A Study of Strange

Our special guest for this two parter mystery is Timothy Donahue, a filmmaker and former co-host of the tv series “Auto/Biography” along with A Study Strange’s host Michael May. Tim wears his skeptic hat as Michael introduces him to the story of William H. Mumler, the father of spirit photography and a likely conman.It was in New York City in 1869 when William Mumler was accused of fraud. Mumler was a medium who would take portraits of people, and on their photographs would magically appear ghosts. The practice became known as Spirit Photography. While we might look at Mumler’s photographs with a modern eye and clearly see double exposure as a method to create the spirits, no one could figure out how Mumler was pulling off his deceit. 
Mumler’s case is connected directly to our cultural beliefs and distrust of the media today. And, we still don’t know how he did it.
 
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
 
Research Resources:
https://www.amazon.com/Apparitionists-Phantoms-Photography-Captured-Lincolns/dp/0544745973/ref=asc_df_0544745973/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312134266711&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3198501778131025376&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-412257958969&psc=1
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/104VG5
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-mr-mumler-man-who-captured-lincolns-ghost-camera-180965090/
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/photographer-who-claimed-to-capture-abraham-lincoln-ghosthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Abraham_Lincoln_(photograph)
https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/worlds-oldest-photos-543067.html
https://www.britannica.com/technology/wet-collodion-process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii2O6wz0Zxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsx6xqi0vzU

The co-executive producer and showrunner of Ghost Adventures: House Calls, Michael Dorsey, has made a career out of documenting compelling stories for TV and film. Over the years he's become known for his expertise on the "unsolved" murder of Biggie Smalls having produced multiple projects about the case. On this episode of A Study of Strange, Dorsey shares his insight and opinion about who killed Biggie and why there have been no arrests.
 
On March 9th, 1997, in Los Angeles CA, superstar music artist Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G., was shot at an after party near the Peterson Automotive Museum. The assailant pulled up along side Biggie in a Chevrolet Impala and attacked. Biggie was rushed to the hospital but passed away shortly after arriving. He was only 24 years old. 
This came just 6 months after rival rapper, Tupac Shakur, was also shot and killed. Many speculate the murders were connected.
No suspect has ever been arrested for Biggie’s murder despite the fact that many consider the case solved. Therein lies where the case takes a strange turn. The murder of Biggie Smalls is shrouded in conspiracy theories and rumors. Rumors of gang violence, business rivalries, police corruption, and vengeance. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle.
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links to Resources and Michael Dorsey's Biggie Smalls projects:
Murder Rap Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7kG4SbBdI
Deep Diver Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiUOCK0hsUY
Michael Dorsey Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzgtqbLm258
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zDLyDLt--s
 

We continue to dive into the real life locked room murder mystery of Julia Wallace. Tonight we discuss William Herbert Wallace's trial, additional suspects, and theories with our special guest, writer of mystery & thrillers, Norm Thoeming aka August Norman.
Read Norm’s work here!
Julia’s body was found by her husband, William Herbert Wallace, after returning home from a bizarre outing. Initially the doors to their home were locked before William gained entry to find the brutal scene. William H. Wallace had alibis, lots of them in fact, but their apparent strangeness lead investigators to presume William committed the act of murder. He was tried and convicted to death before an appeal set him free. If William didn’t do it, who did?
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
 
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content - learn more at www.astudyofstrange.com
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
 
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
 
Resources & Cool Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoVz82MW_AY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herbert_Wallace
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Julia-Wallace-Crime-History-ebook/dp/B06ZZ1YM9G
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3457316-the-killing-of-julia-wallace
https://www.williamherbertwallace.com/
https://www.williamherbertwallace.com/general/richard-gordon-parry/
https://inacityliving.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-wallace-murder-case.html
https://theunredacted.com/the-killing-of-julia-wallace-an-impossible-murder/
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/three-men-linked-liverpool-murder-3354050
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21253830-the-killing-of-julia-wallace
 

We dive into a real life locked-room murder mystery in the first ever episode of A STUDY OF STRANGE. Who killed Julia Wallace on September 20th, 1931? It is a case that has stumped investigators for nearly a century. Our special guest, writer of mystery & thrillers, Norm Thoeming aka August Norman, joins to help figure it out. 
Read Norm’s work here!
Julia’s body was found by her husband, William Herbert Wallace, after returning home from a bizarre outing. Initially the doors to their home were locked before William gained entry to find the brutal scene. William H. Wallace had alibis, lots of them in fact, but their apparent strangeness lead investigators to presume William committed the act of murder. He was tried and convicted to death before an appeal set him free. If William didn’t do it, who did?
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content. More info at www.astudyofstrange.com
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC

Coming Soon! For lovers of true crime, mysteries, and even outlandish tales of high strangeness. Join host Michael May as he and a guest investigate tales of the unknown each week from bizarre crimes to unsolved murders and unexplained phenomena. A Study of Strange attempts to debunk common misconceptions and encourages each guest to “play a role” in the storytelling process. Guests include entertainment industry insiders, friends, weirdos, randos, and more! 
Michael May is a filmmaker and performer known for producing films like GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS, 12 HOUR SHIFT, FUN SIZE HORROR and hosting the true-crime automotive TV shows AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES. He obsesses over historical mysteries and loves to bring fascinating stories to life.