The Devil's Dinner Hour

Aug 04 2024 15 ep. 25 mins 36
The Devil's Dinner Hour Podcast artwork

Welcome to The Devil's Dinner Hour! Your trusty source for everything Victorian and strange. I'm Evelyn James and I'll be your guide down the dark alleyways and moonlit moors of Victorian England

  History  Society & Culture
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The Inside Scoop on Victorian Ice Cream

Aug 04 2024 31 mins  
Join me tonight as we all scream for ice cream alongside the king of poisonous penny licks and the queen of fancy ices. We'll dive right into the heart of the dairy trade, and learn about the flavors, syrups and "special toppings" that made the Victorians brain freeze with delight. The Devil's Dinner Hour is written, edited, produced, and hosted by Evelyn James Music: David Fes

The Show Must Go On: Treading the Boards of the Victorian Stage

Jul 21 2024 56 mins  
Join me tonight as we tread the boards of the Victorian stage and learn what it was like for actors, directors, and writers as they navigated a world that didn't yet appreciate their gifts. We will experience a revolution that was started with song and dance, watch as theatre fires consume the streets of London, learn about Victorian special effects, lighting, and set design, and m

Death Defying: A Day at the Victorian Circus

Jul 05 2024 36 mins  
Explore a world of stunning spectacle: The Victorian Circus. Let's take a stroll through the dusty sands of the circus ring, and learn what daily life was like for both performer and proprietor. In this episode, we will walk alongside misfits of every kind, color, creed, and identity who used their creativity and ingenuity to create a place, not only of danger, wonder, and exciteme

Holding the Rope- The Victorian History of Hanging

Jun 22 2024 47 mins  
Burning, Boiling and Beheadings, Oh my! The evolution of the Victorian capital punishment system will surely knock your socks off. So, call a carriage and break out your best cigars, as we navigate the eerily quiet, early morning streets of London to attend a public execution. The Devil's Dinner Hour is a one-woman show, written, performed and produced by Evelyn James. © Music B

From Bloody Barber to Gentleman Artist- The Victorian Surgical Revolution

Jan 22 2021 25 mins  
Prepare yourself for a night of gruesome amputations, crazy drug parties, and mental breakdowns. So, sharpen those knives and put on your best blood-soaked apron as we dissect the Victorian Surgical Revolution. The Victorian Slang word of the day is sure to leave you in knots. Music by: David Fesilyan & David Renda Sources: F. B. Smith, The People’s Health 1830-1910 (London: Cr

The Ghosts of Christmases Past

Dec 30 2020 14 mins  
The Christmas tradition of sharing ghost stories was beloved by many in Victorian England. So, put on your warmest clothing as we explore a Victorian mid-winter, when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Where ghosts roam and Scrooge groans a very un-merry, Humbug! Music By: David Fesilyan tag: Victorian History Sources: Wilde, Oscar "The Soul of a Man Un

Slinging Ink: The Victorian Tattoo Craze

Dec 01 2020 23 mins  
Roll up your sleeves, and let’s carve into the Victorian’s fascination and love for tattoos- that crossed both class and gender divides, empowering men and women alike to live their best lives and turn their bodies into living, breathing works of art. This episode has got liars, tigers and fairs, oh my! The Victorian slang term of the day will leave you asking for some baby pow

Tales of the Resurrectionist: Medicine, Money & Murder

Nov 12 2020 29 mins  
Tonight's episode will be about the noble art of bodysnatching... with some murder and mayhem thrown in for good measure. There will be tales of graveyard hi-jinks, friendships to die for, and close curtain calls with death. So, please grab your nearest shovel so we can dig into the dark dealings of death and how much doctors were willing to pay in the name of science and discovery

Happy Hallowe'en

Oct 24 2020 21 mins  
Tonight, do I have a trick or treat, for you! I’ll be carving my way into all the juicy bits and bobs that make up a Victorian Halloween. If you’re ready for a night of fiery fruity fun, then look no further. There’s a bowl of flaming raisins with your name on it. Looking for love? Who needs Tinder, when you’ve got the Magic Mirror Game. Nothing like the ghostly apparition

Memento Mori- Postmortem Photography

Oct 10 2020 18 mins  
Death, Daguerrotypes, and Posing Stands, Oh My! Tonights episode is all about the wonderfully disturbing world of postmortem photography. So grab a spoon to lift up those eyelids as we explore death in all of its copper-coated glory and expose some myths in the process. The Victorian word of the day is sure to leave you feeling a bit buzzed. (An example of how a posing stand was