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Macabre London
How An American Werewolf in London Changed Horror Forever: Behind-the-Scenes, Secrets, and Legacy!
In this episode of Macabre London, Nikki Druce dives into the backstreets of London’s horror film history, focusing on the 1981 classic An American Werewolf in London.
Known for its groundbreaking special effects and darkly comedic twists, John Landis’s cult hit left an indelible mark on both London’s movie scene and horror cinema. Join Nikki as she explores the origins of the film, its mix of American and British influences, and the ways it pushed horror forward with practical effects and unique narrative style. Plus, find out why An American Werewolf in London holds a special place in horror history, even with its fair share of quirks and controversies.
Episode Highlights:
- The eerie yet comedic impact of Landis’s unique vision
- A look at the SFX transformation that defined werewolf horror
- Behind-the-scenes struggles and surprising trivia
- Why An American Werewolf in London changed horror cinema
Make sure to subscribe if you love dark history and horror; new episodes drop every fortnight with the chilling tales you crave!
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Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens
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Where will the Royal Family Hide Out During the Zombie Apocalypse? Macabre London Mythbusters 2
26:00|An electrified statue, a royal nuclear bunker hidden in plain sight and a lion washing ceremony? It must be time to once more delve into a few tall tales from the city that are often presented as fact. Today on Macabre London, we uncover a few more supposed myths about the city and see if we can bust them. -------------------------TODAY'S SPONSOR:If you want to give magic mind a try, head to magicmind.com/macabrelt and use my code MACABRELT20 for up to 48% off your subscription. --------------------------Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, Heathers Leg, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseElizabethHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLizRachelShannonTalliTanyaThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.com---------------------------------------------INTRODUCING: Killers, Cults & Queens Season 2!
21:19|Hi Ghouls, I'm so pleased to let you know the Killers, Cults, and Queen's , is back for its long awaited Season 2! I've managed to get an exclusive first listen ready for you all of the first 15 mins of episode one but be sure to listen in full to the first two episodes as soon as you can, they're ready and waiting for you right now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for Killers, Cults and Queens and we'll pop up. It's been a joy to be back in the studio with Cheryl and to get stuck back into a whole brand new 15 episodes that are sure to keep you guessing as to what will be coming next...Hosted by British drag icon Cheryl and resident spooky specialist and broadcaster Nikki Druce, this fascinating true-crime series deep dives into tales of notorious murders, infamous cults, and bizarre historical events – all with a unique and fresh LGBTQ+ perspective.In the second series of the podcast, now produced by Global and tailor made for true crime fanatics, listeners can expect episodes covering chilling stories – both new and old – like Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the infamous Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, the mysteries surrounding LA’s Cecil Hotel, the grizzly Jonestown massacre, the Canadian queen of QAnon, the harrowing story of Flight 571, and so much more!Season two kicks off on Monday 14th October with two brand-new episodes, with new episodes dropping every Monday thereafter, with the exciting addition of bonus episodes every Thursday.“It’s been a long wait but this queen is SO excited that Killers, Cults and Queens has found a fabulous new home at Global! Season two is even more wild than the first, and I didn’t think that was possible.You can expect bigger stories, juicer revelations, and even more shocking details than you have heard on this podcast before – with a few special surprises along the way. Strap in your seatbelts and join us for one wild ride!”CHERYL, KILLERS, CULTS AND QUEENS CO-HOST “Cheryl and I are beyond excited to share Season Two of Killers, Cults and Queens. We’re both passionate about telling these dark and fascinating stories in our own way and, along with our new bonus episodes every Thursday, I think this will allow us to go deeper than we ever have before.This time we invite our listeners to come with us on the journey as we venture into some of the most shocking, bizarre and grizzly stories yet whilst being mindful that these are real stories which happened to real people.I’ve enjoyed handing the reins over to Cheryl to deliver some of these twisted tales this season as it’s been enlightening to hear topics from a different perspective and I think our listeners will enjoy that too. We simply cannot wait to be back!”NIKKI DRUCE, KILLERS, CULTS AND QUEENS CO-HOSTKillers, Cults and Queens is available to listen to from 14th October on Global Player, or wherever you get your podcastsWhy Was Body Snatching so Rife in London? The Business of Body Snatching | The London Burkers
34:50|When two men appeared at a hospital after dark with a bag over their shoulder, they rang the doorbell of the dissecting room and a porter answered. When the porter told them he wasn’t interested in buying a body, the men asked if they could store the corpse there overnight to lessen the chances of them being found wandering around the streets with a dead body. When the porter agreed and the men left the bag on the table and scuttled off back into the night, a foot flopped out of it. Thinking it looked very fresh but not wanting to tie himself up as he was off to the theatre, he switched the lights off and left for the night. The following day, the men would return saying they had a buyer and they would be taking the body but its next destination would be where suspicions rose and the police were called…Today on Macabre London, we uncover the mystery of the Italian Boy and the grim London Burkers. -------------------------Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, Heathers Leg, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseElizabethHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLiz RachelShannonTalliTanyaThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.com---------------------------------------------SOURCES ----------------https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18311201-17Chester Chronicle - Friday 09 December 1831https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fortune_of_War,_SmithfieldEastern Argus and Borough of Hackney Times - Saturday 08 July 1911 - weekly publication of story with last segment appearing in: Eastern Argus and Borough of Hackney Times - Saturday 29 July 1911https://www.britannica.com/topic/body-snatchinghttps://mymacabreroadtrip.com/a-week-in-the-life-of-a-london-body-snatcher/https://stjohnstreet.co.uk/the-clerkenwell-italian-community-a-history/https://www.sarahwise.co.uk/italianboy.htmlThe Horrifying Crimes of Dennis Nilsen and the Sad Truth of the Missing Victims - PT 2
