ahs – Good Nightmare

12. Cecil Hotel

March 21, 2019December 3, 2018 Good NightmareLeave a comment

Gary Leonard

The Cecil Hotel is infamous for its link to many deaths, serial killers and mysteries. In today’s episode we’re going to look at the rise and fall of the Cecil Hotel and some of its more notorious occupants.

Cecil Hotel resides on Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles and was opened in 1927. The hotel boasts 600 guest rooms, some of which are currently being renovated to be used as residential units. I’m not sure who would be inclined to stay there for a longer period of time given its history of sketchy guests.

The Cecil Hotel’s original purpose was to be a destination for business-people and tourists. It was constructed in 1924 by William Banks Hanner and was designed by Loy Lester Smith. The project cost $1M to and the hotel lobby was complete with marble floors, stained glass windows and potted plants.

Unfortunately, within five years of the hotel opening, the Great Depression hit America. This was a time of economic crisis, leading to devastating social consequences such as suicides and homelessness.

The hotel made somewhat of a comeback in the 1940s when it was considered quite a fashionable travel destination, however over time as the area known as Skid Row declined, so did the hotel.

By the 1950s the hotel was known to house transients, there were approximately 10,000 homeless people living within a four-mile radius of the hotel.

During the decline of the area and the hotel, suicides and violent deaths on the premises became frequent. The first documented suicide in the hotel took place when a man named W K Norton ingested poison pills in 1931.

Multiple suicides were recorded throughout the 1940s and 50s which led the hotel to be known locally as The Suicide.

The hotel is also known for its ties to violent crimes and murder.

It’s rumoured that aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia after her brutal murder, was seen drinking at the hotel bar in 1947.

A retired telephone operator well known at the hotel named ”Pigeon Goldie” Osgood was found murdered in her room. She had been raped, stabbed and beaten. While a man had been charged with her murder, he was later cleared, leaving her murder unsolved.

If you listen to a lot of true crime podcasts, then the next two cases or residents are the ones you’re probably a little familiar with.

Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, was rumoured to have stayed at the Cecil Hotel for a few weeks. He may have actually committed some of his crimes while he was residing at the hotel. This may have inspired serial killer Jack Unterweger to stay at the hotel in 1991 as a possible homage to Ramirez. While Unterweger was residing at the hotel, he strangled at least three prostitutes to death. He was convicted in his home country of Austria and hanged himself after his conviction.

The most recent of deaths in the hotel occurred in 2013 when Canadian student Elisa Lam was found dead in the water supply tank on the roof. Her behaviour leading up to her death was quite unusual and there is a lot of speculation as to how she ended up in the tank.

As of 2017, the Los Angeles City Council voted to deem the Cecil Hotel a historic-cultural monument as it is a representative of early 1920s American hotels and in respect to its architectures work.

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8. The Axeman of New Orleans

February 21, 2019December 3, 2018 Good NightmareLeave a comment

Episode 8. The Axeman of New Orleans.

A map of the crime scenes, March 1999.

If, like me, you’re a fan of American Horror Story, then you’re likely familiar with the Axeman of New Orleans. Perhaps, like me, this is also where you first heard of this serial killer who was active from May 1918 to October 1919 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Axeman has never been identified, though there a couple of suspects who seemed to fit the bill. Two of these suspects died within 2 years of the murders, and it’s not likely we’ll ever have answers.

The Axeman’s namesake is as obvious as it sounds. His weapon of choice was usually an axe that he would find in the residents home, though he was also known to use a straight razor. He would use a chisel to break out a panel of the back door of his victim’s home and would use this door as his entry point. He would then attack one or all of the residents in the home. The majority of the crimes were committed against Italian immigrants which has led some to believe that the murders were ethnically motivated. Collin and Damon Wilson, criminologists, suggest that murders were sexually motivated and that male victims may only have been killed so the murderer could get to the women. In some cases, the men in the homes were left alive which could support this point, though there’s no way to know for sure.

New Orleans is known for it’s music and culture and the Axeman played on this in his murders. One of the most notorious facts from the case is that he threatened the people of New Orleans with brutal murder if they did not play Jazz music in their homes.

