Lore

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Lore
Sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction
Presentation
Hosted byAaron Mahnke
Genre
LanguageEnglish
UpdatesBimonthly
Length20 to 30 minutes
Production
ProductionAaron Mahnke
No. of episodes78
Publication
Original releaseMarch 9, 2015 – present
Websitelorepodcast.com

Lore is an award-winning, critically acclaimed podcast about non-fiction scary stories. Each episode examines historical events that show the dark side of human nature (usually through the lens of folklore) and is presented in a style that's been compared to a campfire experience. The series was created in 2015 by Aaron Mahnke as a marketing experiment[1] and received the iTunes "Best of 2015" Award.[2] The podcast was also given the award for the "Best History Podcast" by the Academy of Podcasters in July 2016.[3] At the end of 2016, the podcast was included in the top lists by The Atlantic[4] and Entertainment Weekly.[5] As of October 2017, the series has 5 million monthly listeners.[1]

The podcast airs on a bi-monthly basis, and is usually released on a Monday. The podcast is recorded in a studio in Mahnke‘s home office.[1] Mahnke’s voice in the podcast is described as “coolly mesmeric”.[1]

Content[edit | edit source]

Each podcast episode features various stories bound together by a common theme. Mahnke spends an average of 20 hours a week researching the folkloric tales and has stated, "All of the material is from documented stories or historical events. Some are ancient and some are modern, but they are all factual in the sense that people reported these things and believed they were true."[6]

TV adaptation[edit | edit source]

Lore has been adapted for television with the help of Gale Anne Hurd of the hit television series The Walking Dead.[7] Glen Morgan of The X-Files was announced as the showrunner, and the show was made in partnership with Valhalla Entertainment and Propagate Content.[8] The series aired on Amazon Video[9] followed the podcast's anthology format, with each episode featuring a new story and Mahnke remaining the narrator.[1][8] The show premiered on October 13, 2017.[10]

The show has been praised by The Economist as “good viewing” that manages “to shock and surprise”; however, adding that “it falls short as a television show in its own right.”[1] In another review, The Verge said, "the show is able to turn the inherent creepiness of Mahnke’s podcast into original stories that are even more unnerving and resonant."[11]

Episodes[edit | edit source]

