hollywoodland
James Dean: A Death Foretold, a Gruesome Publicity Stunt, and a Haunted Car
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James Dean died in a high-speed car crash at the age of 24, but his legend lives on. Fan clubs held monthly memorial services and wrote movie studios begging for relics of their patron saint. Professional illusionists swore they could resurrect his body. Rumors that Dean survived the deadly crash were spurred on, and in some cases planted, by a film studio with a financial stake in keeping his memory alive. The car that killed him had a grisly afterlife of its own, taking two more lives before mysteriously disappearing forever.
Sources
Surviving James Dean, by William Bast
James Dean: The Mutant King, by David Dalton
Slimy Insinuations (Culture & Curiosities)
The Ghost of James Dean (Culture & Curiosities)
James Dean, a Doomed Porsche and Homophobia (Las Vegas Review)
George Barris, California King of Customized Cars, Dies at 89 (New York Times)
It’s Time We Let James Dean Be the Queer Icon He Is (Esquire)
James Dean’s Love Letters. (Jason Colavito)
Cursed Cars: James Dean’s Haunted ‘Little Bastard’ Porsche 550 (BestRide)
The Amazing James Dean Hoax! (Jason Colavito)
The Curse of James Dean’s ‘Little Bastard (Jalopnik)
The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby (Esquire)
A ‘Star Wars’ Actor Predicted James Dean’s Death a Week Before It Happened (Showbiz Cheat Sheet)
Credits
Hosted by Jake Brennan.
Written by Bob Proehl.
Copy edited by James Sullivan.
Scored and mixed by Matt Tahaney.
Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak