The Penny Dreadful Hour; or, A Feast of Early-Victorian Street Literature and Stories (no AI)
Finn J.D. John/ Pulp-Lit ProductionsThis is the podcast that carries you back to the sooty, foggy streets of early-Victorian London when a new issue of one of the "Penny Dreadful" blood-and-thunder story paper comes out! It's like an early-Victorian variety show, FEATURING ... — Sweeney Todd ... — Varney, the Vampyre ... — Highwayman Dick Turpin ... — mustache-twirling villains ... — virtuous ballet-girls ... —wicked gamblers ... ..... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 140 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsBooks | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Join host CORINTHIAN FINN (a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch*), for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of early-Victorian London!
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For COMPLETE SHOW NOTES, including art and links to resources, see pe... more
SHOW NOTES
— for —
EPISODE 5 (Season Six)
(June 7, 2026)
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Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of early-Victorian London!
This show ... more
SHOW NOTES:
(For complete show notes, including art and links, go to pennydread.com/discord and look in the Season 6 feed)
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01:40: HANGED TODAY IN HISTORY (June 2, 1621): Former fishmonger John Rowse came into a small fortune, which he squan... more
SHOW NOTES — for — EPISODE THREE (Season Six)
(May 24, 2026)
* 00:45: A local legend from HAUNTED ENGLAND: THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOSTS: Remember the scene in Black Bess where Dick Turpin and Tom King find the skeletons of the two lovers locked in t... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- A delight
What larks!
Apple Podcasts5JD, Bristol
United Kingdom10 months ago - A real good time!!
Have enjoyed Offbeat Oregon History Podcast for several years and just found this!! Loving it Thank you!! So much fun!
Apple Podcasts5Jumbosity
United Statesa year ago - So much fun
Delightful production! Gothic goodness with hilarious commentary. What’s not to love?
Apple Podcasts5NeatsoliloquyUnited States6 years ago - Delightfully Dreadful
I normally listen to podcasts at 2X speed. This is one of the few I take at 1X and it's totally worth it. These stories were made for the MST3K treatment and the hosts are consistently entertaining.
Apple Podcasts5wjspearUnited States6 years ago I don't know if I could handle the melodrama levels of The Feast of Blood on its own, but the MST3K treatment from these excellent hosts make this one of my most anticipated podcasts.
Podcast Addict56 years agowspear
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #95 |  Netherlands/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #239 | Netherlands/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #245 |  Ireland/Arts/Books |
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
| Household Income | Social Media Reach | ||||
Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show revives the gritty, foggy streets of early-Victorian London through penny dreadful readings, serialized highwayman tales, and bawdy ballads, all delivered with playful historical commentary. Episodes blend dramatic readings (Varney the Vampyre, Sweeney Todd, Dick Turpin) with context on street literature, broadsides, and period songs, often punctuated by meta-humor and self-aware production notes. A standout angle is the frequent Ninepenny/Nine Penny Naughties hosts and Covent Garden lore, giving listeners a vivid, theatrical tour of urban sensationalism that still feels fresh and entertaining for fans of historical fiction, gothic tales, and vintage pop culture. Noteworthy for its DIY, narrator-driven style, it likely attracts li... more
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. Offbeat Oregon History podcast
2. Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
3. Your Move with Andy Stanley Podcast
4. Park Predators
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 140 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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