Stanley Tucci tells the story of celebrity revivalist preacher Aimee Semple McPherson who disappeared one day in 1926.
They called her Sister Aimee and she was a powerful figure in the early days of California. Adored by thousands, she embodied the close connection between religion, Hollywood, politics and money.
Right up until she went for a swim one day - and vanished. When she re-appeared weeks later, scandal swirled around Sister Aimee - scandal she could never quite shake off.
California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – but that’s just a mirage.
Stanley Tucci plays a hard-boiled screenwriter uncovering the full truth.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Grissell
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.