The letter he sent as warning reads:

Hell, March 13, 1919

Esteemed Mortal of New Orleans:

They have never caught me and they never will. They have never seen me, for I am invisible, even as the ether that surrounds your earth. I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell. I am what you Orleanians and your foolish police call the Axeman.

When I see fit, I shall come and claim other victims. I alone know whom they shall be. I shall leave no clue except my bloody axe, besmeared with blood and brains of he whom I have sent below to keep me company.

If you wish you may tell the police to be careful not to rile me. Of course, I am a reasonable spirit. I take no offense at the way they have conducted their investigations in the past. In fact, they have been so utterly stupid as to not only amuse me, but His Satanic Majesty, Francis Josef, etc. But tell them to beware. Let them not try to discover what I am, for it were better that they were never born than to incur the wrath of the Axeman. I don’t think there is any need of such a warning, for I feel sure the police will always dodge me, as they have in the past. They are wise and know how to keep away from all harm.

Undoubtedly, you Orleanians think of me as a most horrible murderer, which I am, but I could be much worse if I wanted to. If I wished, I could pay a visit to your city every night. At will I could slay thousands of your best citizens (and the worst), for I am in close relationship with the Angel of Death.

Now, to be exact, at 12:15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to pass over New Orleans. In my infinite mercy, I am going to make a little proposition to you people. Here it is:

I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing at the time I have just mentioned. If everyone has a jazz band going, well, then, so much the better for you people. One thing is certain and that is that some of your people who do not jazz it out on that specific Tuesday night (if there be any) will get the axe.

Well, as I am cold and crave the warmth of my native Tartarus, and it is about time I leave your earthly home, I will cease my discourse. Hoping that thou wilt publish this, that it may go well with thee, I have been, am and will be the worst spirit that ever existed either in fact or realm of fancy.

–The Axeman

While many did adhere to the rules or attempt to keep themselves safe, there were others that invited the Axeman into their home, armed against him, telling him they would leave a window open so he wouldn’t damage the door to get in.

By the end of the killing spree, there would be 12 victims.

On May 22, 1918, Joseph Maggio and his wife Catherine were murdered in their homes with the use of a straight razor and an axe.

June 27, 1918 would see Louis Besumer and Harriet Lowe attacked with a hatchet belonging to Besumer.

Mrs. Schneider was 8-months pregnant when she was killed on August 5, 1918. Her husband discovered her when he arrived home late from work. Mrs. Schneider survived, remembering nothing of the attack, and gave birth to a healthy baby girl two days later.

Joseph Romano was attacked on August 10, 1918, but the attacker fled the scene upon being discovered by Mr. Romano’s nieces who he was living with at the time. The young women described the intruder as a heavy-set, dark skinned man.

Charles Cortimilglia was attacked on March 10, 1919, in the home he shared with his wife and daughter who had also been attacked. Unfortunately their daughter did not survive.

Steve Boca was attacked while he slept on August 10, 1919. He was attacked after the Axeman letter was released. He survived but had no recollection of the attack.

Sarah Laumann was attacked on September 13, 1919. She was 19 years old. Her neighbours came to investigate when they heard her screams and she was found missing several teeth and with a severe head injury. She survived but like other victims, couldn’t remember any details.

The last known murder by the Axeman of New Orleans was of Mike Pepitone on October 27, 1919. His wife awoke during the attack to see the axe wielding intruder fleeing the scene. Her husband had been hit in the head and blood was spattered over the walls and a painting of the Virgin Mary. He left six children behind.

Overall, there were to be six murders and no convictions.

Though one description of a heavy-set man was given, it is likely that the killer may have been quite slight as he was able to fit through a door panel to gain entry into the homes. This may also explain why he attacked his victims when they were at their most vulnerable.

The tragic events have been referenced in pop culture many times, including in songs, film and television.

Let me know if you have a favourite representation or theory based on the Axe Man of New Orleans.

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4. Marie Laveau

January 24, 2019December 3, 2018 Good NightmareLeave a comment

Episode 4. Marie Laveau.

Portrait by Frank Schneider, based on a painting by George Catlin (Louisiana State Museum)

New Orleans, known for its Louisiana Voodoo, was the home to Marie Laveau and her daughter, Marie Laveau II.

