top of page


The Forgotten Tragedy of Krishna Venta and the WKFL Fountain of the World
In the early hours of December 10, 1958, residents around Box Canyon, a quiet corner of California, were jolted awake by a terrifying...


Theo Van Gogh: The Filmmaker Who Stirred Up Dutch Society
Theo Van Gogh, Dutch filmmaker and outspoken critic, was no stranger to controversy. Like his famous great-granduncle, the painter...


Anatoly Moskvin: The Life of a Scholar Obsessed with Death
A brilliant linguist. A secret apartment of mummified dolls. The strange, haunting story of Anatoly Moskvin — the Russian historian whose obsession with death blurred the line between scholarship and madness.


Samuel L. Jackson’s Wild College Days: When He Held Martin Luther King Sr. Hostage and Ushered at MLK Jr.’s Funeral
Samuel L. Jackson, the Hollywood powerhouse with over 200 movie credits, didn’t start his career anywhere close to the spotlight. Back in his college days, he was deep into activism, so much so that he once took Martin Luther King Sr. hostage during a student protest. And, as if that wasn’t enough of a plot twist, he’d actually worked as an usher at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral just a year before. The Hostage Incident That Shook Morehouse College It was 1969, and Jackson


The Paradox of John Paul Getty's Frugality: Extreme Wealth, Extreme Thrift, and Complex Personal Relationships
John Paul Getty, one of the wealthiest men in the 20th century, amassed a fortune estimated at around $2 billion, a figure that would...


The Scandals of Robert Maxwell: From War Hero to Notorious Media Mogul
The life of Robert Maxwell reads like a Hollywood script—rags-to-riches triumph, towering ambition, scandal, and a mysterious death...


Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson: Harlem’s Most Notorious Godfather and His Ties to the Mob
Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson is one of those names that loom large in Harlem's history. Not just a gangster but also a poet, a philanthropist, and a talented chess player, Bumpy was as much a part of Harlem's culture as its nightlife and jazz clubs. Born on October 31, in either 1905 or 1906, in Charleston, South Carolina, Bumpy's childhood wasn't easy. His family moved him to New York at age 13 after his older brother, Willie, was accused of killing a white man, a serious charg


Défilé by AES+F Group: The Macabre Intersection of Fashion and Death
In the contemporary art landscape, few pieces strike a chord as unsettling and thought-provoking as Défilé by the renowned Russian art collective, AES+F. Composed of seven digital collages displayed in lightboxes, Défilé immerses viewers in a darkly evocative “fashion show” of haute couture and mortality. Each image juxtaposes luxurious garments, white silk gowns, leopard-print coats, tailored tuxedos, and delicately draped red evening dresses, over lifeless, anonymous cadave


The Birth of Frankenstein and the Roots of Dracula: The Night Gothic Horror Was Born
On a storm-laden night in June 1816, a small group of English romantics gathered at Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. This night would produce not just one but two enduring characters in Gothic literature: Frankenstein’s creature and the archetype of the vampire, later inspiring Bram Stoker’s Dracula . It was under eerie skies and with thunder rumbling overhead that Mary Shelley first conceived the story that would haunt generations. Alongside her, Dr. John Polidori


Mussolini’s Early Arrests: The Fascist Leader’s Tumultuous Path to Power
In the early 20th century, a young Benito Mussolini was far from the iron-fisted dictator he would later become as the head of Fascist...


That Time Joe Strummer Disappeared For Six Weeks, Later To Be Found Living Rough In Paris
In early 1982, The Clash found themselves in a turbulent period marked by internal friction and brewing tensions. Despite the impending release of a new album and a busy tour schedule spanning Europe and North America, the British rock band was anything but harmonious. The rapport between frontman Joe Strummer and guitarist Mick Jones had become strained, largely due to clashing personalities and growing egos. Meanwhile, drummer Topper Headon’s ongoing battle with drug addict


Jayne Mansfield and Anton LaVey: Hollywood’s Glitz Meets the Occult
The unlikely meeting between Jayne Mansfield and Anton LaVey—the blonde bombshell of Hollywood and the shaven-headed founder of the Church of Satan—captured a unique cultural moment. This was the 1960s, an era when the public was deeply fascinated by all things countercultural. At first glance, they seemed worlds apart: Mansfield, the glitzy Hollywood star who once rivalled Marilyn Monroe in fame, and LaVey, a mysterious figure dressed in black, often described as a “modern-d


How Bodies Were Judged In The Miss Universe Contest, 1959
A chart published in 1959, which was shared by the LA Times blog , illustrating how women’s bodies were judged in the Miss Universe contest: Shoulders too square Shoulders too sloping Hips too wide Shoulder bones too pronounced Shoulders and back hunched Legs irregular, with spaces at calves, knees and thighs The form divine, needs only a beautiful face So there you have it, hopefully we've moved on a bit...


Sylvia Likens: The Harrowing Case of Abuse, Torture, and Murder at the Hands of Gertrude Baniszewski
The murder of Sylvia Likens in 1965 remains one of America’s most disturbing cases. Abused, starved, and tortured by her caretaker, her death changed how the world looked at child protection.


Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky: The Master of Maritime Paintings
When we think of paintings that evoke the tempestuous and serene nature of the sea, the name Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky often comes...


Behind the Scenes: Ray Harryhausen Crafting Mythical Creatures for Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans (1981) stands as a monumental film in the history of cinema, celebrated not just for its epic storytelling but for...


Coulrophobia: Why Are People Afraid of Clowns?
Coulrophobia, or the fear of clowns, is something that’s become pretty well-known in recent years. For many, clowns are a source of fun and laughter, but for others, they evoke pure fear. This phobia often stems from clowns’ exaggerated make-up, strange costumes, and unpredictable behaviour. Over time, clowns have gone from cheerful entertainers to unsettling figures in both pop culture and real life. But what exactly causes this fear? And how did it become so widespread? Let


Sada Abe: The Shocking Story of Obsession and Murder in 1936 Tokyo
Sada Abe, one of the most infamous figures in Japanese criminal history, remains a symbol of obsession and tragedy. Born in 1905 into a...


The 1956 Hungarian Uprising: A Long Fight for Freedom
The 1956 Hungarian Uprising marked a significant turning point in the Cold War, as the people of Hungary rose against Soviet oppression...


The Final Days of Albert Anastasia: The Brutal End of the Lord High Executioner
Albert Anastasia, sometimes known by his nickname "Lord High Executioner," was one of the most feared and powerful figures in organised...


Thuggee Assassins of India: Real Killers or British Colonial Myth?
A photograph of a group of elderly men sitting on a mat, taken in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, circa 1865. Two of the men are looking at...


War Relocation Authority Photographs: Japanese American Incarceration During WWII
The photographs taken by the War Relocation Authority (WRA) provide a significant visual record of the experiences of Japanese Americans before and during World War II, especially as they were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in concentration camps. These images, largely forgotten for many years, hold immense historical importance, capturing the resilience, dignity, and hardship of an entire community subjected to unjust treatment by the U.S. government during a period of


Carl Tanzler: The Doctor Who Dug Up His Dead Patient and Slept Beside Her for 7 Years
In 1933, radiologist Carl Tanzler stole his dead patient's corpse from its tomb. He slept beside it for seven years, until her sister found her in his bed.
bottom of page

