“I have deposited in the county of Bedford, about four miles from Buford's [Tavern], in an excavation or vault, six feet below the surface of the ground, the following articles, belonging jointly to the parties whose names are given in number three, herewith:

The first deposit consisted of ten hundred and fourteen pounds of gold, and thirty-eight hundred and twelve pounds of silver, deposited Nov. eighteen nineteen. The second was made Dec. eighteen twenty-one, and consisted of nineteen hundred and seven pounds of gold, and twelve hundred and eighty-eight of silver; also jewels, obtained in St. Louis in exchange to save transportation, and valued at thirteen thousand dollars.

The above is securely packed in iron pots, with iron covers. The vault is roughly lined with stone, and the vessels rest on solid stone, and are covered with others. Paper number one describes the exact locality of the vault, so that no difficulty will be had in finding it.” - Thomas Jefferson Beale, from the second cipher text of the Beale Papers, allegedly written in 1822.

Is it time to channel your inner Gus Chiggins and get to hunting for gold? Or maybe all of this a cunning ruse or just a flat out lie? We explore that and more this week with The Beale Ciphers on Hysteria 51!

Special thanks to this week’s research sources:

Books and Papers

Nickell, Joe. “Discovered: The Secret of Beale's Treasure.” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 90, no. 3, 1982, pp. 310–324. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4248566. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4248566?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Aa34aec73e13b80ba0f2d706fd12112c0&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Websites

Rational Wiki - https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Beale_ciphers

Mental Floss - https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/540277/beale-ciphers-buried-treasure

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beale_ciphers

Skeptoid - https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4301

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We are off this week.... sort of. We have a best of show, but first we dive in to continue or JFK Lose Your Own Adventure Sage. Then, it's back to 1964 to visit Jim and his photo shenanigans once again!

Original Description

Nothing worse than a photobomb. There you are minding your own business, taking a picture of your lovely daughter and next thing you know some idiot time traveler / astronaut / inter-dimensional being drops his/her/its mug into your frame. And while we’ve all been through it, there’s a famous version we’re talking about this week - The Solway Firth Spaceman. Where did the other figure come from? Could this be a real, true documentation of a close encounter? How much is free film for a year actually worth? We dive in deep and see what develops. Plus, Conspiracy Bot actually did research this week (albeit unsuccessfully, but...ya know...baby steps). Brent channels his inner British housewife from the 1960s (it wasn’t a huge leap). And John starts talking about time travel again (we wish it existed so we could go back and stop him). All of that and more on the podcast that doesn’t do a ton of photo shoots, but when we do they’re in the UK and they involve a spaceman – Hysteria 51.

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This week we're opening up the paranormal hotline and diving into the bizarre, the eerie, and the downright hilarious messages left by you, our fantastic listeners! From ghostly greetings to alien anecdotes, you'll hear firsthand accounts of the strange and unexplained... or at least complaints about us and how we pronounce things.

So join us as we explore the oddities of your encounters, answer your burning questions, and maybe even solve a mystery or two along the way. Don’t forget to grab your tinfoil hat and prepare for listeners voicemails – it's time to Dial H for Hysteria!

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Lights, Camera, Possession! Get ready to dim the lights and turn up the terror with the Hysteria 51 team as we delve into the spine-chilling world of "Late Night with the Devil". This episode, we're not just watching the film—we're diving headfirst into its devilishly clever concoction of horror and satire, set against the backdrop of a seemingly ordinary late-night talk show. Brace yourselves as we dissect how this cinematic spectacle conjures a hauntingly unique blend of thrills and laughs, weaving together ancient demon lore with cutting-edge movie magic. We'll connect the eerie dots between the film's blood-curdling narrative and the bone-chilling real-world stories that have spooked generations. So, grab your popcorn (and maybe a safety blanket) and join us for a night of frights and insights!

