This is the true story of Langley & Homer Collyer and the Brownstone they live in on 5th Avenue in Harlem, up until the late 1940's.
Not only did their hoarding become an obsession, but also Langley's determination to keep thieves and the curious...out!
Booby traps were set to trap any daring intruders, because many thought their mansion was filled with exotic treasure, and that the two brothers sat on plies of hoarded money & gold.

On the eve of demonstrating to the world his motion picture camera, which had taken decades of research and no small amount of obsession – Louis le Prince apparently boarded a non-stop express train to Paris....but didn't get off at the destination....and was never seen again.

Get your tickets from the Dijon train station & put on your Sherlock deerstalker hat on as we try to deduce what might have happened.

During a hot summer in 1854, a farmer from Selma, Alabama - vanished in front of several eyewitnesses.
Nearly a year later, his wife reveals something very startling.....

Everyone in the Hungarian village of Cinkota thought Bela had turned into a real ladies man, even since his cheating wife had left him. He certainly had money to spare of a sudden. And what was with all those metal drums being delivered to his home? No doubt illicit alcohol with which to woo his fancy women from Budapest!
Why they don't hang around very long? ....there's always another to be glimpsed disappearing through his front door. He certainly must have a way with ladies.

This is the true account of Blanche Monnier, who was imprisoned by her mother in an attic room in France in 1876.
Blanche was having a clandestine affair with an unsuccessful lawyer...
...her mother vehemently disapproved.
It is my intention to try and present Blanche as a real person, with hopes, love & aspirations...and not just some horrible image on a video thumbnail.

Gladys Deacon - The Duchess of Marlborough 1881–1977
The story of a wealthy socialite who married the Duke of Marlborough, lived in fabulous Blenheim Palace; but through the tragedy of an early form of plastic surgery gone wrong....ended up a recluse and was eventually taken away & confined for the rest of her life.
But there's more to Gladys than the folly of her beauty treatment - she really was a woman ahead of her time, and a rebel with an outstanding wit & intelligence.

The tragic case of Grace Brown, lured to her death on a lonely lake.
She thought her lover was going to propose marriage...but he had other plans that day.
In her last written letter back home, it appears she had some foreknowledge of her impending death.

This is the true report of a miser, who went missing in the 1760's.
The source is the London Chronicle of 1762.
Monsieur Foscue had amassed a large fortune, but one day he receives
notice that large taxes must be paid to the government;
This spreads terror into his miserly heart, and he resolved to hide
his treasure, somewhere where no one would find it.
Events though, did not go according to plan....

Ida Mayfield Wood 1838 - 1932
Welcome to another 'Oddie's Historical Feature'!
As well as looking at strange people through history, I'll be also presenting strange but true events that leave many questions unanswered.

The true story of Ida Mayfield Wood, daughter of a poor Irish immigrant – who had been told by a fortune teller that she would marry a rich man....and well... sometimes a girl has to give destiny a helping hand.
With some direct writing skills & a whole lot of confidence, Ida managed to land herself a great catch. Their affair became an enduring love – which perhaps Ida never got over, after her beau passed away.
Her destiny now fulfilled...what next? Let's check into room 552 and work out plan B.
Oh, and don't forget the 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign.

This is the story of Beau Brummell George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840)
I won't write much here – immerse yourself in the video, and go back in time,
to when Beau soared to the giddy heights of social success
....and then his fall from grace, ending in a cheap room in Caen, France.
Intended for viewing whilst on the train to wherever you may be going,
or while you're at the office, when the boss thinks you're doing the monthly report. :)
There's plenty of information about Beau Brummell, if you care to do detailed research.

The true story of Emilie Sagee (1813 - ?)
Emilie was a teacher, and a very good one at that. But she had difficulty keeping a teaching position for long – the reason being is that she a twin helper who accompanied her wherever she went; this 'Doppelganger' would mimic her actions and wander around the school. The children didn't seem to mind, but once their parents found out about the second ghostly Emilie....she had to start looking for another job.

This Historical Features details the the story of the Papin Sisters – their upbringing – the murders - and their trial & final years.
Christine & Léa Papin grew up in Le Mans, France. After a tragic upbringing, things appeared to be going in the right direction for them; they had a good job as head servant/cook & chambermaid in a the house of a wealthy middle class family. By all accounts, they were fed & treated well & had a comfortable heated room on the third floor of the large house of Monsieur Lancelin & his family.
Then one day, the girls snapped...leaving a horrific trail in their wake.
No one could quite believe that these two kind & demure young women, could be capable of such shocking & grisly murders.

Check out Oddie's Historical Feature playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

Music: Sad Ghost Story - by JM Scherf Music