On September 4, 1985, a British tabloid published a story attributing dozens of fires to a painting of a crying boy that had been mass produced in the 50s. After each fire, nothing survived but the painting, unscathed. Was the painting cursed by the spirit of the crying boy, or was it a hoax? Conspiracy Theories is on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Full Episode
It's 1982 in Nottingham, England. Jane McCutcheon is cleaning the kitchen. In the other room, her two young daughters are watching cartoons and giggling along. The happy scene was contrasted by the haunting portrait that hung above the fireplace in front of them. It's of a young boy, about 11 years old. He has blonde hair and wears a ragged, oversized shirt.
There's a sadness behind his crystal blue eyes. Teardrops roll down either side of his face. Then, Jane's two-year-old daughter runs into the kitchen and tugs at Jane's shirt. She points back to the living room, trying to vocalize something. The room is on fire. The ceiling, the Venetian blinds, the furniture. Within minutes, Jane's home is an inferno.
Jane grabs her daughters and flees for safety just as firefighters arrive. As she passes some of the men, one of them exclaims, oh no, not another. He was referring to an item, the painting of the crying boy. Amidst the flames and the ashes, it was left unscathed. And it wasn't the first time it had happened. Welcome to Conspiracy Theories, a Spotify podcast. I'm Carter Roy.
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Hi there, this is Steve Fishman from Orbit Media. Our new series, Season 4 in the Burden Feed, is Get the Money and Run. You'll love it. Here's the trailer.
I'm standing here with Joe Loya. Over 14 months, Joe robbed so many banks, he lost count.
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We've all heard stories about bad omens and superstitions, like how a broken mirror can lead to seven years of bad luck. An open umbrella can insult the home's guardian spirit. Stepping on a crack can break your mother's back. But it's unlikely you've heard that hanging a portrait of a young, crying boy can cause your house to catch on fire.
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