AI True Crime
A Podcast untouched by human hands.
5 months ago

S1E1 - Phil Spector

A look at the murder of Lana Clarkson by a famed producer

Episode Notes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spector

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phil-Spector

https://www.biography.com/musicians/phil-spector

https://philspector.com/phil-spector-biography/

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-20/music-producer-phil-spector-indicted-for-murder-of-actress

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/phil-spector-famed-music-producer-and-murderer-dies-at-81

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/music-producer-phil-spector-convicted-murder-dead-81-2021-01-17/

https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-phil-spector-trial-20120927-story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/arts/music/phil-spector-dead.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/phil-spector-obit-1116002/

https://www.theguardian.com/music/phil-spector

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/31/phil-spector-wall-of-pain-review

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/phil-spector-career-murder-beatles-b1789089.html

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/phil-spector-dead-obituary-9519362/

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/17/957900514/producer-phil-spector-dead-at-81

https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/phil-spector-obit-reconsideration/

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/phil-spector-dead-1234884892/

https://consequence.net/2021/01/phil-spector-dead-81/

https://www.stereogum.com/2114361/phil-spector-dead/obit/

https://www.vox.com/2021/1/18/22235955/phil-spector-music-producer-death-murder-lana-clarkson

https://abcnews.go.com/US/phil-spector-music-producer-convicted-murder-dies/story?id=75327636

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/us/phil-spector-death/index.html

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6365951/people-v-spector/

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2012/b218360.html

https://allmusic.com/artist/phil-spector-mn0000330714/biography

https://teachrock.org/article/phil-spector/

https://aaep1600.osu.edu/book/08_Spector.php

https://www.songhall.org/profiles/phil_spector

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817682/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tearing_Down_the_Wall_of_Sound

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spector_(film)

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5 months ago

Robert Blake

Actor and Murderer...maybe.

Episode Notes

Robert Blake (actor) overview with detailed “Murder of Bonny Lee Bakley” sectionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blake_%28actor%29 Wikipedia

Bonny Lee Bakley – background on the victim and details of the killing and trialshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonny_Lee_Bakley Wikipedia

List of unsolved murders 2000–present – entry summarizing Bakley’s killing and Blake’s criminal and civil caseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsolved_murders_%282000%E2%80%93present%29 Wikipedia

Actor Robert Blake acquitted of wife’s murder – History.com case summary and timelinehttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-16/robert-blake-acquitted-of-wifes-murder HISTORY

Actor Robert Blake Acquitted in Shooting Death of His Wife – Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-17-me-blake17-story.html Los Angeles Times

Robert Blake Found Not Guilty of Killing Wife – ABC News trial reporthttps://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/LegalCenter/story?id=525076\&page=1 ABC News

The Murder of Bonny Lee Bakley: Case Remains Unsolved Decades Later – A\&Ehttps://www.aetv.com/articles/the-murder-of-bonny-lee-bakley-case-remains-unsolved-decades-later AETV

Who Really Killed Bonny Lee Bakley in 2001? – Biography.com crime featurehttps://www.biography.com/crime/a43275241/bonny-lee-bakley-murder Biography

Court cuts Robert Blake’s wrongful death judgment – Reuters on the appeal cutting $30M to $15Mhttps://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/court-cuts-robert-blakes-wrongful-death-judgment-idUSN26416189/ Reuters

Blake to pay $30m damages after guilty verdict – The Guardian on the civil wrongful death verdicthttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/nov/22/2005inreview The Guardian

Blake Hit with $30 Mil Wrongful Death Verdict – People magazinehttps://people.com/celebrity/blake-hit-with-30-mil-wrongful-death-verdict/ People.com

Robert Blake Case: Investigators Speak Out 15 Years After Death of Actor’s Wife – Peoplehttps://people.com/celebrity/robert-blake-case-investigators-speak-out-15-years-after-death-of-actors-wife/ People.com

Bonny Lee Bakley had a remarkable story that played a big role at her husband Robert Blake’s murder trial – ABC Newshttps://abcnews.go.com/US/bonny-lee-bakley-remarkable-story-played-big-role/story?id=60056830 ABC News

How Robert Blake’s bold and unpredictable personality played into trials for his wife’s murder – ABC Newshttps://abcnews.go.com/US/robert-blakes-bold-unpredictable-personality-played-trials-wifes/story?id=60261418 ABC News

Robert Blake Murder Case – CNN transcript (Larry King Live segment, 2002)https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lt/date/2002-11-12/segment/07 CNN Transcripts

