Dearly Departed Podcast

We scare up a hilarious cast of Universal Monsters in this classic '60s sitcom!

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2023

A splendid time is guaranteed for all as we dive into the 1978 musical film "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" starring Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees, and George Burns!

Transcribed - Published: 8 September 2023

"You'll be scared until you laugh yourself silly" as we explore the 1966 Don Knotts horror-comedy classic "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken."

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2022

On the anniversary of the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders at the hands of the Manson Family in 1969, we revisit the landmark made-for-TV movie "Helter Skelter" (1976) based on the bestselling true crime book by Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi.

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2022

Grab your golden ticket and join our tour of the iconic 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” starring Gene Wilder.

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2022

Take a magical ride through the legendary sitcom "Bewitched," and the tales of stars Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, Dick Sargent, and more!

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2022

We take a holly, jolly trip through classic Christmas recordings from favorites like Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and more!

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2021

This episode is ALIVE! ALIVE! as we discuss Universal's classic monsters from the 1930s, including Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, and more! Hollywood figures include Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Charles Laughton, James Whale, and other legends.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2021

"Gooble gobble, one of us!" We accept you into the fascinating world of 1932's Freaks, an MGM film so controversial that it was banned in the UK for three decades.

Transcribed - Published: 30 August 2021

We brave the dangers of The Towering Inferno and the real-life fates of its stars, including Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Fred Astaire, and William Holden!

Transcribed - Published: 29 June 2021

The Force is with us as we blast our way through the original Star Wars film and the fates of its iconic actors!

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2021

We dish on one of the most iconic and groundbreaking TV sitcoms of all time, starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley!

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2021

Celebrate the holidays with us as we dive into the 1988 classic TV special Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse and its MANY celebrity guest appearances, including Little Richard, Charo, Magic Johnson, Grace Jones, Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg, k.d. lang, Dinah Shore, Joan Rivers, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Cher, Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, and the Del Rubio Triplets!

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2020

"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" On this Election Day in the US, we escape to Oz and explore the fates of the actors from the most watched film of all time, 1939's The Wizard of Oz.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2020

You're gonna need a bigger boat as we dive into Jaws in our biggest episode yet! We also discuss the passing of Chadwick Boseman, Olivia de Havilland, Wilford Brimley, and more. And Scott talks about meeting Roy Scheider himself!

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2020

What better time to talk about "Grease" than on a summer night? Scott and Mike also discuss Carl Reiner, Naya Rivera, some recent shocking news related to the LaBianca family, and more!

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2020

We pull off into the wrong driveway with Scott's favorite movie, Sunset Blvd. (aka Sunset Boulevard)! We also discuss Little Richard, Fred Willard, Jerry Stiller, Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy, the allegedly haunted Ozzie and Harriet house, and more.

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2020

We're on the hunt for James Bond and the fate of the films' many actors spanning more than five decades! Also discussed: Brian Dennehy, John Prine, Jan and Dean, and more. Also, check out the video version of this episode on YouTube at "DearlyDepartedOnline": https://www.youtube.com/user/DearlyDepartedOnline And please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dearlydepartedpod

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2020

"What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" We're talkin' 'bout the classic '80s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and some of the most troubled child stars in TV history. Relive the last days of Gary Coleman and Dana Plato, and find out what happened to the rest of the cast. We also talk about Kenny Rogers, Crocodile Dundee, Doris Day, and more! And as a Dearly Departed Pod FIRST, you will be able watch video of this episode on YouTube at "DearlyDepartedOnline": https://www.youtube.com/user/DearlyDepartedOnline It takes Diff'rent Strokes to move the world... And it took technology to make this show while socially distanced during the coronavirus pandemic. No podcast hosts were harmed during the production of this episode as we produced it remotely from our individual homes. So stay home, wash your hands, and listen to the Dearly Departed Podcast!

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2020

In this episode, we "improv" our way through 45 years of Saturday Night Live and the deaths of John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chris Farley and Phil Hartman. We also talk about Kobe Bryant, Kirk Douglas, Ron Jeremy, Scott's trip to the Oscars, and more!

