Lore Episode 278: Bad For Business – Detailed Summary

Release Date: April 21, 2025
Host: Aaron Mahnke
Podcast: Lore
Description: Exploring the murky intersections between paranormal phenomena and historical professions, Aaron Mahnke delves into bizarre careers that blend the supernatural with everyday industries.

Introduction to Strange Professions

Aaron Mahnke sets the stage by highlighting the unpredictability and raw honesty of past episodes, touching upon diverse topics from murder survival stories to unconventional subjects like sexting in non-native languages and weight loss surgery. He introduces the episode's central theme: paranormal professions throughout history, emphasizing how the supernatural has intertwined with various industries in unexpected ways.

“Ghost Jester. There have been all sorts of strange, spooky jobs throughout history...”
[04:30]

The Haunted House Tax Clampdown: Woodfield House Seances

Setting the Scene:
In 1947, Woodfield House near London becomes the focal point of an unusual tax appeal. Mr. Blaney Key challenges the Lutton Area Assessment Committee, claiming his property is haunted, which he argues justifies a reduction in property taxes.

The Seances:
To investigate, the committee organizes seances led by medium Florence Thompson and her assistant Peter Craven. The first seance yields cryptic messages from spirits, mentioning a tragic love story involving two spirits, Bessie and John.

“We have been shut away for a long time. Help us to rest.” – Bessie
[18:45]

Despite the eerie revelations, the committee remains unconvinced, prompting additional seances that intensify the paranormal activity. However, upon deeper investigation, it's uncovered that the haunting legend was a fictional tale from an 1863 penny dreadful, not an authentic historical event.

Conclusion:
Despite the evocative seances, the committee rejects Mr. Key's appeal, dismissing the haunted house claim as baseless folklore rather than genuine supernatural evidence.

Spiritualism Meets the Oil Industry: The Rise of Oil Wizards

Historical Context:
Aaron Mahnke explores the symbiotic relationship between spiritualism and the burgeoning oil industry in the 19th century. Scholar Rochelle Raynery Zuck posits that both movements thrived on beliefs in the unseen—spirits and underground oil reserves.

“Both 19th century phenomena were invested in a belief in the unseen...” – Rochelle Raynery Zuck
[35:20]

Oil Wizardry:
Oil prospectors employed mediums, known as oil wizards, who used various supernatural methods to locate oil reserves:

• Dowsing Rods: Y-shaped sticks used not just for water but also for oil detection.

• Doodle Bugs: Complex contraptions with bells and whistles allegedly activated by oil presence, though skeptics suggest they were manipulated manually.

• Dream Interpretation: Success stories, like that of a Pennsylvania man whose prophetic dream led to a lucrative oil strike.

• Sensory Detection: Individuals claimed to smell oil or feel physical sensations indicating oil-rich ground.

Abraham James – The Pinnacle Oil Wizard:
Perhaps the most renowned oil wizard, Abraham James, combined spiritualism with practical drilling. After initial failures, he achieved success in 1866 when guided by spirits to drill a penny into the ground, resulting in a prosperous oil well.

“When he drove that penny into the ground, there was only one word on his dig: oil.”
[47:10]

James’s success cemented the credibility of oil wizards, blending mystical practices with industrial advancements.

Peter Herkos and the Boston Strangler: A Psychic Detective's Tale

Who Was Peter Herkos?
Born in the Netherlands in 1911, Peter Herkos transitioned from a house painter to a renowned psychic detective after a near-fatal accident in 1941 granted him prophetic abilities.

Involvement in the Boston Strangler Case:
In 1956, Herkos was brought to the United States to assist in the investigation of the infamous Boston Strangler:

• Initial Tests: Herkos accurately identified a suspect among staged crime scene photos, earning the trust of investigators.

• Detailed Impressions: He provided specific physical descriptions of the killer, including a sharp nose, scar on the left arm, deformed thumb, and a high-pitched French accent.

“You are not late because your car broke down. You took time to stop by your girlfriend's apartment and did a quickie.”
[1:10:45]

Outcome:
Despite Herkos’s detailed descriptions aligning closely with the eventual confessions of Albert DeSalvo, doubts lingered. DeSalvo’s confession was later questioned due to discrepancies and the lack of concrete evidence linking him definitively to all the murders. DeSalvo was fatally stabbed in prison in 1973, and DNA evidence in 2013 linked him to only one of the murders, leaving his involvement in the rest unresolved.

“Albert DeSalvo just may have been a psychic.”
[1:28:30]

From Spiritualist to Chiropractic: The Ghost-Backed Medical Revolution

Daniel Palmer’s Spiritual Journey:
Born in Ontario in 1845, Daniel Palmer embarked on an unconventional path in his midlife:

• The Seance Revelation: In 1895, during a seance, Palmer claimed to channel the spirit of Dr. Jim Atkinson, who introduced him to the concept of subluxations—misalignments of the spine causing various diseases.

• Chiropractic Origins: Without formal medical training, Palmer began practicing spinal adjustments based on these spiritual insights, positioning his methods as a religious practice to circumvent legal restrictions.

“I am the founder of this method in its science, in its art, in its philosophy, and in its religious phase.”
[1:40:15]

Legal and Social Acceptance:
Palmer’s strategic framing of chiropractic as a religion allowed him to practice without a medical license. His self-proclaimed role as a prophet attracted thousands of followers, establishing chiropractic as a legitimate and widely practiced medical field today.

Efficacy and Controversy:
While chiropractic remains a popular treatment for back and neck pain, its effectiveness for other conditions remains scientifically unproven. The field continues to evolve, balancing its spiritual origins with modern medical practices.

Reflections on Human Shortcuts and the Quest for Ease

Aaron Mahnke concludes by drawing parallels between historical attempts to bypass traditional methods—like spiritualist practices in oil drilling and psychic detectives in law enforcement—and contemporary pursuits of shortcuts, such as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

“From home appraisals to oil drilling and murder investigations, there's no evidence that any ghostly or psychic assistance has actually worked.”
[1:55:50]

He cautions that while these shortcuts may offer tantalizing ease, they often stray from factual accuracy, leaving the effectiveness of such methods dubious.

Conclusion

In "Bad For Business," Aaron Mahnke masterfully intertwines historical anecdotes with paranormal lore, revealing how society's fascination with the supernatural has influenced various professions. From haunted houses influencing tax decisions to spiritualist methods shaping the oil industry and even the foundations of chiropractic medicine, the episode underscores humanity’s enduring quest to blend the mystical with the mundane in the pursuit of progress and convenience.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Rochelle Raynery Zuck:

  “Both 19th century phenomena were invested in a belief in the unseen...”
  [35:20]

• Abraham James on Success:

  “When he drove that penny into the ground, there was only one word on his dig: oil.”
  [47:10]

• Peter Herkos in Boston Strangler Case:

  “You are not late because your car broke down. You took time to stop by your girlfriend's apartment and did a quickie.”
  [1:10:45]

• Daniel Palmer on Chiropractic:

  “I am the founder of this method in its science, in its art, in its philosophy, and in its religious phase.”
  [1:40:15]

This detailed exploration not only entertains but prompts listeners to question the blurred lines between belief and empirical evidence in historical and modern contexts.