Robert Blake Found Not Guilty of Killing Wife – CNN transcript (Nancy Grace, verdict day, 2005)https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ng/date/2005-03-16/segment/01 CNN Transcripts

Blake Jury Reviews Transcripts, Goes Home – Fox News on jury deliberationshttps://www.foxnews.com/story/blake-jury-reviews-transcripts-goes-home.print Fox News

Out on Bail, and Out of Jail Forever? How Robert Blake’s Pretrial Hearing Evidence May Help Him Win His Case At Trial – FindLaw legal commentaryhttps://supreme.findlaw.com/legal-commentary/out-on-bail-and-out-of-jail-forever.html FindLaw

Robert Blake Case File – Smoking Gun document hub (criminal complaint, letters, etc.)https://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/robert-blake-case-file thesmokinggun.com

The Robert Blake and the Bonnie Lee Bakley murder investigation – Englert Forensics analysishttps://englertforensics.com/the-robert-blake-and-the-bonnie-lee-bakley-murder-investigation/ englertforensics.com

The Alternative Science of the Robert Blake Criminal Trial – forensic science journal article (PDF)https://medwinpublishers.com/IJFSC/the-alternative-science-of-the-robert-blake-criminal-trial.pdf Medwin Publishers

Tual v. Blake – California appeal reducing civil judgment to $15M – Horvitz & Levy case summaryhttps://www.horvitzlevy.com/tual-v-blake-california-court-of-appeal-reduces-civil-judgment-against-actor-robert-blake-from-30-million-to-15-million/ Horvitz & Levy

Appeal From Robert Blake Wrongful Death Verdict – opinion (scanned document on Scribd)https://www.scribd.com/document/33530773/Appeal-From-Robert-Blake-Worngful-Death-Verdict-Opinion Scribd

Blake lawyer says civil trial was unfair – Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-16-me-blake16-story.html Los Angeles Times

Blake to Talk With Barbara Walters – Los Angeles Times on the jailhouse interview arrangementhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-15-me-blake15-story.html Los Angeles Times

Walters to interview Blake inside L.A. jail – San Francisco Chronicle / SFGatehttps://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Walters-to-interview-Blake-inside-L-A-jail-2669582.php SFGATE

Jailhouse interview granted; Blake to tell story to Walters – Lawrence Journal-Worldhttps://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/feb/16/jailhouse_interview_granted/ LJWorld.com

Robert Blake Can’t Keep Quiet – CBS News on his desire to speak publicly during the casehttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-blake-cant-keep-quiet/ CBS News

Entertainment Today: Showbiz News – UPI item on Blake’s Barbara Walters interviewhttps://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2003/02/19/Entertainment-Today-Showbiz-News/27521045641600/ UPI

State Court – Bail – Capital Murder – Mesereau Law Firm on defending Blake in the murder casehttps://mesereaulaw.com/state-court-bail-capital-murder/ Mesereau Law Group

Robert Blake, actor acquitted in wife’s killing, dies at 89 – PBS NewsHour obituary with case recaphttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/robert-blake-actor-acquitted-in-wifes-killing-dies-at-89 PBS

BLAKE BEATS RAP; SLAY VERDICT A SHOCKER – New York Post verdict coveragehttps://nypost.com/2005/03/17/blake-beats-rap-slay-verdicta-shocker-even-for-him/ New York Post

Bonny Lee Bakley had a remarkable story that played a big role at her husband Robert Blake’s murder trial – ABC News featurehttps://abcnews.go.com/US/bonny-lee-bakley-remarkable-story-played-big-role/story?id=60056830 ABC News

Lonely Heart – Robert Blake murder, Bonny Lee Bakley – trial chronology and documentshttps://www.vanceholmes.com/court/trial_blake.html vanceholmes.com

Season 7: The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley – Wondery’s Hollywood and Crime podcast season pagehttps://wondery.com/shows/hollywood-and-crime/season/7/ Wondery | Premium Podcasts

Introducing: The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley – Spotify episodehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0pBGzhc3pNMCvZKa3pt4OS Spotify

True Crime Vault: Robert Blake – 20/20 podcast page with trial discussionhttps://pod.wave.co/podcast/2020/true-crime-vault-robert-blake-cdb61086 Wave AI Podcast Notes

“20/20” Robert Blake – IMDb entry for Barbara Walters’ 2003 special on the casehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt6633994/ IMDb

The Robert Blake Case – Court TV / YouTube segment (video, but focused on the murder case)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCNcH_5G6ic youtube.com

The Mysterious Murder of Bonnie Lee Bakley – documentary episode on Blake casehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX1aqDBGCWE youtube.com

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6 months ago

The Crimes of Donald Trump

Even ChatGPT knows he's a crook...

