The True Story Behind "Woman of the Hour": Rodney Alcala's Shocking Crimes and TV Game Show Appearance

Rodney Alcala, one of America's most notorious serial killers, shocked the nation when his dark past was revealed. His life of horrific crimes, which included the brutal murders of at least seven women, collided with a surprising twist: a 1978 appearance on the popular game show The Dating Game. Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, brings this chilling true story to life, focusing on the bizarre TV moment and the disturbing man behind it.

Alcala’s Infamous Game Show Appearance

In 1978, Alcala appeared as “Bachelor No. 1” on *The Dating Game*, a TV show where a single woman asked three hidden bachelors a series of lighthearted questions before choosing one for a date. Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress, was the bachelorette in this particular episode. During the show, Bradshaw asked Alcala, “What’s your best time?” and “If I served you for dinner, what would you be called and what would you look like?” Alcala responded in a playful but unsettling tone, saying, “I’m called the banana, and I look good.”

Despite his creepy charm, Bradshaw chose Alcala as her winning bachelor. However, after the show ended, something didn’t feel right to her. According to the show’s contestant coordinator Ellen Metzger, Bradshaw told the producers that she couldn’t go on the date because Alcala gave off “weird vibes.” She said she felt uncomfortable and didn’t trust him. Her instincts were spot-on, though no one could have imagined just how dangerous Alcala truly was.

Rodney Alcala’s Crimes

Rodney Alcala’s crime spree began long before his TV appearance. By the time he stood on that stage, he had already attacked and killed multiple women, though authorities wouldn’t discover the full extent of his crimes until years later. Alcala, who was once considered handsome and charming, lured many of his victims by offering to take their photographs.

His violent history started in 1968, when he brutally assaulted and raped 8-year-old Tali Shapiro. A passerby called the police after seeing Alcala lure the girl into his apartment. Though the police arrived in time to save Shapiro, Alcala fled the scene and managed to evade capture for years. During that time, he continued to commit horrific crimes. In 1971, he murdered Cornelia Crilley, a flight attendant, in her New York apartment, though he wasn’t linked to this crime until much later.

Alcala was finally caught in 1979 after the abduction and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in California. A police sketch of the suspect caught the attention of Alcala’s parole officer, who urged the authorities to investigate him. They found a storage locker Alcala had rented, which contained photographs of hundreds of young women and children, as well as a pair of earrings belonging to Samsoe’s mother.

How Alcala Escaped Justice for So Long

Despite being caught multiple times, Alcala managed to avoid a long prison sentence for years. After the attack on Shapiro, he fled California and lived under a false name, John Berger, in New York. He even worked as a counselor at a girls' theater camp while on the FBI's Most Wanted list. Two campers recognized him from a photo at the post office and alerted the police, leading to his arrest in 1971. However, he only served a brief sentence before being released on parole.

Alcala’s ability to charm and manipulate people played a significant role in evading justice for so long. Even after multiple arrests, he was often let go with minimal punishment, allowing him to continue his violent attacks. It wasn’t until the murder of Robin Samsoe that authorities finally started to connect him to a series of unsolved crimes across the country.

The Legal Battle and Final Conviction

Alcala was first convicted of Samsoe’s murder in 1980, but the verdict was overturned in 1984 due to technicalities related to the introduction of prior crimes during the trial. He was retried and convicted again in 1986, but this case was also overturned in 2003. By then, advances in DNA technology helped link him to other murders, leading to his final conviction in 2010. He was sentenced to death for five murders, including Samsoe's.

Alcala’s case didn't stop there. In 2012, he was sentenced to an additional 25 years to life for two more murders, those of Cornelia Crilley and Ellen Hover. Even as he awaited execution, authorities continued to investigate him for other potential murders across the country. Some experts believe Alcala may have killed as many as 130 people.

Alcala’s Final Days

Rodney Alcala spent the last years of his life on death row in California’s San Quentin prison. He died of natural causes in 2021 at the age of 77. While justice finally caught up with him, many of his victims’ families still live with the pain of losing their loved ones.

Conclusion

The bizarre and unsettling story of Rodney Alcala serves as a reminder of how dangerous appearances can be. A man who once charmed audiences on The Dating Game turned out to be a ruthless serial killer. Woman of the Hour captures this shocking true story, shedding light on the horrifying reality behind Alcala’s crimes and his chilling TV appearance. It’s a dark chapter in American history, and one that continues to captivate and horrify to this day.