@@Noctislolig Oh I would be MUCH happier if I could afford therapy specialised on Trauma, PTSD etc but they all are private and one 50 min session costs more than I have to spend per month . And I am on REHAB - money , but no options were advised or where I could go to . I was just told to " relax" . Sure, with anxiety, OCD, depression + 4 1/2 autoimmune disorders. My " Therapy sessions" have been shortened to 30 mins every 2 weeks 2 months ago btw. But sure after I get Rehab - money ( I get not actually, but on paper, since 1.8.2022 ) I couldn't afford one EDMR ( a special trauma therapy technique) once every month. I' ve jet to see "how much more I'll get now that I get Rehab money" instead of - Idk what it's called in English- I get until now, despite getting said to get "more money since 1 8. 2022 " and have not seen a Cent. And the "huge difference I'll get because now that I get more money" - to make up for the difference since 1.8. 2022 - I have yet to see too.... IS Nowhere in sight. I signed the paperwork to apply on the 24/ 6/ 2022... Still waiting.
When Langley hands officer the check for the entire mansion is such a boss move like- “yea I stopped paying, but I definitely have the money to pay for it.”
spirits, angels and demons are real, God is real ❤️“GOD LOVES YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO BE SAVED.”❤️ We all have sinned, no one is perfect, and God doesn’t want anyone to die in their sins and go to Hell. So God sent his Son Jesus into the world to died for our sins, Jesus was buried and raised to Life again on the third days. God can forgive all our sins and we can be saved from Hell if we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ and what he did for us. Jesus is the only way to Salvation and Heaven. Accept Jesus today before is too late.🙏🏻
It obviously started with their upbringing, being so macabre and who else knows, and then being genuis', they say it's only 1 step away from madness, they didn't stand a chance, I think they did as well as they could for a very very long time
I agree I actually feel bad for them. They (even tho incredibly smart, in there ways ) were suffering from mental illness they really weren't bad people they just needed psychiatric help.... but to be fair at the time psychiatric assistance was terrible.
I was a Firefighter and Officer in FDNY in Manhattan from 1982 to 2002. It astonished me how many dwellings I have encountered in a condition similar to the Collier brothers home. It is not an uncommon mental illness. You can imagine how dangerous such places are if they catch fire. We had procedures in place for when we discovered such places that we called "Colliers Mansions." It was a descriptive term we all understood. I recently was chatting with my nephew, a Firefighter in Brooklyn. He told me the term "Colliers Mansion" is no longer in use in FDNY.
The actual.spelling was "Collyer". But yeah, I remember hearing the FDNY describing places as."Collyer Mansions". I think they were using that term until some time in the 1990s.
@@ginnydare13there’s a store named Collyer’s mansion in Brooklyn. That isn’t the same area, and not the site where the house stood. It has been demolished and that’s where the park it is 2078 5th avenue.
@@durgadivinewrath1983 the small park in their name is still sad; it reflects the isolated life they lived. And why are you yelling at me with exclamation marks?
Such a sad story. The brothers certainly had psychological issues, but they were not bad people. They never hurt anyone. They did not deserve to die how they did.
Technically, yes, no one was else was harmed. But they are actual booby traps that would have harmed or killed people that triggered them. What if someone did venture inside the mansion and get ambushed by such a trap? What would Langley have done then? Try to smuggle the body out in the middle of the night to be disposed of in some nondescript location? he certainly wouldn't call the cops and be met with a lot of questions he probably wouldn't want to answer...
I grew up on 5th Ave in Greenwich village. I was told this story about the brothers as a child,but always as a scary story. Thank you for presenting their story in a way that was compassionate and did not rob them of their dignity.
@@forwardtranslator6083 And yet, so free-spirited. Maybe the man just liked the great outdoors but living in NYC the river was his only escape. He appeared to have been quite busy so getting out of the city would have been almost impossible for him in those days.
This story had a real impact on people at the time. My dad was 20 years old in 1947. Then, decades later, when I was a kid and my room was a mess, he would say, "what is this, the Collyer brothers?" 😊
As a truck driver who works 13-14 hours a day, I listen to MrBallen all day. I love the stories, the background affects and the way he tells the stories. Just amazing!
I am a heavy equipment operator and in my cab I also listen to Mr Ballen all day, or all night when it's even better lol. I even enjoy stories that I already heard before, it's about the atmosphere created by the gifted narrator, sort of like fav songs you hear over and over without getting tired of them.
I love how he tell all of the stories. He was made for telling stories, his way of using his hands and body language he really gets into it making you feel like you are in the story too.
One of the sweetest yet saddest stories you have ever told Ballen! I love it that there is nothing in that park in memory of them except a bench, how fitting.
So sad 😢 What a good brother he was trying to be… I imagine their father keeping a bunch of body parts around the house didn’t do good for their mental health growing up..
Idk, when you grow up with death as a normal thing it loses it's creep factor. They for sure had mental health issues though and it's just real sad all around
@@scoper7897 Well I WAS thinking of him canoeing to work each day and wanting to set up a sanatorium in his own mansion... And he married his cousin not his sister - that is legal in most places including here in the UK. It becomes genetically dodgy when you get many first cousin marriages within the same family, down through the generations.
@@fisty539 And the famous Habsburgs. It is also common in Pakistani families. The iedea -for them and for wealthy/titled/royal families is to keep the wealth and property within the family. Especially for those who only have daughters. marry them off to a first cousin and the money and property doesn't go off to another family...
@@evershade.after.dark. This is all it takes ? To differenciate: "there, their and they're , then / than , to/ too" ? Have / had been - depending on the verb used before to describe previous events ? Isn't this tought in schools , where English is the first language? I might stil make many mistakes, mostly because sentence structures change completely if you decide to add or delete one word , but this is basic English after elementary school in Austria. And the more you are on social media, the more you can learn - if you know the basics.
This is so sad. The fact these brothers felt that they had to board up their home like that and the fact that all Langley was doing was trying to heal his brother is so heartbreaking.
Right! He was definitely "healing" his brother by feeding him oranges from the dumpster. And his brother 's condition grew worse.With siblings like these, who needs enemies.