Episode Notes

1. The 1973 DOJ Lawsuit Against Trump for Housing Discrimination

2. Trump Tower’s Mob-Connected Concrete Supply

3. Commodore Hotel and the Grand Hyatt Tax Abatement Scheme

4. Trump’s Use of the Alias “John Barron”

5. Early Financial Misrepresentation and Media Manipulation

6. General Histories and Investigative Journalism on Trump in the 1970s

1973 DOJ Lawsuit Against Trump for Housing Discrimination

2. Ties to Organized Crime and Use of S&A Concrete

3. Commodore Hotel and the Grand Hyatt Tax Abatement Scheme

4. Trump's Use of the Alias "John Barron"

5. Early Financial Misrepresentation and Media Manipulation

6. General Histories and Investigative Journalism on Trump in the 1970s

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6 months ago

Anna Nicole Smith

A look at one of the iconic figures of the 1990s.

Transcript

Some of the most disturbing details came from her final days. In the Bahamas, she had been photographed with a local politician, the immigration minister, fueling rumors of influence and favoritism. Her mansion there contained an open refrigerator filled with diet products, injectable vitamins, and bottles of methadone. The drugs followed her everywhere, from Los Angeles to Nassau to Florida. Each bottle seemed to carry someone else’s name.

Even her funeral was a contest. In the Bahamas, where she was buried beside her son, old enemies stood side by side with lovers and lawyers. Cameras filmed every moment. Her daughter’s paternity was finally confirmed: Larry Birkhead was the father. He would raise the child far from the cameras that had devoured her mother.

The story of Anna Nicole Smith has all the elements of a true crime story: money, sex, death, and power. But the crime was not only the overdose or the prescriptions. It was the system that fed on her. She was used by everyone who touched her life—the tabloids, the lawyers, the corporations, the men who called themselves protectors. Even the courts could not save her. She fought for a fortune she never got to spend, for love she could not keep, and for peace that never came.

The FBI investigation remains a strange footnote. The paternity trial turned her death into spectacle. The drug charges revealed a pipeline of controlled substances fed to her by people who said they cared. And through it all, she became an American myth. A poor girl who became rich, a sex symbol who became an addict, a mother who buried her child, and a woman who died surrounded by people who stood to gain from her demise.

She wanted to be Marilyn Monroe, and she got her wish in the worst possible way. Like Monroe, she became a blonde ghost of the American dream—beautiful, tragic, profitable. In the years since her death, documentaries, trials, and lawsuits have kept her story alive. They have not brought clarity, only repetition. Every retelling shows how modern fame can turn a human being into a commodity.

Anna Nicole Smith’s death was ruled an accident. But accidents do not happen in isolation. They are built step by step, by decisions, by pressure, by greed, and by neglect. Hers was a slow-motion crime committed in plain sight. Her beauty was her weapon and her curse, and in the end, the same eyes that once adored her only watched her fade.

She remains frozen in photographs, smiling with a tilt of the head, all promise and sadness. Her story is not just a tragedy; it is a warning. The cameras are still rolling. The appetite for destruction is still there. The crime that killed Anna Nicole Smith was never solved, because it was never meant to be. It was the crime of fame itself.

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7 months ago

The Rise & Fall of Billy Jensen

An automated look at one of the fastest falls in the history of True Crime Podcasting.

Episode Notes

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/billy-jensen-murder-squad-misconduct-allegation-investigation-1384950/

https://jamesrenner.com/the-whisper-network/#:~:text=A%20woman%20who%20worked%20on,at%20a%20company%20Halloween%20party.

Book: "Chase Darkness with Me: How One True Crime Writer Started Solving Murders"

Podcast: "The Murder Squad"

Podcast: "The First Degree"

Podcast: "Chasing Cosby"

Podcast: "Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer"

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10 months ago

The Death of Michael Jackson

The King of Pop(ping pills)

Episode Notes

Major Official Reports & Autopsies

📰 Press Coverage & Timeline

🕵️ Investigative & Contextual Sources

⚖️ Legal Proceedings & Trials

  • People v. Murray trial coverage: Murray convicted involuntarily of manslaughter—see Reuters and NY Times, CNN archives (coverage referenced by Wikipedia entry).

