Halloween: The Good, The Bad, and The Dead

🎙️ TABOO TREASURES — “Halloween: The Good, The Bad, and The Dead” This week on Taboo Treasures, hosts Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine dig into the strange, spooky, and surprisingly historic side of Halloween — a holiday where trick-or-treat meets truth and tragedy. From Andrew Jackson’s dirty 1828 campaign, to the Great Depression’s “Black Halloween”, to the radio panic of War of the Worlds, Bruce and Jeff trace how All Hallows’ Eve became one of America’s most iconic nights of chaos and creativity. They also dive into the darker corners of history — the Monmouth steamboat disaster, Mussolini’s rise, and the eerie coincidences of those who died on Halloween, from Harry Houdini to River Phoenix. And finally, it wouldn’t be Taboo Treasures without music: a countdown of the five most unforgettable Halloween songs — from Monster Mash to Thriller — and the wild stories behind them. 🕯️ In This Episode • The 1828 election that redefined American politics — and gave birth to smear campaigns. • The Comstock Lode and how silver made Nevada a state on Halloween. • The last great cavalry charge and the eerie symmetry of war and memory. • The birth of modern Halloween after the chaos of 1933’s “Black Halloween.” • War of the Worlds, the radio hoax that terrified millions. • The tragic deaths of Houdini, River Phoenix, and Indira Gandhi — all on October 31. • The ultimate Halloween soundtrack — from Werewolves of London to Ghostbusters. 💀 Sponsors & Offers • Mint Mobile — Unlimited talk and text for just $15/month. Visit http://www.mintmobil.com/DEVILWITHIN and switch today. • MOOD Cannabis Gummies — Go to http://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN for 20% off your first order. • Quince — Luxury essentials without luxury prices. Visit http://www.quince.com/DEVILWITHIN for free shipping and 365-day returns. 🩸 From the Evio Creative Network Check out other Evio Creative originals: • The Devil Within — streaming now and the inspiration behind MGM+’s hit series Let the Devil In. • The Ides of April — history retold through the eyes of those who lived it. Follow @thedevilwithinpod, @idesofaprilpod, and @taboo_treasures for new episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and weekly releases. For media or sponsor inquiries, contact info@eviocreative.com. 🎧 Taboo Treasures is a production of Evio Creative. Hosted by Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine. Produced by Bellaire Studios. © 2025 Evio Creative. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices