1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. This is a 2 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: story about murder, about obsession, about sex, sex appeal, about Hollywood, 3 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: and about one of the most beautiful women to ever 4 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: arrive in that town, Dorothy Stratton. Dorothy didn't make great films, 5 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: but there was a pretty okay film that was made 6 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: about her, Star eighty, directed by Bob Fosse. And Dorothy 7 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: Stratton didn't make great music either, but she did inspire 8 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: great music, that's for sure, Unlike that music I played 9 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: for you at the top of the show, which of 10 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: course was not great music. That was a preset loop 11 00:00:54,040 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: from my melotron called dime Spot for Days MK one. 12 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: I played you that loop because I can't afford the 13 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: rights to Magic by Olivia Newton John. And why would 14 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: I play you that specific slice of leg Warmer Cheese? 15 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: Could I afford it? Because that was the number one 16 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: song in America on August fourteenth, nineteen eighty and that 17 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: was the day of Private Investigator stumbled upon a brutal 18 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: murder scene that would shock Los Angeles to its core. 19 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: On this episode Sex Obsession, Murder, Hollywood and Dorothy Stratton. 20 00:01:35,920 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: I'm Jake Brennan, and this is disgraceland. You want to 21 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: know the secret to a successful stakeout, you gotta savor 22 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: every smoke. See what you do is when you're about 23 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: to go, park your ass in one spot for a while, 24 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: get yourself a fresh pack that's twenty in all, and 25 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: after you get your seat adjusted just right, you light 26 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: the first one, take a puff and count to five. 27 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: Now check the door of the place you're watching, and 28 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 1: then the window, maybe the skylight if it's some bel 29 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: air mansion. And then you exhale, so you can't drink 30 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: because then you're gonna have to piss. You can't do 31 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: the Sunday crossword because while you're still scratching your head 32 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: over eleven down, the perp walks right out of the door. 33 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: So you savor that first smoke. Give it thirty minutes, 34 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: have another, finish two, and it's an hour. If you 35 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: finish the whole pack and nobody's moved inside, it's time 36 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: to either call for backup or get the hell out 37 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: of there. I should know. My name's Carl Rothsky, and 38 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: I'm a private eye. I used to be a lawyer 39 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: until the California Bar Association thought I got a little 40 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: too rough. With the defendant before they could testify, they 41 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: yanked my license to practice. So now I'm a professional dick. 42 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: People paying me to dig up dirt. I specialize in 43 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: matrimonial work. You might even say it's my metier. Usually 44 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: it's easy enough. Some jealous husband wants me to taill 45 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: his wife for a few days, and most times I 46 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: find nothing. But every once in a while there's a surprise. Hey, 47 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: what do you know? She joined a bowling league. And 48 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: that type of easy score was exactly what I thought 49 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: I was getting myself into a few weeks ago when 50 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: this wiry, little, dark haired guy walks into my office. 51 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: My office being a diner a few blocks off the 52 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: Sunset Strip. The coffee's bad and the service is even worse, 53 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: but there's never a crowd. He slide into a booth 54 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: and he shakes my hand hard, too hard. Hey, he says, 55 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: I'm Paul Paul Snyder. Steve says, you're the best. Steve 56 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 1: is Paul Snyder's roommate. Let's just say I helped him 57 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 1: out of a jam with a married brunette last year. 58 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: And Steve's right in this sleazy little corner of Los Angeles, 59 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: I am the best That's why I know everything about 60 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: Paul Snyder before we even sit down. He's a small 61 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: time want to be promoter, quote unquote disco consultant is 62 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: what his business card says. He's got quite the past 63 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: back in Vancouver, used to run a few girls, and 64 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: his taste for flashy clothes and the diamond and crusted 65 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: star David he wears around his neck or earn him 66 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: the nickname the Jewish Pin. But to the local tough 67 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: guys here in La Paul is a fucking joke. When 68 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: one of his girls steals his money and takes off 69 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,119 Speaker 1: in his car, he decides to go straight. He starts 70 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,799 Speaker 1: putting together bar nights, anything from rock bands to wet 71 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: t shirt contests. All the while he's dreaming of bigger 72 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: clubs and brighter lights. But he's Paul Snyder, so the 73 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: lights are only gonna get so bright. It seems like 74 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: all he's gonna do is dream about it, until one 75 