🧪 Toxicology & Expert Analysis

📷 LAPD Evidence Archive

🏛️ FBI Records

📚 Secondary & Tertiary Analyses

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11 months ago

The Girl Scout Murders

A classic murder story

Episode Notes

“Timeline of the Girl Scout murders.” Tulsa World, last updated June 12, 2022. https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/timeline-of-the-girl-scout-murders/article_9e3f12e6-e9c2-11ec-a997-6fa8e110ba43.html Sherman, Delanie. “45 Years Later, The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders Remain Unsolved.” Oklahoma Watch, June 13, 2022. https://oklahomawatch.org/2022/06/13/45-years-later-the-oklahoma-girl-scout-murders-remain-unsolved/ “Camp Scott Murders: Oklahoma Girl Scout Killings of 1977.” Unresolved Podcast, Episode 204, May 9, 2021. https://unresolved.me/the-oklahoma-girl-scout-murders “DNA Points to Longtime Suspect in 1977 Girl Scout Camp Killings, Sheriff Says.” The New York Times, May 6, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/06/us/girl-scout-murders-oklahoma.html “Gene Leroy Hart and the Girl Scout Murders.” Oklahoma Historical Society (archival overview). https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HA046 “Camp Scott Murders.” The Oklahoman Archives, original report from June 14, 1977. https://oklahoman.com/article/2051237/3-girl-scouts-found-dead-at-camp-scott “Family, Sheriff Say DNA Ties Gene Leroy Hart to Girl Scout Murders.” KJRH Tulsa Channel 2 News, May 6, 2022. https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/family-sheriff-say-dna-ties-gene-leroy-hart-to-girl-scout-murders “Girl Scout Murders: 45 Years of Grief and Mystery.” Tulsa World, print archive with interview footage. https://tulsaworld.com/girl-scout-murders-45-years-of-grief-and-mystery/article_7bff982e-e8d6-11ec-8052-1b68cb208820.html “Documentary: The Camp Scott Murders.” HLN’s Real Life Nightmare, Season 3, Episode 6, aired January 2022. https://www.cnn.com/shows/real-life-nightmare Case File: State of Oklahoma vs. Gene Leroy Hart (Mayes County Court Records Archive). https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=mayes&number=CF-1978-14&cmid=125302 “Book: Someone Cry for the Children” by Michael and Dick Wilkerson, 1981. Publisher: Doubleday. ISBN: 0385172176 [Note: no official website, but available via archive and booksellers] “Where Are They Now? The Families of the Camp Scott Victims.” News on 6 Tulsa, Feature Report. https://www.newson6.com/story/629e6c3b5293170727c6d295/where-are-they-now:-the-families-of-the-camp-scott-victims “Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders.” Wikipedia (includes references and citations to original reporting and secondary sources). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Girl_Scout_murders “Cold Case Files: The Girl Scout Murders.” A&E Network, Original Airdate: July 2004. https://www.aetv.com/shows/cold-case-files/season-5/episode-3

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11 months ago

Action Park

Traction park, as a start

Episode Notes

📚 Books

Mulvihill, Andy, and Jake Rossen. Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park. Penguin Random House, 2020. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608764/action-park-by-andy-mulvihill-with-jake-rossen/

🎬 Documentaries & Films

Class Action Park (2020). Directed by Seth Porges and Chris Charles Scott. HBO Max. https://www.classactionpark.com/ Action Point (2018). Directed by Tim Kirkby. Paramount Pictures. Loosely inspired by Action Park and starring Johnny Knoxville. https://www.paramount.com/movies/action-point

📰 Articles & Essays

The Rise and Fall of Action Park—New Jersey's Most Dangerous Water Park. History.com, August 27, 2020. https://www.history.com/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-action-park-new-jerseys-most-dangerous-water-park Remembering Action Park, New Jersey’s Deranged Theme Park. Esquire, July 2, 2020. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a33013933/action-park-book-new-jersey-gene-mulvihill-andy-mulvihill/ The Thrills and Horrors of HBO’s “Class Action Park.” The New Yorker, August 27, 2020. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-television/the-thrills-and-horrors-of-hbos-class-action-park A Theme Park So Dangerous Even Donald Trump Thought It Was Nuts. Vanity Fair, August 27, 2020. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/08/class-action-park-directors-trump

🌐 Online Resources

Archived Official Site – Action Park (via Wayback Machine): http://www.actionpark.com (site no longer active, but preserved via Internet Archive) Class Action Park Official Website: https://www.classactionpark.com/

🎥 Video Features

Defunctland – The History of Action Park. YouTube, September 24, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flkW-ceNvck

🗞️ Additional Reading

Action Park – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Park Class Action Park – Wikipedia (Documentary): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_Action_Park

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11 months ago

The 1937 Memorial Day Massacre

The summer started with one of labors bloodiest days.