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2020

In this “mini episode” we talk about Liberace, Anna Nicole Smith, Dollywood, The Beatles and more! Also, we just launched on Patreon.com, so please go to patreon.com/dearlydepartedpod to SUPPORT THIS PODCAST! You can sign up for as little as just $2 per month. Mini-episodes like this one will only be available to our patrons there from now on, so please sign up to keep getting every episode of the Dearly Departed Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2020

We remember to avoid the brown acid as we dance through the history of Woodstock! Also discussed: Rush drummer Neil Peart, Buck Henry, The Beatles, Brittany Murphy, Nashville and Dollywood, famous LA houses, Tupac, and more. And we got our first sponsor!

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2020

It's the premiere of our first "mini episode" which focuses on historical deaths-of-the-month, starting with January! We discuss New Years, old celebrity-owned restaurants, the band Type O Negative, Cher, The Kennedys, Coco Chanel, David Bowie, and more.

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2020

Another episode of the Dearly Departed Podcast gets its wings as the hosts reveal the fates of the cast of the holiday film classic It's a Wonderful Life, with stories about stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, director Frank Capra, and more! They also discuss legendary producer Robert Evans, Hollywood street performers like the late Christopher Dennis (aka "Hollywood Boulevard Superman"), and other recent Hollywood-related news.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2019

It's a spooky Halloween special as we dig up stories about the Poltergeist franchise and the tragic early deaths of some of its stars, including the murder of Dominique Dunne and death of child actor Heather O'Rourke. We also tell some of our personal ghost stories and share some of host Scott Michaels' ghostly "EVP" recordings.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2019

SOCK! POW! ZOK! We take on the Dynamic Duo and the original Batman television series from the 1960s, and the fates of its many cast members, including Adam West, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Julie Newmar, and Vincent Price! We also discuss the passing of Cars frontman Ric Ocasek and singer Eddie Money, host Scott Michaels' days of prank-calling celebrities, and more.   Co-host Mike Dorsey with Burt Ward (Robin) at a martial arts event at Hollywood Park in 2012 Envelope from Cesar Romero to host Scott Micheals with Oprah invitation included to keep an enclosed photo from bending   Thank you note from Vincent Price to Scott

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2019

We creepy crawl into Quentin Tarantino's epic Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and host Scott Michaels' credited contributions to the film as a historical consultant. Hear fun behind-the-scenes stories about the film from both hosts, and explore the connections to their 2009 documentary The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter. Also discussed: Peter Fonda, Easy Rider, and more! ***SPOILER ALERT!*** We talk openly about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, so if you haven't seen the film yet, DO NOT listen to this episode until you have!   Dearly Departed podcast host Scott Michaels with Quentin Tarantino at the former home of Manson victim Jay Sebring Scott in front of the Nicole Brown Simpson murder crime scene, which spawned hate mail ARTICLE: The Hollywood Ripper is convicted of murder and attempted murder ARTICLE: Body of man missing for 10 years found behind grocery store coolers

Transcribed - Published: 18 August 2019

We "dive" into the iconic disaster film The Poseidon Adventure and the true fate of its cast. We also discuss the new Tarantino film, ALF's Max Wright, and other odd news of the day! VIDEO: Host Mike Dorsey’s video of the 4th of July earthquake in Southern California LISTING: The LaBianca house is for sale ARTICLE: Former Mouseketeer Dennis Day’s handyman arrested in his death ARTICLE: Holocaust survivor run over by lady in Valley Village, CA ARTICLE: Man pulled over with rattlesnake, uranium and open bottle of whiskey ARTICLE: Woman killed by steel straw VIDEO: Teaser for the Judy Garland biopic Judy ARTICLE: Max Wright tabloid scandal VIDEO: Trailer for The Poseidon Adventure ARTICLE: Story about Shelley Winters auditioning VIDEO: Watch Mike's short documentary Happy for FREE on Vimeo VIDEO: Scott's "Goddess Bunny" video Roddy McDowall's Powder Room Display (Photos: Scott Michaels) Memorial for Shelley Winters at Silver Spoon (Photos: Scott Michaels)