# Title Length (minutes:seconds) Original release date
1"They Made a Tonic"18:04March 18, 2015 (2015-03-18)
To stop the spread of a vampire-like disease in 1892, the residents of Exeter, Rhode Island exhumed one of their dead and burned her heart. Mixed with alcohol, the resulting ash was fed to the sick.
2"The Bloody Pit"14:37March 23, 2015 (2015-03-23)
The construction of the Hoosac Tunnel in western Massachusetts came at a great cost. Besides the millions of dollars in materials and labor, there were multiple deaths and tragedies, which has led to a compelling collection of stories about ghosts that haunt the tunnel to this day.
3"The Beast Within"18:45April 6, 2015 (2015-04-06)
In the 16th-Century, a village in Germany hunted for the creature responsible for killing their livestock and neighbors. When they discovered it was really one of their own, they became the real monsters.
4"Dinner at the Afterglow"18:59April 20, 2015 (2015-04-20)
There are unusual stories surrounding the eerie mausoleum of the wealthy McMillin family, in Roche Harbor, Washington. It seems that death hasn’t stopped them from being active members of the community.
5"Under Construction"19:00May 4, 2015 (2015-05-04)
Over half of the people of Iceland believe in the existence of elves and claim that they live in the very rocks around them. They believe this so deeply that they will alter expensive and complex construction projects just to avoid harming them.
6"Echoes"20:00May 18, 2015 (2015-05-18)
The Danvers State Hospital was built to nurture and heal the sick, but became the site of torture and neglect for thousands of patients over the years. The echoes of that pain and trauma can still be heard.
7"In the Woods"19:32June 1, 2015 (2015-06-01)
The woods of the Hockomock Swamp and the surrounding area are full of stories, and maybe more. When a man took his dog for a walk in the woods, he encounters a creature that defied his expectations.
8"The Castle"22:58June 15, 2015 (2015-06-15)
H. H. Holmes was a man who built his life on a framework of lies, and then built a house around them. Using its hidden chambers, gas vents, and dungeon-like basement, Holmes kidnapped, tortured, and killed dozens of people during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
9"A Devil on the Roof"23:51June 28, 2015 (2015-06-28)
In 1909, dozens of people living in towns near the Pine Barrens (New Jersey) saw a legendary local creature with their own eyes. Today, the Jersey Devil is a beloved legend, but in 1909 it was horrifyingly real.
10"Steam & Gas"22:50July 12, 2015 (2015-07-12)
The wealthy Freelan Oscar Stanley and his wife Flora moved to Colorado for the healing mountain air, and built The Stanley Hotel for others doing the same. But even though they died decades ago, visitors insist that the Stanleys never left.
11"Black Stockings"26:25July 27, 2015 (2015-07-27)
In 1895, Michael Cleary’s wife, Bridget Cleary, became sick. For a number of reasons—both social and cultural—he was convinced that his wife was an elven changeling, so he and other members of his family burned her alive to bring the real Bridget back.
12"Half-Hanged"23:20August 10, 2015 (2015-08-10)
The colonial town of Hadley, Massachusetts, hanged a woman named Mary Webster (alleged witch) because they thought she was responsible for the mysterious illness killing a town elder. They turned out to be wrong about a lot of things.
13"Off the Path"25:00August 24, 2015 (2015-08-24)
Ancient legend says that an Irish clan once offended St. Patrick. In response, he cursed them, dooming them to become werewolves—one couple per generation. Centuries later, a chance encounter appeared to prove the legend true.
14"The Others"24:31September 7, 2015 (2015-09-07)
Stories of small human-like creatures from around the world come to life in the town of Dover, Massachusetts, when multiple people witness the same thing over the course of two nights. Today the creature is known as the Dover Demon.
15"Unboxed"25:00September 21, 2015 (2015-09-21)
As a child, Eugene Otto was given a doll as a gift and took it everywhere with him. Over time, though, some say this doll also went places and did things on its own.
16"Covered Mirrors"23:20October 5, 2015 (2015-10-05)
A century ago, a serial killer entered a home in Villisca, Iowa, and brutally murdered an entire family. Afterward, the killer walked away and was never caught.
17"Broken Fingernails"27:00October 12, 2015 (2015-10-12)
The 1768 story of Ruth Blay explains how criminals were once executed in town cemeteries.
18"Hunger Pains"24:00October 19, 2015 (2015-10-19)
In the 19th century, a Cree hunter known as Swift Runner was haunted by dreams of a Wendigo spirit, who led him to murder and cannibalism until his eventual prosecution and imprisonment in 1879.
19"Bite Marks"25:00October 26, 2015 (2015-10-26)