@@purnimaamin4085 back in the day they prescribed smokes, bloodletting and cocaine. you really think they knew what they were doing? at least oranges made sure he didnt get scurvy lol
** SPOILER ALERT** I did a study on these two brother's years ago. The caller that called in the tip about the dead body is believed to have been a local teen that broke into the home and actually saw him sitting there. The family was eccentric but rather respected in the neighborhood. As New York grew other families began moving to the suburbs but the Collyer's did not want to leave their beloved home. Gradually the neighborhood declined and was actually part of the Harlem area. Their being afraid of people breaking into their home was not unfounded. There were rumors passed around among their neighbors that they kept treasures and riches inside the home so they periodically had people breaking it, thus the reason for the boobytraps. It is believed what we now refer to as hoarding started after the brother had his stroke. The brothers are the first recorded case of hoarding in the US. When they emptied the house of debris I think it was something like 10 full dump trucks to haul the junk away. It has been a long time since I have done any research on them but their story is a fascinating one (Update: my memory had faded and just looked on Wiki and i guess it was about 120 tons removed from their home and @Luv2Ski4500 says that family was located and inherited most of the treasures) Additional thoughts: I made a casual comment that I never expected so many to read. As stated before I did my research years ago and have forgotten a lot of the finer details. Here is my take-away on the story. First I Do Not think MrBallen used click-bait as some have suggested. This house was evil. 100 years ago it was common for families to stay in their home for generations. It was even common for several generations to live together in one home. This was their home and they stayed. It eventually is what cut them off from society, imprisoned them, ensnared them, and entombed them. So I am going to say that in my research I really came to respect and have a bit of fondness for these quirky men, but there is so much that cannot be discussed today. There is so much that MrBallen could not cover because if he had the video would have been 3 hours long, dozens would have been offended and then the video would have gotten demonetized because someone would have gotten their feelings hurt. In our society it is so easy to judge others from the safety of our anonymity that we forget to empathize with others. I think that is a big part of what caused these brothers to withdraw. The more things change the more they stay the same. I do not want to start a debate over race. The facts are that 100 years ago society was different than it is today. This is a huge basis for this story. And no matter how you present it someone is going to be offended. I am about to offend some of you right now even though I am attempting to choose my words very carefully. The facts are that the brothers grew up on a very affluent street with the leading socialites of their day. Was their dad a bit odd? Sure... miserly even. He was too cheap to pay a cab to take him to work so he canoed to work. Odd yes, but so what? He was not harming anyone. New York is a city of immigrants and as more people began to move into the city the rich fled. That is nothing new. 100 years ago you lived in neighborhoods that were segregated (I did not make those rules and I was not alive then). As the working class moved closer the rich moved away, but not the Collyer brothers, they seemed to welcome their new neighbors. I kind of liked them for being a bit ahead of their time... maybe they just did not want to move.. who knows. The point is they stayed. But as happens when there is someone that has something that others around them do not; resentments breeds. They were wealthy and it was known. First you get resentment of why do they have something I do not, then you see it move to why do they not give to those who have less, and eventually you get to someone thinking they have a right to it because someone else does not deserve it. Growing up these brothers and their parents were well respected and an active part of their community, but as the area around them changed so did attitudes. As the working class moved in there were some that were resentful. They would make comments. Some threw bottles at the brothers when they were walking on the street. The brother became fearful and withdrew. However, the more they withdrew the odder they seemed. Eventually the brothers were afraid to go out during the day and took to scavenging at night. Then the rumors started that they were hiding treasures in their house. Sure they had money and the accumulation that comes with wealth. But now they had people breaking into their home and trying to find this hidden "treasure" so they walled themselves away and set up booby traps. This is before the days of GrubHub and home security. This was the only option they thought they had. There is no evidence that the brother who had the stroke was a hoarder. It may have been that he was just a willing victim, but the hoard grew. This was not something that happened over night. So if you have read all of this thank you. Please as you go forward think of these brothers as you sit safely behind your keyboard and pass judgment on others. Take a moment to see the world through their eyes. It is so sad to see our world divided. The internet could be such a wonderful thing. It could bring us closer together, but really it has made it so much easier to forget that there is another human being on the other end of our comments. These men hurt no one but themselves. I did not set out to hurt anyone, trick anyone, or present false information. I was just making a casual comment on a topic i find fascinating. We really need more empathy in our world today. So please before you comment here or on any other video just try to see the world from the view point of someone else before you comment. (yep there are probably mistakes... go ahead and point out all of my spelling and/or typing errors and my lack of knowledge but does that really add to the conversation?) Hats off to MrBallen for being able to put out content we can all enjoy. I do not know how he does it because people on the internet can be incredibly kind but equally as cruel if they want to be. I for one just hope he continues Added more: Ahhh... look he changed the title just for all of you who asked for it. ❤
Yup body language is Uber important for conveying details that your non Vocal side of your brain is like *ah I gotcha now I’m following along too* Johns got the way he actually does it down though. It’s just right not to abrasive yet not to over bearing with it. Perfect like he’s actually engaged into a one on one convo with us. Like we specifically are there not just a camera
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Wow. May these brothers RIP. Two sibling stories always get to me because they remind me of my own sibling-family situation. My sister and I became each other's only immediate family since our parents died when we were teenagers. We raised each other, as no one else stepped in. We often joke that we'll end up living together peacefully with our cats and dogs in our golden years. Thank you for sharing this story MrBallen!
The Collyer brothers are the most famous hoarders known. I knew about the boobytrap killing Langley but the rest is new to me. Great telling of the story, Mr Ballen.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
I think one of the most understated elements of Mr Ballen's storytelling is that he motivates every character's actions and intentions in a relatable and empathetic way, painting in figures (in particular, police, tribes people etc) in ways that relate to contemporary ways of thinking and acting, never condescending different societies and periods and creating a real sense of connectedness to the present. It's very subtle, but masterfully done.
The biggest problem with this strength, though, is that he may be putting emotions and intentions into people that are maybe just completely wrong or opposite of what the very real people were thinking/feeling/experiencing. It's a dangerous road.
@@MinaOmega i hear you. That's what every film or novel based or inspired by a true story has always done, to a far greater degree. It's mentioned only as a virtue of strong storytelling, not investigative analysis.
The backstory and details in the emotions of the characters gives each story context, thus engaging the audience in a way that you feel like you know the person. Truly painting a picture. 🖌️
@@joshisajedi2461 silly jedi. These stories are real. And adding your own spin to things can have real world consequences. I'm not saying he should stop. I'm just saying we should keep in mind that he can pretend to know, but no one can really tell what's going on inside another's heart or head. Except 'The Shadow'. I hear he knows.