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2019

Come and listen to our story 'bout a man named Jed... We talk The Beverly Hillbillies and the cast's fate! We also discuss OJ Simpson, the Oklahoma City bombing, LA's famous Formosa Cafe, Gloria Vanderbilt, and more! ARTICLE: The massive fire at Universal and the scandal brewing from it TWITTER: OJ Simpson's Twitter account WATCH: Two audio recordings of the OKC bombing explosion Host Scott Michaels' photos of the OKC bombing site ARTICLE: Is LAX’s Theme Building coming back to life as part of an on-airport hotel? Scott's photo of the Beverly Hillbillies house, also known as Chartwell Nancy Kulp's "interesting" photo spread Scott with Louis Nye, who was Sonny Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies and Zombo on The Munsters Scott with Buddy Ebsen aka Jeb Scott with Max Baer Jr. aka Jethro

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2019

We talk about music producer Phil Spector, actor Robert Blake, and the murders of Lana Clarkson and Bonny Lee Bakley! We also discuss Doris Day and her son Terry Melcher, Tarantino's new film, and more. WATCH: Host Mike Dorsey's Tupac and Biggie documentary Murder Rap on Amazon Prime (it's also on iTunes and other sites) Host Scott Michaels with the late Anthony Bourdain WATCH: The Albert Dekker scene from Scott and Mike's first documentary, Dearly Departed Vol. 1 WATCH: The official trailer for Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood WATCH: The famous Tim Conway Dentist and Elephant Story sketches ARTICLE: Tarantino, Pitt and DiCaprio in Esquire WATCH: Mike Dorsey's short documentary Happy (FREE!) about WWII flying ace and Hollywood assistant director Larry "Happy" Powell LISTEN: Bonny Lee Bakley's Just A Fan "70s Stalker Pop" Bonny Lee Bakley crime scene (via Getty and TMZ) WATCH: Lana Clarkson as Little Richard   Phil Spector's Pyrenees Castle, scene of Lana Clarkson's murder (credit: Jeremy Spann, courtesy of Ladd Jackson/Hilton & Hyland, via Curbed) Lana Clarkson murder scene (via Getty Images) WATCH: The trailer for TNT's James Dean film starring James Franco READ: Virginia Graham's "Manson, Sinatra and Me"

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2019

We're all revved up and ready to go as we talk about the Ramones! Scott and Mike also have updates on Luke Perry and former Disney Mouseketeer Dennis Day, and talk about 80s action sports movies, Wes Anderson, Nipsey Hussle, CBGB, and more! The poster for David Winters' Thrashin' (1986) starring Josh Brolin. It's "totally insane"! Listen: Scott's favorite Ramones song, I Just Want To Have Something To Do Dearly Departed Podcast host Scott Michaels with C.J. Ramone (left) and Tommy Ramone (right) Scott's Ramones ticket from the roller rink show in Detroit Scott's Ramones graffiti The paparazzi photo of Jack Osbourne with Mike partially in the shot :)

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2019

We take a fateful trip to Gilligan's Island and talk about the real life fates of the show's creator and 7 main "castaways." We also talk Scott Walker, Bea Arthur, and more! Dearly Departed Podcast host Scott Michaels' photo of Sherwood Schwartz's grave marker Scott Walker (Dezo Hoffman/REX/Shutterstock) Watch: Tribute to Richard Erdman's "Leonard" character on Community Article: Deputy Digby Rowe tackles Charles Manson in court Buy: The Gilligan's Island DVD set (it's also on Amazon Prime) Watch: The original Gilligan's Island intro from the pilot before the show was changed Article: Read about Newton Minow's famous "Television and the Public Interest" speech Watch: The Howells' last TV appearance together for Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn Watch: Russell Johnson (The Professor) talks about his Gilligan's Island castmates Alan Hale's Lobster Barrel restaurant, circa 1985 (Flickr) Scott Michaels with members of the Gilligan's Island cast, including Alan Hale Jr., Bob Denver, and Dawn Wells Scott Michaels with Sherwood Schwartz