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: day the schmuck decides he wants some ice cream. Best 76 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: decision of his life. He rolls into the local dairy 77 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 1: queen for a strawberry Sunday, only to discover the absolute 78 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: finest piece of ass he's ever seen in his life 79 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: working the front counter. Even in a red apron and pigtails, 80 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: Snyder can tell she's a thoroughbred. You can't pimp a 81 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: girl like that. Now, this girl is his ticket to 82 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: the big time. All he has to do is wait 83 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: for her to turn eighteen. Her name is a real 84 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 1: mouthful Dorothy Ruth hoag Stratton. She has the perfect girl 85 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: next door look like if the girl next door woke 86 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: up at sixteen with the body of Marilyn Row. Maybe 87 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: if Daddy was around, he would have warned her, but 88 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: he wasn't, and nobody did so. When Snyder swaggers into 89 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: the dairy Queen, his charm and flashy clothes are enough 90 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: to turn her head. She falls for him hard. She's 91 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: so in love she'll do anything up to and including 92 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: posing stark naked for a photographer friend of his. See 93 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: He tells her Playboy magazine is turning twenty five and 94 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: they're running a contest to find a new centerfold, and 95 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: the winner gets twenty grand. Incredibly, this schmuck's plan almost works. 96 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: The photos make it all the way to Hugh Hefner's desk, 97 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: and the pajama Man likes what he sees. Next thing 98 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: they know, Dorothy is on a plane at Lax. She 99 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 1: lands on August thirteenth, nineteen seventy eight. Snyder follows a 100 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: few months later. She doesn't win the contest, but her 101 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 1: photos appear in the twenty fifth anniversary issue. On one condition, 102 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: She's going to drop that last name, Pogue, Stratton, justice 103 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 1: and sexy. From now on, She's Dorothy Stratton. In nineteen 104 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: seventy nine, she spends six weeks shooting her first Playboy centerfold, 105 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: and right before it drops in July, she and Snyder 106 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: tie the knot, and this fucking dope has hit the jackpot. 107 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: It's barely a year after that first flight to La 108 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: and Hefner is already confident that Dorothy Stratton is the 109 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: crossover star he's been looking for. Acting offers poor in 110 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:26,239 Speaker 1: Vanity Fair wants her on the cover. In April nineteen eighty, 111 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: she's named Playmate of the Year. Snyder is feeling so 112 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: confident they're on a rocket ride to the top that 113 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: he runs out and buys a black Mercedes four P 114 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: fifty se complete with custom plates that read Star eighty. Now, 115 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: even though I already know all of this, I let 116 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: Snyder tell me the whole story, and when he gets 117 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: to the next part, he pauses for a moment, gripping 118 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: the handle of his coffee munks so hard that I'm 119 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: waiting for it to shatter. Everything was perfect, he says, 120 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: until that fucking director started sniffing around. By that director, 121 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: he means Peter Bogdanovitch, fresh off of his breakup with 122 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: Sybil Shepherd, Bogdanovitch eases his pain by spending his evenings 123 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: at the Playboy Mansion, and he took an immediate interest 124 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: in Dorothy. Snyder's not an idiot. He knows Bogdanovich is tight. 125 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: The guy started fucking Sybil Shepherd when they were filming 126 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: the Last Picture Show, and now he's definitely up to 127 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: the same thing with Dorothy. Says He's written a part 128 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: just for her in his new picture, in which she'll 129 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: work alongside legends like Audrey Hepburn. Of course, this will 130 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: require a lot of time between the director and Dorothy to, 131 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: you know, develop the part. I ask him the obvious question, 132 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: you want me to tailor? He nods. He wants evidence 133 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: of the affair. Alienation of affection is what it's called. 134 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,359 Speaker 1: If Bogdanovich is stealing his wife away, so be it. 135 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: But he says that bandana wearing four eyed prick is 136 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 1: gonna have to cough up big time to help me. 137 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: Snyder's pain also wants me to look into any assets 138 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: Dorothy might be hiding. So you can do it. Yes, 139 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: follow around the sexiest woman in the world for a 140 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: few days. See how the rich and famous live and 141 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: get paid for the privilege. Yeah, I tell him, I 142 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: think I can handle this one, or at least that's 143 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: what I thought a few weeks ago. Now I'm sitting 144 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: in an nosmobile sweating bullets with a cramp in my 145 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: leg that won't quit. I reach for the pack of 146 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: cigarettes and shake out another smoke. It's the last one 147 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: in the pack. I inhaled deeply, and I pray to 148 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: God I see Paul Snyder or Dorothy Stratton in the 149 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:37,599 Speaker 1: next five minutes or also, I'm going to have to 150 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: choose between two bad options, split or call for backup 151 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: tooling down the LA Freeway. I'm not sweating anything but 152 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: the traffic. The job was a breeze. Catch a playboy 153 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: model doing the dirty with the director. You find out 154 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: where she had her money. For the first I needed 155 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: to do some digging. But for the money, all I 156 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: had to do was make it to City Hall before five. See, 157 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: I have this girl who works as a receptionist there, 158 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: and she has this husband who happens to have the 159 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: keys to the records room, and sometimes she likes to share. 160 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: I push my beat up cutlass through traffic like a 161 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: hot knife through butter, and make it to City Hall 162 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: by a quarter of and with a little sweet talk 163 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: and a few greenbacks, I'm in and out by the 164 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: time the clocks are chiming five. It may be the 165 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: end of the day for these working stiffs, but my 166 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: day is just beginning. I've got a stack of papers 167 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: in my hand, the detail of business venture. Paul Snyder 168 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: is going to be very interested in Dorothy Stratton Enterprises 169 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: Incorporated earlier this year, a number of stockholders, just one 170 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: missed Playmate of the Year herself. The language in these 171 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: documents is as thick as the rush hour traffic. I 172 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: know I'm going to need some bad coffee and an 173 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: empty booth to get to the bottom of it. So 174 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: I put on my blinker and head toward the diner. Inside. 175 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: I walk past the hostess who doesn't even lift her 176 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: eyes from the nail as she's finally and I just 177 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: pop down at my usual booth. It takes at least 178 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: five minutes before waitress comes by with a lukewarm cup 179 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: of joe, but I'm too busy reading to care. It's 180 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: clear that all of Dorothy's money is actually held by 181 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: Dorothy Stratton enterprises. If she and Paul divorce, he won't 182 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: get a scent. As I read, I reach for a 183 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: flask in my pocket to improve the contents of my mug, 184 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: but a hand stops me. I glance up into a 185 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: pair of eyes I recognize from the newsstand. It's her. 186 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: Dorothy Stratton is standing right there in front of me, 187 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: tracing the outline of my knuckle with her fingertips. Mind 188 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: if I join you, she asks? I get a feeling. 189 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: Nobody minds you joining them, I say, motioning for her 190 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: to take a seat. The coffee's no good here and 191 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,319 Speaker 1: the pie is even worse, so you must be here 192 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: for something else. I know Paul hired you to follow me. 193 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: How did this sweet young thing get the jump on me? 194 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: She may have had the advantage, but she's not the 195 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: only one with surprises, So I lay one on her. 196 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: I tell her that I know all about Dorothy Stratton, 197 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: enterprises that it looks like she's trying to hide money 198 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: from her husband. I kind of think a judge may 199 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: not like in a divorce. It's not what you think, 200 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 1: she says. Her upper lip trembles, and I think she's 201 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: about to turn on the waterworks. I hand her a 202 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 1: paper napkin, but she shakes her head. No. She tells 203 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: me it was for protection, that her marriage with Paul 204 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: has been over for a year, and that he knows it, 205 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: but won't sign anything until she gives him half her earnings, 206 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: half your earnings. I raise my eyebrows and let out 207 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: a low whistle. Seems pretty steep, he says, I own, 208 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: since he discovered me, and he won't budge. I just 209 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: might give it to him too. If it gets me 210 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: my freedom, I'll give him all of it, whatever it takes. 211 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 1: I'm done. In my line of work, I've seen a 212 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: lot of desperate women looking for an escape, and a 213 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: lot of gold diggers looking for the next step up. 214 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 1: I'm not sure which one describes Dorothy Stratton, but if 215 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: I can keep her talking, I'll find out soon enough. 216 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: I ask her when she first got the inkling that 217 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: things might not work out between the two of them. 218 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,439 Speaker 1: She purses those beautiful red lips into a heart shaped 219 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: frown for a second, and then tosses her long blonde hair. 220 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: It was at the Playboy House Lloween party, one of 221 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: Paul's first times at the mansion, October nineteen seventy eight. 