1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Hollywoodland is a production of double Elvis. Oh I'm not 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: dang it up, dang some dang nill. We will never 3 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: her man him and the stories about Dorothy Stratton are insane. 4 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: She went from dairy queen, counter girl to playboy pin 5 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: up to murder victim in just two years. Hugh Hefner 6 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: called her the next Marilyn Monroe, a major Hollywood director, 7 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: wrote a role in his new film just for her, 8 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: confident that she would make the leap from centerfold to 9 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: starle it. But all of that was cut short when 10 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: she was brutally murdered by her husband. Dorothy Stratton didn't 11 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: get a chance to make great films. She was killed 12 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: at just twenty years old. But over the years her 13 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: story has inspired countless television shows, music, and even, yes, 14 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: some great films. Unlike that clip I played for you 15 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: at the top of the show. That wasn't from a 16 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: great film. That was a fair you sample from the 17 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: Library of Congress of the Arkansas Playboys performing There's Nothing 18 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: Like a Song in nineteen forty. I played you that 19 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: clip because I can't afford the rights to a clip 20 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: from Brian to Palmer's Dressed to Kill. Why would I 21 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: play you that specific slice of psychological erotic thriller Cheese. 22 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: Could I afford it? Because that was the number one 23 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: movie in America on August fourteenth, nineteen eighty and that 24 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: was the day of Private Investigator stumbled upon a brutal 25 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: murder scene that would shock Los Angeles to its core. 26 00:01:54,520 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: On this episode, Hugh Hefner, Private Investigators, Murder Victims, psychological 27 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: erotic thriller Cheese, and Dorothy Stratton. I'm Jake Brennan, and. 28 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 2: This is Hollywood Land. I'm Jake Brennan, and this is 29 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: Hollywood Land. 30 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: I'm Jake Brennan. You want to know the secret to 31 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: a successful stakout, You got to savor every smoke. See 32 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: what you do is when you're about to go, park 33 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 1: your ass in one spot for a while, get yourself 34 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: a fresh pack that's twenty in all, and after you 35 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: get your seat adjusted just right, you light the first one, 36 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: take a puff and count to five. Now check the 37 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: door of the place you're watching, and then the window, 38 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: maybe the skylight if it's some bel Air mansion. And 39 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: then you exhale, so you can't drink because then you're 40 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: gonna have to piss. You can't do the Sunday crossword, 41 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: because while you're still scratching your head over eleven down, 42 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: the perp walks right out of the door. So you 43 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: savor that first smoke, give it thirty minutes, have another, 44 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: finish two, and it's an hour. If you finish the 45 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: whole pack and nobody's moved inside, it's time to either 46 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: call for backup or get the hell out of there. 47 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: I should know. My name's Carl Rossy, and I'm a 48 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: private eye. I used to be a lawyer until the 49 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,119 Speaker 1: California Bar Association thought I got a little too rough 50 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: with the defendant before they could testify. They yank my 51 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: license to practice. So now I'm a professional dick people 52 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: paying me to dig up dirt. I specialize in matrimonial work. 53 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: You might even say it's my Usually it's easy enough. 54 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: Some jealous husband wants me to tail his wife for 55 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: a few days, and most times I find nothing. But 56 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: every once in a while there's a surprise. Hey, what 57 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: do you know? She joined a bowling league And that 58 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: type of easy score was exactly what I thought I 59 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: was getting myself into a few weeks ago, when this wiry, little, 60 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: dark haired guy walks into my office. My office being 61 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: a diner a few blocks off the Sunset Strip. A 62 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: coffee's bad, and the service is even worse, but there's 63 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 1: never a crowd. He slide into a booth and he 64 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: shakes my hand hard, too hard. Hey, he says, I'm 65 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: Paul Paul Snyder. Steve says you're the best. Steve is 66 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: Paul Snyder's roommate. Let's just