Greyfriars in Edinburgh, Scotland, is the home to the Black Mausoleum, which has been the site of countless physical attacks by an unseen force over the years.
20"Homestead"24:52November 2, 2015 (2015-11-02)
Elisha Benton was a young man from Tolland, Connecticut, sent to war by his grandparents in order to break up a socially unacceptable relationship. When he returned home deathly ill from his time in a British prison, a love story unfolded that seems to have extended beyond the grave.
21"Adrift"24:40November 16, 2015 (2015-11-16)
The SS Valencia sunk off the coast of Vancouver Island over a century ago, but was outlasted by the rumors of a ghost ship that took its place.
22"Over the Top"25:45November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30)
An alleged supernatural creature, sighted in London in the mid-1800s, assaulted women before bounding away, sometimes over high walls. The unknown figure became known as Spring-heeled Jack, and its existence is supported only by a few first-hand accounts and rumor.
23"Rope and Railing"23:30December 14, 2015 (2015-12-14)
Mysterious events unfolded on the Smalls Lighthousewhen two lighthouse keepers who couldn’t stand each other found themselves trapped in a severe winter storm in 1801.
24"A Stranger Among Us"26:45December 28, 2015 (2015-12-28)
Much of the folklore of the Christmas season deals with strangers, such as Santa Claus, entering our homes. Some of these legendary strangers are not what they seem, such as Befana, Perchta, Grýla, Belsnickel, and Krampus, and some have wreaked havoc on entire towns, such as the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
25"The Cave"24:00January 11, 2016 (2016-01-11)
A 19th-Century warlock cult on the Chilean island of Chiloe played host to a magical version of Mafia hitmen and protection rackets, with a dash of mythical abominations lurking in caves.
26"Brought Back"24:45January 25, 2016 (2016-01-25)
The popular zombie legend has its origins in the story of Clairvius Narcisse, a Haitian man who died, was buried, and then returned to his village eighteen years later.
27"On the Farm"24:30February 8, 2016 (2016-02-08)
In 1922, an entire German farm family was killed by an unknown suspect in what became known as the Hinterkaifeck murders.
28"Making a Mark"25:45February 22, 2016 (2016-02-22)
In the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a woman named Cora was branded as a witch for her behavior, before the town attempted to burn her at the stake.
29"The Big Chill"25:15March 7, 2016 (2016-03-07)
On the coast of Maine, the Owl’s Head Lighthouse is home to sightings of ghosts by a number of keepers over the years.
30"Deep and Twisted Roots"31:13March 21, 2016 (2016-03-21)
The international vampire myth is connected to tuberculosis cases in New England, as well as the first documented report of corpses in a "vampiric condition" in 18th-Century Serbia.
31"Lost and Found"29:00April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)
Through history, there have been many odd and unusual places where dead bodies have been found. In 19th-Century London, Kate Webster killed her employer and boiled the body to get rid of the evidence.
32"Tampered"25:30April 18, 2016 (2016-04-18)
Folklore surrounding goblins and kobolds has long existed, but the eerie tales of gremlins during World War I and World War II remind us that these tales are not ancient history.
33"A Dead End"28:00May 2, 2016 (2016-05-02)
The folklore and legends of Richmond, Virginia, feature the tale of the Richmond Vampire, a mythical creature said to have been seen by eye-witnesses after the collapse of a railroad tunnel in 1925.
34"All the Lovely Ladies"26:30May 16, 2016 (2016-05-16)
Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th-Century Hungarian countess, tortured and killed close to 700 victims over the course of three decades.
35"The King"26:40May 31, 2016 (2016-05-31)
A group of women left stranded on an island in the Pacific, survived terrible abuses at the hand of a maniacal lighthouse keeper.
36"When The Bow Breaks"25:30June 13, 2016 (2016-06-13)
The eerie side of ocean liners comes to light in tales of the RMS Queen Mary and the echoes of her dark past.
37"Passing Notes"31:53June 27, 2016 (2016-06-27)
Humans have often sought means of communicating with the dead, but few have experienced such thorough hauntings as Reverend Eliakim Phelps and his wife Elizah in their Stratford, Connecticut, mansion.
38"The Mountain"24:00July 11, 2016 (2016-07-11)
Many brave adventurers have been lost in their quests for unexplored territory, and one such group of hikers met their mysterious end in the Dyatlov Pass incident.
39"Take The Stand"25:30July 25, 2016 (2016-07-25)
In 1897, the Greenbrier Ghost, Elva Zona Heaster Shue, allegedly appeared as an apparition after her death to posthumously solve her own murder.
