My Victorian Nightmare – Ep. 63: "Vampires Need Vacations Too"

Host: Genevieve Manion
Date: October 6, 2025

Episode Overview

In this unique "vacation episode," host Genevieve Manion reflects on her favorite immersive vignettes from past episodes, revisiting the show's signature trips to spine-chilling locations across the Victorian world. Rather than focusing on a single case or theme, Genevieve invites listeners to take a guided tour through some of the show’s most evocative, atmospheric, and gruesome scenes — from vampire autopsies to haunted cabarets and notorious murder sites. The tone is equal parts cozy and macabre, welcoming listeners both old and new to indulge in Victorian darkness from the comfort of their own homes.

"I literally haven't had a vacation vacation in over three years, I think. And I'm going to my favorite place in the entire world. My apartment." (02:31)

Key Discussion Points & Immersive Vignettes

1. The Origin of the Podcast’s "Trips"

• Genevieve describes how she first brought listeners along with her in episode scripts, blending soundscapes, and storytelling to create immersive journeys.
• She reflects on worries about being "too theatrical" but was encouraged by positive listener feedback.

2. Cemetery of the Victorian Vampire – Chestnut Hill (Episode 6)

Time: 05:34
Genevieve guides the listener through a moonlit, 1892 New England cemetery, narrating the infamous Mercy Brown vampire case.

• Scene: Community gathers at the Brown family crypt for a vampire autopsy.
• Notable details: Mercy’s uncanny preservation, the ritual of extracting and burning her heart and liver, and forcing her sibling to drink the ashes (a genuine historical account).
• Quote: "They made her brother drink his sister. But sadly, all of this did not save his life." (13:07)

3. Public Hanging of Yankee Jim – San Diego, 1851 (Episode 13)

Time: 15:31
Stepping into the rainy, rough western town of Old San Diego, listeners witness the grim execution of Yankee Jim near the future Whaley House (hailed as America’s most haunted house).

• Genevieve uses sound design to heighten tension; describes the crowd, the gallows, the inside of the saloon.
• Yankee Jim’s fearful cry before the noose tightens:
  • Quote: "Oh, God, do I have to die?" (21:03)
• Aftermath: his specter supposedly haunts the Whaley House.

4. Midnight at P.T. Barnum’s American Museum – The Fiji Mermaid (Episode 15)

Time: 25:50
Set at a teetotalers’ cocktail party in 1842, the bizarre unveiling of the "Fiji Mermaid" blends farce with the grotesque.

• Barnum’s carnival atmosphere: formal guests, sarsaparilla instead of champagne, the much-anticipated reveal.
• Genevieve discusses "freak shows" and public fascination with oddities.
• Vivid description of the Fiji Mermaid:
  • Quote: "It has a terrifying hairless head with protruding sharp teeth, pointed ears... It looks like it's seen better days." (30:44)
• Her surprise at listener feedback that found her commentary humorous.

5. The Haunting of Baker Mansion, Pennsylvania (Episode 16)

Time: 33:45
The tour enters the grand, lonely home of Anna Baker in 1900, where grief and heartbreak have led to rumors of ghostly apparitions.

• Listeners witness the spectral woman in a flowing gown dancing alone by firelight.
• Genevieve’s own reaction:
  • Quote: "If I wasn't scared out of my wits, I'd say it was quite beautiful to watch, wouldn't you?" (35:12)

6. The Lunenburg Axe Murder – Mary Ann Mailman (Episode 18)

Time: 38:44
A deeply affecting vignette: hot August afternoon, Nova Scotia, 1873. Genevieve vividly crafts the moment of calm before horror.

• The narrative builds to the attack: a sudden, brutal axe murder committed by Peter Mailman.
• Genevieve’s process: feeling the scene’s emotion to help the audience feel it, too.
• She details the cover-up—removal of boots, hat, clumsy attempt to burn the evidence.
• Quote: "He'll wait another 20 to 30 minutes, staring at her, not knowing exactly what to do." (44:51)
• Personal admission: “This episode kind of messed with me.” (38:41)

7. Parisian Macabre – The Cabaret of Death (Episode 30)

Time: 47:05
An atmospheric trip to a French Victorian cabaret themed entirely around death.

• Waiters are pallbearers, walls are adorned with skulls, and guests sit in coffin-shaped chairs.
• Cocktails are named for diseases; clever visual tricks reveal skeletons in paintings.
• Giddy humor balances the exposure to the macabre:
  • Quote: “...Finish your beautiful drink before you kill yourself. Look how sad you've made Pierre.” (53:16)
• Genevieve delights in the effort of crafting the perfect soundscape, including a man's spectacular fall.

8. The Asylum With Nellie Bly (Episode 28)

Time: 56:33
A somber visit to Blackwell's Island, 1887, where Nellie Bly feigns insanity to report on institutional abuses.

