Digest

The podcast begins with an introduction and an advertisement for "Lady to Lady," a podcast celebrating its 600th episode. Karen and Georgia then announce their transition to a video podcast, discussing their anxieties and the challenges of adapting to a new format. They celebrate their sponsorship by Kleenex, highlighting their journey from blowing their noses on dresses to securing a brand deal. Georgia shares her fascination with the Crossroads of the World, a unique shopping center on Sunset Boulevard, and reveals its intriguing history. She delves into the life and death of Charles Crawford, a notorious underworld figure in 1920s Los Angeles, who rose to prominence during the Klondike Gold Rush. Georgia recounts the Julian Pete scandal, a Ponzi scheme that shook Los Angeles in the 1920s, involving Charles Crawford and a confrontation with Charlie Chaplin. She reveals how Charles Crawford's murder led to the construction of the Crossroads of the World, a shopping center designed by the architect of LA's Coca-Cola building. Karen and Georgia revisit the story of the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks, which transformed sharks from mysterious fish into fearsome predators in the American psyche. They delve into the terrifying events of the attacks, starting with the first attack on Charles Van Zant in Beach Haven. The attacks, initially dismissed as isolated incidents, quickly escalated into a full-blown panic across the state. The narrative shifts to Madawan, New Jersey, where a retired captain, Thomas Cattrell, witnesses a shark in the local creek. His warnings are initially dismissed as drunken ramblings, but the reality of the situation becomes horrifyingly clear when a young boy, Lester Stillwell, is attacked and killed by the shark. The Madawan Creek attacks, coupled with the previous attacks, ignite a frenzy of fear and vengeance across New Jersey. The public demands action, leading to a widespread hunt for the shark, with people resorting to extreme measures like using dynamite. The chapter explores various theories about the cause of the 1916 shark attacks, including the impact of World War I, unusual Gulf Stream patterns, and increased tourism. While the exact reasons remain unclear, the attacks forever changed our cultural perception of sharks. The episode concludes with a powerful message about the importance of sharks and the need for their conservation. Despite the fear they inspire, sharks play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction, Advertisement, and Video Podcast Announcement

The podcast begins with a brief introduction and an advertisement for "Lady to Lady," a podcast celebrating its 600th episode. Karen and Georgia then announce their transition to a video podcast, discussing their anxieties and the challenges of adapting to a new format.

00:01:40

Sponsorship, Manifestation, and the Crossroads of the World

Karen and Georgia celebrate their sponsorship by Kleenex, highlighting their journey from blowing their noses on dresses to securing a brand deal. Georgia shares her fascination with the Crossroads of the World, a unique shopping center on Sunset Boulevard, and reveals its intriguing history.

00:02:00

Charles Crawford: The Gray Wolf of Spring Street

Georgia delves into the life and death of Charles Crawford, a notorious underworld figure in 1920s Los Angeles, who rose to prominence during the Klondike Gold Rush.

00:02:41

The Julian Pete Scandal and Charles Crawford's Legacy

Georgia recounts the Julian Pete scandal, a Ponzi scheme that shook Los Angeles in the 1920s, involving Charles Crawford and a confrontation with Charlie Chaplin. She reveals how Charles Crawford's murder led to the construction of the Crossroads of the World, a shopping center designed by the architect of LA's Coca-Cola building.

00:04:43

The 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks: A Tale of Terror

Karen and Georgia revisit the story of the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks, which transformed sharks from mysterious fish into fearsome predators in the American psyche.

00:56:11

The 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks: A Series of Horrifying Events

This chapter delves into the terrifying events of the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks, starting with the first attack on Charles Van Zant in Beach Haven. The attacks, initially dismissed as isolated incidents, quickly escalated into a full-blown panic across the state.

01:04:18

The Madawan Creek Attacks: A Shark in a Creek?

The narrative shifts to Madawan, New Jersey, where a retired captain, Thomas Cattrell, witnesses a shark in the local creek. His warnings are initially dismissed as drunken ramblings, but the reality of the situation becomes horrifyingly clear when a young boy, Lester Stillwell, is attacked and killed by the shark.

01:13:22

Public Panic and the Hunt for the "New Jersey Man-Eater"

The Madawan Creek attacks, coupled with the previous attacks, ignite a frenzy of fear and vengeance across New Jersey. The public demands action, leading to a widespread hunt for the shark, with people resorting to extreme measures like using dynamite.

01:17:39

Theories and Explanations for the Shark Attacks

This chapter explores various theories about the cause of the 1916 shark attacks, including the impact of World War I, unusual Gulf Stream patterns, and increased tourism. While the exact reasons remain unclear, the attacks forever changed our cultural perception of sharks.

01:20:43

The Importance of Sharks and the Need for Conservation

The episode concludes with a powerful message about the importance of sharks and the need for their conservation. Despite the fear they inspire, sharks play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the Crossroads of the World and how did it come to be?

  The Crossroads of the World is a unique shopping center on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. It was built by Ella Crawford, the widow of Charles Crawford, a notorious underworld figure who was murdered in 1931. Ella's vision was to create a block full of shops that would take visitors on a trip around the world.

• What were the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks and why were they significant?

  The 1916 New Jersey shark attacks were a series of deadly incidents that occurred in the summer of 1916. These attacks transformed sharks from mysterious fish into fearsome predators in the American psyche, leading to a widespread fear of sharks that persists to this day.

• How did Charles Crawford rise to prominence and what led to his downfall?

  Charles Crawford rose to prominence in Seattle during the Klondike Gold Rush, operating bars, dance halls, and brothels. He later moved to Los Angeles and became a powerful figure in the underworld, but his influence declined after the end of Prohibition and the election of a reformer mayor who targeted corruption.

• What is the connection between Charles Crawford and the Crossroads of the World?

  Charles Crawford was murdered in 1931, and his widow Ella used the proceeds from his estate to build the Crossroads of the World, a shopping center designed to reflect her vision of a global marketplace.

• What is the significance of the Julian Pete scandal?

  The Julian Pete scandal was a Ponzi scheme that involved Charles Crawford and a confrontation with Charlie Chaplin. It exposed corruption in Los Angeles and contributed to Charles's downfall.

• What were the circumstances that led to the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks?

  A combination of factors, including increased tourism due to a polio epidemic, unusual Gulf Stream patterns, and potential disruption of shark food sources due to World War I, likely contributed to the attacks.

• How did the public react to the shark attacks?

  The attacks sparked widespread panic and fear, leading to a frenzy of shark hunting and even a cabinet meeting at the White House. The events forever changed our cultural perception of sharks.

• What is the importance of sharks in marine ecosystems?

  Sharks are apex predators that play a crucial role in regulating ecosystems by controlling populations of prey species. They are essential for the health and stability of oceans and the climate.

• What are the threats facing sharks today?

  Sharks face numerous threats, including overfishing, habitat destruction, and bycatch. Fishing operations are responsible for millions of shark deaths each year, contributing to the endangerment of many species.

Show Notes