#WackyWednesday: 5 true-life events that influenced ‘American Horror Story’

For the past few years, horror fans have been enjoying the terrifying, twisted, and gory series known as ‘American Horror Story’.

Whether you’re a horror fan or not, you can’t deny that ‘American Horror Story’ has people hooked.

Many people tell themselves, “Relax, it’s just a story,” after every gory, gruesome, and terrifying scene.

Most people are unaware that the majority of the creepy, sadistic characters are based on some of the world’s most notorious killers and truly creepy locations.

Take a look below to find out who is behind the series that has its viewers on the edge of their seats:

• The Cecil Hotel inspired the Hotel Cortez:

Because of the hotel’s long history of brutal murders, crimes, and strange paranormal activities, the Cecil Hotel was the primary source of inspiration for season five of American Horror Story.

The Cecil was the end of the road for many people, and as a result, it has seen a number of suicides, prompting some residents to refer to the hotel as “The Suicide.”

The first of many deaths occurred around 1931.

The Cecil has housed a few murderers as well as many murder victims over the years.

From 1984 to 1985, Los Angeles residents were terrified of active serial killer Richard Ramirez, also known as the “Night Stalker.”

Johann Unterweger, a twisted serial killer, also used the Cecil as a base of operations in 1991.

Unterweger was an Austrian who came to Los Angeles disguised as a true-crime writer researching prostitute murders in the United States.

Johann had already murdered seven prostitutes before coming to America, unbeknownst to his employers.

• Twisty the Clown; based on the life of John Wayne Gacy:

John Wayne Gacy, Jr., also known as the Killer Clown, was a serial killer and rapist from the United States.

Between 1972 and 1978, he sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men in Cook County, Illinois.

Due to his charitable services at fundraising events, parades, and children’s parties, where he would dress as his alter ego ‘Pogo the Clown,’ Gacy became known as the Killer Clown.

• The axe man was inspired by the New Orleans axe man:

From May 1918 to October 1919, the Axe Man of New Orleans was a serial killer in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The victims were usually attacked with an axe, which often belonged to the victims themselves, as the killer’s moniker implies.

The Axe man was never apprehended or identified, and his crime spree ended as mysteriously as it had begun.

The identity of the murderer remains unknown to this day, despite various plausible identifications being proposed.

• Grady Franklin Stiles, Jr. inspired Jimmy Darling (the lobster boy):

His deformity was identified as ectrodactyly syndrome, a condition in which the fingers and toes fuse to form claw-like extremities.

Stiles moved by using his hands and arms.

He gained significant upper body strength, which, when combined with his bad temper and alcoholism, rendered him dangerous to others.

Stiles shot and killed his oldest daughter’s fiancé on the eve of their wedding in 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• Madam Marie Delphine Lalaurie inspired Dalphine Lalaurie:

Marie Delphine Lalaurie, also known as Madame LaLaurie, was an alleged serial killer from New Orleans.

Infamous for torturing and murdering her household slaves.

She maintained her position in New Orleans society until April 10, 1834, when rescuers responding to a fire at her Royal Street mansion discovered bound slaves in her attic, who showed evidence of cruel, violent treatment.

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