Today, Judy helps me share the extraordinary tale of an enslaved woman who wins her freedom, the California free Black community who comes together to help her, the white authorities who --- surprisingly --- actually do the right thing when faced with injustice (the bar is on the floor, but these are some of the few white men in history who actually step over it) and how Biddy Mason went from enslavement to becoming the wealthiest woman of color in the West and who used her earnings to improve her community.

Most of the information from this incredible tale comes from an LAist article by the wonderful Hadley Meares called “The Contentious Hearing that Made Biddy Mason a Legend” link in the show notes: https://laist.com/news/la-history/biddy-mason-free-forever-the-contentious-hearing-that-made-her-a-legend-los-angeles-black-history

And also Hadley’s article for LA.curbed.com “Biddy Mason: One of LA’s First Black Real Estate Moguls: https://la.curbed.com/2017/3/1/14756308/biddy-mason-california-black-history

By the way send LAist money because they lost 3.4 million in federal funding recently so we gotta make up the difference. Head over to Support.LAist.org and become a member.

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Want to support me? Buy my YA novel, THE RECKLESS KIND, wherever books are sold: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/668136/the-reckless-kind-by-carly-heath/

They were glamorous. They were fashionable. They could rock an absolutely fire smokey eye! They’re silent film stars! And many of them were gay men who loved other men and we are here for them.

In today’s episode we’re covering two stories of gay men in silent film. One that’s kind of a messy story -- which we enjoy because we love gay rights and also gay wrongs -- and the second story is so fucking sweet and romantic you will 5tab yourself in the heart and d!3.

Much of the info for this episode comes from The Silent Players by Anthony Slide https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Players-Biographical-Autobiographical-Actresses

Follow Haunted Hollywood Hour on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/hauntedhollywoodhourpodcast/

Want to send us a note? Email: hauntedhollywoodhour@gmail.com

Want to support me? Buy my YA novel, THE RECKLESS KIND, wherever books are sold: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/668136/the-reckless-kind-by-carly-heath/

The story of LA’s coroners goes all the way back to 1850 when President Millard Fillmore signed a bill making California the 31st state of the US. In its 175 year history, the department that investigates cause and manner of death has seen countless murders --- many of them high profile, all of them with a story to tell. Today on the show, we explore what LA's Medical Examiner has to teach us about human nature, life and death.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode is all about death and the various ways people die.

Much of the info from this episode comes from Death in Paradise by Tony Blanche and Brad Schreiber which was written in 1998. https://www.amazon.com/Death-Paradise-Illustrated-History-Department/dp/157544075X

Follow Haunted Hollywood Hour on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/hauntedhollywoodhourpodcast/

Want to send us a note? Email: hauntedhollywoodhour@gmail.com

Want to support me? Buy my YA novel, THE RECKLESS KIND, wherever books are sold: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/668136/the-reckless-kind-by-carly-heath/