say I helped him out 67 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: of a jam with a married brunette last year. And 68 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: Steve's right in this leazy little corner of Los Angeles, 69 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 1: I am the best. That's why I know everything about 70 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: Paul Snyder before we even sit down. He's a small 71 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: time want to be promoter, quote unquote disco consultant is 72 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: what his business card says. He's got quite the past. 73 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: Back in Vancouver, he used to run a few girls, 74 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 1: and his taste for flashy clothes and the diamond and 75 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: crusted star of David he wears around his neck or 76 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: earned him the nickname the Jewish Pimp. But to the 77 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 1: local tough guys here in La Paul is a fucking joke. 78 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: When one of his girls steals his money and takes 79 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: off in his car, he decides to go straight. He 80 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: starts putting together bar nights, anything from rock bands to 81 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: wet t shirt contests. All the while, he's dreaming of 82 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: bigger clubs and brighter lights. But he's Paul Snyder, so 83 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 1: the lights are only going to get so bright. It 84 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: seems like all he's going to do is dream about it, 85 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: until one day the schmuck decides he wants some ice cream. 86 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: Best decision of his life. He rolls into the local 87 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: dairy queen for a strawberry Sunday, only to discover the 88 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: absolute finest piece of ass he's ever seen in his life, 89 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: working the front counter. Even in a red apron and pigtails, 90 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: Snyder can tell she's a thoroughbred. You can't pimp a 91 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: girl like that. Now, this girl is his ticket to 92 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: the big time. All he has to do is wait 93 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: for her to turn eighteen. Her name is a real 94 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: mouthful Dorothy Ruth Hoag Stratton. She has the perfect girl 95 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: next door. Look. Look, if the girl next door woke 96 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: up at sixteen with the body of Marilyn Monroe. Maybe 97 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: if Daddy was around, he would have warned her, But 98 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: he wasn't, didn't nobody did so when Snyder swaggers into 99 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: the Dairy Queen. His charm and flashy clothes or enough 100 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: to turn her head. She falls for him hard. She's 101 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: so in love she'll do anything up to and including 102 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: posing stark naked for a photographer friend of his. See 103 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: He tells her Playboy magazine is turning twenty five and 104 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: they're running a contest to find a new centerfold, and 105 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: the winner gets twenty grand. Incredibly, this schmuck's plan almost works. 106 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: Photos make it all the way to Hugh Hefner's desk, 107 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 1: and the Pajama Man likes what he sees. Next thing 108 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: they know, Dorothy is on a plane at Lax. She 109 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: lands on August thirteenth, nineteen seventy eight. Snyder follows a 110 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: few months later. She doesn't win the contest, but her 111 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: photos appear in the twenty fifth anniversary issue. On one condition, 112 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: She's going to drop that last name Hoague Stratton just 113 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: as and sexy. From now on, She's Dorothy Stratton. In 114 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy nine, she spends six weeks shooting her first 115 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: Playboy centerfold, and right before it drops in July, she 116 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: and Snyder tie the knot, and this fucking dope has 117 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,239 Speaker 1: hit the jackpot. It's barely a year after that first 118 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: flight to la and Hefner is already confident to Dorothy 119 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: Stratton is the crossover star he's been looking for. Acting 120 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,239 Speaker 1: offers poor in Vanity Fair wants her on the cover. 121 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: In April nineteen eighty, she's named Playmate of the Year. 122 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: Snyder is feeling so confident they're on a rocket ride 123 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: to the top that he runs out and buys a 124 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: black Merceide eighties four point fifty se complete with custom 125 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: plates that read Star eighty. Now, even though I already 126 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: know all of this, I let Snyder tell me the 127 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: whole story. And when he gets to the next part, 128 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: he pauses for a moment, gripping the handle of his 129 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: coffee munks so hard that I'm waiting for it to shatter. 