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2019

We talk the deaths of Rebel Without a Cause's James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Natalie Wood. And we also discuss Luke Perry, Jan-Michael Vincent, Brody Stevens, Karl Lagerfeld, The Black Dahlia, and more! Scott's The Monkees drum head denying the Manson rumor Video: Comedian Brody Stevens on "The Meltdown" Video: Brody Stevens "The Half Hour" on Comedy Central Link: Read about the Magic Castle Suicide - "He hung himself, and the great irony is that he was really good at rope magic." Link: "Family searching for original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer Dennis Day" Video: Rebel Without a Cause official trailer Last photo of James Dean before leaving the LA area in his Porsche 550 Spyder on the day he died (Corbis) Scott Michaels with producer Lloyd Adams and Dearly Departed Podcast co-host Mike Dorsey following James Dean's last drive Link: Information on the Remembering James Dean Festival in Fairmount, Indiana. Video: One of the last interviews with Sal Mineo, on the set of P.S. Your Cat is Dead. Sal Mineo's apartment in West Hollywood Sal Mineo murder scene Link: "Cracking the Case of Murdered Actor Sal Mineo" - James Ellroy Video: Sal Mineo's "Start Movin'" Video: Lana Wood confronts Robert Wagner about her sister's death Buy: Black Dahlia, Red Rose by Piu Eatwell

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2019

We talk about the death of Walt Disney, and also about the Disney theme parks, with a special guest who played characters at Walt Disney World! We also discuss Yvette Vickers, the Black Dahlia, and more! Video: See Scott explore the home of Yvette Vickers before it was torn down! Link: Check out the channel for Ask A Mortician. Video: Watch actor Dick Miller tell Corey Feldman to shut the %#@! up. Video: The cousin of Manson murder victim Gary Hinman speaks out against his killer, Bobby Beausoleil, getting released from prison.   The former Silver Spoon Restaurant, now gone Guns N' Roses at Canter's Deli (photo credit Reckless Road via Rolling Stone's website) Buy: Get Marc Canter's book Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction! Building where Kurt Cobain rented an apartment on Spaulding Ave. in Los Angeles, a few blocks east of Canter's Deli Link: Check out Scott's Black Dahlia Mystery Tour! Buy: Black Dahlia Avenger by Steve Hodel ...AND Exquisite Corpse: Surrealism and the Black Dahlia Murder ...AND Black Dahlia, Red Rose by Piu Eatwell! Watch: The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story about Walt Disney's music writing duo. Article: Read about the guy who played Jack Sparrow at Disneyland (the original article has disappeared). Watch: Escape from Tomorrow, the indie film shot guerrilla-style at Disneyland without permission. Watch: Scott takes someone else's tour and calls it out (starts about 3 1/2 minutes in). Watch: The dragon burns at Walt Disney World!

Transcribed - Published: 8 February 2019

Scott and Mike discuss The Addams Family and the deaths of cast members Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, and Ken Weatherwax. We also talk a little about Carol Channing, the Manson Family, the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and more! Video: Watch a short video of Dearly Departed Tours and Museum's Sharon Tate Birthday Party, with their newly acquired personal effects (Link) Link: Check out LA Woman Tours! Article: Read about Manson follower Bobby Beausoleil getting recommended for parole (Link) Video: There used to be a recording online of Beausoleil and fellow former Manson follower Clem Grogan playing in a band together in prison (probably Beausoleil's "Freedom Orchestra" band) where we're pretty sure Beausoleil called Grogan out by name, but the link appears to have been taken down. However, this live video of the band from 1978 appears to show the two of them performing together (Link) Link: Support Justice for Homicide Victims Buy: In Morticia's Shadow: The Life & Career of Carolyn Jones ...and Addams Chronicles: An Altogether Ooky Look at the Addams Family by Stephen Cox Some of the cremains of Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley) on display at Dearly Departed Tours and Museum in Hollywood Link: Check out the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Article: Judy Garland's remains moved to LA (Link) Article: Read about the man buried in the crypt over Marilyn Monroe (Link) Video: Amazing newsreel footage about the lynching of the accused murderers of Jackie Coogan's college friend, Brooke Hart (Link) Jackie Coogan's roadster after the crash that killed both his father and his best friend, fellow actor Junior Durkin Article: An interesting blog post about the crash and Coogan's friendship with Durkin (Link) Dearly Departed Podcast co-host Mike Dorsey with Batman series actor Burt Ward (Robin) in 2012

Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2019

In this episode we discuss the bizarre murder of B-movie actress Susan Cabot, AKA Roger Corman's The Wasp Woman!  Covered in this Episode: IN THE NEWS Article: People Magazine's 1987 write-up on the missed interview between Molly Ringwald and Lillian Gish (Link) Article: Ringwald's defense of the missed interview (Link) "Early in my career I was asked to do an interview with Lillian Gish and I was really excited. But then everything got screwed up, I smashed my finger in a door, the taxi took me to the wrong end of town, it was the middle of winter, I couldn't get another taxi, and I was heart-broken because they said she didn't want to do it anymore. So I got flowers and wrote her a note and said how sorry I was, and they just wrote this sort of... like... horrible piece on how I stood up this sweet old woman who had a plate of cookies waiting for me. I mean they couldn't have written it to be worse. They got a much better article out of me that way than if I'd showed up, and it started this feeling that I was a bratty actress who didn't care and left people waiting. I've never been the kind of person who would do that." MAIN FEATURE :: The Wasp Woman ::   The Wasp Woman (1959) Article: JFK files: CIA lined up actress for date with Jordan's King Hussein during visit to United States (Link) Jordan's King Hussein (1957) Timothy Scott Roman, Susan Cabot's son Article: Scott's write-up on the death of Susan Cabot at FindADeath.com! Susan Cabot's house and the scene of her murder Bold laundry detergent - murder weapon hiding spot Susan Cabot's grave marker, made possible by Scott Michaels and friends WRAP-UP Article: Death Tour Owner Makes Sure Forgotten Actors Get a Headstone (Link) Actor Johnny Arthur's grave marker, made possible by Scott Michaels and friends Article: Scott's write-up on the death of actor Herve Villechaize at FindADeath.com! Bullet hole from gun that killed actor Herve Villechaize Video: My Dinner with Herve trailer (Link) Link: Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2019

The Dearly Departed Podcast explores the dark side of Hollywood history. It is led by famed Hollywood historian Scott Michaels -- who operates LA's Dearly Departed Tours and FindADeath.com, and who has been featured as an expert on E! Entertainment multiple times, as well as in his own documentaries like The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter -- and co-hosted by filmmaker Mike Dorsey (The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter, Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders, Demon House). Every two weeks we will explore a different Hollywood death or other dark and fascinating story from Tinseltown's sordid history! Covered in this Episode: IN THE NEWS Penny Marshall, left, and Cindy Williams as the title characters in the ABC sitcom “Laverne & Shirley.” Ms. Marshall’s success on the show paved the way for her directing career. Credit ABC Please Support: LA Conservancy and Hollywood Heritage Article: Owner who demolished Neutra house ordered to build exact replica (Link) Article: Neutra House in Palm Springs Destroyed (Link) MAIN FEATURE :: Death of Santa Claus :: Article: Ho Ho Ho! Read bout Leroy Scholtz aka Santa Claus at FindADeath.com! :: Dean Martin :: Dean Martin (Getty Images) Video: Watch the Martin and Lews Reunion from 1976!  Article: FindADeath's writeup on the death of Dean Martin The old Hamburger Hamlet that Deano used to hang out at Scott's Dean Martin beer bottle :: Tiny Tim :: Video: Watch Tiny Tim perform his hit Tiptoe Through the Tulips Article: Tiny Tim on FindADeath   WRAP-UP Article: Kevin Smith survives 'massive' heart attack: 'I would've died tonight' (Link) Download: Scott's FindADeah Death A Day App!     Special Thanks again to LA's El Coyote Restaurant!

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2018