• Genevieve tenderly narrates Bly’s courage amidst horror:
  • Quote: "We are walking past the room where rotational therapy is often used on the patients of this Blackwell's asylum..." (57:23)
• Reveals her own emotional connection and struggle during the recording:
  • “If only you guys could hear my raw string outs, which you never will, because for episodes like this, I'm often choking on tears.” (56:29)

9. H.H. Holmes and Body Snatching (Episode 24)

Time: 59:05
In rainy Michigan, 1884, Genevieve brings us to a fresh, eerily new cemetery, witnessing Holmes and William Herdman exhume a newly deceased body.

• She playfully notes that period cemeteries should look newly-built, not ancient and crumbling:
  • Quote: "I always think it's so funny when... [in] historically set movie cemeteries [the stones] are old. Like they wouldn't be." (1:01:36)
• The story veers into the origins of one of America’s most notorious killers.

10. Into the Dark Streets of Whitechapel – Jack the Ripper (Episodes 31 & 32)

Time: 1:06:20
Genevieve reconstructs the sensation of walking Whitechapel’s streets, setting the scene of poverty, danger, and despair leading up to the Ripper’s crimes.

• Listeners encounter the societal hardships faced by women, the infamous "ropes" used in lodging houses.
• Vivid real-time account of the murder of Mary Ann Nichols.
• Shift in approach: in the follow-up, a séance with a fictional safety character, Jimmy, for comfort.
• Quote: "This street is lit only by a single gas lamp fixed to the outside of a dressmaker's shop..." (1:07:43)
• Personal share: Jimmy, the safe character, was created unconsciously after a painful breakup.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | 02:31 | "I literally haven't had a vacation vacation in over three years, I think. And I'm going to my favorite place in the entire world. My apartment." | Genevieve Manion | | 13:07 | "They made her brother drink his sister. But sadly, all of this did not save his life." | Genevieve Manion | | 21:03 | "Oh, God, do I have to die?" | Yankee Jim (as narrated) | | 30:44 | "It has a terrifying hairless head with protruding sharp teeth, pointed ears... It looks like it's seen better days." | Genevieve Manion | | 35:12 | "If I wasn't scared out of my wits, I'd say it was quite beautiful to watch, wouldn't you?" | Genevieve Manion | | 38:41 | "This episode kind of messed with me." | Genevieve Manion | | 44:51 | "He'll wait another 20 to 30 minutes, staring at her, not knowing exactly what to do." | Genevieve Manion | | 53:16 | "Finish your beautiful drink before you kill yourself. Look how sad you've made Pierre." | The MC (as narrated) | | 56:29 | “If only you guys could hear my raw string outs, which you never will, because for episodes like this, I'm often choking on tears.” | Genevieve Manion | | 57:23 | "We are walking past the room where rotational therapy is often used on the patients of this Blackwell's asylum..." | Genevieve Manion | | 1:01:36 | "I always think it's so funny... [in] historically set movie cemeteries [the stones] are old. Like they wouldn't be." | Genevieve Manion | | 1:07:43 | "This street is lit only by a single gas lamp fixed to the outside of a dressmaker's shop..." | Genevieve Manion |

Reflections and Closing

• Genevieve’s voice and confidence have evolved over the years: “It's honestly so strange to hear my voice change. I've become more confident, I think, over time doing this show thanks to your incredibly sweet encouragement.” (1:19:53)
• The episode mixes humor, tenderness, historical accuracy, and emotional honesty, showcasing both the darkness of Victorian history and the power of empathetic storytelling.
• Genevieve promises new Halloween content for the rest of the month and thanks her audience, ending with: "Be kind to yourselves and I will see you in your nightmares."

Episode Structure and Timestamps

• 00:00–02:31: Opening, personal "vacation" setup
• 05:34–13:07: Chestnut Hill Cemetery ("Victorian Vampire" autopsy)
• 15:31–22:00: Yankee Jim’s hanging, Whaley House haunting
• 25:50–32:15: P.T. Barnum’s Fiji Mermaid party
• 33:45–36:00: Haunted Baker Mansion, Anna Baker
• 38:44–46:00: Nova Scotia axe murder (Mary Ann Mailman)
• 47:05–54:00: Paris’s Cabaret of Death
• 56:33–58:30: Nellie Bly in Blackwell’s Asylum
• 59:05–62:00: H.H. Holmes’ body snatching
• 66:20–73:00: Jack the Ripper and Whitechapel
• 73:00–end: Reflections, thanks, and closing

Tone:
Genevieve balances eerie atmosphere with humor, empathy, and sensitivity—bringing the Victorian macabre to life in a way that's eerily comforting for her audience of "fellow enchanted weirdos."

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:
This episode is a rich highlight reel of past journeys with immersive, historically-rooted storytelling. It’s perfect as a sampler for new listeners or nostalgic reflection for longtime fans—showing Genevieve’s unique talent for conjuring the spirits of the Victorian world and making the darkness feel like home.