Special thanks to this week’s sources:

Websites

Watch The Movie: https://www.latenightwiththedevil.movie/

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John Oliver and his show Last Week Tonight’s latest foray into the unknown was right in our wheelhouse – UFOs. John tackled this enigmatic world with his trademark wit. This week we dive deep into Oliver’s exploration—from Jimmy Carter's extraterrestrial encounters to the controversial paintings of UFOs in Renaissance art. We'll analyze how Oliver balances humor with hard questions about what's really out there, critiquing his take on government cover-ups, media missteps, and public paranoia. Did he miss crucial evidence? Or did he nail the absurdity of the UFO phenomena by realizing it is not so absurd? Join us for a detailed breakdown of the facts, the laughs, and everything in-between, as we separate the science from the silliness in John Oliver's cosmic comedy.

Plus, we talk upcoming episodes AND start our Lose Your Own Adventure! All that and more this week on Hysteria 51!

Special thanks to this week’s sources:

Videos

UFOs: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRdhoYqCAQg

Websites

HBO Show Site - https://www.hbo.com/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver

Last Week Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Week_Tonight_with_John_Oliver

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Rip off your tin foil hats and throw your best pot on your head as you grab a seat by the campfire because this week the Hysteria 51 crew digs into the dusty books of American folklore to uncover the truth behind some of the nation's tallest tales! We’re throwing Johnny Appleseed’s "hat" in the ring with John Henry’s hammer, racing Babe the Blue Ox, and decoding Geronimo’s battle tactics. Are these legends larger-than-life heroes or just myths wrapped in America’s star-spangled banner? Tune in as we crack jokes, bust myths, and maybe even stir up a spirit or two. It's a historical hullabaloo you won’t want to miss this week on Hysteria 51!

Special thanks to this week’s sources:

HowStuffWorks Article - https://people.howstuffworks.com/9-legends-of-american-folklore.htm

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This week on H51 we finally dive into the eerie world of creepypasta, those internet-born tales that spook and thrill in equal measure... or just suck. It all depends on the subreddit! From the chilling depths of Slender Man to the unsettling accounts of Jeff the Killer, these stories have seeped from the shadows of the web into the fabric of modern digital folklore. Join us as we explore the origins of creepypasta, how these macabre tales are crafted, and their impact on culture and media. We’ll dissect famous stories, debunk myths, and perhaps even share a new tale or two with the help of returning guest and Sad Times Podcast host, Kevin Crispin. Lock your doors, check your internet connection, (and that is to just keep you safe from Conspiracy Bot) and get ready to be haunted by the stories that lurk online.

Special thanks to this week’s sources:

Medium Article - https://medium.com/bud-blog/the-history-of-creepypasta-da033083f793

List of Creepypastas - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_creepypastas?fbclid=IwAR1o23yEOxdQr0eZ0VYF5EE9gquX83T6l_QdXba64vBGWhqoXRELwOHVnG0

Get Your SCP-173 Plush! - https://www.amazon.com/FIMIGID-Plush-Toys-Sculpture-Gift/dp/B0BGGGRJQL?th=1&fbclid=IwAR0iEPfJWE1SJTAijdPq2PXGWObHpJZLEy67lQEdGvI4qqSo2dk22sKUSyE

Check out the Blurry Photos Companion Episode: Digital Folklore with Dr. Lynne McNeill - http://www.blurryphotos.org/ep-249-digital-folklore-with-dr-lynne-mcneill/?fbclid=IwAR1jwNt0MH_JkZnDY9B4mqSojT_t49Y3vegXTbDlbMqBGwhI5Cozh1luThs

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We are back to brave the wilds of the USA!

Last week Hysteria 51 embarked on a chilling journey into the heart of America's folklore, and this week we are back with the 2nd installment of our two-part special, "A Cryptid Odyssey Across America." Inspired by Monica Fish's spine-tingling article in Fangoria magazine, we're uncovering the dark corners of the USA, state by state, to reveal the second 25 of the 50 eerie entities that lurk in the shadows. Oh, and just as scary, Kevin Crispin of Sad Times is back in studio!

From the misty hollows of the Pacific Northwest to the swampy depths of the South, join us as we traverse the country to dig up tales of creatures so bizarre and terrifying, you'll be glad it's daylight. We'll meet cryptids you've heard of—and many you haven't—as we reveal the lore behind each one and ask the question, what's lurking in your backyard?

Fangoria Article - https://www.fangoria.com/original/the-creepiest-creatures-from-each-state-2/

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