Crime novelist Michael Connelly tells the twisted story of the 1981 Wonderland Avenue massacre in a new four-part docuseries for MGM+. The series, “The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood”, is based on Connelly’s hit Audible podcast and premieres on 8 September.
Connelly, known for his best-selling novels “Bosch” and “The Lincoln Lawyer,” explores one of Hollywood’s most infamous murder cases. The gruesome quadruple murder, which took place on July 1, 1981, inspired the film “Boogie Nights” and symbolized an era of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll in Los Angeles.
Through atmospheric, noir-inspired interviews, Connelly pursues key details about the crime, speaking with original detectives, prosecutors, and undercover cops he encountered as a young crime beat reporter for the Los Angeles Times. The investigation weaves together rare archival footage and photos, revealing a colorful cast of characters, including famous porn star John Holmes, drug kingpins, mafiosos, televangelists, and celebrities such as Liberace and his partner, Scott Thorson.
Thorson, a larger-than-life figure with extraordinary tales, may be the last person with critical knowledge about the crime and its truth.
The docuseries is directed by Alison Ellwood.
