Track Star of the Damned

The Box of Oddities

John Elliott and Kat Walls

True Crime, Society & Culture, Comedy

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 3 September 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

n this episode, Kat and Jethro sprint headfirst into the shadows—twice. First, they investigate the chilling legend of the Black Flash of Provincetown—a mysterious, caped figure that terrorized the streets of Cape Cod in the late 1930s. Was it a prankster in a leotard or a supernatural harbinger of doom? Why did it smell like ammonia and make jumps that defied Newtonian physics? And most importantly: who keeps giving cryptids Olympic-level track abilities? Then, they shift into far darker territory with the haunting story of Lonnie Franklin Jr., better known as the Grim Sleeper. For decades, he preyed upon the vulnerable and voiceless in Los Angeles, slipping under the radar due to chilling indifference and systemic failure. How did one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history go unnoticed for so long—and what finally led to his capture? From shadowy specters to real-life horrors, this episode explores the thin, fraying line between folklore and fear, myth and monster. Listen now—if you dare. Get tickets and information for our live shows here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to From Beneath the Hollywood Sign. If you love old movies, Hollywood history, or the golden age of filmmaking, you've come to the right place. This is the podcast that talks about amazing stories of Tinseltown from another era and fascinating conversations with writer Steve Kubine and actress writer Nan McNamara.
0:16.7	So Steve, did Ava Gardner and Howard Hughes have a good relationship? Well, they did until he dislocated her jaw. What? Well, don't worry. She hitting back with an ashtray. From beneath the Hollywood sign is the gin joint for you. Yeah, film vault. We are one of the original film podcasts. That can't be true. There was like two other film podcasts when we began, Brian.
0:38.4	How long are we doing this show?
0:39.6	You and I first sat down and did a version of the show over 20 years ago.
0:43.2	My God.
0:44.1	Two episodes each week.
0:45.5	One, we are review movies and the first episode, the second one.
0:48.9	Different top five every week.
0:50.4	Movies that made you cry.
0:51.7	Worst movie accents.
0:53.1	Most disturbing movies. All right, the film
0:55.1	ball, check it out. Wherever you find a fine podcast. That's right. The film vault's going on 20 plus
1:00.9	years. What follows may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
1:07.7	The world is full of stories.
1:13.2	Stories of mysteries.
1:16.2	Of curiosities.
1:18.6	Of oddities.
1:32.7	Join Cat and Jethro Gilligan Toth for the strange, the bizarre, the unexpected, as they lift the lid and cautiously peer inside the box of oddities.
1:36.5	Oh, oh hey.
1:38.1	Hi.
1:38.9	We didn't see you come in.
1:40.6	My goodness.
	...

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