1. The Memorial Day Massacre and the Movement for Industrial Democracy Author: Michael Dennis Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (2010) ISBN-10: 134938089X ISBN-13: 9781349380893 Description: A scholarly account of the massacre within the broader context of labor reform, union suppression, and 1930s industrial politics. URL: https://www.amazon.com/Memorial-Massacre-Movement-Industrial-Democracy/dp/134938089X 2. The 1937 Chicago Steel Strike: Blood on the Prairie Author: John F. Hogan Publisher: The History Press (2014) ISBN-10: 1626193436 ISBN-13: 9781626193437 Description: A well-researched narrative including primary accounts of workers and family members, with a focus on Republic Steel and the aftermath. URL: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781626193437 3. Memorial Day Massacre: Workers Die, Film Buried Author: Greg Mitchell Publisher: CUNY Journalism Press (2023) ISBN-13: 9781737382705 Description: A companion to the 2023 PBS documentary, exploring how Paramount's footage was suppressed and how the massacre was buried by history. URL: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/memorial-day-massacre-greg-mitchell/1143175280

📰 ARTICLES & PRIMARY SOURCES

1. “Memorial Day Massacre of 1937” — Chicago History Museum By: Elizabeth Barahona Description: Overview of the event with an emphasis on Latino workers and police violence. URL: https://www.chicagohistory.org/memorial-day-massacre-of-1937/ 2. “May 30, 1937—Memorial Day Massacre” — Zinn Education Project Description: Contains background, student activities, and reflections on the suppression of the event. URL: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/memorial-day-massacre/ 3. “Memorial Day Massacre, Chicago, 1937” — LAWCHA (Primary Source PDF) Description: Offers a downloadable packet of primary source material, including official statements, photos, and newsreel analysis. URL: https://lawcha.org/wp-content/uploads/8-4-Memorial-Day-Massacre-1937-PrimarySource.pdf

🎬 DOCUMENTARY

1. The Memorial Day Massacre and the Movement for Industrial Democracy Author: Michael Dennis Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (2010) ISBN-10: 134938089X ISBN-13: 9781349380893 Description: A scholarly account of the massacre within the broader context of labor reform, union suppression, and 1930s industrial politics. URL: https://www.amazon.com/Memorial-Massacre-Movement-Industrial-Democracy/dp/134938089X 2. The 1937 Chicago Steel Strike: Blood on the Prairie Author: John F. Hogan Publisher: The History Press (2014) ISBN-10: 1626193436 ISBN-13: 9781626193437 Description: A well-researched narrative including primary accounts of workers and family members, with a focus on Republic Steel and the aftermath. URL: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781626193437 3. Memorial Day Massacre: Workers Die, Film Buried Author: Greg Mitchell Publisher: CUNY Journalism Press (2023) ISBN-13: 9781737382705 Description: A companion to the 2023 PBS documentary, exploring how Paramount's footage was suppressed and how the massacre was buried by history. URL: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/memorial-day-massacre-greg-mitchell/1143175280

📰 ARTICLES & PRIMARY SOURCES

1. “Memorial Day Massacre of 1937” — Chicago History Museum By: Elizabeth Barahona Description: Overview of the event with an emphasis on Latino workers and police violence. URL: https://www.chicagohistory.org/memorial-day-massacre-of-1937/ 2. “May 30, 1937—Memorial Day Massacre” — Zinn Education Project Description: Contains background, student activities, and reflections on the suppression of the event. URL: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/memorial-day-massacre/ 3. “Memorial Day Massacre, Chicago, 1937” — LAWCHA (Primary Source PDF) Description: Offers a downloadable packet of primary source material, including official statements, photos, and newsreel analysis. URL: https://lawcha.org/wp-content/uploads/8-4-Memorial-Day-Massacre-1937-PrimarySource.pdf

🎬 DOCUMENTARY

Memorial Day Massacre: Workers Die, Film Buried Director: Lyn Goldfarb Producer: Greg Mitchell Released: 2023 (PBS) Description: Reveals how Paramount's 1937 newsreel footage was suppressed and what that says about media, corporations, and violence against labor. URL: https://www.pbs.org/video/memorial-day-massacre-workers-die-film-buried-1qf6gk/ Notes go here

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