sharon Tate.
Find-a-death on Sharon Tate.
Interesting Fact: Trent Reznor was the last resident of the house before it was torn down and the address was changed. He recorded 'The Downward Spiral' here in fact, in a studio he named 'Le Pig' as an homage(?) to the murder. He reportedly had not thought much of being in the house past it being a part of 'American Folklore', in his words, until he met Tate's sister by chance and she asked him point blank if he was trying to capitalize on her death. He ultimately moved out before the house was torn down, but he took the front door with him and uses it at the new version of his recording studio to this day.
On Lana Turner and Johnny Stompanato -
The Wikipedia entry on Lana Turner.
The Wikipedia entry on Johnny Stompanato.
The Wikipedia entry on Lana's daughter, Cheryl.
Lana & Johnny - Crime Library Link
The Daily Mirror Newspaper from that day.
On Yvette Vickers -
The Wikipedia entry on Yvette Vickers.
A People Magazine Article on Yvette.
HuffPo on Yvette's cause of death.
A good blog entry on Yvette.
Another article.
An amazing intimate portrait with Yvette as told by someone who knew her personally.
Interesting Fact: Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward was none too pleased with Yvette's on set chemistry with Newman during the filming of HUD and saw to it that she was nearly cut out of the film entirely. This happened to Yvette more than once, who herself confessed to being flirty, but most certainly not a tramp and completely monogamous when she was with someone. Jealousy in Hollywood can be a true monster and it's fair to say that it contributed to the death of all of the starlets featured in this episode of our show.
Connections: Max Baer was friends with and briefly dated Sharon Tate. Sharon Tate was murdered in the house that Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon lived in after they got married. Cary broke up with Yvette Vickers to marry Dyan.
http://www.dorothystratten.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Stratten
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20119405,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SahoSvAAbH4
http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/s/Dorothy%20Stratten/dorothy_stratten.htm
http://www.franksreelreviews.com/shorttakes/stratton.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10050CieloDrive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Tate
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actress-sharon-tate-found-murdered
http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/t/tate/tate_murders.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lana_Turner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Stompanato
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Crane
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notoriousmurders/famous/lanaturner/8.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2008/04/johnny-stompana.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvette_Vickers
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20487308,00.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/yvette-vickers-cause-of-dn861762.html
http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives/2011/05/09/kansas-citys-yvette-vickers-from-playmate-to-mummy
http://www.theweek.co.uk/people-news/5801/%E2%80%9850-foot-woman%E2%80%99-starlet-may-have-been-dead-year
http://www.john-odowd.com/writings/remembering-my-friend-yvette-vickers-page-2/
AL001
For more information on this episode visit our website!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected