Flushed Away From Memory
This is a double header episode. We bring back our friend Adam Papagan to discuss his career as a tour guide and founder of Cool LA Tours and we also seize the opportunity to test his vast knowledge of the most publicized trial of all time, the OJ Simpson Trial. Ryan and Adam take you step by step through the OJ case in true dumps style.
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Heroin Chic is the term used for the rise of nihilistic, drug influenced pop culture in the early 1990’s. While most of the trend was gravely misunderstood, there were some long lasting negative effects that are worth reviewing in our special dump way. Music, film, and fashion are all involved. PLUS we will hear first hand from our return guest Dinah Rankin (aka @beautifulsupermodelgenius) about the realities of modeling and the indie sleaze movement that is creeping its way back into the mainstream.
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The yellow silicone bracelet. Worn by many to signify they cared enough to stand up against cancer. The real dump (and reason why you don’t see them anymore) is because their creator, Lance Armstrong. The 7 time champion of the Tour De France, Armstrong had all of his titles stripped in a huge scandal involving performance enhancing drugs. Also a medical procedure called Blood Doping. Metal AF
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Valarie Jones is a legend in the world of true crime. In 1992 the notorious “True Crime Trading Cards” were released to the public and a wave of backlash followed closely behind. Valerie found themselves at the center of a media firestorm, being blamed for the decline of society and was deemed responsible for perpetuating the celebrity profiles that notorious murderers often acquire. Never to be one to listen to the mainstream they kept at it, creating another important trading card set the “AIDS Awareness Trading Cards.” The career of Valerie Jones is as eclectic as it is interesting and Ryan sits down with them to hear the whole story.
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Tiny Tim was a true American folk hero. His distinct falsetto and ukulele playing found him the unlikely celebrity in the late 1960s. He was both a singer and a musical archivist; forever in love with the music from the 1930’s and before. Tiny Tim was often misunderstood; his love for the past could easily manifest into unintentional comedy for TV audiences. While some saw took his androgynous appearance as signs of queer empowerment, in reality he was a staunch catholic whose views on marriage were about as dated as the music he loved so dearly. The Dumpy Boys go digging and find as sorts of strange happenings in the world of Tiny Tim
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Smoking cigarettes is bad for you… unless you make it look as good as Joe Camel did! In the early 90s, images of this anthropomorphic bad boy, leather jacket, cig smoking camel were everywhere. Donning a range of costumes, from James Bond-esque tuxedo to recently divorced dad on a motorcycle, this ad campaign was a huge success. Funny thing is, kids love cartoons. Studies showed that the Joe Camel ads created a strong brand recognition with cigs and the cartoon in children. Was Big Tobacco trying to get kids to smoke? If you had to guess, it seems pretty obvious.
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Gary Glitter is a British Glam Rock star. His most famous song is “Rock and Roll Part 2” a song that probably have heard but might not have known who sang it. That ubiquity came in part from the song being adopted as a chant at major sporting events. Glitter established himself as a major UK celebrity in the 80s and 90s. However, the superstar had some dark secrets. His fall from grace has been spectacle due to his multiple convictions of child pornography, child sexual abuse and sex with underage women.
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The Passion of the Christ is a highly controversial 2004 biblical drama directed and produced by Mel Gibson. Gibson at the time was a huge A-list celebrity and had enjoyed success directing and starring in Braveheart. Yet with no prior Christian affiliations, his decision to depict the brutal crucifixion of Jesus Christ seemed odd. The film garnered controversy for its extreme violence and anti-Semitic themes. While the film shocked and offended some, it managed to be a blockbuster success. Passion remains one of the top 10 highest grossing rated-R films.
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Sean Beard owns the World’s largest collection of Beavis and Butthead memorabilia. From whoopie cushions to toilet seat covers and even after shave, Beard’s collection is impressive. Ryan conducts an interview that gets to the heart of this collector’s obsession. Plenty of pop culture to learn here; from the show’s early controversy to Beard’s very personal story of his fandom. Essential listening for the you Dump heads.
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This is the story of a 90s Irish traditional song and dance phenomenon that captivated a worldwide audience. Modern stage production mixed with traditional dance to create a dynamic for of entertainment that had mothers and Ren Faire geeks swooning. The rockstar of it all, Michael Flatley, eventually found himself dissatisfied under creator Bill Whelan’s wing. Flately broke off and created his own show, The Lord of the Dance; which positioned its star as some sort of Celtic dance god sex symbol. This much power always creates a little drama, as we know too well here in dumpville.
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