Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

On Halloween night, 1992, Britain’s BBC 1 presented one of the most talked about programs in television history. The program was called "Ghostwatch" and it would eventually become one of the great “do you remember” moments of British television. The controversial airing left the public terrified and allegedly contributed to the suicide of an 18-year-old boy and PTSD in other children and adults. Today it is considered a cult classic.

 

Episode Sources:

“Ghostwatch: The BBC spoof that duped a nation” by Rebecca Woods, BBC News, October 29, 2017, BBC

“How we made: BBC mockumentary Ghostwatch” by George Bass, October 26, 2020, The Guardian

“Banned BBC show ‘Ghostwatch’ left traumatised viewers in tears and ‘unable to sleep for MONTHS’” by Damon Wilkinson and Steven White, October 30, 2022, Manchester Evening News

“Did anyone here watch Ghostwatch (1992) when it was first broadcast?” Reddit post and thread on “r/horror” by Yeetusboi690

“The Live Halloween Special That Terrified an Entire Nation” by Adam Donald, updated October 14, 2023, Collider

“Parents blame TV programme for son’s death” from The Independent on December 23, 1992

“Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains” 2012 Documentary (United Kingdom), directed by Rich Lawden, Lawman Productions, IMDB page

“Ghostwatch (1992)” from BBC One, directed by Lesley Manning, written by Stephen Volk, IMDB page

“Ghostwatch” on streaming service SHUDDER

 

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In the mid-’80s, Jon-Erik Hexum was a rising star with movie-star looks and major charisma, known for his breakout roles on Voyagers! and Cover Up. But just as his career was taking off, everything came to a sudden and shocking halt due to a tragic on-set incident—one that would leave Hollywood reeling and spark questions about how productions handle safety.

Episode Sources:

“Jack’s Story” by KC Conley on Tenafly Guy

“Local News in Brief : Actor Hexum’s Mother Sues Over Son’s Death” from L.A. Times Archives, August 1, 1985, L.A. Times

The Jon-Erik Hexum Fan Club and Archive

“Cover Up 1x07 (Excerpt) Jon-Erik Hexum Memorial” from s13rr4buf3 on YouTube

“SHOOTING OF JENNIFER O'NEILL IS BELIEVED ACCIDENTAL” by Franklin Whitehouse, Special to the New York Times, October 24, 1982, The New York Times

“Summer of ’42 Star Says ‘God Saved Me’ After Suicide Attempt and Accidental Shooting” by Nancy Flory, September 13, 2019, The Stream

“How Do Blanks Work As Compared to Regular Bullets?” by Mark Mancini, December 4, 2015, Mental Floss

“CHANGE OF HEART Extraordinary story of Jon-Erik Hexum – the actor who died playing Russian roulette on his own TV show and whose donated heart saved a Las Vegas pimp’s life” by Mark Hodge, February 12, 2018, The Sun

“Actor brain dead, officials say” from The Courier, October 19, 1984

“The Show Must Go On: How the Deaths of Lead Actors Have Affected Television Series” by Douglas Snauffer, McFarland & Company Inc., Publishers, Chapter 6, pages 79-95

“Entertainment agent Bob LeMond, who discovered John Travolta and…” from UPI Archives, August 8, 1986

“Cover Up” on IMDb

“Jon-Erik Hexum” on IMDb

“Voyagers!” on IMDb

“Jon-Erik Hexum’s ‘Cover Up’ co-star Jennifer O’Neill remembers late actor: ‘Gun safety is essential’” by Stephanie Nolasco, October 22, 2021, Fox News

“Jon-Erik Hexum” on Find A Grave

“Who Was Jon-Erik Hexum? How His Death Is Being Compared to Alec Baldwin Prop Gun Tragedy” by Jamie Burton, October 22, 2021, Newsweek

“Jon-Erik Hexum's Fatal Joke” by EW Staff, October 14, 1994, Entertainment Weekly

 

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horrorwoodpodcast@gmail.com

 

Creeptastic theme music by:

Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast

 

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Season 13 of American Horror Story premieres September 24, 2026, so we rummaged around our vault and found this episode (previously for subscribers only) on the Rosenheim Mansion, aka "the Murder House," which has been featured multiple times in the AHS franchise.