32:29|On the 8th of February 1983, police were called to a top floor flat in a suburban area of London. The man that had made the call was a plumber and the reason he’d got in contact was as he’d discovered something unusual. When residents started complaining of the drains being backed up and a strange smell emanating from the property, the plumber came to clear the suspected blockage, however what he found under the manhole cover would reveal a dark and terrifying story, one which had been kept secret for a number of years. With a disturbing secret uncovered, police raided the home and arrested the tennant on suspicion of murder, but what he would go on to reveal would haunt them revealing their own incompetencies right before their very eyes. Today on Macabre London, we uncover part two of the story of the Muswell Hill murderer, Dennis Nilsen. -------------------------Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Macabre London is a fortnightly podcast and YouTube show that delves into London's haunted and gruesome history alongside discovering Macabre mini Mysteries from all over the world!Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, HeatherMillsLeg, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseElizabethHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLiz RachelShannonTalliTanyaThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.com---------------------------------------------If you have been affected by any of the themes in this week’s episode please consider contacting the following resources:The Samaritans helpline: 116 123Confidential Emotional Support Line: 01708 765200Sexual Assault Support Line: 01708 765200Safeline national male survivor helpline: 0808 800 5005SOURCES ----------------https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0bgjl37/the-nilsen-fileshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Nilsenhttps://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81097791Brian Masters: Killing For Company - book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Company-Brian-Masters-ebook/dp/B004K6MEC2https://murderpedia.org/male.N/n/nilsen-dennis-victims.htmhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bgjl37The Chilling Story Of Dennis Nilsen: The Serial Killer Police Failed To Stop
34:32|On the 8th of February 1983, police were called to a top floor flat in a suburban area of London. The man that had made the call was a plumber and the reason he’d got in contact was as he’d discovered something unusual. When residents started complaining of the drains being backed up and a strange smell emanating from the property, the plumber came to clear the suspected blockage, however what he found under the manhole cover would reveal a dark and terrifying story, one which had been kept secret for a number of years. Today on Macabre London, we uncover the story of the Muswell Hill murderer, Dennis Nilsen. ------------------------Today's Sponsor: Magic Mind. You can get a 3 sample pack for free, just cover the cost of shipping by going to: https://magicmind.com/MACABRELTRIAL and use the code: MACABRELTRIAL -------------------------Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Macabre London is a fortnightly podcast and YouTube show that delves into London's haunted and gruesome history alongside discovering Macabre mini Mysteries from all over the world!Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseElizabethHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLiz RachelShannonTalliThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.comSOURCES ----------------https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0bgjl37/the-nilsen-fileshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Company-Brian-Masters/dp/1787466256/ref=pd_sbs_d_sccl_1_1/261-3098610-2827151?pd_rd_w=as3CL&content-id=amzn1.sym.a6779871-f1b3-4f65-8ecd-f839d6272217&pf_rd_p=a6779871-f1b3-4f65-8ecd-f839d6272217&pf_rd_r=X05J00W26RA0P764ZE9Z&pd_rd_wg=hFmjA&pd_rd_r=4eb76eed-0b31-4e32-8eed-393be92acc7f&pd_rd_i=1787466256&psc=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Nilsenhttps://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81097791The Man Who Tattooed The Royal Family! The first Tattoo Shop In London - Sutherland Macdonald
24:50|London has always been a progressive and forward thinking city. As any vibrant and changeable capital in the world will attest to, the city is only ever as interesting as its residents, and the different life experiences people bring to where they live, shaping and moulding the place into something great.Moving with the times, London has always been at the forefront of new trends and in 1888, one man made the residents of the city far more colourful, quite literally, by opening the first ever tattoo studio, one which would go on to attract some unlikely characters and even the occasional royal. Today on Macabre London, we uncover the life and times of Sutherland Macdonald, England's first tattoo artist. ------------------------Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Macabre London is a fortnightly podcast and YouTube show that delves into London's haunted and gruesome history alongside discovering Macabre mini Mysteries from all over the world!Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseElizabethHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLiz RachelShannonTalliThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZaraZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.comSOURCES ----------------Lyttelton Times - Tuesday 17 September 1912https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutherland_Macdonaldhttps://www.antiquestradegazette.com/print-edition/2021/july/2500/news-digest/the-life-of-prof-riley-british-tattoo-pioneer/https://www.cloakanddaggerlondon.co.uk/the-beginnings-of-british-tattoos/ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101064077942&seq=85&q1=%22a+tattoo+artist%22 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser - Saturday 10 July 1915The Grisly Thames Torso Murders - A Killer WORSE than Jack the Ripper? Or was it him?!
