About Philip D. Gibbons

Philip D. Gibbons’ journalism has appeared in such national publications as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Babylon, Smoke Magazine, France Today and Fair.Org’s Extra!  He is a past winner of the Santa Barbara Writers’ Conference Screenwriting Competition, a finalist in the 2018 Page Screenwriting Competition and was a quarter finalist in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship Awards.

In 2000, he appeared on the television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” and won $500,000.  The question he answered to win this amount concerned Russian History.  You can see his appearance here:

Before becoming a documentarian and free-lance journalist, Gibbons enjoyed a successful career as a business development executive.  He also worked for ten years as a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School System and graduated from Brown University with a degree in European History.

Here are some examples of Phil’s journalism ranging from internet content to traditional published journalism:

Ranker.com content

Strange Things You Didn’t Know About the Wizard of Oz

Persistent Nazi Mysteries

Facts About the Tragic Life of Edgar Allan Poe

Print Journalism

Fair.org Article About Truman Capote

Article About Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and his last days.

Rommel

Rommel 2 copy

Rommel 3 copy

Text of Rommel Article:

IN SEARCH OF THE DESERT FOX TEXT

PHOTOS TAKEN WHILE RESEARCHING TRUMAN CAPOTE’S “IN COLD BLOOD.”

Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, mugshots taken from Finney County, Kansas Archive
Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, mugshots taken from Finney County, Kansas Archive

Photo taken at Finney County, Kansas Sheriff’s department.

Stolen license plate that alerted Las Vegas police to pull over and arrest Hickock and Smith. They had just picked up incriminating evidence from a post office 15 minutes earlier.
Stolen license plate that alerted Las Vegas police to pull over and arrest Hickock and Smith. They had just picked up incriminating evidence from a post office 15 minutes earlier.

License Plate on permanent display, Finney County Sheriff’s department.

Boot and photo of bootprint that helped convict Perry Smith and Dick Hickock.
Boot and photo of bootprint that helped convict Perry Smith and Dick Hickock.

Boot and photo on display, Finney County

Gravestone of Dick Hickock, Mt. Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, KS. The original, purchased by Capote, was stolen and is now archived in the Kansas Museum of History.
Gravestone of Dick Hickock, Mt. Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, KS. The original, purchased by Capote, was stolen and is now archived in the Kansas Museum of History.
Gravestone of Perry Smith buried next to Dick Hickock, Mt. Muncie Cemetery. The marker was also stolen and was returned to the Kansas Museum of History.
Gravestone of Perry Smith buried next to Dick Hickock, Mt. Muncie Cemetery. The marker was also stolen and was returned to the Kansas Museum of History.

At the request of friends and relatives of the Clutter family, the gravestones of Hickock and Smith are not on public display in the KMH.  The originals were turned in ten years after they were stolen in 1980.  All photos by Philip D. Gibbons.

In 2013, Mr Gibbons released the documentary, “The Devil and the Death Penalty.”, which chronicles the dysfunction within the California capital punishment system by revisiting the case of Lawrence Bittaker, a convicted serial child killer and rapist who has been on death row at San Quentin since 1981.  More information about this film can be found here:

The Devil and the Death Penalty

“The Devil and the Death Penalty” received a Silver Ace Award from the 2012 Las Vegas Film Festival and was the winner of the 2013 San Francisco United Film Festival’s Best Documentary Feature award.

National Lampoon Radio Clip Which Ran in Circulation on XM Radio

“Donald Rumsfeld’s Greatest Hits”

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23 thoughts on “About Philip D. Gibbons”

  1. Wow, I really enjoyed the Whitey Bulger episodes. Maybe you’ll write the screenplay?! The story is even more fascinating than The Godfather.

  2. Just watched your documentary on Bittaker and Norris. I thought it was extremely well done and loved how your portrayed the victims – as people. As daughters. Friends. Not just victims.

    Great work.

  3. G’day Phil, I am a long time avid listener. After getting a general idea on what interests you in terms of the figures you present. I thought you might be very interested in Mathew Flinders as a potential subject (or at the very least an interesting read). He was the man who was first to circumnavigate Australia, give it its name and was also a prisoner on Mauritius for 7 years. He was also an avid fan of literature such as yourself.
    Thank you for all the amazing content.
    All the best,
    Andrew

  4. Hey Mr. Gibbons, just wanted to say thanks for doing this podcast. It’s been really interesting to hear about the lives of so many people and how they’ve handled their difficulties and pursuits, especially vis-a-vis my own. Your work is much appreciated! By the way, I remember watching that episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

  5. Hi— In the episode about the Quiz Show Scandal, I was very disappointed you didn’t cover anything about Vivienne Nearing. You mention her only once and to be honest, she was such a big part of the story I would have liked to hear more about her involvement. Why did you not mention her more? Curious as I am doing research on her myself. Thanks

    1. This was quite a long and detailed episode. Sorry if I didn’t do Vivienne justice, but I think I was rather irritated by the attitude of some of the participants of this sham. Vivienne was an attorney who should have known better and she was also one of a dozen or so people who were sanctioned. To get into the background of all of these contestants was, to me, overkill. Also, I don’t think they are particularly important or noteworthy because their performances on the show were not legitimate. Just my opinion, maybe you are working on your own podcast.

  6. Hi Phil,

    I’d love to pitch you a story for a future podcast. Do you have a direct email I can use to get in touch?

    Thanks,
    Sam

  7. Dear Mr. Phil Gibbons:

    I intensely enjoy your podcast series as they keep me enthused, educated, and entertained (the three “E’s”) while doing almost anything: exercising, puttering around the house, or just sitting in my lazy boy chair.

    Thank you so very much for your brilliant masterpiece of podcast showmanship!

    Please continue with your works!

    1. Thanks for the kind words. Perhaps you would care to leave a similar review on iTunes and a rating! Days away from another podcast…

  8. Dear Mr. Phil Gibbons,

    I came across your name associated with a Ranker article thus: “The Tortured, Fascinating Life of Friedrich Nietzsche”. Nietzsche is subject of my research project as is Emerson, Carlyle, Wagner, Franklin, Poe and others. It’s a grand mystery. Speaking of mystery, have you heard of the “Beale Papers”? Please write me at my listed email. Thank you.

  9. I’ve just discovered this podcast series and ended up binge-listening to a bunch (6+ so far!) they are so good. I really like the variety through time and geography of the subjects. I’ve learnt a lot about these fascinating people, as well as being entertained. Well done!

  10. I love the podcast! Are you still doing it? I haven’t seen any new episodes in quite awhile. Please come back!!!

    1. Hi Toni,
      Yes, there are long gaps between new shows. Between involvement with other things, working for a living and actually producing these things which are pretty labor intensive, it can seem at times that production has ceased. I am trying to combat that perception by releasing two episodes in quick succession, one which has been composed and one which is in process. Look for two new episodes in 4-6 weeks. In the mean time you may want to write a review on iTunes, especially if you are enthusiastic. Thanks for the encouragement.

    1. It is on display at the Finney County Sheriff’s department, Garden City, Kansas, the main law enforcement entity that investigated the Clutter murders along with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Other items on display include the stolen license plate, rope used to bind the Clutter family and a photo of the bloody boot print that was used to convict Hickock and Smith of the Clutter murders.

  11. Just a thumbs up from a delivery driver who is a newcomer to the podcast and enjoying it very much.

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