222 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: Go on, I tell her so. She starts to paint 223 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: a picture so vivid it plays like a movie in 224 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: my mind. Paul Snyder punched the accelerator. His black dots 225 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: in two forty Z roared to life. He swung into 226 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: the left turned lane the pass slow moving sedan, and 227 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: Dorothy clung to the dashboard. Paul, slow down, Buck that 228 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: we're not gonna be late to the biggest party of 229 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: the year. Paul turned the car left and tires chirping 230 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: as it flew through the intersection and up a hill. 231 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: Dorothy's stomach turned too cartwheels. She wasn't drinking, but the 232 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: way Paul was driving might be repuking her guts out 233 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: on the front driveway. When they reached their destination, Paul 234 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: slowed down. I'm feeling sick. Paul's eyes were fixed on 235 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: the road, his foot glued to the gas pedal. Dorothy 236 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: watched the California coast with Bytom until a surge of 237 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: anger welled up inside of her. Paul, slow down, you're 238 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: making me sick. The car slammed to a stop and 239 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: they sat in silence, engine idling in the middle of 240 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: the road. Paul's eyes were wide with rage. He put 241 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: his hand up like he might slap Dorothy across the mouth, 242 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: and she shrunk back in fear. Instead, he took a 243 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: deep breath and lowered his hand. Of course, anything you wish, 244 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: he said, calmly. The tension of the car ride disappeared 245 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: as they pulled up to the Playboy match. Paul slid 246 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: out of the driver's seat and tossed the keys to 247 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: the valet. He was dressed in full pimp regalia, make coat, skin, 248 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: tight pants, shirt unbuttoned to his navel, and that signature 249 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: diamond star of David hanging off his chest. Dorothy was 250 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: barely in costume at all, a unicorn painted on the 251 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: side of her face, but dressed in all white. She 252 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: looked radiant. As they walked towards the front door. Two 253 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: men stopped smoking to turn and stare at her. Paul 254 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: raised his eyebrows. Holy shit, it's James Kahan and warm beauty. Inside, 255 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: the party was in full swing. Scantily clad young women 256 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: danced on a table, and outside a band was wailing 257 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: away out by the infamous pool Broto, rumored to be 258 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: the site of more than one orgy, while a crowd 259 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: of actors, politicians, and business tycoons mingled with an endless 260 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: array of beautiful women. Dorothy quickly spotted Playboy's editor and chief, 261 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: dressed in his signature silk pajamas. She grabbed Paul's hand 262 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: and began to lead him across the room. Come on, 263 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: I want to introduce you. Hef stood near the stairwell 264 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: holding corn, surrounded by half a dozen women, but his 265 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: face lit up when he saw Dorothy. He kissed her 266 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: outstretched hand, and Dorothy turned to introduce Paul, but instead 267 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: Paul squeezed past her. Hey, Hugh, it's Paul Paul Snyder, 268 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: Dorothy's boyfriend and manager. He shook Half's hand with his 269 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: trademark iron grip. I see half for five. How are 270 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: you enjoying LA so far? Oh it's great. I got 271 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: a lot of deals lined up already. I'm going to 272 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: do a strip night for the ladies at this place 273 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,199 Speaker 1: called Chippendale's. I was thinking it would be perfect for 274 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: Dorothy and a couple of playmates to come down and 275 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: judge the amateur contest. But we should set up a meeting. 276 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: Half purplied to be affirmative, but Dorothy could tell he 277 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: didn't meet. Trust me, Half, I've got the golden touch. 278 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: Dorothy was just a little ice cream shop girl when 279 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: I found her, and look at her now. Half turned 280 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: his gaze to Dorothy. Indeed, look at her now. We 281 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: have big plans for Dorothy. She's going to be our 282 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: next Marilyn Monroe. Dorothy blush, half winked and kissed her 283 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: hand once more. Dorothy, dear, lovely to see you and 284 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 1: only you, his voice implied as he walked away. If 285 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: Paul noticed, he didn't show it. Hours later, with the 286 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: party winding down, Paul and Dorothy climbed back into the 287 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: Black Dots and head home. Paul was on cloud nine. 288 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: Can you believe it? Hugh fucking Hefner. He loved the idea. 289 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: Don't you think we're on a rocket ride to the 290 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: top baby. The car was silent for a moment as 291 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: Paul envisioned his future glory. You know you might have 292 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: to sleep with them right to get Playmate of the Year. 293 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: Everybody says you have to sleep with them. But it's cool, baby, 294 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: As long as you know you're with me, I'll take 295 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,439 Speaker 1: care of you. Paul flipped up the collar of his 296 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: