After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal Dark Truth About Sweeney Todd
Dec 22, 2025
Dive into the chilling world of Sweeney Todd, the notorious demon barber of Fleet Street. Explore how Penny Dreadfuls captured the urban fears of 1840s London. Discover the dark culinary connections between pie shops and public anxieties around food adulteration. The hosts shed light on the historical origins of this sensational myth, linking it to broader themes of urban anonymity and class tensions. Plus, trace the evolution of Sweeney Todd through various stage adaptations and its lasting cultural impact.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Fiction Reflects Urban Anxieties
- Sweeney Todd emerged from Victorian London's appetite for lurid, blood-soaked tales circulated in cheap print.
- The story reflects real anxieties about urban crime, poverty, and strangers in a growing city.
Penny Dreadfuls Shaped Public Fears
- Penny Dreadfuls were cheap weekly serials designed for oral reading and mass entertainment among working classes.
- Their format and speed amplified fears about urban life and fuelled sensational tropes like Sweeney Todd.
The String Of Pearls Origin Story
- The original Sweeney Todd tale appeared as The String of Pearls in a Penny Dreadful serialized 1846–47 and later bookified in 1850.
- It features Lieutenant Thornhill's murder, Mrs. Lovett's pie shop and Joanna investigating disguised as a boy.