130 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: Everything was perfect, he says, until that fucking director started 131 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: sniffing around. By that director, he means Peter Bogdanovitch, fresh 132 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: off of his breakup with Sybil Shepherd, Bogdanovitch eases his 133 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: pain by spending his evenings at the Playboy Mansion, and 134 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: he took an immediate interest in Dorothy Snyder's not an idiot, 135 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: he knows Bogdanovich is tight. The guy started fucking Sybil 136 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: Shepherd when they were filming the Last Picture Show, and 137 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: now he's definitely up to the same thing with Dorothy. 138 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: Says he's written a part just for her in his 139 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: new picture, in which she'll work alongside legends like Audrey Hepburn. 140 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: Of course, this will rec a lot of time between 141 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: the director and Dorothy to you know, develop the part. 142 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: I ask him the obvious question, you want me to tailor? 143 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: He nods. He wants evidence of the affair. Alienation of 144 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: affection is what it's called. If Bogdanovitch is stealing his 145 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: wife away, so be it. But he says that bandana 146 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: wearing four I prick is gonna have to cough up 147 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: big time to help me Snyder's pain. He also wants 148 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: me to look into any assets Dorothy might be hiding, 149 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: so you can do it. He has follow around the 150 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: sexiest woman in the world for a few days. See 151 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: how the rich and famous live and get paid for 152 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: the privilege. Uh yeah, I tell him, I think I 153 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: can handle this one, or at least that's what I 154 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: thought a few weeks ago. Now I'm sitting in an 155 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: osmobile sweating bullets with a cramp in my leg that 156 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: won't quit. I reach for the pack of cigarettes and 157 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: shake out another smoke. It's the last one in the pack. 158 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: I inhaled deeply and I pray to God. I see 159 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: Paul Snyder Dorothy Stratton in the next five minutes or also, 160 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to choose between two bad options, split 161 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: or call for backup tooling down the LA Freeway. I'm 162 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: not sweating anything but the traffic. The job was a breeze. 163 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: Catch a playboy model doing the dirty with the director. 164 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: You find out where she hades her money. For the 165 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: first I needed to do some digging. But for the money, 166 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,079 Speaker 1: all I had to do was make it to city 167 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,959 Speaker 1: Hall before five. See, I have this girl who works 168 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: as a receptionist. There has this husband who happens to 169 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: have the keys to the records room, and sometimes she 170 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: likes to share. I push my beat up cutlass through 171 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: traffic like a hot knife through butter and make it 172 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 1: to city Hall by a quarter of and with a 173 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: little sweet talk and a few greenbacks, I'm in and out. 174 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: By the time the clocks are chiming five. It may 175 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: be the end of the day for these working stiffs. 176 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: But my day is just beginning. I've got a stack 177 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,559 Speaker 1: of papers in my hand, the detail of business venture. 178 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: I think Paul Snyder is going to be very interested 179 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: in Dorothy Stratton Enterprises Incorporated earlier this year a number 180 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: of stockholders, just one missed Playmate of the Year herself. 181 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: The language in these documents is as thick as the 182 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: rush hour traffic. I know I'm going to need some 183 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,319 Speaker 1: bad coffee and an empty booth to get to the 184 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 1: bottom of it, so I put on my blinker and 185 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: head toward the diner. Inside. I walk past the hostess, 186 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: who doesn't even lift her eyes from the nail as 187 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: she's filing, and I just pop down at my usual booth. 