Ep. 3: Spirit Photographs
We're going back to the 1850s, when America was full of the unexplainable, and people ate that shit up. Spiritualism was on the rise, technology was evolving, and at the heart of it all, William Mumler was capturing ghosts in photographs. Elise takes us through his Boston-based studio, where he photographed the likes of grieving widows, forlorn spouses and even First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Magically, he successfully captured their beloved lost loves, too. With the Civil War raging, grieving families were more desperate than ever for closure, but not all were convinced. He drew skepticism from prominent photographers, who toured his studio in the hopes of debunking his process. He was even tried in New York City for defrauding the American people. A swindler or successful medium? You decide. At the close, Halee treats us to a delicious trio of Easy Bake Oven cookies, stuffed with buttercream and fancy sprinkles. Happy Haunting!
The Fox Sisters
The Fox Sisters are accredited with starting the Spiritualism movement. After hearing spirit tappings in their farm house, hundreds of people came to hear for themselves.
Ectoplasm
Ectoplasm erupts from a medium’s ears, nose and mouth. It was believed to be the manifestation of a spirit.
Mumler’s Photographs
On the left, Mumler’s most famous photo features Mary Todd Lincoln, with the ghost of her husband Abraham Lincoln standing behind her. The photo on the right is one of many taken by Mumler.
“Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter”
Alexander Gardner was known to carry a prop rifle to pose with dead soldiers on the battlefield. For this photo, Gardner moved the body to a more photographable location and posed it to get the best shot.
James Wallace Black
James Wallace Black rode a hot air balloon to take the first aerial photo of Boston. He later traveled to Mumler’s studio to watch his process.
The American Museum
PT Barnum’s American Museum was across the street from Mumler’s NYC studio.
Houdini’s Medium Box
Harry Houdini’s medium box was used to disprove the medium’s ability to make objects move during a seance.
Mary Johnson
Mary Johnson was last seen on 9/25/2020 walking in the Tulalip Reservation in Washington. Contact the FBI with any and all tips.
Buttercream Filled Cookies
Get the recipe here!
