Podcasts about killer cocktails

Welcome back to the studio.  This is My Day of Play, where you're taken into the real events and actions of how it happens long before the process of editing or cleaning up.  The original purpose of these episodes was to give my broadcasting students something to edit, to practice with and to call their own.  Then I realized that you are just as important.  Share the reality of how it really went.  We begin things with the WWE's LA Knight who gives us an inside view of the world of wrestling and so much more.Then we'll wrap things up a delicious twists with Holly and Maria who host the podcast Killer Cocktails.This is My Day of Play.  Completely unedited in the way of meeting the wizard behind the curtain.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Friends of the show Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi of the podcast Criminalia and the book Killer Cocktails join us for a conversation about women, true crime, cocktails, and working together as friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historical true crime doesn’t have to be dry. We chat with Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, hosts of the podcast Criminalia, about how they illuminate stories through cocktails (and mocktails!) in their show and new book: Killer Cocktails: Dangerous Drinks Inspired by History’s Most Nefarious Criminals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criminalia podcast hosts Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi join host Aaron Sagers to discuss their new book, Killer Cocktails: Dangerous Drinks Inspired by History's Most Nefarious Criminals. Every month, over 200,000 listeners download Criminalia to hear stories of history's wildest and most devious criminals they never knew existed. But this isn't just any true-crime podcast—more than an engaging history lesson, Criminalia also offers a cocktail recipe to go with each criminal. Now, the hosts of Criminalia, Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, expand their pursuits with the new book Killer Cocktails, where they serve up stories of heists, murders, tragic persecutions, and more — all with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks inspired by the tales. _______________________________________________________________ Talking Strange Paranormal Show with Aaron Sagers is a weekly paranormal pop culture podcast featuring celebrity and author interviews, as well as learned experts in all things strange and unexplained. Sagers is a paranormal journalist and researcher who appears as host of 28 Days Haunted on Netflix, and on Paranormal Caught On Camera on Travel Channel/Discovery+, and Talking Strange is part of the Den of Geek Network. If you like Talking Strange, please subscribe, leave a nice review, and share with your friends. The Talking Strange Paranormal Show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you check out spooky content. For more paranormal pop culture, head to Den of Geek, and follow @TalkStrangePod on Twitter. Email us with episode ideas, and guest suggestions, or for a chance to have your letter read on a future episode: TalkingStrange@DenOfGeek.com Follow Host Aaron Sagers: Twitter.com/aaronsagers Instagram.com/aaronsagers Facebook.com/AaronSagersPage tiktok.com/@aaronsagers Patreon.com/aaronsagers (For Q&As, livestreams, cocktail classes, and movie watches) Until Next Time: Be Kind. Stay Spooky. Keep It Weird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What pairs well with the story of an identity-shifting murderess who burned her house down to cover up a crime? A fiery jalapeño cocktail (or mocktail), of course. How about the Charles Dickens super-fan who took things a bit too far? That one's less obvious, so you'll have to consult page 44. From poison to pirates, identity theft to art heists, KILLER COCKTAILS has a cocktail - and mocktail option - to pair with 144 of the wildest, wackiest historical crimes that co-authors Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi could dig up. A small sampling of the menu: The Legend of Locusta, the Imperial Poison Maker of Ancient Rome (p20) and cocktail: The Botanist's Latte (p22)This Just In: Elizabeth "Betty" Bigley Was Not Really the Daughter of Andrew Carnegie (71) and cocktail: The Calling Card (74)Jeanne de Clisson and Her Bloodthirsty Revenge (108) and cocktail: Red Sails (110)William Cunningham, the "Bogeyman" of Cincinnati (163) and cocktail: Corpse Juice (165)The Day the Dali Escaped From Prison (240) and cocktail: Dali's Antics (242) Why the combo of baddies and booze? The authors explain: "In some instances, the cocktail is a way to lighten the mood after a particularly grueling or grisly tale. In others, it's about celebrating someone who bypasses the law for the common good, or even someone who has transitioned from villainous to . . . less villainous? More than anything, it's about finding ways to give stories from the past a festive, exciting, and new spin-and have fun doing it." The beloved co-hosts of iHeartPodcasts' "Criminalia" (both) and "Stuff You Missed in History Class" (Frey) bring their trademark humor and deep research - as well as their mixology skills - to the project. But as they write in the introduction, "It's OK to play. Tweak your drinks to your tastes! If you make a bad drink you'll only mourn the wasted ingredients. There's no such thing as cocktail jail and the family will not seek revenge. usually."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

It's a celebration of HALLOWEEN with Holly Frey (Full of Sith, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Criminalia podcasts)! She's also an author, clothes designer, and lover of all things Halloween. We have a Halloween Happy Hour, of sorts - Richard, Sarah, and Holly share favorite Halloween childhood memories, first scary movie we saw, favorite Halloween costume, and we ask “You're a late-night horror host, what is your name and what is your show about?” (we also want to know your answers as well so let us know in the comment).  In true Skywalking form, there's also a HOLLYween Trivia Game of TERROR!     Holly and her Criminalia co-host Maria Trimarchi's NEW book, Killer Cocktails: Dangerous Drinks Inspired by History's Most Nefarious Criminals, is available now wherever books are sold. Please let us know which cocktails inspire you the most!   Today in Star Wars History - 10/27/2005   Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination opens at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts. The tour, which consists of eighteen engagements, continues until February 23, 2014. (9 years!)The Museum of Science created this traveling exhibit that features numerous props, models, and over a dozen costumes used in the Star Wars saga. The exhibit focuses on the science behind the technology in the films such as Luke's landspeeder and Anakin's prosthetic hand and showcases real world comparisons. A reproduction of the Millennium Falcon cockpit simulates the jump to lightspeed and features narration by Anthony Daniels and R2-D2.   SPONSORS   Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content.   CONTACT US   Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland   Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.   If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!   Never Land on Alderaan!

It's a celebration of HALLOWEEN with Holly Frey (Full of Sith, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Criminalia podcasts)! She's also an author, clothes designer, and lover of all things Halloween. We have a Halloween Happy Hour, of sorts - Richard, Sarah, and Holly share favorite Halloween childhood memories, first scary movie we saw, favorite Halloween costume, and we ask “You're a late-night horror host, what is your name and what is your show about?” (we also want to know your answers as well so let us know in the comment).  In true Skywalking form, there's also a HOLLYween Trivia Game of TERROR!     Holly and her Criminalia co-host Maria Trimarchi's NEW book, Killer Cocktails: Dangerous Drinks Inspired by History's Most Nefarious Criminals, is available now wherever books are sold. Please let us know which cocktails inspire you the most!   Today in Star Wars History - 10/27/2005   Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination opens at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts. The tour, which consists of eighteen engagements, continues until February 23, 2014. (9 years!)The Museum of Science created this traveling exhibit that features numerous props, models, and over a dozen costumes used in the Star Wars saga. The exhibit focuses on the science behind the technology in the films such as Luke's landspeeder and Anakin's prosthetic hand and showcases real world comparisons. A reproduction of the Millennium Falcon cockpit simulates the jump to lightspeed and features narration by Anthony Daniels and R2-D2.   SPONSORS   Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content.   CONTACT US   Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland   Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.   If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!   Never Land on Alderaan!