188 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: It takes at least five minutes it's before a waitress 189 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: comes by with a loopwarm cup of Joe, but I'm 190 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: too busy reading to care. It's clear that all of 191 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:11,199 Speaker 1: Dorothy's money is actually held by Dorothy Stratton Enterprises. If 192 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: she and Paul divorce, he won't get a scent. As 193 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: I read, I reach for a flask in my pocket 194 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: to improve the contents of my mug, but a hand 195 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: stops me. I glance up into a pair of eyes 196 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: I recognize from the newsstand. It's her. Dorothy Stratton is 197 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: standing right there in front of me, tracing the outline 198 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 1: of my knuckle with her fingertips. Mind if I join you? 199 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: She asks? I got a feeling nobody minds you joining them? 200 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: I say, motioning for her to take a seat. The 201 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: coffee's no good here and the pie is even worse, 202 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: so you must be here for something else. I know 203 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: Paul hired you to follow me. How did this sweet 204 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: young thing get the jump on me? She may have 205 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: had the advantage, but she's not the only one with surprises, 206 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: so I lay one on her. I tell her that 207 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: I know all about Dorothy Stratton, enterprises that it looks 208 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: like she's trying to hide money from her husband. I 209 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: kind of thing a judge may not like in a divorce. 210 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: It's not what you think, she says. Her upper lip trembles, 211 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 1: and I think she's about to turn on the waterworks. 212 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: I hand her a paper napkin, but she shakes her head. No. 213 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: She tells me it was for protection, that her marriage 214 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: with Paul has been over for a year, and that 215 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: he knows it, but won't sign anything until she gives 216 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: him half her earnings half your earnings. I raise my 217 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: eyebrows and let out a low whistle. Seems pretty steep, 218 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: he says, I own, since he discovered me, and he 219 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: won't budge, I just might give it to him too. 220 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: If it gets me my freedom, I'll give him all 221 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: of it, whatever it takes. I'm done. In my line 222 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 1: of work. I've seen a lot of desperate women looking 223 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: for an escape, and a lot of gold diggers looking 224 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: for the next step up. I'm not sure which one 225 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: describes Dorothy Stratton, but if I can keep her talking, 226 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: I'll find out soon enough. I ask her when she 227 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: first got the inkling that things might not work out 228 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: between the two of them. She purses those beautiful red 229 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: lips into a heart shaped frown for a second, and 230 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: then tosses her long blonde hair. It was at the 231 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: Playboy Halloween Party, one of Paul's first times at the Mansion, 232 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: October nineteen seventy eight. Go on, I tell her, so. 233 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: She starts to paint a picture so vivid it plays 234 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: like a movie in my mind. Paul Snyder punched the 235 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: accelerator his black dots in two forty z roar to life. 236 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: He swung into the left turned lane to pass the 237 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: slow moving sedan, and Dorothy clung to the dashboard. Paul, 238 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: slow down, Buck that we're not gonna be late to 239 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: the biggest part already of the year. Paul turned the car, left, 240 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: tires chirping as it flew through the intersection and up 241 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: a hill. Dorothy's stomach turned too cartwheels. She wasn't drinking, 242 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: but the way Paul was driving might be the puking 243 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: her guts out on the front driveway. When they reached 244 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: their destination, Paul slowed down. I'm feeling sick. Paul's eyes 245 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: were fixed on the road, his foot blewed to the 246 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: gas pedal. Dorothy watched the California Coast whip by it 247 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: a blur until a surge of anger welled up inside 248 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: of her. Paul slowed down. You're making me sick. The 249 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: car slammed to a stop and they sat in silence, 250 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: engine idling in the middle of the road. Paul's eyes 251 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: were wide with rage. He put his hand up like 252 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: he might slap Dorothy across the mouth as she shrunk 253 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: back in fear. Instead, he took a deep breath and 254 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: lowered his hand. Of course, anything you wish he said calmly. 255 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: The tension of the car ride disappeared as they pulled 256 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: up to the match. Paul slid out of the driver's 257 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: seat and tossed the keys to the valet. He was 258 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: dressed in full pimp regalia, make coat, skin, tight pants, 259 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: shirt unbuttoned to his navel, and that signature diamond star 260 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: of David hanging off his chest. Dorothy was barely in 261 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: costume at all, a unicorn painted on the side of 262 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: her face, but dressed in all white. She looked radiant 263 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: as they walked towards the front door. Two men stopped 264 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: smoking to turn and stare at her. Paul raised his eyebrows. 265 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: Holy shit with James Kahan and warm Beaty. Inside the 266 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: party was in full swing. Scantily clad young women danced 267 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: on a table, and outside a band was wailing away 268 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: out by the infamous pool Groo, rumored to be the 269 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: site of more than one orgy, while a crowd of actors, politicians, 270 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: and business tycoons mingled with an endless array of beautiful women. 271 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: Dorothy quickly spotted Playboy's editor, and she dressed in his 272 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: signature silk pajamas. She grabbed Paul's hand and began to 273 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: lead him across the room. Come on, I want to 274 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: introduce you. Hef stood near the stairwell holding corn, surrounded 275 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: by half a dozen women, but his face lit up 276 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: when he saw Dorothy. He kissed her outstretched hand, and 277 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 1: Dorothy turned to introduce Paul, but instead Paul squeezed past her. Hey, Hugh, 278 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: it's Paul Paul Snyder, Dorothy's boyfriend and manager. He shook 279 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: Helf's hand with his trademark iron grip. I see half 280 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: rem five. How are you enjoying LA so far? Oh 281 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: it's great. I got a lot of deals lined up already. 282 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to do a strip night for the ladies 283 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: at this place called Chippendale's. I was thinking it would 284 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: be perfect for Dorothy and a couple of playmates to 285 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: come down and judge the amateur contest. But we should 286 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: set up a meeting. Half replied to be affirmative, but 287 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: Dorothy could tell he didn't meet him. Trust me, Helf, 288 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: I've got the golden touch. Dorothy was just a little 289 00:17:58,320 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: ice cream shop girl when I found her, And look 290 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: at her now, Helf turned his gaze to Dorothy. Indeed, 291 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 1: look at her now. We have big plans for Dorothy. 292 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: She's going to be our next Marilyn Monroe. Dorothy blushed, 293 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: half winked, and kissed her hand once more. Dorothy, dear 294 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: lovely to see you and only you, his voice implied 295 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: as he walked away. If Paul noticed, he didn't show it. 296 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: Hours later, with the party winding down, Paul and Dorothy 297 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: climbed back into the Black Dots and head home. Paul 298 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,360 Speaker 1: was on cloud nine. Can you believe it? Hugh fucking Hefner. 299 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: He loved the idea. Don't you think we're on a 300 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: rocket ride to the top baby. The car was silent 301 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: for a moment as Paul envisioned his future glory. You 302 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: know you might have to sleep with them right to 303 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: get Playmate of the Year. Everybody says you have to 304 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: sleep with them. But it's cool, baby. As long as 305 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: you know you're with me, I'll take care of you. 306 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: Paul flipped up the collar of his mint coat and 307 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: pushed her into the gas pedal. The dots flew. Dorothy 308 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: just stared at the California coast whipping by. As Dorothy 309 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: finishes her story, a small tear rolls down her cheek. Personally, 310 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: I never trust anyone that gets paid to cry on demand, 311 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 1: but I can't help but feel sorry for her. She 312 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: slides out of the booth and tosses her luscious blonde 313 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: hair once more. I just thought you should know, she says. 314 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: And then she says she's going to be in New 315 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: York the next few days, reshoots her something like that 316 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: tells me I can take a break from being her shadow. 317 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: And then she glides out the door like a vision 318 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: and into her business manager's waiting car. And as the 319 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: car pulls away, I get a strange sensation that it's 320 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 1: the last time I'll be seeing Dorothy stretton live. That is, 321 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: we'll be right back after this word word word. After 322 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: hearing Dorothy Stratton's story, I have no idea what to 323 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: do next, so I follow my instincts right into the 324 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: bottom of a bottle, where I spend the next three 325 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,360 Speaker 1: days dodging phone calls from Paul Snyder. When I wake up, 326 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: it's Thursday, August fourteenth. My head is killing me. There's 327 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: a low pounding thud in my ears that won't quit. Eventually, 328 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: I realize the pounding isn't coming from inside my head. 329 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,959 Speaker 1: It's coming from the front door, and I stumbled at 330 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: the people. Paul Snyder is standing outside yelling at me 331 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: to open the fuck up. I swing the door open 332 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: in the la sunshine hits my booze addld brain like 333 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: a shotgun. Where you've been, man, I've been trying to 334 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: reach you, They tell him, I've been on a little 335 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: vacation with my buddy Jack. But it doesn't catch my drift. Whatever, Man, listen, 336 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: I gotta talk to you. Dorothy is cutting me out. 337 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: It's that fucker Bogdanovitch, and I could prove it. I 338 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: sigh and tell Paul to quit yelling and come inside. 339 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: Once we're in the living room, I ask what the 340 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: hell he's talking about, and he starts on about this 341 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: poster idea. Dorothy is the playmate of the year and 342 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: there's a killing to be made. They did a shoot 343 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: with her wearing a sexy leotard in roller skates. He 344 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: tells me I should see it. He says Dorothy loved 345 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: the idea too, it's a gold mine. Only now she's 346 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: decided not to do it. Says it's not a good 347 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 1: move for her career. Okay, that's rough. I get it. 348 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: I tell him, well, what does that have to do 349 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,719 Speaker 1: with Bogdanovich. I ask, and that's what he tells me. 350 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,479 Speaker 1: Bogdanovich the director, the guy who wants to turn her 351 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: into a movie star. This guy has sent there all 352 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: these love letters. Paul found a stasher them that Dorothy 353 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 1: had hidden away and forgot about when she left. I'm 354 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: telling you, man, Paul, says Bogdanovitch. Hefner. They're trying to 355 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: rule my fucking life. I had to buy a gun 356 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: for protection. The hairs on the back of my neck 357 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: stand up. I tell him to settle down and don't 358 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: do anything stupid. We've got the evidence. Now, let's just 359 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: try to make them pay. He weighs me off. It's 360 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: the point I can't even near anymore. They bare me 361 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 1: from the mansion, Man, the fucking mansion. She wants a divorce, 362 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,919 Speaker 1: She's gonna have to ask me in person. Eventually. I 363 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: send Snyder home to cool off. It's a humid day 364 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: and I can already feel a hangover creeping in. I 365 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 1: wish I could go back to bed, but we've got 366 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: work to do. I leave through the phone book for 367 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 1: the address of Bill and Susan la Chase, the photographers 368 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 1: for this poster deal gone busted. And I hop into 369 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: my cutlass on the way to the studio. I'll buy 370 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: a fresh pack of smokes just in case. When I 371 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: tap on the studio door, a man answers, Bill, la chase. 372 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 1: I ask, that's right, He responds, eye me suspiciously. I 373 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: tell him I'm a friend of Paul and Dorothy's trying 374 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: to help save this poster deal. I figure as the 375 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: ones who snapped the photos in the first place, they 376 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: want to see this thing happen as much as anyone. 377 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: Susan appears next to him and pulls the door open. 378 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: She tells me to come in and waves at a 379 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: small bar card in the corner. Feel free to make 380 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: yourself a drink, although you smell like you don't need one. 381 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: I ignore her sage advice and pour a double whiskey 382 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 1: over her ice before taking a seat. I asked them 383 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: when they last saw Dorothy. They say it's been a 384 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: few days. She'd been hard to get a hold of, 385 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: so they flew to New York to show her the 386 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: proofs in person, and they couldn't get her at the hotel, 387 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: but someone in production sent them to Bogdanovitch's apartment. Dorothy 388 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: entered the door looking terrified like she'd been caught. She 389 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,439 Speaker 1: asked if Snyder sent them, and they swore he hadn't. 390 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: Dorothy left them waiting at the door and went inside 391 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: the apartment. They could hear talking to someone, and they 392 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: guessed it was Bogdanovitch. When she came back to the door, 393 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: she said no, she was sorry, but she didn't think 394 