37:45|If I mention murder in London during the year of 1888, one name will probably spring to mind, Jack the Ripper, but that wasn’t the only serial killer active in London at the time.A short distance away, someone was using the lifeblood of the city, the river Thames, as a place to dispose of their victims.Washing up on the shore, bodies were found along its inlets, discarded, dismembered and defiled, left to the mercy of the tidal waters in the hopes they would be washed away and forgotten.However, the river didn’t hide the secrets of this killer, it spewed forth the evidence, allowing it to float along its surface to be discovered by hapless bystanders. But who were these victims and how did they end up being mercilessly discarded into the murky depths of the Thames?With each new body that surfaced, the mystery deepened, leaving the city's residents in fear as a swathe of Londoners had not one but two unidentified murderers prowling the streets, ready to pounce at any time.Today on Macabre London, we uncover the mystery of the Thames Torso Murders.------------------------A big thanks to Magic Mind for their help with todays episode, You can get 20% off a one time purchase or 48% off a subscription at magicmind.com/macabrelt and use the code MACABRELT20 for your fantastic discount. Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl The Queen https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseElizabethHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLizRachelShannonTalliThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZaraZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.comSOURCES----------------https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/cbmawe/the_rainham_torso_murders/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002708/18881024/032/0004https://www.casebook.org/dissertations/thames-torso-murders.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Torso_Murdershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripperhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/159Dl8gH2WZHOri8i6q77Uhttps://staffblogs.le.ac.uk/crimcorpse/2016/05/31/thames-torso-murders/https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/m-j-trow/thames-torso-murders/9781399013451?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIB-vb7hc9Xs7kPgVWWXgUjpC&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8MG1BhCoARIsAHxSiQnMd3FUKBlM5tb2XE8Pc8-q7Tz9m4liPxF2CezgiHqV-blHKkanT4waAh6oEALw_wcB#NGR9781399013451Who Was Aleister Crowley? Magician, Lover, Spy? Or a fantasist? | The Many Lives Of
35:58|In a post Victorian London, a man was immersing himself in a world that both fascinated and terrified him. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he embarked on experiments aimed at transforming his reality into something more profound and meaningful, seeking to make his mark on the world.This quest for the otherworldly led him to travel the globe, yet he remained tethered to London, unable to resist its magnetic pull. The city's allure only deepened his love for Magick and fueled his ambition to become the most powerful magician ever. This ambition culminated in a dramatic spell-casting duel with members of the secret society, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a confrontation that nearly turned deadly and which ultimately brought about the group's downfall. The unconventional wizard fight drew police intervention and subsequent court proceedings, thrusting this dark arts practitioner into the public eye but little did everyone realise, things were about to get a hell of a lot weirder. Coupled with a penchant for narcotics, an addiction to adult activities, and the mysterious death of a follower in Italy, his life became a cauldron of controversy that ultimately shaped modern occultism as we know it.Today on Macabre London, we uncover part two of our exploration into the magical world of the self proclaimed beast 666 - Aleister Crowley.------------------------Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Macabre London is a fortnightly podcast and YouTube show that delves into London's haunted and gruesome history alongside discovering Macabre mini Mysteries from all over the world!Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens with Cheryl Hole https://podfollow.com/queens---------------------------SUPPORT ME————————ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondonKO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondonPATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST - http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1VMERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.comPATREON - www.patreon.com/macabrelondon——————————-Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Christophe, Lisa, M, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri, Teresa, Vee, VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...AmyAndreaAndrewClaire RClaire SCreepy PaperDavid RDeniseHelenIngeJoKathrynKellyLindalLiz RachelSabrinaShannonTalliThe Paranormal PrincessVeeZaraZozoLAMAnd thanks to all other patrons too!————————SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonX: @macabrelondonTikTok: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.comSOURCES----------------https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aleister-Crowleyhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Aleister-Crowley-Magick-Wickedest-World/dp/0399161902https://amzn.eu/d/02IeRW3Shttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206060840/nuit_ma_ahathoor_hecate_sappho_jezebel_lilith-crowley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Thelema