34 - Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Send us Fan MailDevil in the White City by Erik LarsonIn this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, a packed, fact-filled account of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the terrifying crimes of H. H. Holmes. Along the way, we unpack Daniel Burnham’s impossible project management nightmare, Frederick Law Olmsted’s dramatic hatred of flowerbeds, power boats, and mediocre gravel paths, the invention of the Ferris wheel, the rise of Kodak snapshots, Juicy Fruit, Cracker Jack, the dishwasher, spray paint, zippers, Shredded Wheat, and far too many things that apparently came from one fair.But beneath the White City’s glowing spectacle is Holmes’ so-called murder castle: a labyrinth of rooms, corridors, chutes, gas lines, hidden spaces, and a basement that feels straight out of Silence of the Lambs. We discuss Holmes’ charm, aliases, fraud, manipulation, blue eyes, possible small ears of vice, and his horrifying ability to sense vulnerability “the way another man might capture the trace of a woman’s perfume.”We also ask the important questions: would you rather go to an event at Harvard or Yale? Is Chicago deep dish actually pizza or a casserole? And how many red flags does a man need to wave before someone checks the basement?Content & Spoiler WarningSerial murder, fraud, gaslighting, grave robbing, gassing, botched or illegal abortions, the horrors of life without modern dentistry and vaccines, and the intense stress of impossible project management. We also spoil The Devil in the White City, including the crimes of H. H. Holmes.Palate CleanserAfter all that murder and fraud, watch Maul on Disney+ for the Star Wars completists, and Daredevil in preparation for the next Spider-Man movie, and Stranger Things with the kids.Recommendations:Erik Larson’s other books, including Dead Wake and Isaac’s Storm.The Wager for more novelistic nonfiction that will make you annoy everyone around you with historical facts.The Alienist for an old-timey hunt for an 1890s serial killer.Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll for a fictionalised challenge to the idea that Ted Bundy was some criminal genius.The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule.The Five, about Jack the Ripper’s victims.If you want to know more about H.H. Holmes, check out Last Podcast on the Left’s episode on H. H. Holmes and Lore's episode “The Castle.” And for more information about the era, try the Dollop episodes on the Pinkertons, Tesla and Edison, and “Cereal Men” with Patton Oswalt.Titanic for Gilded Age vibes, plus the book’s Titanic connection.Loving Frank for Frank Lloyd Wright-related drama.Heretic, Barbarian and Black Phone for scary basements.American Psycho and The Talented Mr Ripley for monsters with a facade.Horns by Joe Hill, inspired by Holmes’ own claim that his head and face were becoming devil-like.Instant Dream Home on Netflix for stressful, probably-not-real renovation timelines.Weezer’s Pinkerton.And always:Arrested Development, because Buster Bluth was also a mama’s boy, as H.H. Holmes claims, and Olmsted has Lucille Bluth-level dramatic energy.Parks and Recreation, because of the Harvest Fest, Leslie Knope-level organisation, and Ben Wyatt-style cost-cutting.HomeworkHorror double feature. Amontillado wine features twice on menus at the fair, so read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” and watch Silence of the Lambs because the real Buffalo Bill performed at the fair.And remember:Beware of charm, aliases, suspicious life insurance requests, and men who need a shovel to bury “potatoes” in the cellar.Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).