H.H.Holmes in Chicago 1893!

[Archaic]

Hi, Stan. Sometimes I wish there were a limit to the number of books & movies that were allowed to be marketed with the same title... it does get old.

For all we know, there were serial killers among the Native Americans before "Whitie" even showed up!

It's a good film none the less. Regards, Archaic

[sdreid]

He was nowhere near America's first serial killer even if that means United States of America.

I think I'd give the Harpe Brothers during 1798-1804 that "honor".

[Archaic]

2 Full-Length Docmentaries: HH HOLMES Murders

Hi, everyone. Here are links to two different FULL-LENGTH Documentaries on HH Holmes. Both are very good.

The first is 'H.H. Holmes: America's 1st Serial Killer', from 2004.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do....+Holmes&hl=en

The second is National Geographic Channel's
'Madness In the White City'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP26FeqK7oM

HH Holmes was an incredibly sick human being; it amazes me that he is so little known today; maybe especially here in the U.S. Now that I know more, I wonder if we blocked him out on purpose- he was that ghastly! Regards, Archaic

[sdreid]

Hi Cel,

Yes, I think I read somewhere that Cruz and Leonardo DiCaprio were in some sort of battle for claim to the title.

[Celesta]

Yes. I saw something about Tom Cruise, which doesn't inspire me much.

[sdreid]

IMDb does list a movie by that title for 2009.

[Celesta]

Here is part one of a nice documentary on the Fair. It has gorgeous postcards and pictures and is narrated by Gene Wilder. So far I've found 3 parts to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryZQE...eature=related

[Celesta]

I found this movie trailer. It's just a trailer for a student film, it seems. I don't remember any flashing knives in the book, but it's been awhile since I read it. Interesting though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHh08TVMilY

It looks like the official movie has not been launched yet.

[sdreid]

I'd heard that there was supposed to be a movie based on Larson's book but I don't know what became of it.

[Celesta]

He married his second wife in 1887, while still married to the first one, and I think his whereabouts may be fairly well known for 1888. He would have been 28 during the Ripper era--- just right really. It certainly crossed my mind that he could have been the Ripper, but I didn't see anything in the book that suggested a gap big enough to get him to London and back. He was certainly an ogre.

[j.r-ahde]

Hello Jeff!

If one thinks about his outlook and his ability to appear trustworthy, then it is as possible as with the people as you mentioned.

But, like you said; obviously he was in Chicago at the time!

All the best
Jukka

[Mayerling]

The Devil in the White City

In rereading the thread I find it odd that Holmes somehow has escaped the fate of Bury, Cream, Chapman, and (to a lesser degree) Mary Pearcey of being pushed as a suspect for the Whitechapel Murders. Apparently in 1888 he may have been in the midwest (in Chicago). A novelist, Robert Bloch, did write a fictional account of Holmes suggesting a female Pinkerton agent is suspecting he is Jack, but that was about it.

Larson has also written an excellent book about Marconi and the creation of Wireless Telegraphy, and tied it to the crime that put the seal of approval on the new invention: the Crippen Case. It is called THUNDERSTRUCK. Also, uninvolved with homicide (unless bureaucratic stupidity might be considered) Larson's first major work: ISAAC'S STORM. It is a fine retelling of the worst natural disaster in American History, the 1900 Galveston Hurricaine and Tidal Wave that killed at least 6,000 people (it beats out Hurricaine Katrina and the San Francisco Earthquake).

Jeff

[redelevator]

Wierd Chicago Tours

http://www.weirdchicago.com/

These folks give some interesting tours in Chicago, including this one coming in May.

DEVIL & THE WHITE CITY TOUR
Weird Chicago's "Devil & the White City" Tour: A Weird Chicago Original -- Accept No Imitations!

Friday May 22nd: Join us for a special tour of the history, mystery and hauntings surrounding the bloodthirsty life of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer, who operated the infamous "Murder Castle" during Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893! Locations include the "Murder Castle" site, 1893 World's Fair locations, murder sites, ghost stories and more! Departs from the Hard Rock Cafe at 7:00 PM! $30 Per Person

[Doug Irvine]

When you consider how Holmes managed to kill so many people and get away with it, I think it is important to remember that Holmes was a consummate confidence artist. Holmes only turned to murder as a refinement of his con game, by killing the victims of his con game he was assured of success. I believe that was the original intention of the murder castle, it would be place were he could lure his victims, fleece them and then dispose of them at his leisure. If the police came looking for a missing person, Holmes was a practised and confident liar and with nothing to connect him to the victim he could easily avoid suspicion. A good book about Holmes is Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holme, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn of the Century Chicago.

[Celesta]

Jeff has the right of it. Larson's book is a very interesting read. The White City was the showcase for a lot of firsts and was exquisite to look at. Larson is contrasting the creative energies of Daniel Burnham and his team to bring something worthwhile into the world with those of Mudgett aka Holmes to bring evil into it. It gave me chills.

It was the construction of the fair that helped Holmes in that he was able to use that as an excuse to create that abomination of a building where he killed people, ostensibly as a hotel. He was more than a murderer. He was a con artist extraordinaire and most of his funds came from fraudulent activities. The fair drew large numbers of people looking for work as well as visitors wanting to tour the fair and to experience Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which was set up right next door and was stiff competition for the fair. Holmes intended to victimize some of these people.

Here is a link to a very nice site covering The Columbian Exposition of 1893. Well worth a look, especially for those who read Larson's book.

http://members.cox.net/academia/cassatt8.html