Mr ballen, I am a 13 year old girl and for the last three or four years I have been so happy to watch your videos. My older sister had introduced your channel to me and ever since I had been obsessed with watching your videos. It has inspired me to become a detective or an investigator or have anything to do with forensic evidence. I want to solve cold cases or just cases in general. I have never thought I would love true crime the way I do now. I love mysteries and I am extremely interested in it. I always watch your videos knowing I’ll learn something new about crime that I’ll just end up becoming excited learning more about! You have inspired me to learn more about crime and I’m so glad I found your channel. I hope you read this message from me to you. Thank you! 😊
You do a great job telling these true stories. I was watch your channel for about two or three years. You give these ghosts a voice so you can tell us their stories. Keep up the great work.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
7.72 million now!? Your growth has been astounding, John. Bravo; well deserved 👏 I hope you and your family are doing well, especially during the last 2 explosive years of growth!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Great, and detailed story of the Collyer Brothers. The first time I had ever heard of the Collyer Brothers was in the 1950's when my father called my brother and me "the Collyer Brothers" if we didn't clean up our bedroom. We questioningly looked at each other and asked dad who were the Collyer Brothers. He briefly explained who they were and what happened to them. We kiinda laughed to ourselves but saw what his point was. I'm not saying that our bedroom was always clean after his lesson but I have never forgot the Collyer Brothers. By the way today is my brother's 76th birthday (I am 79) and I'm dedicating my comment and your video Mr. Ballen, to my brother. Happy Birthday Kip !!!
@17:50, I'm here to confirm that Charles Smith was indeed a real person. That was my grandfather, and he said that in March 1947, he smelt the worst hot, swampy, and skunky odor he'd ever experienced. He called the police because the stench got stuck in his clothes, and he didn't want people assuming it was coming from him. All he could smell was ass, rat poison, and citrus fruits.
But before watching the video if you're a fan of the strange dark and mysterious then you came to the right place because that's all he does and he uploads twice a week. So if that's of interest to you tell your lover the like button to stop by so that you two can play house together and when it arrives ready for a passionate evening play some house music through your stereo 😂
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Instead of using evil mansion title and putting images reminding us of Jack the ripper, he could have just said that " these 2 brothers are totally effed up." Or, " the consequences of great depression." Mr Ballen would have still got the viewers ' attention.
@@WokeBegone LOL My late (and now former) Mother-in-law would have been right at home there. When she died sometimes around 2005, she had every TV guide and Reader's digest from the 1950s on. She thew NOTHING away.
I absolutely LOVE MrBallen's videos and podcasts. I remember when MrBallen uploaded videos "3, 4, even 5 times a week". I also LOVE the like button pranks.... #1 Story Telling Award goes to none other than the one, the only, MRBALLEN!!
Posted this video 50 minutes ago and already has 70k views. That's crazy and awesome at that same time. Granted I don't personally know Mr. Ballens personally but he just gives me the vibes that he is great person and he deserves it. I mean he set up a program to help people in need that have and are going through horrible things and need the help. 100% of the proceeds go to the ones in need and the fact he won't except any of it for himself says alot. You rock Mr Ballens I'm happy and grateful to see theirs still great people out there during these strange times. Your like the Gandhi of these times. My hats off to you sir.
This needs to be a movie or a several episode series. The time period, the father bringing home body parts in jars, eccentricity of the family , very fascinating.
Indeed! I was thinking the same thing, but nowadays they want to make shows and movies, as to set them up for sequels, so they can keep making money on the franchise. They wouldn't make enough on this story. Plus, Hollywood always glams the true stories up by putting content in there that didn't happen.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@Krullmaticeah they do. All of a sudden the exact same story has content jammed in like “the Collier brothers’ maid is transgender and the Butler (a Russian immigrant who is fleeing an evil dictator named Putin.) I didn’t mention that the Maid (Mizz Jizz) has a Library Story-Hour she has to get to and she wants to bring her boyfriend who just happens to be an immigrant from Zimbabwe (Mullabukma Okeuneke) fleeing the horrors of MuH colonialism.” That sound about right to you?
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 how sad of you to say something negative about a person who everyone likes and actually helps victims of the stories he tells and others who are suffering..Clickbait isn’t that serious everyone does it on youtube same way ppl and media exaggerates stories. Websites report a story that’s interesting, but include like 1 paragraph per page making you click thru several pages to get to the point. Seriously If something that small bothers u so much why bother with the internet at all? 😅
Before this even started, I said "This is gonna be about the Collyer Brothers." Everyone looked at me weird until they heard you say that it *was* about them. Thanks for telling this story. My mom told me this story before she passed away, so it was nice to hear you tell this story.
Crazy story however I'm not gonna lie. Having the police come to evict you from your house for not having paid anything and paying on the spot to buy the whole place is the most badass anecdote I ever heard 😂
@@kcbh24 hmmm. 1 billion, huh? Could you please site each one for me? Plus my mom was there. Didn't need someone else to tell her the story. But wow, what an *OUTSTANDING* comment. Thank you!!!! Such a contribution.
Gives a whole new meaning to Hoarders: Buried Alive For real though, i first heard about this story years ago and it is absolutely tragic :( may these dudes rest easy
I love that even if you recognize the story, there’s no clicking away. Either there’s new information or it’s just so very well told that you have to hear it again.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Can we just appreciate the fact that he will tell us some really scary stories and then turn around and tell us to body slam the like button into the Bermuda triangle, let's be honest he's a legend.
You are just brilliant. I appreciate you sooooo much!!!! Don't ever change. Keep doing this please. Your story telling is out of this world. You should write scripts for Hollywood movies.
Mr Ballen is relentless in quality content. Feel like I be sitting around a campfire errday, love it. Whenever I feel sad, if I see a Mr Ballen appear, I click for comfort media. Even though it's the strange, dark, and mysterious, it doesn't matter. The storytelling is so comforting.
@@MrBallen @frenchy1987 is exactly right. you are def loved by many, many people! Thank you for your amazing stories I look forward to them every week.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
I'd read this story before; however, you breathed new life into it. You gave the characters depth, gave the mansion a 3-D makeover, and gave a truly engaging performance. This is why I always tune in: you don't know quite what you'll get, but you know it'll be good. Thanks, John. May your family have a safe and happy 4th!
