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Infinitesimal Impossibilities 02: The Mad Madame of New Orleans
About this Episode
History Impossible is back sooner than some may have anticipated for another installment of the Infinitesimal Impossibilities series, this time recorded in the spirit (and in the last hours) of Halloween 2020.
This time, we cover a story that takes place in early 19th century New Orleans. It begins with a fire, or rather perhaps concludes with one. A large mansion whose hosts had been entertaining guests, catches fire from its upstairs kitchen. As people pour into the streets to watch the blaze, they see one of the slaves screaming from an upstairs window before she is engulfed in flames.
When the fire brigade arrives, they demand to enter the premises to put out the remaining flames and check for survivors. The owner of the home, a Madame Delphine LaLaurie, and her husband, Dr. LaLaurie, wave away such suggestions. The fire brigade nevertheless gets their wish and enters the home, searching for survivors. After breaking open a secret door, the horrors they encounter on the other side beggar belief.
Just as they discover the secret room, Dr. and Madame LaLaurie are spirited away in a carriage, never to be seen again.
Who was Madame LaLaurie? Who was her husband, the good doctor? What was found behind the secret door? To where did this couple from the cream of the New Orleans high society crop disappear? Why did people come to believe the rebuilt mansion and its grounds were haunted? How much of the stories spun about the Mad Madame, as she came to be known, are even true? How does Nicolas Cage fit into all this? This will all be answered and more in this next installment of Infinitesimal Impossibilities.
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Elias Borota
Matthew Dakus
Kyle Dillon
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-impossible--5634566/support.
This time, we cover a story that takes place in early 19th century New Orleans. It begins with a fire, or rather perhaps concludes with one. A large mansion whose hosts had been entertaining guests, catches fire from its upstairs kitchen. As people pour into the streets to watch the blaze, they see one of the slaves screaming from an upstairs window before she is engulfed in flames.
When the fire brigade arrives, they demand to enter the premises to put out the remaining flames and check for survivors. The owner of the home, a Madame Delphine LaLaurie, and her husband, Dr. LaLaurie, wave away such suggestions. The fire brigade nevertheless gets their wish and enters the home, searching for survivors. After breaking open a secret door, the horrors they encounter on the other side beggar belief.
Just as they discover the secret room, Dr. and Madame LaLaurie are spirited away in a carriage, never to be seen again.
Who was Madame LaLaurie? Who was her husband, the good doctor? What was found behind the secret door? To where did this couple from the cream of the New Orleans high society crop disappear? Why did people come to believe the rebuilt mansion and its grounds were haunted? How much of the stories spun about the Mad Madame, as she came to be known, are even true? How does Nicolas Cage fit into all this? This will all be answered and more in this next installment of Infinitesimal Impossibilities.
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Elias Borota
Matthew Dakus
Kyle Dillon
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-impossible--5634566/support.
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
