Category Archives: Podcasts

Jim Morrison: When the Music’s Over (Part One)

In June, 1965, recent UCLA film school graduate Jim Morrison, jobless and homeless, was residing on a Venice Beach rooftop.  Within two years, the Doors song “Light My Fire,” was the #1 song in the US. Four years later, Morrison was found dead in a Paris bathtub, aged 27.

Jim Morrison’s father, Admiral “Steve” Morrison.
Jim Morrison with his father on the USS Bon Homme Richard
Joel Brodsky photo for first Elektra album release
Pamela Courson
Doors on the Ed Sullivan Show, singing “Light My Fire”

Jim Morrison: When the Music’s Over (Part Two)

In June, 1965, recent UCLA film school graduate Jim Morrison, jobless and homeless, was residing on a Venice Beach rooftop.  Within two years, the Doors song “Light My Fire,” was the #1 song in the US. Four years later, Morrison was found dead in a Paris bathtub, aged 27.

Jim’s habitual room in the now closed Alta Cienega Motel
Room 32 and partial interior covered by subsequent guest graffiti
Cover from Doors’ album Morrison Hotel, this downtown LA abandoned location was recently destroyed by fire set by transients.
Miami mug shot taken after obscenity arrest in 1970
Plaque marking Jim’s spot at the bar of Barney’s Beanery
Initial bust on Morrison’s grave at Pere Lachaise cemetery
Morrison’s grave today.

The Pat Tillman Affair (Part One)

The treatment of former NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman’s friendly fire death is among the most shameful incidents in the history of the US military and government.

Pat Tillman on the Arizona Cardinals
Pat Tillman, ASU, Rose Bowl
Pat Tillman, US Army Ranger
Tillman’s Agent Frank Bauer
Marie Tillman
Dannie and Marie Tillman in front of an investigative committee of the US Congress

The Pat Tillman Affair (Part Two)

The treatment of former NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman’s friendly fire death is among the most shameful incidents in the history of the US military and government.

Typical patrol in Afghanistan
Pat and Kevin Tillman, US Army Rangers
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
General Philip Kensinger making six sentence statement concerning the death of Pat Tillman
Patrick Tillman, Sr., at Pat’s May 3 memorial
Tillman Army unit member Bryan O’Neal
Navy Seal Steve White speaking at Pat’s May 3 memorial

The Jeffrey MacDonald Murder Case (Part One)

Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence.

After almost fifty years of litigation, the McDonald murders remain among America’s most controversial murder cases.

Jeffrey Macdonald, in 1970
Jeffrey and Collette MacDonald on their wedding day
Kimberly Macdonald
Kristen Macdonald
544 Castle Drive
Freddy Kassab
Mildred Kassab

The Jeffrey MacDonald Murder Case (Part Two)

Warning: this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and one example of profanity.

After almost fifty years of litigation, the Macdonald murder case still  remains one of America’s most controversial crimes.

Recent photo of Jeffrey Macdonald, still in prison
Jeffrey MacDonald, during the trial
Helena Stoeckley
Jim Blackburn in 2014
Brian Murtaugh, immediately after the trial.

 

 

Bobby Sands and the IRA Plot To Kill Margaret Thatcher (Part One)

Some major players and events from Ireland’s “Troubles”

Bobby Sands, from a Northern Irish mural
The Ten Hunger Strikers
Bobby Sands Grave, and two other hunger strikers.
Long Kesh Prison

Bobby Sands and the IRA Plot To Kill Margaret Thatcher (Part Two)

Some major players and events from Ireland’s “Troubles”

The Grand Hotel after the bomb blast.
Grand Hotel Detail after bombing
Patrick Magee and Jo Berry
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, Oval Office, 1988.

Jan Baalsrud and World War II’s Greatest Escape (Part One)

Some men just refuse to die.

Jan Baalsrud’s escape route from Norway to Sweden
Jan Baalsrud
The Toftefjord
A replica of the Hotel Savoy, the original was burnt by vandals, this sits on the same spot as the original
View from the Hotel Savoy towards Furuflaten, Norway
Incline behind the Hotel Savoy to the Maggdalen plateau

 

Jan Baalsrud and World War II’s Greatest Escape (Part Two)

Some men just refuse to die.

Map of Jan Baalsrud’s escape from Norway to Sweden
Jan Baalsrud
The Gentleman’s Rock
Plaque on the Gentleman’s Rock
Area near Lake Kilpisjarvi
Jan Balsrud grave, Manndalen, Norway