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The Gangster's Ghost

by The Australian

Johnny ‘The Magician’ Regan was a murderer, pimp and psychopath, gunned down by three assassins in a grimy back lane in 1974. He was 29. Matthew Condon investigates gangland’s last great murder mystery. Find out why police didn’t lift a finger for five decades.Hear his voice from beyond the grave for the first time, in secret recordings brought to life by AI and our audio experts. And meet the family still haunted by his crimes.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Jul 17, 2025. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. Episode 10: Post-Mortem

    In this episode Regan is already public enemy number one with both the underworld and police after the disappearance and presumed murder of his girlfriend’s toddler son, Karlos Scott-Huie. For some, Regan had signed his own death warrant despite his denials that he ever harmed the child. Then in...

  2. Episode 9: Karlos

    Matthew Condon and Kelly Slater Regan visit the site of the former Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, where 15 innocent people lost their lives more than half a century ago. Condon uncovers a document that suggests the private detective who investigated the horrific attack...

  3. Episode 8: Collateral Damage

    In this episode Regan is a suspect following the suspicious death of brothel madam and whistleblower Shirley Brifman in Brisbane where the gangster is using his muscle to expand his various business ventures. Regan hooks up with the shady Clockwork Orange Gang and rocks the Queensland capital…

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  4. Episode 7: Travelling North

    In this episode Stewart John Regan expands his business empire into Queensland, bringing all his street-smart Sydney savvy to what he thinks are the genteel provinces. But he walks into a landscape with its own well-established underworld supported by some of the most corrupt and dangerous police...

  5. Episode 6: Heat

    In this episode, Regan’s de facto partner Marg reveals the truth behind life with a man who was transforming from scallywag to a full-blown criminal. He introduces her to some of the top gangsters of the day. Meanwhile, Regan becomes a suspect in a gangland killing and comes under almost…

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  6. Episode 5: Into The Underworld

    In this episode, Stewart John Regan’s transition from troubled youth, tow truck driver and nightclub bouncer goes to another level. While courting his girlfriend Marg, he announces himself as a force to be reckoned with in Sydney’s notorious Kings Cross, muscling in on other criminals’ territory...

  7. Episode 4: Real Wild Child

    In this episode Regan, fresh from a boys’ correctional home, steps out into the wild streets of Sydney noir. He quickly makes his mark in notorious Kings Cross as a teenage brothel lord. Regan also cements his reputation as a violent enforcer with a hair-trigger temper, willing to eliminate…

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  8. Episode 3: Holystoning

    In this episode, Regan and his mother, Clare – The Colonel – suddenly leave rural Young for the big smoke of Sydney. Clare turns up in the city’s notorious red-light district of Darlinghurst, while Regan mysteriously disappears into the institutional nightmare of a Gosford boys’ home. There, he...

  9. Episode 2: The Colonel

    Johnny Regan's early years were completely dominated by his obsessive mother, Clare, nicknamed "The Colonel", who frowned upon his friendships, didn’t allow him to play sports, and publicly horsewhipped her young son. She was married to Alf Regan, the town drunk, the pair having met at The...

  10. Episode 1: Dead Man Talking

    The five-decade mystery of who killed psychopathic pimp and murderer Stewart John ‘The Magician’ Regan at the age of 29. One of Australia’s most notorious gangsters, Regan was gunned down by three assassins in a Marrickville laneway in 1974. Introducing The Gangster’s Ghost podcast investigation,...

  11. Introducing: The Gangster's Ghost

    Johnny 'The Magician' Regan was a murderer, pimp and psychopath, gunned down by three assassins in a grimy back lane in 1974. He was 29. Matthew Condon investigates gangland’s last great murder mystery. Subscribers to The Australian and registered users hear episodes of 'The Gangster's Ghost'…

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About this show

Johnny ‘The Magician’ Regan was a murderer, pimp and psychopath, gunned down by three assassins in a grimy back lane in 1974. He was 29. Matthew Condon investigates gangland’s last great murder mystery. Find out why police didn’t lift a finger for five decades.Hear his voice from beyond the grave for the first time, in secret recordings brought to life by AI and our audio experts. And meet the family still haunted by his crimes.

Hosted by

The Australian

Produced by [email protected]

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does The Gangster's Ghost have?

The Gangster's Ghost has 11 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on July 17, 2025.

What is The Gangster's Ghost about?

Johnny ‘The Magician’ Regan was a murderer, pimp and psychopath, gunned down by three assassins in a grimy back lane in 1974. He was 29. Matthew Condon investigates gangland’s last great murder mystery. Find out why police didn’t lift a finger for five decades.Hear his voice from beyond the grave...

How often does The Gangster's Ghost release new episodes?

The Gangster's Ghost publishes weekly, based on its 11 episodes since May 2025.

Who hosts The Gangster's Ghost?

The Gangster's Ghost is created and hosted by The Australian.
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