It's 5 am binge-watching the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format. While I was dozing off a notification popped up and here I am, this is undoubtedly an act of great providence.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Yes, the unpopular opinion or even truth is that he sold out and like you said the content has been degrading. These groupies will have our heads for saying it but it’s the truth. It’s only about the money now, there isn’t a personal feel at all anymore
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 Blah, blah, blah...go repeat this comment a few more time to make sure we all know your view. Mr. Ballen has found his niche community. He has fans, supporters, he's making bank and he seems to enjoy doing all of this. Why would he change what's working for him, clickbait or not? And you still watched this video and commented a few times, so you're only helping him at this point.
Ballen's my favorite youtuber because he tells spooky asf real stories that make me scared at night (I may be a male and may be scared) and he actually responds to messages you send which is rare. Johns a real one.
I swear, you make every story so much more interesting than they would be if I were reading them, and I love your hand and arm gestures, you're one of my favorite storytellers :)
All content creators with a devotion to their fans are impressive. Every single one. Everyone has a unique style and it’s lovely to watch all of their takes on the same stories and new ones! I also enjoy ThatChapter,True Crime with Elenor Neil, Danielle Chirsty, and many more. I love to watch the same stories over and over as I go through each channel to see who has done the most research. W each story I can tell who has. This Is Monsters does an absolutely PHENOMENAL job with minor details. I learn so much more about old cases through them. True Crime fans unite. 👊
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@maryeckel9682 lol me too. “Oh my gawd I can’t even. “Sharp breath” no don’t even get started!” She’s the best. I cry w her a lot too bc she’s so deep, caring so much about every single victim.
@@Channel24377 Not weird at all. If you think about it, that's the human condition. When a mental illness or disability is part of the mix, the contrasts can be shocking.
I have Parkinson’s @28, lot of TH-cam to pass time especially if stuck in bed/at PT- MrBallen is the #1 TH-camr, I have seen all 275+ TH-cam videos + 140ish podcasts including listening again to old stories xD thanks for your hard work, John 🥰
Also in all seriousness. I love how he never say "You came to the right place because that's all I do" He always says "You came to the right place because that's all WE do". A true team player
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Hope you're doing well Mr b Been a subscriber for the last few years so I know this is the type of story that you would normally tell and this is where I think your talents really shine because you're telling it from all the perspectives of each character basically And you kind of make us understand from The actions of the persons you're talking about how things can get to where they got
The case was referred to in one of the episodes of the sitcom Frasier S6E17 "-Frasier: Dad, do you think we're odd? -Martin: No, you're not odd. You're just special. Your mother told me that when you were kids, and I still believe it. -Frasier: Yes, but do you think we spend too much time together? -Martin: What kinds of questions are these? You're close. Lots of brothers are close. -Frasier: Yes, I suppose you're right about that. I mean, the Gershwins, the Wright Brothers. -Niles: I told you we were getting upset over nothing. -Martin: [laughs] Course, then there were the Collyer brothers. -Niles: Collyer brothers? -Martin: Oh, yeah. A couple of nutsos that shared an apartment in New York their whole lives. They even built a maze out of newspapers in there that only they knew how to get through. It collapsed on one of them and the other one just sat there with the dead body until the neighbors complained about the smell. [laughs] Pretty crazy story, huh? You recycle right, Niles?" When TV educates.
It's amazing to see how quickly you've grown since you first started on TH-cam. The way you tell your stories is absolutely captivating! When we're listening to them, you feel immersed in each story. I think I can speak for all your subscribers when I say "Thank you" for the time and effort you put into creating your content.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
That's so sad. These guys could have done some amazing things with how incredibly intelligent they were, but the paranoia got the best of them. This is truly heartbreaking 💔
At first I thought it was those 2 guys that hosted a party with their former teacher invited and a body inside the house the whole time just to show off that they could pull it off but I remembered that mrballen told that story already
I really wanna kno more of their childhood, dad sounds super eccentric like I wonder what happened behind closed doors that both brothers turned out like this, sounds like either childhood trauma or shared delusion for both of em to be like this to dumpster dive, changing the house for robbers, hoarding so bad.
They were children of incest which explains their paranoia and strange behaviours. Many supers hoarders has made their homes into a death trap but this was probably the first time it happened
@jenicdarling9425 Same!! I'd love to hear more about how they grew up, their attachment style, the psyche behind everything. I have a DSM-5 and would like to learn what diagnoses they would have been given. Very fascinating stuff.
The saddest part about this is two unmarried brothers who fell into the sickness of hoarding. They could have had a maid or housekeeper, they surely had the means, but in the end there was just nobody there to prevent their untimely deaths or even look after them.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
The Collyer brothers are the most complex case of hoarding I have ever come across. It wasn’t just the amount of items they collected, but also the fact that they essentially rigged the entire mansion with a myriad of booby traps like something straight out of a Legend of Zelda dungeon. As sad as their deaths were, it’s also fascinating to learn about what led them to do this. Idk that’s all I got
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
I actually saw something similar to this with 911! Brother was trapped under the garbage and he called 911 while he also kept talking to his brother and making sure he was ok. Traps almost killed a 911 fire fighter they got them safely out of the house!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 With references to death and booby traps. “A mansion so evil…” they literally tore it down so no one would go into it and never come out.
Man that’s so sad. These brothers clearly needed help and they really cared for each other.
4 story mansion = sad? you must not be from 2023
@@greenwave819 pointless
@@greenwave819 Yes because it's much better to be crushed or starved to death in a mansion than any other type of home.
@@5koby4 Some people really think material worth equals happiness and the wildest part is that they are completely determined to die on that hill.
@@Noctislolig Oh I would be MUCH happier if I could afford therapy specialised on Trauma, PTSD etc but they all are private and one 50 min session costs more than I have to spend per month . And I am on REHAB - money , but no options were advised or where I could go to . I was just told to " relax" .
Sure, with anxiety, OCD, depression + 4 1/2 autoimmune disorders.
My " Therapy sessions" have been shortened to 30 mins every 2 weeks 2 months ago btw. But sure after I get Rehab - money ( I get not actually, but on paper, since 1.8.2022 ) I couldn't afford one EDMR ( a special trauma therapy technique) once every month.
I' ve jet to see
"how much more I'll get now that I get Rehab money" instead of - Idk what it's called in English- I get until now, despite getting said to get "more money since 1 8. 2022 " and have not seen a Cent.
And the "huge difference I'll get because now that I get more money" - to make up for the difference since 1.8. 2022 - I have yet to see too....