Voodoo is a religion originating in Africa. It’s believed that in the Americas and the Carribean is is a combination of African, Native American and Catholic traditions. Like many religions, it varies among regions and among Voodooists. It relies on the individuals experience, intention and knowledge and is not a dark magic as it often is portrayed to be. There is a lot of misunderstanding about Voodoo – it’s often portrayed as evil, black magic or associated purely with evil curses and of course Voodoo dolls used for torture, this kind of framing is heavily affected by the blatant racism of the time of its introduction to the Americas.

What Voodoo is, from my research, and please correct me if I’m wrong, is an understanding that there are two worlds. The world we live in and an invisible world where spirits of people who have passed on exist. Death is simply a passage to the next world and contact is able to be made with those who reside in the spiritual plane. They are close and they are accessible and are able to provide guidance in our world when called upon.

It’s not surprising to anyone, or shouldn’t be, that Voodoo’s bad reputation is clouded with racism, having been introduced to the Americas by Carribean peoples who were taken as slaves. They were feared and ridiculed for their practices. That idea has carried on to this day. It’s important to deconstruct where these ideas come from and to educate ourselves on unspoken or hidden histories.

Today, we’re going to look at Marie Laveau and her daughter, often represented in popular culture and one of the first names many people think of when they hear the word Voodoo.

According to historical documents, Marie Laveau was born free in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1801. There’s not much known or confirmed about her personal life as there is little to no documentation. We do know that she married a man named Jaques in 1819, a French immigrant who fled the Haitian massacre as a refugee. Jaques’ death was recorded in 1820. They had two daughters together, Felicite and Angele, who both disappeared from historical records in 1820. Marie went on to have two more daughters who were recorded to have lived into adulthood. One of these daughters was Marie Euchariste Eloise Laveau who could come to be known as Queen Marie II.

Though Marie Laveau I was renowned for her Voodoo among her community, it was Marie Laveau II who was said to draw crowds and practice publicly.

Marie Laveau I had quite a positive reputation. She was said to do good for the sake of doing good. She would nurse others through illness, and counsel men condemned to death before their execution. She was known as a matchmaker for wealthy white men and was a hairdresser to the “white elite”. It is rumoured that her accurate divination and readings may have come from a network of informants that she had built among the servants of the elite. According to people’s accounts at the time, she is said to have instilled fear in the servants or taken information as payment for curing their ailments with her Voodoo. She would then use the information she learned to provide her services to the elite.

It is difficult to separate the histories of Marie Laveau and her daughter of the same name, but it is considered that Marie I would practice in private and was strongly dedicated to Voodoo, whereas her daughter would hold public events, performing for crowds. She was said to have walked the streets as though she owned them, and judging by her popularity, she may as well have.

According to the text In Motion: African American Migration Experience, “In 1874 as many as twelve thousand spectators, both black and white, swarmed to the shores … to catch a glimpse of Marie Laveau II performing her legendary rites …”.

Marie Laveau I lived into her late 70s and was said to have passed away at home with a smile on her face of natural causes. Members of the community claim to have seen her walking the streets after her death. Though it has been considered that this may have been her daughter that they saw, it would make sense that her spirit could be seen given the proximity of the invisible or spiritual world to our own.

The legend of Marie Laveau did not die with her.

Many people visit her grave, or where she is believed to be buried. Her tomb is covered in Xs in accordance with a rumour that if you wanted her to grant you a wish, you would have to draw an X, turn around three times, knock on the tomb, and yell out the wish. If you were lucky enough to have it granted, you would have to return with an offering and draw another X.

People also claim to see Marie Laveau wandering through the cemetery where she is buried, whispering curses to herself.

Her tomb is no longer accessible by the public and entry to the cemetery can only be made with a tour guide because of the amount of vandalism and destruction that has occurred over the years. There is a rumour that in 1982, New Jersey punk band The Misfits were arrested and accused of trying to exhume Marie Laveau from her grave after a concert.

Lastly, and importantly, though popular culture often references Marie Laveau as a witch, she is in fact a Voodoo Queen. Witchcraft and Voodoo do share some similarities in terms of practices, but are not the same. And as with Voodoo, witchcraft is not an evil practice. That might be something worth revisiting.

Marie, and her daughter, was not a person of darkness, or evil, but a woman who provided for those around her and practiced her religion freely, as should be.

Be sure to let me know your favourite stories or representations of the Marie Laveaus.

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