40"Everything Floats"27:20August 8, 2016 (2016-08-08)
New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in America, in part because of the city's relationship with Louisiana Voodoo and famed Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.
41"Hole In The Wall"25:29August 22, 2016 (2016-08-22)
Through the years, Scotland has been home to many witch trials, but few as mysterious as the 1696 Barragan trials of the Paisley witches and the involvement of 11-year-old Christian Shaw, who fell suddenly ill with a bizarre condition.
42"In The Bag"26:20September 5, 2016 (2016-09-05)
The fear of imprisonment is common, and one that is validated by the tales of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, the torture that prisoners experienced there, and the alleged ghosts that haunt it.
43"Supply And Demand"31:00September 19, 2016 (2016-09-19)
Throughout history, grave robbery and body snatching have been profitable crimes, but in the case of the Burke and Hare murders in 1828 in Edinburgh, two men figured out an even more sinister way to profit from the increased demand for medical cadavers.
44"From Within"29:50October 3, 2016 (2016-10-03)
Mankind's fascination with fire extends to several notable examples of spontaneous human combustion throughout history, including Mary Reeser.
00"Trick Or Treat 2016 - Set 1"17:30October 10, 2016 (2016-10-10)
Part 1: Peg Wesson, a reputed Gloucester witch from Dogtown, Massachusetts, allegedly cursed several rowdy soldiers who harassed her. Part 2: Delphine LaLaurie was responsible for the gruesome torture and murder of numerous slaves in 19th Century New Orleans.
45"First Impressions"30:30October 17, 2016 (2016-10-17)
In 1726, Mary Toft was the subject of a medical hoax, when she convinced doctors that she had given birth to rabbits.
00"Trick Or Treat 2016 - Set 2"16:10October 24, 2016 (2016-10-24)
Part 1: When Andrew Haraden went out fishing on his ship, The Squirrel, he never expected to become the captive of John Phillips (pirate), nor did he expect to become one of the heroes who brought that infamous pirate down. Part 2: Béla Kiss was a prolific serial killer at the turn of the 20th century in Hungary, who murdered dozens of women before evading capture.
46"Dark Conclusions"30:55October 31, 2016 (2016-10-31)
Hunters of supernatural creatures have existed well throughout history in fiction and real life. But through the stories of self-proclaimed Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, as well as David Farrant and Seán Manchester who hunted the supposed Highgate Vampire, we can see the hunters of evil become the very evil they sought to quell.
47"Missing the Point"29:00November 14, 2016 (2016-11-14)
Strange sightings can often be explained away by reasonable logic, but when the same bizarre sightings are seen by numerous people over the years in the same place--such as the reports of the Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia--the simple explanation and the rational explanation may no longer be the same thing.
48"Downriver"27:00November 28, 2016 (2016-11-28)
Tragedies befall cities all the time, but it's much stranger when the tragedy was foretold in detail as part of an alleged curse. When a pair of young lovers were separated by the young woman's father in Kaskaskia, Illinois, the young man cursed the town to a tragic fate that inexplicably came true.
49"Seeing Double"27:30December 12, 2016 (2016-12-12)
When New Town Edinburgh was built in the 18th century, the cultural and economic divide between this new addition and the Old Town it now dwarfed became vast. The city seemed to have a double life, a quality it shared with New Town resident William Brodie, who, despite being an upstanding citizen and trusted cabinet-builder, was secretly carrying on a life of gambling and organized burglary.
50"Mary, Mary"31:45December 23, 2016 (2016-12-23)
In Watseka, Illinois, in the 19th century, an unusually benevolent supposed case of spiritual possession now known as the Watseka Wonder brought the spirit of a deceased young lady back to life in the body of 14-year-old Lurancy Vennum.
51"Within the Walls"30:15January 9, 2017 (2017-01-09)
English castles notoriously hold many secrets, as evidenced by reports of ghosts in the White Tower and the legend of the Monster of Glamis.
52"Negative Consequences"29:00January 23, 2017 (2017-01-23)
The intrigue of crime was irresistible to two female master criminals: confidence woman Sophie Lyons and serial killer Belle Gunness.
53"Trees and Shadows"28:30February 6, 2017 (2017-02-06)
Mankind's connection and mythologization of the animal world is exemplified in the story of the Beast of Bray Road.
54"Teacher's Pet"29:30February 20, 2017 (2017-02-20)
The myth of the Doppelgänger is discussed, with focus on sightings by some notable figures as well as the curious case of teacher Emilie Sagee, whose students report seeing constantly appearing in several places at once.
