Extended show notes for TAC 168 Conflicting Stories & Missing Pieces (Death Valley #2)

168: Conflicting Stories & Missing Pieces (Death Valley #2)

Research and Rabbit Holes for The Dead Files “Death Valley” (Season 2 Episode 19) which aired May 17, 2013. This episode will be live on all podcast apps on April 30, 2026

This week we’re back in Death Valley Junction—but this time, we’re going deeper. Like… five days of rabbit holes deeper. 

In part two of this three-part series, we leave the recap behind and dive headfirst into the history of the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel… and things get complicated fast.

We uncover the origins of the property as a 1920s mining hub built to impress investors (for a booming industry that lasted… about three years), complete with dormitories, a cafe, a general store, and—yes—an infirmary that the show barely touched on.

From there, we follow the story of how the place sat abandoned for decades before ballerina Marta Becket arrived in 1967 and quite literally adopted it—painting her own audience on the walls and performing for them when no one else showed up. (We love her. We would die for her.)

But then… things take a turn.

We dig into what may have really happened with Rich and Mary Lee—because despite what the show implies, it doesn’t seem like ghosts are the only reason they left. There are power struggles, conflicting stories, a very suspicious letter that may or may not have actually been written by Marta, and just enough missing information to make everything feel a little… off.

We also talk about:

·         The reality of staying overnight at the hotel (bring your own food… and maybe emotionally prepare to shake snakes out of your shoes??)

·         A YouTuber who had the entire place to himself (absolutely not)

·         The infamous “Spooky Hollow” area… now boarded up and covered with a mirror because apparently, we’re inviting chaos

·         And the general vibe of a place that is technically real… but somehow still doesn’t make sense 

Basically, the deeper we dig, the less straightforward this story becomes.

Ponder:
If a place has multiple conflicting stories, missing details, and people actively controlling the narrative… is that more unsettling than the ghosts themselves?

Witness:
The hotel’s official guest warning casually suggesting you shake snakes out of your shoes before putting them on. Absolutely not. Immediate checkout.

Weigh-In:
Would you stay overnight in a place where the staff leaves, the town is empty, and you’re told “by the way, the whole town is haunted”… or are you just there for the daytime tour?

So, grab your refrigerator yogurt (labeled it so Terry from accounting doesn’t take it) and join us where… The Activity Continues.

Here's the full list of links for our sources and other fun into:

Property’s Official Page: https://www.amargosaoperahouse.org/

Amargosa at Wikipedia  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amargosa_Opera_House_and_Hotel

Marta Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marta_Becket

Article about the Marta: https://www.jeffreysward.com/tributes/amargosa.htm - the links within that article are dead.

Article about the controversy

https://www.jeffreysward.com/tributes/amargosa.htm

I found an article mentioning Rich, Mary Lee and Film maker Ted Faye but it’s behind a pay wall. https://deathvalley49ers.org/2025-historic-educational-programs/

Shotgun Kittie: https://www.nevadawomen.org/research-center/biographies-alphabetical/kathryn-l-marbaker-tubb/

https://www.fws.gov/media/shotgun-kitty-and-ash-meadows-refuge

https://www.nps.gov/people/kathryn-l-marbaker-tubb.htm

Some nice photos of the opera house inside. https://www.theyellowdesk.com/single-post/2017/06/13/the-dark-beauty-of-the-amargosa-opera-house-hotel-part-ii

Videos:

Obscurest Tourist https://youtu.be/gw8dpnTXJmw?si=V2vgT6Spennzz--X 

Nevada Jack: https://youtu.be/XmujZNJM8p4?si=NvbhWeRjTPSDL9nA 

Movies:

Amargosa (2000) the movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229976/  You can watch it on Tubi for free.

Trailer for Amargosa (the documentary) https://youtu.be/ZkIS6_nIEtQ?si=wy5A8iDnCZ-Yr3Q7

The Hitcher: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091209/

Lost Highway: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116922/

Movie: Hauning at Death Valley Junction: https://amzn.to/4c03Pka

VHS Tape: Marta Becket’s Amaergosa Opera House Presents Performance Tonight (Part 1) https://amzn.to/4voKgd0  ($75 for a VHS is steep!)

Series:

Weird Tales 4: The Ghosts of Death Valley Junction https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1783417/ - appears to be available on AppleTV

Books:

Marta’s Book, To Dance on Sands by Marta Becket: https://amzn.to/3Op8nHE

Marta Becket, a Theatrical Portrait by Marta Beckt: https://amzn.to/4mhV7kL

Death Valley Junction: The Story of the Amargosa Opera House by Marta Becket: https://amzn.to/41TwEbR

Music: Oh Deer by Adrienne Pierce: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B003V8FL98

TAC links:

Our Woodpecker Ts: https://www.zazzle.com/woodpecker_headache_remedy_t_shirt-256058499501832692

Or https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/176270054

Recommend a Dead Files episode for us to recap (Amy’s spreadsheet): https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/recommend-your-favorite-dead-files-epsiode/

 Amazon links could generate a small commission to the show