Description
A chance encounter leads to the discovery of a salacious scandal that’s been lost to history for 50 years. Host Lindsay Byron sifts through crumbling news clippings to unpack a story of illicit sex and corruption involving elite powerbrokers alongside the forgotten castoffs of rural Virginia.
Written and hosted by Lindsay Byron AKA Lux ATL - goodtimesbadgirls.com
Music and sound design by Guy Kelly - guykelly.com
CAST:
Newscaster - Lauren Vogelbaum
Judge - Max Williams
Prosecutor - Ben Bowlin
Janet Barker - Anney Reese
Buckeye - Tari
Defense Attorney Johnson - Noel Brown
Dr. Shield - Sean Rhodes
SOURCES:
All courtroom scenes are pulled from the transcripts of The United States VS Joseph Whitehead, Landon Wayne Holley, and Aubrey Henderson trial. These transcripts are located in the National Archives in Philadelphia.
Opening newscast describing the Hookergate crime ring comes from an August 26, 1977 Danville Register and Bee article by Nelson Benyunes.
The courtroom exchange preceding the Edgewood diner scene comes from US Prosecuting Attorney Stubbs’ direct examination of Janet Barker on December 9th, 1977.
The courtroom exchange in which Buckeye describes how she made a booking comes from Prosecuting Attorney Robert Stubbs’ direct examination of Buckeye (not her real name) on December 7th, 1977.
The newscast describing Whitehead’s role in the “anatomy of power” comes from an August 1977 Washington Star article.
The courtroom exchange describing Joe Whitehead’s drinking problem comes from a psychiatric evaluation conducted by Dr. James Shield on January 4 1978, and presented as evidence by Whitehead’s defense team before sentencing.
The above court transcripts are located in the National Archives in Philadelphia.
The first-hand accounts from Rodney Smith come from an interview I conducted with him on January 26th, 2022.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Guy Kelly interviews Lindsay Byron for an in-depth look at how she discovered the lost story of Hookergate, and the laborious process of turning it into a podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 05/28/24
Tragedy strikes as the feds move in and the working girls rush out. Joe Whitehead is desperate for help, but doesn’t anticipate Robin’s next move. Rodney reflects on his journalistic triumph until everything suddenly changes.
Written and hosted by Lindsay Byron -...
Published 05/14/24