Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version with all artwork created for the YouTube and podcast thumbnails:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mr2d82p8IN THIS EPISODE: Harry Houdini may have been one of the world’s greatest magicians – but he was also the biggest debunker of magic when it came to the supernatural. (Houdini vs. Spiritualism) *** There are strong women. There are formidable ladies. There are tough cookies. There are female baddies. And then there is “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, who was surely in a class all her own.  (The Ballad of Stagecoach Mary) *** Dozens of creepy stories and urban legends have sprouted up along America's most legendary highway. We look at some of the horrifying things people have experienced on Route 66. (Terrors of Route 66) *** It was one of the wildest and wickedest of all Wild West towns… and now it’s one of the most haunted. Jerome, Arizona is considered the most haunted town in the state – possibly in all of the United States. (The Haunting of Jerome, Arizona) *** Their seances with the departed launched a mass religious movement—and then one of them confessed that “it was common delusion”. We’ll look at the rise of Spiritualism – and the two sisters that started it all. (The Fox Sisters)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = First Story Preview and Show Open00:03:59.162 = The Fox Sisters00:18:42.506 = Houdini and Spiritualism00:32:57.515 = Stagecoach Mary00:40:57.094 = Horrors of Route 6600:52:52.398 = The Haunting of Jerome, Arizona01:06:05.362 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Fox Sisters” by Karen Abbott for Smithsonian Magazine: https://tinyurl.com/ycexng3f“Houdini Vs. Spiritualism” by Maggie Clancy for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/tqqb7et“Stagecoach Mary” from Strange Company: https://tinyurl.com/sejae2n“Horrors of Route 66” by Jacoby Bancroft for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/qt9kz53“The Haunting of Jerome, Arizona” by Patrick Thornton for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/szaksnfWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: February 04, 2020CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/route66