logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2022
1 h

Haunted Dolls

CHELSEY WEBER-SMITH
About this episode

We'll see how possessed playthings have crept their way into the dark attic of America: Thomas Edison's little monsters, a demonic Raggedy Ann, a living ventriloquist dummy, a deadly voodoo curse, and an online market where you can buy yourself a soul trapped in the body of a doll.


Become a Patron and support our show!


Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com


American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Co-produced and co-edited by Miranda Zickler

Co-researched and co-editing by Riley Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Voice Acting by Will Rogers

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Jul 8
Listen Now: American Scandal
Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage. Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and ... Show More
6m 29s
Jul 7
Staring at the Sun on LSD with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'
Have you ever heard the urban legend about the group of hippie college students that went blind while staring at the sun during an LSD trip? This tale became a very powerful anecdote in the 1960s as politicians tried to regulate the spread of acid spread across college campuses. ... Show More
1h 26m
Jun 30
The Call is Coming From Inside the House with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'
You've probably heard the urban legend called the Babysitter and the Man Upstairs or at least know the idiom it inspired: “The call is coming from inside the house.” Sarah Marshall of the podcasts You’re Wrong About and You Are Good joins me as I share some new ideas about where ... Show More
1h 35m
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
it's a doll's house and we're living in it (with Dr. Jillian Hernandez)
This episode is a director's cut version of So we’re all obsessed with dolls right now, including extra discussions on dolls in horror films, "living dolls," the power of Bratz, and an interview with Dr. Jillian Hernandez, professor and author of Aesthetics of Excess: The Art of ... Show More
1h 23m
Oct 2021
The Untold Story of "Spooky Scary Skeletons"
For this special Halloween episode, you’re in for a handful of treats. Rachelle and Madison reveal their Halloween costumes and talk about what scares and bugs them on the internet this spooky season. They’ll discuss listener-submitted Vines, tweets, and Tumblr posts that are ico ... Show More
29m 1s
Jun 2023
The Thing
Normal visits on the weekends turn into a nightmare as a presence is determined to make itself known. McMasterville in Québec, Canada. 2009-2013. Have a story? Go to TrueScaryStory.com and fill out the form! Up next, check out Horror Story! (Previously Dark Memory) Listen ad-free ... Show More
24m 15s
Aug 2022
The Experiment
Jaxon tells us his scary experiences after discovering the world of paranormal entertainment, including one involving a haunted doll and disembodied voices. Coincidence? Have a story? Go to TrueScaryStory.com and fill out the form! Up next, check out Horror Story! (Previously Dar ... Show More
18m 56s
Feb 2024
ICYMI... french recipe suggestions
So we're taking a week off for the holiday, but ICYMI (in case you missed it) here's one of our fave, early episodes...Episode 14: Hosts Aprile & Meredith tune in to... a story about a ouija board adventure gone wrong and a story about a mysterious woman at the supermarket... Fol ... Show More
35m 14s
Jun 2023
The Witch
It started out as noises around the house before manifesting into apparitions that begin to interact with the family.  Have a story? Go to TrueScaryStory.com and fill out the form! Up next, check out Horror Story! (Previously Dark Memory) Listen ad-free while supporting the show ... Show More
43m 55s
Mar 2024
freaky little beasties
Episode 33: Hosts Aprile and Meredith tune into two true, creepy stories about demonic beasts and haunted childhoods... plus we hear some related irrational fears sent in by listeners. <3 Follow us for more @rattledandshookor send us a message from rattledandshook.com Original ar ... Show More
38m 2s
May 2024
late nights with the devil
Episode 40: Hosts Aprile and Meredith tune into a few stories about family demons -- literally and figuratively. Staying on theme, they also discuss the new retro horror movie from Shudder, Late Night with the Devil. Follow us for more @rattledandshookor send us a message from ra ... Show More
43m 49s