mint coat and pushed her in the gas pedal. The 297 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: dots flew, Dorothy just stared at the California coast whipping by. 298 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 1: As Dorothy finishes her story, a small tear rolls down 299 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: her cheek. Personally, I never trust anyone that gets paid 300 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: to cry on demand, but I can't help but feel 301 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: sorry for her. She slides out of the booth and 302 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: tosses her luscious blonde hair once more. I just thought 303 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: you should know, she says. And then she says she's 304 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,719 Speaker 1: to be in New York the next few days reshoots 305 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: her something like that tells me I can take a 306 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: break from being her shadow. And then she glides out 307 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: the door like a vision and into her business manager's 308 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: waiting car. And as the car pulls away, I get 309 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: a strange sensation that it's the last time I'll be 310 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: seeing Dorothy Stratton live. That is, we'll be right back 311 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 1: after this word we're we're after hearing Dorothy Stratton's story, 312 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: I have no idea what to do next, so I 313 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: follow my instincts right into the bottom of a bottle, 314 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: where I spend the next three days dodging phone calls 315 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: from Paul Snyder. I wake up. It's Thursday, August fourteenth. 316 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: My head is killing me. There's a low, pounding thud 317 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: in my ears that won't quit. Eventually, I realize the 318 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: pounding isn't coming from inside my head. It's coming from 319 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: the front door, and I stumbled at the people. Paul 320 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: Snyder is standing outside, yelling at me to open the 321 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: fuck up. I swing the door open, and the la 322 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: sunshine hits my booze addld brain like a shotgun. Where 323 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: you ben, man, I've been trying to reach you, They 324 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: tell him, I've been on a little vacation with my 325 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: buddy Jack, but he doesn't catch my drift. Whatever, man, listen, 326 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: I gotta talk to you. Dorothy is cutting me out. 327 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: It's that fucker Bogdanovitch, and I can prove it. I 328 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: sigh and tell Paul to quit yelling and come inside. 329 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: Once we're in the living room, I ask what the 330 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: hell he's talking about and he starts on about this 331 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: poster idea, Dorothy is the playmate of the year and 332 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: there's a killing to be made. They did a shoot 333 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: with her wearing a sexy leotard in roller skates. He 334 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: tells me, I should see it. He says, Dorothy loved 335 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: the idea too. It's a gold mine. Only now she's 336 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: decided not to do it. Says it's not a good 337 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: move for her career. Okay, that's rough, I get it. 338 00:20:57,640 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: I tell him, well, what does that have to do 339 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: with Bogdanovitch, I ask, and that's what he tells me. 340 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 1: Bogdanovitch the director, the guy who wants to turn her 341 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: into a movie star. This guy has sent there all 342 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: these love letters. Paul found a stash in them, the 343 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: dar they had hidden away and forgot about when she left. 344 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, man, Paul, says Bogdanovitch. Hefner. They're trying 345 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: to rule my fucking life. I had to buy a 346 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: gun for protection. The hairs on the back of my 347 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: neck stand up. I tell him to settle down and 348 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: don't do anything stupid. We've got the evidence. Now let's 349 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: just try to make them pay. He weighs me off. 350 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: What's the point. I can't even get near her anymore. 351 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: They bare me from the mansion. Man, the fucking mansion. 352 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: She wants a divorce, She's gonna have to ask me 353 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: in person. Eventually. I send Snyder home to cool off. 354 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: It's a humid day and I can already feel a 355 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 1: hangover creeping in. I wish I could go back to bed, 356 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: but I've got work to do. I leave through the 357 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: phone book for the address of Bill and Susan Leachase, 358 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: the photographers for this poster deal gone bust, and I 359 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: hop into my cutlass. On the way to the studio, 360 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 1: I buy a fresh pack of smokes, just in case. 361 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: When I tap on the studio door, a man answers 362 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 1: Bill the chase, I ask, that's right, He responds, eye 363 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: me suspiciously. I tell him I'm a friend to Paul 364 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: and Dorothy's trying to help save this poster deal. I 365 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: figure as the ones who snapped the photos in the 366 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 1: first place, they want to see this thing happen as 367 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: much as anyone. Susan appears next to him and pulls 368 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: the door open. She tells me to come in and 369 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: waves at a small bar card in the corner. Feel 370 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: free to make yourself a drink, although you smell like 371 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: you don't need one. I ignore her sage advice and 372 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: pour a double whiskey over her ice before taking a seat. 373 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: I asked them when they last saw Dorothy. They say, 374 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: it's been a few days. She'd been hard to get 375 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: a hold of, so they flew to New York to 376 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: show her the proofs in person, and they couldn't get 377 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,400 Speaker 1: her at the hotel, but someone in production sent them 378 00:22:54,400 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: to Bogdanovitch's apartment. Dorothy entered the door looking terrified. She caught. 