IS Nowhere in sight.
I signed the paperwork to apply on the 24/ 6/ 2022...
Still waiting.
When Langley hands officer the check for the entire mansion is such a boss move like- “yea I stopped paying, but I definitely have the money to pay for it.”
I know, that was awesome. 😂
spirits, angels and demons are real, God is real
❤️“GOD LOVES YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO BE SAVED.”❤️
We all have sinned, no one is perfect, and God doesn’t want anyone to die in their sins and go to Hell. So God sent his Son Jesus into the world to died for our sins, Jesus was buried and raised to Life again on the third days. God can forgive all our sins and we can be saved from Hell if we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ and what he did for us. Jesus is the only way to Salvation and Heaven. Accept Jesus today before is too late.🙏🏻
Right!? They were inconvenienced making out the bill when all along they could have owned the place. 😂
Yep, just did the same… in my trailer’hood. Lol tho seriously, I did😝
@@Hosanna0077prove it
So sad for these two brothers... They had severe mental issues but they minded their own business. What a sad fate for both of them...
The great depression affected them I think. Also, greed and fear of being robbed. Imagine, picking up oranges from dumpsters.
It obviously started with their upbringing, being so macabre and who else knows, and then being genuis', they say it's only 1 step away from madness, they didn't stand a chance, I think they did as well as they could for a very very long time
I agree I actually feel bad for them. They (even tho incredibly smart, in there ways ) were suffering from mental illness they really weren't bad people they just needed psychiatric help.... but to be fair at the time psychiatric assistance was terrible.
@@purnimaamin4085 Especially with all the money they had, and they are bringing home trash
@@SignOfTheTimes008 ikr.
I was a Firefighter and Officer in FDNY in Manhattan from 1982 to 2002. It astonished me how many dwellings I have encountered in a condition similar to the Collier brothers home. It is not an uncommon mental illness. You can imagine how dangerous such places are if they catch fire. We had procedures in place for when we discovered such places that we called "Colliers Mansions." It was a descriptive term we all understood. I recently was chatting with my nephew, a Firefighter in Brooklyn. He told me the term "Colliers Mansion" is no longer in use in FDNY.
Really? I retired 10 yrs ago and it was still called colliers mansion. I wonder why they changed it?
So you were there for the worst day. I’m glad you are alive. Thank you for your service. 💛🫡
Were you in 9/11?
@NikkiDoesStufff
I was just about to say that.
The actual.spelling was "Collyer". But yeah, I remember hearing the FDNY describing places as."Collyer Mansions". I think they were using that term until some time in the 1990s.
I felt legitimately sad at the end when he mentioned the tiny park in their memory. What an interesting, heartbreaking, and tragic story.
Yea, that’s all they got in their memory; sad.
@Adrienne-wv7qo but now they're remembered, and discussed!
I haven't looked for their memorial park yet, but the brownstone is still standing.
@@ginnydare13there’s a store named Collyer’s mansion in Brooklyn. That isn’t the same area, and not the site where the house stood. It has been demolished and that’s where the park it is 2078 5th avenue.
@@durgadivinewrath1983 the small park in their name is still sad; it reflects the isolated life they lived. And why are you yelling at me with exclamation marks?
Such a sad story. The brothers certainly had psychological issues, but they were not bad people. They never hurt anyone. They did not deserve to die how they did.
Technically, yes, no one was else was harmed. But they are actual booby traps that would have harmed or killed people that triggered them. What if someone did venture inside the mansion and get ambushed by such a trap? What would Langley have done then? Try to smuggle the body out in the middle of the night to be disposed of in some nondescript location? he certainly wouldn't call the cops and be met with a lot of questions he probably wouldn't want to answer...
The trap didn't kill him. It was possible he would have helped the man out. Help the thief out even...
@@Redington931 Then the trap was well put coz anyone apart from law enforcements would be considered thieves or intruders.
@@sgshaday perhaps
@@thatpersonyoudidntknowexis149 I guess they didn't have welfare checks back then
I grew up on 5th Ave in Greenwich village. I was told this story about the brothers as a child,but always as a scary story. Thank you for presenting their story in a way that was compassionate and did not rob them of their dignity.
U77 I u77 u77 u77
He would never be disrespectful ❤ Mr. B is the best.
Must have been nice.
It was nice when my grandparents were still alive. It is not the same without family.
They became worm food none the less.
For as well spoken this guy is, it really gave me a tickle to hear him describe the father's outfit as "fancy doctor clothes."
I love when he does his little jokes on how to like his videos 😂😂❤️
Their dad canoed to work. That’s so crazy.
@@forwardtranslator6083 And yet, so free-spirited. Maybe the man just liked the great outdoors but living in NYC the river was his only escape. He appeared to have been quite busy so getting out of the city would have been almost impossible for him in those days.
@@S.M.F_ineday My favorite one was when he suggested installing 50 mouth organs on the like button's car. 🤣
This story had a real impact on people at the time. My dad was 20 years old in 1947. Then, decades later, when I was a kid and my room was a mess, he would say, "what is this, the Collyer brothers?" 😊
Lmao!
😂😂😂😂😂
I would’ve said “yea, I’m a genius millionaire “
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yeah keep your fake story in your head
As a truck driver who works 13-14 hours a day, I listen to MrBallen all day. I love the stories, the background affects and the way he tells the stories. Just amazing!
I agree ❤
I am a heavy equipment operator and in my cab I also listen to Mr Ballen all day, or all night when it's even better lol. I even enjoy stories that I already heard before, it's about the atmosphere created by the gifted narrator, sort of like fav songs you hear over and over without getting tired of them.
I love how he tell all of the stories. He was made for telling stories, his way of using his hands and body language he really gets into it making you feel like you are in the story too.
One of the sweetest yet saddest stories you have ever told Ballen! I love it that there is nothing in that park in memory of them except a bench, how fitting.
Love it?
@@valentinamasei7777 Sounds like a nice quiet place where people can be alone. Probably how the brothers would've wanted it.
I'm looking up the park right now, the brownstone at 2087 5th Ave is still standing.
The park is on the corner near the brownstone, a very tiny little park. A nice place to sit and read or chat.
@@ginnydare13my name is vievul
So sad 😢 What a good brother he was trying to be… I imagine their father keeping a bunch of body parts around the house didn’t do good for their mental health growing up..
For sure
Idk, when you grow up with death as a normal thing it loses it's creep factor. They for sure had mental health issues though and it's just real sad all around
That thin line between being brilliant and crazy was definitely in place and crossed many times when it came to this family.
Got to admire their Dad though...
@@julierobinson3633 for keepin it in family?
@@scoper7897 Well I WAS thinking of him canoeing to work each day and wanting to set up a sanatorium in his own mansion...
And he married his cousin not his sister - that is legal in most places including here in the UK. It becomes genetically dodgy when you get many first cousin marriages within the same family, down through the generations.
@@julierobinson3633 **cough** royal family **cough**
@@fisty539 And the famous Habsburgs. It is also common in Pakistani families. The iedea -for them and for wealthy/titled/royal families is to keep the wealth and property within the family. Especially for those who only have daughters. marry them off to a first cousin and the money and property doesn't go off to another family...
You're such an amazing storyteller. It's an art form.
I'm giving your comment a like due to your correct usage of "you're" and "it's". Thank you for this!
@@evershade.after.dark. This is all it takes ?
To differenciate: "there, their and they're , then / than , to/ too" ?
Have / had been - depending on the verb used before to describe previous events ? Isn't this tought in schools , where English is the first language?
I might stil make many mistakes, mostly because sentence structures change completely if you decide to add or delete one word , but this is basic English after elementary school in Austria. And the more you are on social media, the more you can learn - if you know the basics.
I prefer to listen. He over-gesticulates when he speaks which I find distracting and extra.
Damn…I feel so bad for them. I know they’re both long gone, but just imagining my brother suffering either of those fates…
I remember him before 200k subscribers. Crazy to see you at almost 7.75 million. Salute to MR Ballen. He deserves it.
Nice signature.
man I remember him under 50k it's wild. he was my best kept secret back then. I miss the daily uploads.
Approximately 1 year ago he was around 4.5M!
Mr Ballen has come a long way. Who else remembers when he used to say " we upload 4 or 5 times a week" those were the good times.
Ahhh, the good old days. We were so spoiled!
Yes, I miss those days.😭😭😭😭
Yea he always SAID THAT… he never ONCE uploaded 4 or 5 times ANY WEEK. 😂🤣😂 he WAS NEVER TRUE TO THAT
Geez
Get a life
For those of you that actually watch and not just listen. The hand movements are so on point lol 😂😂 love MrBallen
This is so sad. The fact these brothers felt that they had to board up their home like that and the fact that all Langley was doing was trying to heal his brother is so heartbreaking.
Right! He was definitely "healing" his brother by feeding him oranges from the dumpster. And his brother 's condition grew worse.With siblings like these, who needs enemies.
@@purnimaamin4085 Yeah it seems like at least one of them or both were mentally ill.. nothing about that situation is within a normal / sound range.
Sad indeed
@@purnimaamin4085 back in the day they prescribed smokes, bloodletting and cocaine. you really think they knew what they were doing? at least oranges made sure he didnt get scurvy lol
@@dpducks2723 I'm just reiterating what Mr B said. That older brother's condition got worse by the oranges.
** SPOILER ALERT**
I did a study on these two brother's years ago. The caller that called in the tip about the dead body is believed to have been a local teen that broke into the home and actually saw him sitting there. The family was eccentric but rather respected in the neighborhood. As New York grew other families began moving to the suburbs but the Collyer's did not want to leave their beloved home. Gradually the neighborhood declined and was actually part of the Harlem area. Their being afraid of people breaking into their home was not unfounded. There were rumors passed around among their neighbors that they kept treasures and riches inside the home so they periodically had people breaking it, thus the reason for the boobytraps. It is believed what we now refer to as hoarding started after the brother had his stroke. The brothers are the first recorded case of hoarding in the US. When they emptied the house of debris I think it was something like 10 full dump trucks to haul the junk away. It has been a long time since I have done any research on them but their story is a fascinating one (Update: my memory had faded and just looked on Wiki and i guess it was about 120 tons removed from their home and @Luv2Ski4500 says that family was located and inherited most of the treasures)
Additional thoughts:
I made a casual comment that I never expected so many to read. As stated before I did my research years ago and have forgotten a lot of the finer details. Here is my take-away on the story. First I Do Not think MrBallen used click-bait as some have suggested. This house was evil. 100 years ago it was common for families to stay in their home for generations. It was even common for several generations to live together in one home. This was their home and they stayed. It eventually is what cut them off from society, imprisoned them, ensnared them, and entombed them. So I am going to say that in my research I really came to respect and have a bit of fondness for these quirky men, but there is so much that cannot be discussed today. There is so much that MrBallen could not cover because if he had the video would have been 3 hours long, dozens would have been offended and then the video would have gotten demonetized because someone would have gotten their feelings hurt. In our society it is so easy to judge others from the safety of our anonymity that we forget to empathize with others. I think that is a big part of what caused these brothers to withdraw. The more things change the more they stay the same. I do not want to start a debate over race. The facts are that 100 years ago society was different than it is today. This is a huge basis for this story. And no matter how you present it someone is going to be offended. I am about to offend some of you right now even though I am attempting to choose my words very carefully. The facts are that the brothers grew up on a very affluent street with the leading socialites of their day. Was their dad a bit odd? Sure... miserly even. He was too cheap to pay a cab to take him to work so he canoed to work. Odd yes, but so what? He was not harming anyone. New York is a city of immigrants and as more people began to move into the city the rich fled. That is nothing new. 100 years ago you lived in neighborhoods that were segregated (I did not make those rules and I was not alive then). As the working class moved closer the rich moved away, but not the Collyer brothers, they seemed to welcome their new neighbors. I kind of liked them for being a bit ahead of their time... maybe they just did not want to move.. who knows. The point is they stayed. But as happens when there is someone that has something that others around them do not; resentments breeds. They were wealthy and it was known. First you get resentment of why do they have something I do not, then you see it move to why do they not give to those who have less, and eventually you get to someone thinking they have a right to it because someone else does not deserve it. Growing up these brothers and their parents were well respected and an active part of their community, but as the area around them changed so did attitudes. As the working class moved in there were some that were resentful. They would make comments. Some threw bottles at the brothers when they were walking on the street. The brother became fearful and withdrew. However, the more they withdrew the odder they seemed. Eventually the brothers were afraid to go out during the day and took to scavenging at night. Then the rumors started that they were hiding treasures in their house. Sure they had money and the accumulation that comes with wealth. But now they had people breaking into their home and trying to find this hidden "treasure" so they walled themselves away and set up booby traps. This is before the days of GrubHub and home security. This was the only option they thought they had. There is no evidence that the brother who had the stroke was a hoarder. It may have been that he was just a willing victim, but the hoard grew. This was not something that happened over night. So if you have read all of this thank you. Please as you go forward think of these brothers as you sit safely behind your keyboard and pass judgment on others. Take a moment to see the world through their eyes. It is so sad to see our world divided. The internet could be such a wonderful thing. It could bring us closer together, but really it has made it so much easier to forget that there is another human being on the other end of our comments. These men hurt no one but themselves. I did not set out to hurt anyone, trick anyone, or present false information. I was just making a casual comment on a topic i find fascinating. We really need more empathy in our world today. So please before you comment here or on any other video just try to see the world from the view point of someone else before you comment. (yep there are probably mistakes... go ahead and point out all of my spelling and/or typing errors and my lack of knowledge but does that really add to the conversation?) Hats off to MrBallen for being able to put out content we can all enjoy. I do not know how he does it because people on the internet can be incredibly kind but equally as cruel if they want to be. I for one just hope he continues
Added more:
Ahhh... look he changed the title just for all of you who asked for it. ❤
Thanks for sharing this with us. Very interesting.
