hoax - Buried Secrets Podcast

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hoax

A collection of 9 posts

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 4

Note: This post contains mentions of physical attacks, vigilantism, mental asylums. In the last post, I wrote about some of the men who dressed up as ghosts in 19th century Australia in order to commit crimes. But women did it too, albeit more often for crimes that you might describe

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 3

Note: this post contains mention of sexual assault, vigilantism, poisoning, mental asylums, cancer, and injury/illness. Late nineteenth century ghost hoaxing, or "playing the ghost," became so common that it happened several times per week in Ballarat, Australia, during its height. It seemed that dressing up as a ghost became

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 2

Note: This contains mentions of colonialism and people being attacked. Dr. David Waldron, a folklorist and historian at Federation University in Ballarat, Australia, is an expert in the subject of Victorian ghost hoaxers. In his paper "Playing the Ghost," he talks about the disaster of colonialism in Australia, as well

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 1

Note: This contains mentions of vigilantism and angry mobs. Did you know that in late 19th century Australia, ordinary people would dip sheets in toxic glowing paint and run around at night pretending to be ghosts? I dug up this oddball story way back in 2020, and my then-cohost and

Folk News and the Haunted Old Alton Bridge (Goatman's Bridge Series)

Folk News and the Haunted Old Alton Bridge (Goatman's Bridge Series)

Folk News and the Haunted Old Alton Bridge: A look at what urban legends, especially the Goatman's Bridge urban legends, do in society, including urban legends as "folk news." Plus, some possible debunkings of some of the Old Alton Bridge phenomena.

Rewriting Urban Legends (Goatman's Bridge Series)

Rewriting Urban Legends (Goatman's Bridge Series)

An attempt to trace the current tales of the Goatman’s Bridge to their source: a 2008 YouTube video that contained seemingly new information about the urban legend, including some information that linked the story to the Mothman legends.

The Trickster and the Goatman (Goatman's Bridge Series)

The Trickster and the Goatman (Goatman's Bridge Series)

The Old Alton Bridge, or Goatman’s Bridge, is a famously haunted site in north Texas. But in my research, I’ve discovered that everything may not be as it seems at the Old Alton Bridge . . .

An Acrobatic Ghost in Woodside (Haunted Queens)

An Acrobatic Ghost in Woodside (Haunted Queens)

In 1893, a strange, acrobatic ghost dressed all in white appeared in a forest in Woodside, Queens. The entity that was seen in the 19th century didn’t seem to communicate verbally, though he made strange, chilling sounds. He was able to move on all fours as quickly as an

Playing the Ghost in 19th Century Australia

Playing the Ghost in 19th Century Australia

Did you know that in late 19th century Australia, ordinary people would dip sheets in toxic glowing paint and run around at night pretending to be ghosts? Neither did we, but Chris dug up this oddball story from Jen’s home state of Victoria and was excited to tell Jen