Horrible and tasteless: US company offers life-size mutilated Mary Kelly dummies

[Bert Coules]

I stumbled on this and almost wish I hadn't. A US company trading as "Dapper Cadaver" manufactures a range of life-size corpses, in various states of decay. One of them is the mutilated MJK.

I can understand the possible demand for such items from the film and TV industry, though there are well-established industry manufacturers of such things and the major studios have their own resources. This firm's name, their slogan, To Entertain and Educate, and the flashy website seem miles away from that sort of professional supply house.

The only positive spin I can put on the experience of finding the site is this: after several decades of being interested in the Whitechapel murders I'm sorry to say that I've grown too accustomed to the photographs of the victims, to the point that even the Miller's Court images don't have the power they once had. But, even given that what I was seeing was probably entirely inaccurate, when I first clicked through to the pin-sharp and vividly coloured closeups of the replica's face I felt a horror and revulsion that were perhaps a distant echo of how the discoverers of Kelly's remains must have felt. I'm actually pleased that those feelings have been reawakened in me, though I regret that it took this crass, exploitative site to do it.

If anyone wants to try it, the site is here. But please be warned: the images, especially of the face, are not pleasant.

[FISHY1118]

Pretty Gruesome.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Bert Coules,

It's not as new as you might imagine.

"Secret History," written by yours truly.

Regards,

Simon

[Bert Coules]

It's not as new as you might imagine...

Simon, a lengthy spell of intense Googling found me the book, but without actually buying, borrowing, or stealing a copy I'm afraid I'm no nearer knowing just what the "it" you're referring to actually is.

Are you saying that there was an earlier manufacturer of mutilated MJK mannequins? If so, I'd be interested in the details.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Welcome to Casebook Bert.

Hi all,

Just in case anyone doesn’t know, Bert was the main writer on possibly the greatest radio series ever. The superb series of Sherlock Holmes stories starring the brilliant Clive Morrison as Holmes and Michael Williams as Watson (covering all of the Doyle stories) He then did the Further Adventures .. with Holmes stories not written by Doyle but based on things mentioned in the canonical stories (these had Andrew Sachs as Watson) I can’t recommend them highly enough.

[Ally]

I stumbled on this and almost wish I hadn't. A US company trading as "Dapper Cadaver" manufactures a range of life-size corpses, in various states of decay. One of them is the mutilated MJK.
............... But please be warned: the images, especially of the face, are not pleasant.

Haven't clicked on the link and don't plan to as just the thought is enough to put me off my coffee and donut. And it's a really good donut today. I swear, I know every old person on the planet despairs about the state of the world, but damn....

Really feeling like it's a valid reaction currently.

[The Rookie Detective]

Not something I would consider looking at.

Not because it's potentially alarming, but rather it holds no contextual or factual relevance to the case, and certain subjective artistic interpretations are for me rather unnecessary.

But it's also good to have the knowledge that these macabre things exist; and thus it becomes a matter of personal choice.

I am weary to open a box that looks, smells, and feels like it belongs to Pandora.

[c.d.]

"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public."

H.L. Mencken

c.d.

[Bert Coules]

Welcome to Casebook Bert.

Thanks. I have actually been a member for some time, but this thread is my first contribution in (I think) years.

Just in case anyone doesn’t know, Bert was the main writer on possibly the greatest radio series ever...

That's extremely kind of you. If anyone is interested, there are full details of the shows here.

I did think long and hard about writing a Holmes-and-Watson-investigate-the-Ripper entry, possibly a two-parter, and actually mentioned it to the Beeb, but there was quite strong opposition to the idea. I wonder how they would have reacted if I'd suggested dramatising Michael Dibdin's controversial The Last Sherlock Holmes Story?

On the subject of the appallingly-named Dapper Cadaver, I do understand peoples' reactions.

[Tani]

But how accurate is it?

Was there actually a 'ring' on her leg or was it a stocking?

Looks like she has one breast still?

Is it based off anything we can actually verify?

If so this may actually be useful as a practical tool for a modern recreation of the scene. Theory is alright but sometimes, often infact, seeing how something has been done and looks in person may change a theory significantly.

[Bert Coules]

But how accurate is it?

A good question: it would be interesting to know just what level of research went into its creation. For me, as I said, its value was primarily on the visceral shock level: inaccurate or not, that face generated a reaction that the crime scene pictures had long since ceased to provoke. I like to think that those feelings will remain with me the next time I look at the images of the real thing.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Thanks. I have actually been a member for some time, but this thread is my first contribution in (I think) years.

I saw your name a while ago in the members list and mentioned it in a pm to moderator Jon Menges who confirmed that it was you and not just another bloke who happened to be called Bert Coules.

That's extremely kind of you. If anyone is interested, there are full details of the shows here.

I did think long and hard about writing a Holmes-and-Watson-investigate-the-Ripper entry, possibly a two-parter, and actually mentioned it to the Beeb, but there was quite strong opposition to the idea. I wonder how they would have reacted if I'd suggested dramatising Michael Dibdin's controversial The Last Sherlock Holmes Story?

I always thought that Clive Morrison would have made an excellent screen Holmes too but the radio series was superb. In my lifetime I’ve had the best Holmes on screen (the Granada/Brett series) and the best radio series (yours) A Holmes investigates the Ripper would have been great with quite a few versions to choose from (but not the Dibdin story - well written though it was)

On the subject of the appallingly-named Dapper Cadaver, I do understand peoples' reactions.

I don’t think that much surprises us these days Bert. We’ve seen serial killer colouring books, Jack the Ripper t-shirts and various other items of ‘merchandise.’

[rjpalmer]

Haven't clicked on the link and don't plan to as just the thought is enough to put me off my coffee and donut. And it's a really good donut today. I swear, I know every old person on the planet despairs about the state of the world, but damn....

Really feeling like it's a valid reaction currently.

Coffee and a donut? The way the world's headed, I feel like having a dozen for breakfast, washed down with a fifth of Jameson.

[Bert Coules]

Clive Morrison...

I hope you'll forgive a touch of Holmesian correction if I gently point out that it's Merrison, with an "e". Clive does bear an astonishing resemblance to one of Sidney Paget's classic illustrations of the detective and it's a great pity that he's never played him on TV, film, or the stage.

I don’t think that much surprises us these days Bert.

That's true of many, I agree, but not, I hope, of all. Shock, revulsion, anger - these are valuable, creative, liberating reactions, to be treasured.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I hope you'll forgive a touch of Holmesian correction if I gently point out that it's Merrison, with an "e". Clive does bear an astonishing resemblance to one of Sidney Paget's classic illustrations of the detective and it's a great pity that he's never played him on TV, film, or the stage.

That's true of many, I agree, but not, I hope, of all. Shock, revulsion, anger - these are valuable, creative, liberating reactions, to be treasured.

I was quite happy to blame auto-correct for that Bert but I just typed in Merrison and it wasn’t corrected so it must have been me (twice!) It’s my birthday today so I’ll blame age as I can’t think of a better excuse.