Thanks for sharing the additional context!
Thanks for that! I love additional information and yours really put a more human aspect on the brothers mindset.
This has been fascinating to me for a very long time. What a story.
Thanks for the background, fascinating!
this guy has no idea how amazingly good he is with gestures, specially with his hands and arms omg
He has better hand gestures than hip hop artists.
He would have been the best history teacher right 😊 he’s amazing always draws me in.
I can’t believe the walls inside sooooo weird
Yup body language is Uber important for conveying details that your non Vocal side of your brain is like *ah I gotcha now I’m following along too*
Johns got the way he actually does it down though. It’s just right not to abrasive yet not to over bearing with it.
Perfect like he’s actually engaged into a one on one convo with us. Like we specifically are there not just a camera
@@That_Son_Ofa_Itch Well said 💯🫶🏼
As an Italian who talks a lot with my hands, I absolutely agree! ❤😂
Once again demonstrating that Mr Ballen is a master storyteller!
Amen
Thank you!!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366that's subjective
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 Calm down. It's an adjective, and Mr. Ballen has a team - he doesn't decide every title of every single thing
Wow. May these brothers RIP.
Two sibling stories always get to me because they remind me of my own sibling-family situation. My sister and I became each other's only immediate family since our parents died when we were teenagers. We raised each other, as no one else stepped in. We often joke that we'll end up living together peacefully with our cats and dogs in our golden years.
Thank you for sharing this story MrBallen!
The Collyer brothers are the most famous hoarders known. I knew about the boobytrap killing Langley but the rest is new to me. Great telling of the story, Mr Ballen.
The Best "Get to Know Your Neighbors" proverb ever.
@@bennyboogenheimer4553 IKR?!!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366ikr. How is mansion evil for the stupidity done by the brothers?
@@Kat_12389 Exactly
I think one of the most understated elements of Mr Ballen's storytelling is that he motivates every character's actions and intentions in a relatable and empathetic way, painting in figures (in particular, police, tribes people etc) in ways that relate to contemporary ways of thinking and acting, never condescending different societies and periods and creating a real sense of connectedness to the present. It's very subtle, but masterfully done.
The biggest problem with this strength, though, is that he may be putting emotions and intentions into people that are maybe just completely wrong or opposite of what the very real people were thinking/feeling/experiencing. It's a dangerous road.
I agree 💯
@@MinaOmega i hear you. That's what every film or novel based or inspired by a true story has always done, to a far greater degree. It's mentioned only as a virtue of strong storytelling, not investigative analysis.
The backstory and details in the emotions of the characters gives each story context, thus engaging the audience in a way that you feel like you know the person. Truly painting a picture. 🖌️
@@joshisajedi2461 silly jedi. These stories are real. And adding your own spin to things can have real world consequences.
I'm not saying he should stop. I'm just saying we should keep in mind that he can pretend to know, but no one can really tell what's going on inside another's heart or head.
Except 'The Shadow'. I hear he knows.
Mr ballen, I am a 13 year old girl and for the last three or four years I have been so happy to watch your videos. My older sister had introduced your channel to me and ever since I had been obsessed with watching your videos. It has inspired me to become a detective or an investigator or have anything to do with forensic evidence. I want to solve cold cases or just cases in general. I have never thought I would love true crime the way I do now. I love mysteries and I am extremely interested in it. I always watch your videos knowing I’ll learn something new about crime that I’ll just end up becoming excited learning more about! You have inspired me to learn more about crime and I’m so glad I found your channel. I hope you read this message from me to you. Thank you! 😊
Go for it, dudette!!! 😀
@@kanedaku"dudette"😭😭😭 LMAO
You do a great job telling these true stories. I was watch your channel for about two or three years. You give these ghosts a voice so you can tell us their stories. Keep up the great work.
This was a really good video. I never knew that story. It’s crazy how people’s paranoia can end up being their unfortunate downfall.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@Narcolexis999 Hehehe always positive feedback, I like that
7.72 million now!? Your growth has been astounding, John. Bravo; well deserved 👏 I hope you and your family are doing well, especially during the last 2 explosive years of growth!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 someone is on a trolling roll! At least be more creative than the same copy & past shit.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 Unsubscribe and go away. You are wrong, and a pest.
It😊hh
One of the few content creators who keeps the viewers interested from start until the end
Who would have known. I'm a long time fan and I listen to you every day. If I don't hear a "Mr. Ballen" story, I consider it a wasted day. Thank you.
Great, and detailed story of the Collyer Brothers.
The first time I had ever heard of the Collyer Brothers was in the 1950's when my father called my brother and me "the Collyer Brothers" if we didn't clean up our bedroom.
We questioningly looked at each other and asked dad who were the Collyer Brothers.
He briefly explained who they were and what happened to them.
We kiinda laughed to ourselves but saw what his point was. I'm not saying that our bedroom was always clean after his lesson but I have never forgot the Collyer Brothers.
By the way today is my brother's 76th birthday (I am 79) and I'm dedicating my comment and your video Mr. Ballen, to my brother. Happy Birthday Kip !!!