What pairs well with the story of an identity-shifting murderess who burned her house down to cover up a crime? A fiery jalapeño cocktail (or mocktail), of course. How about the Charles Dickens super-fan who took things a bit too far? That one's less obvious, so you'll have to consult page 44. From poison to pirates, identity theft to art heists, KILLER COCKTAILS has a cocktail - and mocktail option - to pair with 144 of the wildest, wackiest historical crimes that co-authors Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi could dig up. A small sampling of the menu: The Legend of Locusta, the Imperial Poison Maker of Ancient Rome (p20) and cocktail: The Botanist's Latte (p22)This Just In: Elizabeth "Betty" Bigley Was Not Really the Daughter of Andrew Carnegie (71) and cocktail: The Calling Card (74)Jeanne de Clisson and Her Bloodthirsty Revenge (108) and cocktail: Red Sails (110)William Cunningham, the "Bogeyman" of Cincinnati (163) and cocktail: Corpse Juice (165)The Day the Dali Escaped From Prison (240) and cocktail: Dali's Antics (242) Why the combo of baddies and booze? The authors explain: "In some instances, the cocktail is a way to lighten the mood after a particularly grueling or grisly tale. In others, it's about celebrating someone who bypasses the law for the common good, or even someone who has transitioned from villainous to . . . less villainous? More than anything, it's about finding ways to give stories from the past a festive, exciting, and new spin-and have fun doing it." The beloved co-hosts of iHeartPodcasts' "Criminalia" (both) and "Stuff You Missed in History Class" (Frey) bring their trademark humor and deep research - as well as their mixology skills - to the project. But as they write in the introduction, "It's OK to play. Tweak your drinks to your tastes! If you make a bad drink you'll only mourn the wasted ingredients. There's no such thing as cocktail jail and the family will not seek revenge. usually."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

“It's the Hair – not the Hat That Makes a Woman Attractive,” read one ad for the Seven Sutherland Sisters' scalp cleaner. Sisters Sarah, Victoria, Isabella, Grace, Naomi, Dora, and Mary Sutherland were performers who sang and played instruments, but what the crowds came to see was their hair; primarily because there was, collectively, 37 feet of it. By 1880, they were billed as the "Seven Wonders" – and just four years later, their patent hair tonic had made them a fortune. This is a Victorian rags-to-riches story. Well, it's more of a rags-to-riches-to-rags story. As it goes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1946, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company launched an ad campaign with the slogan, “More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette.” Long before Camel cigarettes became the doctor-approved cigarette of choice, at least in advertising, people living with asthma were often instructed to inhale smoke to relieve their symptoms. And that advice was for asthmatic adults – and children. ‘Asthma cigarettes', as they were called, and related products, weren't packed full of tobacco, though many did include it; they were, essentially, psychotropic drugs from the nightshade family that people inhaled in hopes of finding respiratory relief. Let's take a look at what kinds of quack – and, to be honest, some not-so-quack – products for asthma before the invention of the modern inhaler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the time he was in his 40s, Perry Davis was an entrepreneur who had tried, unsuccessfully, to start multiple businesses; and those failures had left him $4,500 in debt – roughly more than $160,000 today. In 1839, his bad luck continued when he then became ill with debilitating pain. Seeking even just any little bit of relief, he mixed up a concoction, containing mostly opiates and alcohol – a mix that would later become known around the world as, “Perry Davis' Vegetable Pain Killer.” And Davis would become known as the guy who trademarked the word, ‘painkiller'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Healy wasn't a real doctor. Charles Bigelow was never a scout in the United States Army. And, the products they sold weren't actually based on healing secrets of the Kickapoo people. Yet, the two men made a fortune from their Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company patent medicines – which, while named for them, not a single Kickapoo was involved with the company or its remedies. The story of Healy and Bigelow is one of quackery, lies, native cultural appropriation, and ... wait, did we call out the cultural appropriation? Yes? Well, then, let's talk about this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Norman Baker was an entrepreneur, a pioneering radio personality, and a fake doctor. He was a masterful propagandist, and through his radio station and multiple tabloid publications, he manipulated American anxieties about everything from politics to alleged ills of vaccinations. But his biggest claim was that he could cure cancer, in just six weeks, with his own elixir -- and your money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though the Pink Pills couldn't stand up to the wild advertising claims that the product was a cure-all, the pills were actually potentially medically beneficial to some people with a certain -- common -- condition; in theory. Maybe. Hey, we're not doctors. Let's talk about, how despite that, why this potentially potent patent medicine was under fire from the U.S. government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Bailey called himself a doctor, but his career was as a shady businessman, not a medical professional. In the early 20th century, he launched a series of start-up companies, capitalizing on the new discoveries of radioactive elements, and sold patent medicine products with lethal radioactive substances with unproven promises to cure everything from arthritis to impotence – it was said they could help you regain your youth. But instead, they were deadly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, if you're asked to think of a tractor, most of us probably imagine farm equipment. But in the late 18th century, a physician named Elisha Perkins made and sold a different kind of tractor – a device consisting of small metal rods that could cure what ails you simply through touch. And for several years, people were mad for the Perkins Patent Metallic Instruments, or Perkins Tractors as they became popularly known -- even though it all turned out to be what we now know as the placebo effect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode DescriptionWhen Maude Mayberg was 38 years old, this was back in 1890, she 'discovered' an elixir that transformed her life. It was called Fruitcura, she said, and it cured her ailments when medical doctors could not. Two years later, she was a patent medicine entrepreneur and saleswoman going by the name, Madame Yale. Let's talk about how that's code for, snake oil peddler. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clark Stanley was a silver-tongued Texas cowboy who called himself the ‘Rattlesnake King'. Back in the late 19th century, he wasn't the first charlatan going from town to town in the American West, hawking quack products -- during this time when patent medicines were gaining popularity, American consumers could buy all sorts of fraudulent snake oil products like his. But Clark had a certain flair. A certain charisma and showmanship others didn't. And, for a few years, he really was the Rattlesnake King -- and king of the snake oil salesmen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From illicit love letters to political bribes, everyone has a secret, and it's the threat of exposure that's key to this crime -- and we discovered a whole lot of surprising examples along the way -- including a man who built his own submarine, hoping to escape with his payout under Lake Michigan; it sounds made up, but we speak the truth. We have enjoyed sharing these sometimes-almost-unbelievable stories of crime and criminals with you. Listen as Holly and Maria share their favorite shows and drinks from the season in our 'Blackmail' season finale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snake oil. Today the term describes any worthless remedy that's promoted as a cure-all. And, by extension, snake oil salesmen are considered a bunch of rip-off artists who peddle fraudulent goods. We're rolling straight from the criminal world of blackmail and extortion into a new season -- we'll see you there, not only with some very real stories about some very bogus things, but also with the cocktails and mocktails made to go with them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a story of a Texas oil tycoon, a congressman from Idaho, and a financial commodities broker in Oklahoma City. It's a story of blackmail, yes. But it's also a story of political corruption and ethics uncovered by that blackmail. There's a lot going on here, and pretty much everyone's guilty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary Ann Clarke attempted to blackmail her ex-lover, the Duke of York — who led the British army — by threatening to publish his letters. Sounds similar to Wellington but it takes a turn: His political enemies took notice, and they discovered that Mary Ann was selling army commissions (meaning, men who wanted a military rank or promotion would pay off Clarke, who would then demand that the Duke give her clients what they wanted). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milwaukee Magazine once described Walter Minx as slender and fidgety, with, "the kind of sharp-featured handsomeness that the movies had taught people not to trust." He was German-born, and immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his parents, his brother, and his sister in 1925. He aspired to be a successful American businessman; he wanted to make a fortune -- and a name for himself. He did make a name for himself, but not quite the kind as he'd hoped for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When All-American footballer George Ratterman announced his candidacy for sheriff of Campbell County, Kentucky, in April of 1961, he said, “I am told that if I run for sheriff, I will be the victim of all sorts of personal slanderous attacks, but I say to our opponents, let the attacks start now, if they must.” And, well, the attacks did start – culminating in a high-profile set-up of Ratterman in a compromising position with a woman named April Flowers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joseph Jenkins Knapp, Jr. was expecting to receive a sizable inheritance upon the death of his 82-year-old great uncle, wealthy retired shipmaster and trader Captain Joseph White. But with debts piling up, Knapp decided he couldn't wait for natural causes; in April of 1830, he and his brother, John Francis Knapp, hired a hitman to murder him, faked some blackmail letters, and, in the end, didn't get any inheritance at all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started just after Labor Day, with an envelope postmarked September 13, 1935, sent special delivery, addressed to Miss Mae West of 570 N. Rossmore, Ravenswood Apartments, Hollywood, California. There was nothing unusual about the envelope, but its contents were a different matter. It was the first of what would become a series of extortion letters threatening disfigurement by acid if she didn't pay $1,000. This wasn't about keeping secrets or giving favors; it was about taking money from Mae West. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Described by some as a, “charming rogue,” Charles Augustus Howell was a dodgy figure in Victorian art circles, in particular London's Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood movement. There was extortion. There was forgery. And just a whole lot of unsavory bits. Howell was an art dealer by trade who was also known to manipulate those around him so he could acquire works that would establish and increase his reputation – and his financial security. When that didn't work, in the words of biographer Humphrey Hare, "Howell did not hesitate to blackmail." So let's get to know this charming-yet-unsavory character.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a story of controversy; actually, more than one controversy. It's a story of medieval kings and queens, of revenge, and of a letter that challenges the circumstances historians thought they knew surrounding King Edward II's death – including possible blackmail. Or maybe not blackmail. Stick with us while we try to sort it out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philandering husband Edwin Main Post found himself blackmailed by a scorned mistress who threatened to go public with their affair unless he paid her and her publisher to stay silent. This is a story about blackmail, yes, but it isn't actually a story about Edwin, not really; this is the story about how his wife, Emily Price Post, suffered the humiliations of his actions and the blackmail that ensued, and then rose above it. Let's hop back to Manhattan during the Gilded Age for this story of adultery, blackmail, and bestselling books about etiquette. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regency courtesan Harriette Wilson exposed in her memoirs the names of royal, aristocratic, and political men, whom she then blackmailed to keep their names out of those memoirs. Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, was, famously, one of those influential names. Arthur was a national hero and wasn't the kind of man who was easily intimidated; and when Harriette threatened to name his name, he was outraged, leading him to roar the now-famous quote: "Publish and be damned!" Let's talk about what happened next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Neill Cream graduated with honors from Montreal's McGill medical school in 1876. His thesis had been about the effects of chloroform; and he would soon demonstrate just how devastating he could be with toxic compounds. Several people died under his 'care.' But we're not here to talk about Dr. Cream the murderer; we're here to talk about his other criminal offense: extortion. Thomas was ultimately undone when he attempted to frame and blackmail other people for his murders. Let's meet the doctor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I got a revolver to protect us, and I soon had use for it,” stated Constance Kopp when interviewed about the intruders intimidating her family under the cover of darkness at her home. Her assistance with solving the case led to her role as the first female appointed deputy sheriff of Bergen County, New Jersey. Let's talk about how Constance got there in a time when women were not-so-much welcomed into such work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the final episode of our season of forgers, where we've been exploring the stories of some of the most amazing forgeries – and those behind them -- throughout history. But it wasn't all about fakes and forgeries. There were plenty of cocktails and mocktails to go around, too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a brand new season of Criminalia, where we'll be talking about blackmail throughout history. We're rolling straight from the criminal world of forgers to one of blackmailers -- we'll see you there, not only with some very real stories about some very shady things, but also with the cocktails and mocktails made to go with them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 18th century, early animatronics were hot. They were featured in circuses, carnivals, and other touring exhibitions, and were usually built and operated with various parts like axles, chains, cogs, gears, levers, pulleys, wheels, wind-up keys – you get the point. For Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, in 1769, Hungarian inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen's created the Mechanical Turk, a chess-playing machine that could beat almost any person who played against it. The Turk appeared to be a fully functional artificial intelligence to those who saw and interacted with it. It left audiences delighted, but baffled as to how it worked -- until a young poet named Edgar Allan Poe convinced many audiences it was not what it seemed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a group of miners uncovered a skull deep in a mine shaft on the western slopes of Bald Mountain in Calaveras County, California, it was believed, at least initially, to be a history-changing discovery. The owner of the mine didn't know at first what it was that he'd dug up that day in 1866. And when he shared it with those who might, including the State Geologist of California, things went a bit, well, off the rails. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the summer of 1917, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths convinced a whole lot of people, including the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, they'd seen fairies neat their home -- and they had photographic evidence to prove it. After decades of keeping their ruse a secret, they admitted their "joke was to last two hours, and it has lasted 70 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 1970s, McGraw-Hill Book Company landed what could have been the literary scoop of the 20th century: A writer named Clifford Irving pitched them that he'd obtained the permission of the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes to write a tell-all memoir of the mogul. That manuscript, though, turned out to be one of the biggest literary hoaxes of the 20th century, and it landed Irving in prison. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April of 1896, the Louvre announced it had purchased a tiara they believed must have been from the treasure house of a great Scythian king -- and that it had the exciting potential to rewrite ancient history. But only a few days after putting it on display, there were questions about its authenticity. The tiara, they would come to learn, was a fake. And in this episode, we're talking about it as part of a larger conversation of, how much art in museums is not what it seems? Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 19th-c German goldsmith famous for his forgeries of Renaissance objects, including jewelry and vessels. His fakery was discovered after his death, during a major archive by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby Bias  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Done to death by slanderous tongues," wrote William Shakespeare in his play, 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Shakespeare may be a renowned English playwright, poet, and actor, but, he has a bit of a credibility problem among some circles, and he has for quite a long time. It's known as the 'Shakespeare Authorship Question', and we're going to talk about some theories that suggest Shakespeare was a fake -- before we talk about a man who wrote a five-act play pretending to be the Bard. That could not have been easy. So, how now, good friends, and welcome.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. has a fake crystal skull. And so does the British Museum in London, as does Paris's Quai Branly Museum. As of 2019, it was estimated there are more than a dozen crystal skulls known to exist. Long considered pre-Columbian relics, they've also inspired theories about the occult, aliens, and psychic abilities. But the reality is, none of it's true. Meet Eugène Boban, the real provenance of crystal skulls.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sculptor Alceo Dossena was an impactful figure in the art world of the early 20th century because he created forged masterpieces capable of fooling even the most expert of experts. Critics attributed his pieces to famous classical and Renaissance artists, and his works were sold through dealers and purchased by museums and collectors. But in an unexpected turn of events, the forger sued the dealers who sold his work. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virtuoso Fritz Kreisler was known and is remembered for his artistry as a violinist and composer -- and, also, as an unashamed showman. He was one of the most beloved and best known of the early recording-era artists, and a household name in his day. In fact, he was so adored by his audiences that when he revealed some of the pieces he'd performed and attributed to composers such as Vivaldi, Pugnani, and Couperin were, actually, his own compositions, the critics were irate, but his fans continued to pack concert halls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of people around the world collect, preserve, and trade or sell postage stamps; the hobby, or investment, is known as, philately. The first stamp forgeries began to show up, well, when the first stamps showed up. The Penny Black, the world's first adhesive stamp, was issued in 1840, and the world's first forged stamps followed later that year. Stamp collecting has been called, quote,  "the hobby of kings and the king of hobbies." And for a time in the early 20th century, a man named Jean de Sperati was king.  Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some historians believe Italian forger Tobia Nicotra may have produced hundreds of document and signature forgeries attributed to names like Mozart and Galileo, before he was caught in the 1930s. He faded into obscurity, but his forgeries didn't. And for more than 80 years the University of Michigan housed a Galileo manuscript they didn't know was fake -- until a historian named Nick Wilding called its bluff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wilma Minor's 'Lincoln the Lover' forgery has been called one of the most audacious literary hoaxes of all time, and involves an alleged love story between a young Abraham Lincoln and a woman named Ann Rutledge. There was never any conclusive evidence the two had a romantic relationship; there was nothing in the historical record – no letters or notes between them, for instance -- that showed any indication of their love. Until 1928.  Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's said his own handwriting was a neat and graceful script, not unlike Abraham Lincoln's. He could fake the hand of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Baker Eddy, and dozens of other historical figures. In fact, experts believe that a large number of the documents he produced in the early 20th century are still circulating today -- and inaccurately regarded as genuine. This is the story of Martin Coneely, alias, Joseph Cosey, who could sign Benjamin Franklin's name perhaps better than Ben, himself. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Valentine's Day of 1961, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had to, for the very first time, announce they were housing a fake. Three fakes, actually. After nearly three decades as a prized exhibit, their Etruscan Terracotta Warriors, as they'd become known, were determined to be inauthentic -- but here's the story of how and why The Met should have know that fact before they ever put them on display. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dutch painter Han van Meegeren has often been described as a dapper man, with, quote, “a small, birdlike frame constantly aflutter, and irreverent sense of humor.” His life story is anything but small. It's not just about art; it's about deception, fortune, Bakelite, and … Nazis. And, it has an unexpected twist at the end. Welcome to a new season of forgery and forgers, here on Criminalia. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly FreyProducer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.