379 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: She asked if Snyder sent them, and they swore he hadn't. 380 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: Dorothy left them waiting at the door and went inside 381 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 1: the apartment. They could hear talking with someone, and they 382 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: guessed it was Bogdanovitch. When she came back to the door, 383 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: she said no, she was sorry, but she didn't think 384 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: it was the right move. Just like that, Paul Snyder's 385 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: last chance at a big score was history. I have 386 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: to know did Bill and Susan Lea Chase tell Snyder 387 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: about any of this When they got back to La 388 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: Susan hesitates. I can tell she doesn't want to say 389 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: what's about to come out of her mouth? Well, we 390 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: tried not to, but we just said she'd declined, and 391 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: he started ranting about Peter Bogdanovitch. Look, we tried not 392 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: to give anything away, but he could read our faces. 393 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: I knocked back the rest of the whiskey, and suddenly 394 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: I'm not feeling so good. I politely excuse myself. Not 395 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: even a minute later, I'm standing next to my car, 396 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: hurling up last night's liquid dinner. And that hair of 397 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: the dog didn't do me much good. I needed to 398 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: get my eyes on Dorothy Stratton fast. I make tracks 399 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: toward or most likely whereabouts Peter Bogdanovitch's bel Air mansion. 400 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: As I pull up, I see Dorothy's business manager leaving 401 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: and I wave the guy down. His face goes pale, 402 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: says Dorothy just left to meet Paul to sign some papers. 403 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: It feels like I'm about to wretch again, but I 404 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: hold it down this time, and I jump back in 405 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 1: the car and haul ask for West LA while I'm driving, 406 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: a dal Snyder's number from the car phone again and again, 407 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 1: but there's no answer. And when I finally get to 408 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 1: the house, Dorothy's cars parked next to Paul's Mercedes. I 409 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: park and I sit there and I wait. I reach 410 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: for my pack of smokes. Now it's ten hours later 411 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: and I'm stubbing out my last cigarette, and that sick 412 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,719 Speaker 1: feeling in my stomach is more than just to hangover it. 413 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: I've delayed it as long as I can. I pick 414 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: up the carphone and call Paul's roommate, Steve. One house, 415 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: two landlines, Steve answers. I ask if Paul's been around. Nah. 416 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: He tells me he hasn't seen him all day. Listen. 417 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: I tell him his car is in the driveway and 418 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: he's not answering his phone. I ask the guy to 419 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: go check Paul's room. He puts the phone down, and 420 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: I can hear the TV playing in the background. Sounds 421 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: like Fantasy Island. I can hear him call out, Paul. 422 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: You there, there's a guy on the phone for you, Paul, Paul. 423 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: I hear the stairs squeak and then silence. Suddenly, a 424 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: bone chilling scream rips through the receiver. I'm out of 425 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: my car now, sprinting toward the house. I throw open 426 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: the front door and Paul's roommate comes running upstairs. Don't 427 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 1: go in there. Don't go in there, he's screaming, but 428 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: of course I do. The dread is overwhelming. As I 429 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: make my way down the stairs, I inch forward toward 430 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: the bedroom and I brace myself and throw it open. 431 00:25:54,359 --> 00:26:00,160 Speaker 1: Oh my god, there is so much blood. The wall 432 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: are painted red. Paul is slumped up against the wall, dead, 433 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: a giant twelve gage shotgun between his legs. In front 434 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: of him is a naked woman, her face mangled by 435 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: the shotgun blast. But I recognize that long blonde hair. 436 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 1: It's Dorothy Stratton, also dead, just twenty years older, Throllerller. 437 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: I sit back in the booth and I finish my 438 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: cup of coffee. In the corner of the diner, the 439 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: television is playing MTV. On screen, some singer is pouring 440 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: his heart out on a sappy ballad about the so 441 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: called city of Angels. I couldn't tell you the name 442 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: of the band. When I was younger, I knew the mall, 443 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: but nowadays it's hard to keep track. Googo this and 444 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: third eye that matchbox whatever. The fuck. I'm Karl Rothstein. 