The Days Grimm Podcast

Ep. 261 Botched Firing Squads and Stage Fires: May's Mortal Mistakes

The Days Grimm

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 56:35

Send us Fan Mail

From revolutionary heroes to Hollywood legends, the month of May has hosted some of the most bizarre and "metal" departures in human history. In this episode of The Days Grand, Brian Michael Day, Thomas Grand, and Corey dive into a segment titled "Maze Mortal Mistakes," ranking five of the most incredible historical deaths based on their shock value and sheer audacity.


We explore the strange case of John Barrymore, whose friends allegedly kidnapped his corpse from a funeral home for one last party, and the tragic isolation of Hedviga Golik, a woman whose body remained undisturbed in front of her television for over four decades. The crew also discusses the "most metal way to die"—a revolutionary figure who predicted his own death by lightning and was struck down exactly as he requested while standing in a doorway.


This episode balances dark history with the podcast’s signature irreverent humor, covering botched executions in the American West and a devastating magician’s stage fire that led to a strange case of mistaken identity in the wreckage. Whether it is the morbid curiosity of a 42-year-old cup of tea or the cold bravado of a man facing a firing squad without a blindfold, these stories provide a unique look at the unexpected ways people have exited the stage of life.


Which of these historical deaths do you think is the most "metal"? Let us know in the comments if we missed a bizarre May story. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Days Grand and like the video for more deep dives into the strange and unusual.


TIMELINE: 

00:00:30 - Episode Intro and "Cornish Apples" 

04:20:00 - Introduction to "Maze Mortal Mistakes" 

06:15:00 - The Death and "After-Party" of John Barrymore 

17:48:00 - Hedviga Golik: The 42-Year Hide and Seek Champion 

24:18:00 - The Great Lafayette: Magic, Dogs, and Stage Fires 

33:29:00 - James Otis Jr.: The Revolutionary Struck by Lightning 

41:15:00 - David Alexander Johnston and Mount St. Helens 

42:40:00 - Wallace Wilkerson: The Most Botched Execution in Utah 

46:30:00 - Final Rankings: The Top 5 Mortal Mistakes 

54:00- Closing Thoughts and Current Events

[The Days Grimm Podcast Links]
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDaysGrimm
- Our link tree: linktr.ee/Thedaysgrimm
- GoFundMe account for The Days Grimm: https://gofund.me/02527e7c

[The Days Grimm is brought to you by]
Sadness & ADHD (non-medicated)