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: it was the right move. Just like that, Paul Snyder's 395 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:55,439 Speaker 1: last chance at a big score was history. I have 396 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: to know. Did Bill and Susan Lechase tell Snyder about 397 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: any of this? Back to La, Susan hesitates. I can 398 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: tell she doesn't want to say what's about to come 399 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: out of her mouth. Well, we tried not to, and 400 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: we just said she'd declined, and he started ranting about 401 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: Peter Bogdanovitch. Look, we tried not to give anything away, 402 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 1: but he could read our faces. I knocked back the 403 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: rest of the whiskey, and suddenly I'm not feeling so good. 404 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: I politely excuse myself. Not even a minute later, I'm 405 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: standing next to my car, hurling up last night's liquid dinner. 406 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: And that hair of the dog didn't do me much good. 407 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: I needed to get my eyes on Dorothy Stratton. Fast, 408 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: I make tracks toward or most likely whereabouts, Peter Bogdanovitch's 409 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: bel Air mansion. As I pull up, I see Dorothy's 410 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:48,679 Speaker 1: business manager leaving, and I waved the guy down. His 411 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: face goes pale, says, Dorothy just left to meet Paul 412 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 1: to sign some papers. It feels like I'm about to 413 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: wretch again, but I hold it down this time, and 414 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: I jump back in the car and Haul asked for 415 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: west La while I'm driving a Dala Snyder's number from 416 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: the car phone again and again, but there's no answer. 417 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: And when I finally get to the house, Dorothy's cars 418 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 1: park next to Paul's Mercedes. I park and I sit 419 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: there and I wait, and I reach for my pack 420 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: of smokes. Now it's ten hours later and I'm stubbing 421 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: out my last cigarette, and that sick feeling in my 422 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 1: stomach is more than just a hangover. I've delayed it 423 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: as long as I can. I pick up the carphone 424 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: and call Paul's roommate, Steve. One house, two landlines. Steve answers. 425 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: I ask if Paul's been around. Nah. He tells me 426 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: he hasn't seen him all day. Listen, I tell him 427 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: his car is in the driveway and he's not answering 428 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: his phone. I ask the guy to go check Paul's room. 429 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,199 Speaker 1: He puts the phone down, and I can hear the 430 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: TV playing in the background. Sounds like Fantasy Island. I 431 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 1: can hear him call out, Paul, you there, there's a 432 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: guy on the phone for you, Paul, Paul, Paul. I 433 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 1: hear the stairs squeak and then silence. Suddenly, a bone 434 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: chilling scream rips through the receiver. I'm out of my 435 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: car now sprinting toward the house. I throw open the 436 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: front door, and Paul's roommate comes running upstairs. Don't go 437 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 1: in there, don't go in there, he's screaming, But of 438 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: course I do. The dread is overwhelming. As I make 439 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: my way down the stairs, I inch forward toward the 440 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: bedroom and I brace myself and throw it open. Oh 441 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: my god, there is so much blood. The walls are 442 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: painted red. Paul is slumped up against the wall, dead, 443 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: a giant twelve gage shotgun between his legs. In front 444 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: of him is a naked woman, her face mangled by 445 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: the shotgun blast. But I recognize that long blonde hair. 446 00:26:45,200 --> 00:27:07,199 Speaker 1: It's Dorothy Stratton, also dead, just twenty years old. I 447 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: sit back in the booth and I finish my cup 448 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: of coffee. In the corner of the diner, the television 449 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: is playing MTV. On screen, some singer is pouring his 450 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: heart out on a sappy ballad about the so called 451 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 1: city of angels I couldn't tell you the name of 452 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 1: the band. When I was younger, I knew them all, 453 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 1: but nowadays it's hard to keep track. Googo, this third eye, 454 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: that matchbox, whatever. The fuck. I'm Karl Rothstein thirty years ago. 455 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: I was a private eye that was the fucking best too, 456 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: at least in this sleazy little corner of Los Angeles. 457 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: But when you see something as horrifying as what I 458 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: saw that night in Paul Snyder's bedroom, it changes you forever. 