Title(s): Reefer Madness (a.k.a. Tell Your Children, The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, Love Madness) [Wikipedia] [IMDb]
Director: Louis J. Gasnier
Producer(s): George Hirliman (1936), Dwain Esper (1938-39)
Writers: Arthur Hoerl (screenplay), Lawrence Meade (story)
Stars: Dorothy Short, Kenneth Craig, Lillian Miles, Dave O'Brien, Thelma White, Warren McCollum, Carleton Young
Release year(s): 1936 (original), 1938 (re-release)
PROMO: Cinema Recall (@cinema_recall)
SPECIAL GUESTS: Kevin and Erin Dougherty (@QueenErin), The Podcast That Wouldn't Die! (/tpodcasttwdie.bsky.social)
SHOWNOTES: We hope all of our ganja-enjoying listeners had a fantastic 4/20; we sure did! This stoner holiday, we blazed while watching the anti-cannabis propaganda exploitation film Reefer Madness! Originally released as a Christian picture titled Tell Your Children in 1936, then vulgarly recut as an exploitation film from 1938 through the 50s, this hilariously melodramatic flick was recontextualized as an unintentional satire in the 70s, and is ironically considered by many weed smokers one of the original stoner movies today. For our (belated) 4/20 Special, Beau and Ash are joined by returning guests Kevin and Erin from The Podcast That Wouldn't Die! in our discussion of one of the worst films ever made and the batshit insanity it unabashedly presents as factual in its campaign against marijuana. If you enjoy this special episode, stay tuned for our (also belated) analysis of Ghost in the Shell, as well as our next numbered episode on Doctor Who: "The Day of the Doctor", and... smoke it if you got it!
Collateral Cinema is on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, and is on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeart, and wherever else you get your podcasts! Also, check out
© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.
