Blood, Sweat & Rockets: The Explosive Demise of Jack Parsons

Norco 80

LAist Studios

True Crime

3.7 • 889 Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When Jack Parsons dies in an explosion, conspiracy theories foment. Was it murder by a disgruntled ex-cop? Assassination by the US government? In this episode we wrestle to make sense of both the circumstances surrounding Parsons' death and the legacy he left behind.

Transcript

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0:00.0	For ongoing coverage of the Southern California wildfires, download the new LASD mobile app so you can listen wherever you are.
0:07.0	You can also stream us on LAS.com or listen live on LASD 89.3. LAS will be there with you every step of the way.
0:15.5	Hey, it's just me, Paula Poundstone, and I'm coming to Glendale for a special live taping co-presented by L-Aist and Martin Media.
0:23.0	It's February 8th at the Alex Theater. Tickets at LAS.com slash events.
0:29.0	See you there.
0:42.8	L.A. In myriest Studios In my research for this podcast, I came across something I actually wanted to know more about, not less, with regards to Jack Parsons.
0:56.7	It's mentioned in both Strange Angel George Pendle's 2005 biography, as well as Sex and Rockets,
1:03.0	John Carter's book about Parsons from 1999. According to Pendle, when Parsons was a teenager,
1:10.2	he attempted to summon the devil.
1:13.9	Apparently, he was successful at it, at least in his mind.
1:18.2	Carter actually quotes from something Parsons wrote much later, where he addresses himself
1:23.6	in the second person, quote,
1:25.6	The magical fiasco at the age of 16 was needful to keep you away from magic until you
1:34.1	were sufficiently matured, close quote.
1:37.1	But that's all we know.
1:39.3	I've tried to picture it.
1:41.2	Parsons is a kid who loves science fiction.
1:44.0	He's got a big imagination. He's getting bullied at school. But it. Parsons is a kid who loves science fiction. He's got a big imagination. He's getting
1:46.5	bullied at school, but at home, he's allowed to blow stuff up in the backyard. Then one night,
1:53.5	he wants to try something even wilder. He's going to summon the devil. I mean, you have to hand it
2:00.7	to him. The kid has moxie.
2:02.6	So, maybe he waits for his mother to go to sleep.
	...

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