Episode 478 - The Phantom of the Opera - Part 1

I was going to write something pithy about the dates of publication. Then I looked up T. S. Eliot and read what an *ss he was in life. I found myself wishing The Persian had worked up a to a good nibbly nosh or two.

I think you all missed the clear implication that the Persian was notable because he was a cat. As such, he was too clever to be caught up in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s adaption of the novel, although he barely avoided appearing in Cats, being able to hide behind the corpse of T.S. Elliot until the heat died down.

Peter Larsen

I feel like the Phantom is the archetype that represents the Contrast between self hatred and love. The Phantom is in love with all things beautiful and yet is self deprecating because of his disfigurement. He believes he could never have the woman of his dreams just on his personality alone and therefore has gone mad with self hate but struggles with great feelings of love. I think that most people have had a time in their life when they thought that someone was out of their league and therefore sat in the shadows and only wished that they could approach the one they love. Fortunately most of them do not go to the lengths that the Phantom went to get his girl.

I believe we made some Communards jokes back in Werewolf of Paris - so don't thank us too much:)

I love how Erik the Scary just demands that Christine love him. There's nothing that melts a woman's heart like having a guy order you to love him. He must have learned that from some pick up artist forum.

Michael Crawford has been mentioned a few times on these two eps. Are you guys aware of his equally emotive, moving and powerful role as Frank “Ooh Betty! The cat’s done a whoopsie in my beret.” Spencer in the sit-com “Some mother’s do ‘ave’em”?

Maybe I'm just a hater here, but I just cannot get into musicals. There's a corniness to the Weber stuff that I think makes Manowar look like a Daniel Day Lewis movie. But I can deal with that. I have to give you infinite thanks for sticking to Weber and not taking the bait when it comes to the most gauche of all 80's bands, THE COMMUNARDS (whom I refer affectionately as "The Nards". There's only so much a man can take!

When you go by the name Christine, seeing Phantom is always strange and amusing - 2 hours of people desperately calling/singing your name. But the intro to this week's show inspires me to new levels - going to see if i can make a ringtone of Chris singing and Chad crying out, "Christine! Angel!" :D

Christine M

Just a note, I’m not sure if you guys know this but there is a missing chapter of the book called The Magic Envelope that was published in the serial but omitted from the published book and as such does not appear in any edition that I know of. However it is available online and it would be chapter 11 if it was in the book. Not sure if you’ll cover it but I thought I’d let you know it was out there.

There's a similar term applied to a particular sort of character in scientific romance fiction of a certain style, "New Zealander," which is someone aloof from a decline and disaster of a once great city or empire who is present as a kind of tourist or general observer to comment on the follies of the present by looking at what will become of us in the future. They sometimes, but not always or even mostly, come from New Zealand.

All true except this was back in the day when Billy Zane wouldn't have let his handsome mug be all uglied up. Make it today and he'd definitely go for this mash up which I'd watch in a heartbeat.

I sit with baited breath awaiting the moment when the Phantom goes to Africa, gets that skull ring, and clothes himself in purple. Honestly, though I followed his exploits for years as a child in the Sunday comics, I somehow missed this whole Ghost Who Walks fixation on Parisian opera. So glad there was a pile of bones scene foreshadowing the Skull Cave!

So is this the new Christmas story tradition? I suppose it could sit well between Home Alone and Die Hard.

Me since this episode was announced, Tarja Turunen angelic voice in my head ,first minutes that voice was murdered by Chris .

How dare you guys keep Jaime Andrews a secret for all the years! What a great voice. Great episode.

This version also has Fritz Leiber Sr. as Franz Liszt.

Ben Gilbert

Growing up Lon Chaney’s Phantom was iconic but I never actually saw the film until I was over 30. The film I grew up with was the Universal version with Claude Rains.

Ben Gilbert

I would love to see “Scary Erik and the Opera House” as a children’s show starring the Phantom of the Opera. Someone get on this!!!

Love the Fair Use of the Scooby bats. *zoinks*

Andrew M. Reichart

So, with this theory that the phantom has interchangeable heads...does that mean the Phantom is Mobi?

Robert Curtin

Thanks guys for another great show and, in this instance, helping me revisit long dormant teenage trauma. I was assailed for two years in High School by a girlfriend who would play the soundtrack constantly. I can feel the shudders coming back now.

MORE PHANTOM!!! You guys had me crying with laughter at work, my coworkers thought I’d gone mad (mad with PHANTOM!!!). I think my first encounter with this tale was an old cartoon version, which got me to listen to the musical which got me to watch the silent film which led to the book. Perhaps I should have just started there.

I found a site with some nice pictures of the lake, diagrams of the opera house:, info on the "real" Christine, the Commune, etc... https://www.messynessychic.com/2014/08/26/unmasking-the-parisian-phantom-of-the-opera/

I have not listened to the Podcraft episode yet, but have been reading the novel for the last week. One thing I found interesting is that there were several references to the Commune using the opera house to imprison people. These refer to the 1871 revolution that happened at the end of the Franco-Prussian war. Which took place about 15 to 20 years before this story is set. That is also the backdrop of Guy Endor's - The Werewolf of Paris. So the Werewolf may have known the Phantom! Now I am listening, and you guys mentioned it. Doh! Oh, and I really liked Jaime's reading for this!

That actually looks a lot like the "lake" in the 1925 film version. It was really just a few short flooded passageways made from brick and mortar.

This is the way.

I have been reading the version on Gutenberg since last week, and I keep chuckling at the OG as well. He also basically pulls a Tonya Harding by taking out Carlotta for Christine. So the Phantom is a real trailblazer of crime.

So Christine's father was Swedish eh? Sounds ripe for a production of Fiddler ön the Røof.

Such prosaic nicknames might be a French thing. I was called "l'anglais" at school and college in France. I called all my friends "le français/ la française" and that put a stop to it, for a bit.

Steve

I'm a big fan of Rouletabille. And here's how to pronounce him: https://translate.google.co.uk/?hl=en&tab=wT#view=home&op=translate&sl=fr&tl=en&text=Rouletabille

Steve

The actual lake under the Opera Garnier is rather lacking in atmos: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-water-tank-beneath-palais-garnier-paris-france

Steve

Nooooo Ooooonnnneeee Writes like Gaston Monstrous spite like Gaston When the Opera has a bad night like Gaston "I'm especially good at the fin de siècle!" Ten points for Gaston!

Sorry, obviously that's not true. Anyway, great to hear another fine episode from Chad and The Yank.

I expect that "The Persian" was so named as he was sensitive about his baldness and had a bad toupée, i.e. was wearing a rug.

Fiery Head? Check Skull Mask? Check Literally has the word Ghost in his name? Check All that's left is for Erik to look a bit like Nicholas Cage and you've got all the evidence you need that this story is set in the MCU! Lets Ride!

"OG?" Erik was the Original Gangster?

Mandy Reznor (She_It)