And in case you missed our social media post, we are taking a slight mental health break (2-3 weeks) so that we can reset and recharge before we gear up for our favorite time of year...FALL! 

 

And if you have your OWN story about a real-life haunted house experience, send it to us! We want to feature you on one of our Misfit Monday episodes. 

 

Episode Sources:

Film at the Rosenheim Mansion 

“In Honor of 10 Years of AHS, Here Are 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Real-Life ‘Murder House’” by Margeaux Sippell, MovieMaker Magazine, Oct. 5, 2021 

“We Went to the ‘Murder House’ to Learn About its Ghosts” by Juliet Bennett Rylah, We Like L.A., Oct. 30, 2020 

“The Owners of the American Horror Story "Murder House" Are Suing the Sellers for Their Unwanted Tourist Problem” by Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, Feb. 23, 2018 

“American Horror Story Murder House: The True Story That Inspired Season 1” by Shannon Lewis, Screen Rant, Apr. 12, 2023 

“Horror comes home” by Michael Idato, Sydney Morning Herald, Nov. 10, 2011 

“'American Horror Story's Evan Peters: 'It Just Gets Worse’” by Rennie Dyball, People, Nov. 16, 2011 

“We went inside the ‘American Horror Story’ Murder House ahead of virtual Halloween event” by Kelli Skye Fadroski, Los Angeles Daily News, Oct. 26, 2020 

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horrorwoodpodcast@gmail.com

Creeptastic theme music by:

Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast

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Famed singer Sam Cooke's life ended in a Los Angeles motel in December 1964, but the questions surrounding his death have never disappeared. An investigation quickly ruled the shooting justified, yet many believe the full story was never uncovered. Decades later, the mystery continues to spark debate and speculation.

 

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Episode Sources:

 

“Sam Cooke” by Jack Ewing, 2021, EBSCO

“Aretha Franklin: The Little-Known Traumas That Fueled Her Music” by Julie Miller, August 16, 2021, Vanity Fair

“Excerpt: 'Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke'” by ABC News, December 27, 2005, ABC News

“Aretha Franklin, Sexual Violence, and the “Culture of Dissemblance”” by Rachel Zellars, November 1, 2018, AAIHS

“Sam Cooke” from abkco

“Barbara Campbell Cooke, 85, Widow of the Slain Sam Cooke, Is Dead” by Penelope Green, Published September 22, 2021, Updated September 27, 2021, The New York Times

“A clearer vision” by Peter Guralnick, November 20, 2005, The Guardian

“A Fallen Star” by Edit Antoinette, March 23, 2009, I Grew Up In Chicago

“Sam Cooke: An Insatiable Libido and a Justifiable Homicide” from Disgraceland, Episode #03, March 6, 2018

“The Mystery of Sam Cooke’s Brutal Murder Remains Almost Six Decades Later” by Lauren Novak, December 11, 2023, Remind Magazine

“Too black, too strong: who killed Sam Cooke?” by Ellen E Jones, March 2, 2019, The Guardian

“What really happened to Sam Cooke?” by Anonymous, April 18, 2019, The Chicago Crusader

“Shooting of Sam Cooke Held ‘Justifiable Homicide’” from the New York Times Archives, December 17, 1964, The New York Times

“The Death Of Sam Cooke And The Conflict Details Of His Final Hours” by Genevieve Carlton, Edited By John Kuroski, Published May 24, 2026, All That’s Interesting

“True Crime : The Murder of Superstar Sam Cooke Plus his Hidden Grave and House” by SCOTT ON TAPE - Your Pop Culture Tour Guide on YouTube