459 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: It certainly changed Peter Bogdanovich after the murder. No distributor 460 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 1: would touch his new movie. They all laughed, the one 461 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: he wrote for Dorothy Stratt. He was obsessed with putting 462 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,679 Speaker 1: it out in her memory, so he bought the rights 463 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: and released it himself. Shocker. It turned out no one 464 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: wanted to watch a dead girl up on the screen, 465 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,679 Speaker 1: especially in a romantic comedy. The film bombed and he 466 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 1: nearly went bankrupt. With Paul Snyder dead, Bogdanovitch directed his 467 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: anger at his former friend Hugh Hefner. He wrote a 468 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: book about Darroth he called The Killing of the Unicorn, 469 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: at which he claimed Hefner forced himself on her at 470 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: the Playboy mansion. He said Playboy knew Paul was dangerous, 471 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: but didn't want to risk profits by getting involved, and 472 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: Bogdanovitch railed against Playboy's treatment of women so strongly that 473 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: Peter Bogdanovitch was sued for libel. Of course, Bogdanovich's crusade 474 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: against Playboy it would have been a lot better received 475 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 1: if at the same time he wasn't moving Dorothy's twelve 476 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: year old sister Louise into his place in bel Air. 477 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: He had a phone line installed in her room so 478 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: he could always reach her. He vacationed with her on 479 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: the pair stage how we say close for the next 480 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: few years, and they married when she turned twenty years old, 481 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: the exact same age as Dorothy was when she was murdered. 482 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: As for me, after that night, I quit the private 483 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: investigation game for good. Nowadays, I squeeze a dollar out 484 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: of a dime anyway I can. But mostly I just 485 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: sit here, drinking the same old bag coffee and trying 486 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: to forget what I saw that night. But I never 487 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 1: can because everybody else seems to want to remember. They 488 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: made so many movies and television shows about the death 489 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: of a pin up, or the death of a starlet, 490 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: or the death of a playmate that I can't keep track. 491 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 1: I look up for a waitress to refill my cup 492 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 1: and realize I might be looking for a while. In 493 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: the meantime. On the TV now they're talking with the 494 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: band from La, a bunch of wild eyed freaks with 495 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: a shirtless lead singer. Apparently they went from teenage punks 496 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: to superstars so fast that it almost killed them. Somehow 497 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: they managed to survive. After six years away, they're back 498 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 1: with a new album filled with songs about the dark 499 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 1: side of the Hollywood dream. The segment raps, the MTV 500 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: host does the segue thing, says something like, that's the 501 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: Red Hot Chili Peppers talking about their new album, Californication, 502 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: And now let's check out the video for the title track. 503 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: I look away from the screen, but I can still 504 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: hear the music. It's a mournful minor key tune kind 505 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:31,719 Speaker 1: of calls up old memories. The singer comes in, weaving 506 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 1: this hallucinatory blend of famous film scenes and seedy street 507 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: level images. It captures this city in a way that 508 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: I've never seen or heard before. And then the chorus 509 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 1: kicks in and it all clicks. Dorothy, like so many others, 510 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: dreamed of Californication, and for a moment, it looked like 511 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: that dream might come true because Dorothy Stratton was a unicorn, 512 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: the rare playboy model, poised to become a movie star. 513 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: Until that dream became a tragedy. That is, It's a 514 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: story so shocking it ought to be in pictures. I'm 515 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 1: Jake Brennan, and this is hollywood Land. Hollywood Land was 516 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: created by Years Truly and is produced in partnership with 517 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: Double Elvis. Follow like, rate and review hollywood Land wherever 518 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts and get in touch with us 519 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 1: on social media at double Elvis. If you like Hollywoodland, 520 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: check out my other show, the award winning Disgraceland, which 521 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 1: looks at the world of music through the lens of 522 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: true crime. Just search for Disgraceland or wherever you get 523 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:57,479 Speaker 1: your podcasts. Good Here's a lot