Happy birthday Kip 🎉
Happy birthday 🎉
Happy birthday 🎈🎈🎂
@17:50, I'm here to confirm that Charles Smith was indeed a real person. That was my grandfather, and he said that in March 1947, he smelt the worst hot, swampy, and skunky odor he'd ever experienced. He called the police because the stench got stuck in his clothes, and he didn't want people assuming it was coming from him. All he could smell was ass, rat poison, and citrus fruits.
LOL!
How freaking cool! If he hadn't called who knows how long they would have been there... Such a sad story!
Really??
@@joejohnnys No. I think there was a gas leak in my home when I made that fictional story up.
Time for a nice, healthy dose of the strange, dark, and mysterious. And as always, thank you for your service, Mr. Ballen!
ok
But before watching the video if you're a fan of the strange dark and mysterious then you came to the right place because that's all he does and he uploads twice a week. So if that's of interest to you tell your lover the like button to stop by so that you two can play house together and when it arrives ready for a passionate evening play some house music through your stereo 😂
@@susie4938 Thanks for pointing that out. Just an embarrassing autocorrect situation, and I'm too obsessive to not fix it.
@@susie4938 That completely explains the creeped out "uncanny valley" feeling I got reading these comments.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
I love watching Mr Ballen telling his stories! His gestures make it all work.
The best story teller of all time, man seriously.
Thank you!!
How do you feel to have Mr ballen talk to u😂😊
@@desiairel6637 He’s responded to me before, he actually read comments from fans which is surprising since he has so many subscribers.
Mr Ballen is simply the best story teller ever. I love how he keeps me aching and hanging for more. You just have to find out how the story ends. ❤
An extraordinary story delivered by a master storyteller.
I love this story. So tragic. And how terrible it must have been for the one brother who sat in the chair waiting.....
so sad honestly
@@susie4938 I can't get enough of bot comments.
@@susie4938How do u know she's a bot?
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Mr. Ballen is SUCH a talented storyteller that he doesn't need to resort to click bait like the title of this story. Nothing evil, only sad.
@@Violetbunnyfish I was gonna comment the same thing. I kinda expected a haunted mansion from the title. Lol.
The trap to crush unknowing people does, in my opinion, seem a bit evil. I don't know, maybe you have one of those at home?
Instead of using evil mansion title and putting images reminding us of Jack the ripper, he could have just said that " these 2 brothers are totally effed up." Or, " the consequences of great depression." Mr Ballen would have still got the viewers ' attention.
@c33raven Agreed. This channel is better than clickbait.
@@WokeBegone LOL My late (and now former) Mother-in-law would have been right at home there. When she died sometimes around 2005, she had every TV guide and Reader's digest from the 1950s on. She thew NOTHING away.
I like how he’s ends the story with silence into the photo and leaves you thinking about the whole story again..
I absolutely LOVE MrBallen's videos and podcasts. I remember when MrBallen uploaded videos "3, 4, even 5 times a week". I also LOVE the like button pranks....
#1 Story Telling Award goes to none other than the one, the only, MRBALLEN!!
Posted this video 50 minutes ago and already has 70k views. That's crazy and awesome at that same time. Granted I don't personally know Mr. Ballens personally but he just gives me the vibes that he is great person and he deserves it. I mean he set up a program to help people in need that have and are going through horrible things and need the help. 100% of the proceeds go to the ones in need and the fact he won't except any of it for himself says alot. You rock Mr Ballens I'm happy and grateful to see theirs still great people out there during these strange times. Your like the Gandhi of these times. My hats off to you sir.
That’s the number of followers he has
It’s 70k views
No, those are his subscribers!
😂
7.7 mil less than an hour 😂😂😂 that would be a new world record.
This needs to be a movie or a several episode series. The time period, the father bringing home body parts in jars, eccentricity of the family , very fascinating.
It would be so fabricated because there's not enough pictures, interviews, and evidence... probably not worth it
Indeed! I was thinking the same thing, but nowadays they want to make shows and movies, as to set them up for sequels, so they can keep making money on the franchise. They wouldn't make enough on this story. Plus, Hollywood always glams the true stories up by putting content in there that didn't happen.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@Krullmaticeah they do. All of a sudden the exact same story has content jammed in like
“the Collier brothers’ maid is transgender and the Butler (a Russian immigrant who is fleeing an evil dictator named Putin.)
I didn’t mention that the Maid (Mizz Jizz) has a Library Story-Hour she has to get to and she wants to bring her boyfriend who just happens to be an immigrant from Zimbabwe (Mullabukma Okeuneke) fleeing the horrors of MuH colonialism.”
That sound about right to you?
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 how sad of you to say something negative about a person who everyone likes and actually helps victims of the stories he tells and others who are suffering..Clickbait isn’t that serious everyone does it on youtube same way ppl and media exaggerates stories. Websites report a story that’s interesting, but include like 1 paragraph per page making you click thru several pages to get to the point. Seriously If something that small bothers u so much why bother with the internet at all? 😅
Before this even started, I said "This is gonna be about the Collyer Brothers." Everyone looked at me weird until they heard you say that it *was* about them.
Thanks for telling this story. My mom told me this story before she passed away, so it was nice to hear you tell this story.
Yeah. 1 billion channels have told these stories.
Crazy story however I'm not gonna lie. Having the police come to evict you from your house for not having paid anything and paying on the spot to buy the whole place is the most badass anecdote I ever heard 😂
@@kcbh24 hmmm. 1 billion, huh? Could you please site each one for me? Plus my mom was there. Didn't need someone else to tell her the story. But wow, what an *OUTSTANDING* comment. Thank you!!!! Such a contribution.
I grew up knowing this story. A truly tragic tale, and another example of why you shouldn't marry your cousins.
Yeah right. Mr know it all😒
Gives a whole new meaning to Hoarders: Buried Alive
For real though, i first heard about this story years ago and it is absolutely tragic :( may these dudes rest easy
I love that even if you recognize the story, there’s no clicking away. Either there’s new information or it’s just so very well told that you have to hear it again.
I appreciate it!
@@MrBallen Pfff just made my day a little brighter.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Can we just appreciate the fact that he will tell us some really scary stories and then turn around and tell us to body slam the like button into the Bermuda triangle, let's be honest he's a legend.
Hahah thank you!!
:D
He is as good as it gets
@@MrBallenWhat's on the front of your hat? Can you wear it forward in one video? Please! 🙏🏻
😂
Hoarding is no joke. I haven't heard these brothers stories before. