Thread by @BDavisBriz

Spending my Saturday evening indulging my passion for #TrueCrime, & learning more about the #history of the crimes & murders that helped to shape the San Francisco Bay Area #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

https://twitter.com/SMCLibraries/status/1450177388772478984

First @bob_calhoun opens his presentations by thanking the libraries for their efforts to stay open during the pandemic & highlights their importance in his researching of the book #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun used to work in a library in San Mateo County around the time of the 1989 earthquake; jokes his first thought was relief that his shift finished "so he wouldn't have to pick up the books", but says the library actually closed for months due to damage #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Libraries have continued to have an impact on Calhoun's career as a researcher. Even says during this increasingly digital age, he still occasionally needs to access documents on microfiche #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Chair @peterhartlaub observes that many of Calhoun's books take place in the #BayArea and asks why that is. Calhoun says that he is inspired by the "kooky side" of the Area. Argues that "if I don't tell these stories, I don't know who else will" #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

On "The Murders That Made Us" Calhoun says that much of his research has been "unpicking the local myths" around local crimes. For example #PatriciaHearst who through his research Calhoun said his view changed from "brainwashed cult member" to "abused woman" #TheMurderThatMadeUs

However, Calhoun also said that he was keen to draw attention to underreported or forgotten crimes - helping to raise the profile of these less well-known tragedies in the city #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

The book begins with the murder of a family friend, which Calhoun had a personal connection to through his late mother. Says this was inspired through his frustration of "not recording these family stories while she was still alive" #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

However, he also said that, while there was interest from family members about what he was able to find from the archives, there was clearly unease about "digging up old memories" #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun then gives a reading from "The Murders That Made Us", noting that his mother usually only gave vague details of the murder. It was not until after her death, Calhoun found out his mother had actually been questioned as a suspect! #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Said as part of his research, he was hoping to find records of the police interviews with his mother, but sadly he was unable to find them #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun says eventually Penny Bjorkland was arrested for August Norry. Says this was a "huge deal for the local media" - even relegating the death of Buddy Holly to the bottom corner of the front pages #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

When asked how today's media landacape has altered local press, Calhoun says that social media has "put the neighbourhood gossip online", which would now give us a fuller insight in to how people felt about crimes that happen around them #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun is asked what crimes had the most impact on him during the books. Calhoun says the crimes that impacted him most were ones that "tied many stories together". Gives example of Robert Opal (the "Oscars streaker") #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun says that Opal was a gay artist, who was murdered during a stick-up of his art studio. Says Opal's story ties together the films Hollywood was making at the time, the Oscars from that year, the LGBT scene, the art scene & the crime itself #TheMurdersThatMadeUS

Next, Calhoun talks about Ed Barbara of Furniture USA who disappeared after he was convicted of fraud & racketeering. Says he enjoys such stories as though, not murders, they give a flavour of the types of people that lived & worked in San Francisco #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun also says that such stories, including the Carpet King, who was arrested after burning down one of his competitor's stores, created some "light relief" after the darker periods in San Francisco's history, such as the Jonestown cult mass suicide #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Calhoun says that this has impacted his reading tours, which has seen a mix of family &adult audiences which affects the stories he shares so they are "audience appropriate". Says this shows how there is enough history that there is "something for everyone!" #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

On the #ZodiacKiller, Calhoun does not believe we will ever know the identity of the killer, but believes that it is definitely a resident of San Francisco, as the crimes are committed in places by someone "who clearly knows the area" #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

When asked about what the hardest murder to write about was, Calhoun says it was Dan White & the Moscone–Milk assassinations. However, says everyone knows about the murders, so wanted to focus more on the White Night riots & White's decline & suicide #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Finally, Calhoun asks what his next book will be - he says he isn't sure yet, but it will definitely be "something kooky from the bay area" #TheMurdersThatMadeUs

Really interesting insight into researching #TrueCrime helped shape his understanding of the #History of #SanFrancisco but also his own family history. Thanks to @bob_calhoun for your presentation, to @peterhartlaub for chairing & @SMCLibraries for hosting #TheMurdersThatMadeUs