“Rock’s Mysterious Deaths: Sam Cooke” by Bill DeMain, December 11, 2016, Performing Songwriter

“Why Mystery Still Shrouds Singer Sam Cooke's Shooting Death Nearly 60 Years Later” by Jordan Runtagh, Updated on January 21, 2021, People

“Sam Cooke dies under suspicious circumstances in LA” by HISTORY.com Editors, Published November 13, 2009, Last Updated: May 27, 2025, History

“Sam Cooke's Granddaughter Explains Why She 'Very Rarely' Says Yes to Projects as Estate CEO: No 'Room for Error'” by Rachel DeSantis, January 8, 2026, People

“The Curious death of Sam Cooke” by Heirs & Successes, April 1, 2016

“The ambiguous life and strange death of soul legend, Sam Cooke” by Pubali Dasgupta, December 11, 2020, Far Out Magazine

“COLUMN ONE : The Soulful Legacy of Sam Cooke : The charismatic minister’s son became a Top 40 sensation who inspired generations of singers. His explosive rise was cut short when he was slain at a motel 30 years ago.” by Edward J. Boyer, December 23, 1994, Los Angeles Times

 

Creeptastic theme music by:

Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast

 

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Sam Cooke changed American music with timeless hits, great record business success, and a very powerful voice for the Civil Rights Movement. His rise from gospel prodigy to soul legend seemed unstoppable until a late-night encounter at a Los Angeles motel ended in one of music's most controversial deaths.

 

For ad-free and bonus episodes:

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Subscribe on YouTube

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Join our Patreon:

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Follow us!

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Send us an email:

horrorwoodpodcast@gmail.com

 

Episode Sources:

“Sam Cooke” by Jack Ewing, 2021, EBSCO

“Aretha Franklin: The Little-Known Traumas That Fueled Her Music” by Julie Miller, August 16, 2021, Vanity Fair

“Excerpt: 'Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke'” by ABC News, December 27, 2005, ABC News

“Aretha Franklin, Sexual Violence, and the “Culture of Dissemblance”” by Rachel Zellars, November 1, 2018, AAIHS

“Sam Cooke” from abkco

“Barbara Campbell Cooke, 85, Widow of the Slain Sam Cooke, Is Dead” by Penelope Green, Published September 22, 2021, Updated September 27, 2021, The New York Times

“A clearer vision” by Peter Guralnick, November 20, 2005, The Guardian

“A Fallen Star” by Edit Antoinette, March 23, 2009, I Grew Up In Chicago

“Sam Cooke: An Insatiable Libido and a Justifiable Homicide” from Disgraceland, Episode #03, March 6, 2018

“The Mystery of Sam Cooke’s Brutal Murder Remains Almost Six Decades Later” by Lauren Novak, December 11, 2023, Remind Magazine

“Too black, too strong: who killed Sam Cooke?” by Ellen E Jones, March 2, 2019, The Guardian

“What really happened to Sam Cooke?” by Anonymous, April 18, 2019, The Chicago Crusader

“Shooting of Sam Cooke Held ‘Justifiable Homicide’” from the New York Times Archives, December 17, 1964, The New York Times

“The Death Of Sam Cooke And The Conflict Details Of His Final Hours” by Genevieve Carlton, Edited By John Kuroski, Published May 24, 2026, All That’s Interesting

“True Crime : The Murder of Superstar Sam Cooke Plus his Hidden Grave and House” by SCOTT ON TAPE - Your Pop Culture Tour Guide on YouTube

“Rock’s Mysterious Deaths: Sam Cooke” by Bill DeMain, December 11, 2016, Performing Songwriter

“Why Mystery Still Shrouds Singer Sam Cooke's Shooting Death Nearly 60 Years Later” by Jordan Runtagh, Updated on January 21, 2021, People

“Sam Cooke dies under suspicious circumstances in LA” by HISTORY.com Editors, Published November 13, 2009, Last Updated: May 27, 2025, History

 

Creeptastic theme music by:

Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast

 

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