445 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 1: Thirty years ago, I was a private eye. That was 446 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: the fucking best too, at least in this sleazy little 447 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: corner of Los Angeles. But when he sees something as 448 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,880 Speaker 1: horrifying as what I saw that night in Paul Snyder's bedroom, 449 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 1: it changes you forever. It certainly changed Peter Bogdanovich after 450 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 1: the murder. No distributor would touch his new movie. They 451 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: all laughed the one he wrote for Dorothy Stratton. He 452 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: was obsessed with putting it out in her memory, so 453 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,159 Speaker 1: he bought the rights and released it himself. Shocker. It 454 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: turned out no one wanted to watch a dead girl 455 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: up on the screen, especially in a romantic comedy. The 456 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: film bombed, and he nearly went bankrupt. With Paul Snyder dead, 457 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: Bogdanovitch directed his anger at his former friend Hugh Hefner. 458 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: He wrote a book about Dorothy called The Killing of 459 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 1: the Unicorn, in which he claimed Hefner forced himself on 460 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,880 Speaker 1: her at the Playboy mansion. He said Playboy knew Paul 461 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 1: was dangerous, but didn't want to risk profits by getting involved, 462 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: and Bogdanovitch railed against Playboy's treatment of women so strongly 463 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: that Peter Bogdanovitch was sued for libel. Of course, Bogdanovich's 464 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: crusade against Playboy, it would have been a lot better 465 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 1: received if at the same time he wasn't moving Dorothy's 466 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: twelve year old sister Louise into his place in bel Air. 467 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: He had a phone mine installed in her room so 468 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: he could always reach her. He vacationed with her the 469 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 1: pair stage how we say close for the next few years, 470 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: and they married when she turned twenty years old, the 471 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: exact same age as Dorothy was when she was murdered. 472 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 1: As for me, after that night, I quit the private 473 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: investigation game for good. Nowadays, I squeezed a dollar out 474 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: of a dime anyway I can. But mostly I just 475 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: sit here, drinking the same old bag coffee and trying 476 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: to forget when I saw that night. But I never 477 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: can't because everybody else seems to want to remember. They 478 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: made so many movies and television shows about the death 479 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: of a pin up or the death of a starlet, 480 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: or the death of a playmate that I can't keep track. 481 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: I look up for a waitress to refill my cup 482 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: and realize I might be looking for a while. In 483 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: the meantime, on the TV, now they're talking with the 484 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: band from La, a bunch of wild eyed freaks with 485 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: a shirtless lead singer Apparently they went from teenage punks 486 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: to superstars so fast that it almost killed them. Somehow, 487 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: they managed to survive after six years away, and they're 488 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: back with a new album filled with songs about the 489 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: dark side of the Hollywood dream. The segment raps, the 490 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: MTV host does the segue thing, says something like, that's 491 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: the Red Hot Chili Peppers talking about their new album, Californication. 492 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: And now let's check out the video for the title track. 493 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: I look away from the screen, but I can still 494 00:29:56,560 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: hear the music. It's a mournful minor key too, kind 495 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,719 Speaker 1: of calls up old memories. The singer comes in, weaving 496 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: this hallucinatory blend of famous film scenes and seedy street 497 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: level images. It captures this city in a way that 498 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: I've never seen or heard before. And then the chorus 499 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: kicks in and it all clicks. Dorothy, like so many others, 500 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: dreamed of Californication, and for a moment, it looked like 501 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: that dream might come true. Because Dorothy Stratton was a unicorn, 502 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: the rare playboy model, poised to become a movie star, 503 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,719 Speaker 1: until that dream became a tragedy. A story that's not 504 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: only shocking but also a Disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan in 505 00:30:47,440 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: this this Disgraceland. Disgraceland was created by Yours Truly and 506 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 1: is produced in partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this 507 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: episode can be found on the show notes page at 508 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: disgracelampod dot com. If you're listening as a Disgraceland All 509 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: Access member, thank you for supporting the show. We really 510 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 1: appreciate it. And if not, you can become a member 511 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: right now by going to disgracelampod dot com slash Membership. 512 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: Members can listen to every episode of disgracelan ad free, 513 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 1: Plus you'll get one brand new exclusive episode every month, 514 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 1: weekly unscripted bonus episodes, special audio collections, and early access 515 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 1: to merchandise and events. 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