55"A Way Inside"29:30March 6, 2017 (2017-03-06)
A series of ghost legends of Boston are explored, such as the Omni Parker House and Fort Warren's "Lady in Black".
56"Going Viral"28:30March 20, 2017 (2017-03-20)
The concept of mass hysteria is examined and contrasted with the legend of the Bell Witch.
57"Quarantine"27:30April 3, 2017 (2017-04-03)
A look at the Loudun possessions and how human cruelty can surpass even that of demons.
58"The Devil's Beat"26:30April 17, 2017 (2017-04-17)
A look at music and the emotions it can bring to humans, via the story of the Drummer of Tedworth.
59"A Deep Fear"28:30May 1, 2017 (2017-05-01)
A discussion of sea monsters, with mentions of mermaids and krakens. The story of the Gloucester Harbor sea serpent is told.
60"If Walls Could Talk"27:40May 15, 2017 (2017-05-15)
Early mental institutions and the substandard conditions within them are discussed through the history and paranormal accounts of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
61"Labor Pains"31:30May 29, 2017 (2017-05-29)
Spirit mediums and the tools they have historically used, including John Murray Spear and his New Motive Power machine, are discussed.
62"Desperate Measures"28:01June 12, 2017 (2017-06-12)
Pow-wow folk magic is discussed through the story of the 1928 murder of Nelson Rehmeyer by John Blymire in Rehmeyer's Hollow, located in Pennsylvania.
63"Homecoming"29:46June 26, 2017 (2017-06-26)
H. H. Holmes is revisited, this episode focusing on Holmes' con artistry, ties to Benjamin Pitezel and Marion Hedgepeth, and eventual arrest.
64"Behind Closed Doors"28:31July 10, 2017 (2017-07-10)
Ghost stories, murders, and other macabre tales of New York City are told, with emphasis on Melrose Hall in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
65"Doing Tricks"30:31July 24, 2017 (2017-07-24)
Tricksters in mythology are discussed, namely the Nain Rouge of Detroit, Michigan.
66"Where There's Smoke"30:01August 7, 2017 (2017-08-07)
The Great Amherst Mystery is explored.
67"The Red Coats"30:01August 21, 2017 (2017-08-21)
Mysteries in the Bennington Triangle, including in the woods around Glastenbury Mountain, are discussed. Individuals mentioned include Paula Jean Welden and Frieda Langer.
68"The Tainted Well"33:01September 4, 2017 (2017-09-04)
Irish folklore is discussed, including the hauntings at Ballygally Castle and Leap Castle.
69"Wide Open"31:31September 18, 2017 (2017-09-18)
70"Familiar"32:31October 2, 2017 (2017-10-02)
00"Trick Or Treat 2017 - Set 1"20:02October 9, 2017 (2017-10-09)
71"Silver Lining"32:46October 16, 2017 (2017-10-16)
00"Trick Or Treat 2017 - Set 2"17:46October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)
72"A Grave Mistake"46:01October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)
73"A Sweet Embrace"37:02November 13, 2017 (2017-11-13)
74"All Fall Down"32:31November 27, 2017 (2017-11-27)
75"Black and Wild"29:45December 11, 2017 (2017-12-11)
76"Talk Show"34:01December 22, 2017 (2017-12-22)
77"Withering Heights"31:00January 8, 2018 (2018-01-08)
outbreaks of illnesses are discussed
78"Exposure"36:46January 22, 2018 (2018-01-22)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 C.B. (12 October 2017). "The rise of the podcast adaptation". The Economist. 
  2. Kelley, Seth (2015-12-09). "Apple's iTunes Best of 2015 list for podcasts includes a ton of LA-based favorites". Time Out Los Angeles. Time Out. Retrieved 2016-04-27. 
  3. "Academy of Podcasters, 2016 Winners". 
  4. McQuade, Laura Jane Standley and Eric. "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2016-12-22. 
  5. Everett, Cristina (December 20, 2016). "The 10 Best Podcasts of 2016". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 22, 2016. 
  6. Locker, Melissa (2015-11-01). "Aaron Mahnke's Lore: 'history podcast' uncovers the dark side of human nature". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-11-26. 
  7. "Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman Team for Horror Anthology Based on 'Lore' Podcast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-12-01. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Patten, Dominic (2016-10-06). "Amazon Picks Up 'Lore' Horror Podcast With EPs Gale Anne Hurd & Ben Silverman". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-11-20. 
  9. Holloway, Daniel (2016-10-06). "Amazon Orders 'Lore' Series From Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman". Variety. Retrieved 2016-12-01. 
  10. Eric McAdams (August 29, 2017). "Watch the Trailer for Lore, Amazon's Creepy New Show". Paste Magazine. Retrieved August 29, 2017. [permanent dead link]
  11. Bishop, Bryan. "Lore proves podcasts can inspire disturbingly effective TV". The Verge. Retrieved 31 October 2017. 

External links[edit | edit source]