This episode asks the haunting question: Was Sweeney Todd real- uncovering disturbing historical evidence that suggests the demon barber may not be pure fiction- but a true page of dark history. Follow the trail of folklore, vanished records, and real crimes that gave birth to the legend.
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⚖️ Usage Notes & Licensing
Some images and historical documents in this episode are public domain, Creative Commons licensed, or used under U.S. Fair Use for educational analysis, historical commentary, and transformative storytelling.
Full list of images and licensing links are included below.
🏆 Episode Credits
All research, writing, editing, narration, and production by:
Jessica M. Lathrop, M.A. (Ancient & Classical History)
Larry Lathrop, M.S. (Data Science + MBA)
NOTE: All content in this episode was created by Jess & Larry- from research and writing, to narration and production. Learn more about us and our passion for dark history here.
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🖼️ Image Attributions
• Barber Shop, San Angelo, Texas (c. 1905) – CC0. SMU Central University Libraries.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barber_Shop,_San_Angelo,_Texas_(11934727883).jpg
• Cementeri General de València, funerary monuments – CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo by Joanbanjo (2012).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cementeri_General_de_Val%C3%A8ncia,_monuments_funeraris.JPG
• Display case of pâtisserie pastries – CC0. Photo by Andy Li (March 2025).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Display_case_of_P%C3%A2tisserie_Saveurs_(3)_2025-03-27.jpg
• Molenbeek Cemetery – CC0. Photo by Bernard Lee (2024).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Molenbeek_Cemetery_(8).jpg
• Still Life with Meat Pies, Roast Fowl, Olives, Capers and Strawberries (Circle of Jacob van Es) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Circle_of_Jacob_van_Es_Still_Life_with_Meat_Pies,_a_Roast_Fowl,_Olives,_Capers_and_Strawberries.jpg
• Illustration from The String of Pearls (1846–1850) – Public Domain. Source: Project Gutenberg (eBook #59828).
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/59828/59828-h/images/fig005.png
• Valencia street scene (early 19th century) – Public Domain. Original archival photograph; photographer unknown.
• Manuscript page from the diary of Pablo Carsí (early 19th century) – Public Domain. Original historical document.
• “The Sailor’s Gift” printed page from The String of Pearls (1850) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweeney_Todd,_o_barbeiro_demon%C3%ADaco_de_Fleet_Street.jpg
• Front page of The Memoirs of Joseph Fouché, Duke of Otranto (1896) – Public Domain.
https://archive.org/details/josephfoucheduke01fouciala/page/106/mode/2up
• At the barber shop (glass plate negative, 1904) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:At_the_barber_shop_(I0002335).tif
• Rue de la Harpe, Paris (photographed by Charles Marville, 1866) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rue_de_la_Harpe,_vue_prise_de_la_rue_de_la_Huchette,_5%C3%A8me_arrondissement,_Paris,_PH767(2).jpg
• Joseph Fouché, Duke of Otranto (portrait by Berthon, 1809) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berthon_-_Joseph_Fouch%C3%A9_(1759-1829),_duc_d%27Otrante_en_1809.jpg
• Article describing a barber committing murder – The New Annual Register (1784) – Public Domain.
https://archive.org/details/sim_new-annual-register_1784/page/n301/mode/2up
• Tower of St. Catherine, Valencia (1892) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:108_Valencia_-_Turm_von_St._Catalina.jpg
• Todd murdering a victim – Illustration published in The String of Pearls (1850), Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Todd_murdering_a_victim.png
• Charles III of Spain (Carlos III) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_III_of_Spain_high_resolution.jpg
• Straight razor illustration from Essay on Barbers’ Razors (1895) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Razor_from_page_16_of_Essay_on_barbers%27_razors,_razor_honing.jpg
• Illustration from Shaving Made Easy (1905), Fig. 03 – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shaving_Made_Easy,_1905_-_Fig_03.jpg
• Razor illustration from Shaving Made Easy (1905) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shaving_Made_Easy,_1905_-_Razor.png
• Rue des Marmousets, Paris (1865) – Public Domain. Source: BnF Gallica.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8457562f
• Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Varney_the_Vampire_or_the_Feast_of_Blood.jpg
• Jean Béraud, La pâtisserie Gloppe (1889) – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%C3%A9raud_-_La_p%C3%A2tisserie_Gloppe,_1889.jpg
• Fleet Street, London – group of stereograph views – Public Domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-Group_of_3_Stereograph_Views_of_Fleet_Street,_London,_England-_MET_DP73351.jpg
• Front page of Le théâtre des antiquitez de Paris by Jacques Du Breul (1612) – Public Domain.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k124905f
• Page from Dictionnaire historique de Paris, Vol. 2 by Antoine-Nicolas Béraud (1828) – Public Domain.
https://books.google.fr/books?id=9p2ydgqqf7gC
• Excerpt from The New Annual Register (London, 1784) – Public Domain.
https://archive.org/details/sim_new-annual-register_1784/page/n301/mode/2up
• Stacked of Books in Close Up Photography by Volkan Buyukvardar. - Public Domain. Source: Canva (Image modified for color to suit design needs.)
😅 Whew!
You’ve reached the end of the details for this episode.
Thank you for being a part of the Cursed Voices community. We believe that history is most haunting when it’s handled with care, and your support allows us to keep digging for the truth behind these legendary tales. We sincerely appreciate every view, every like, every follower, and every donation.
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Stay curious, question everything, and we’ll meet you in the next episode. - Jess & Larry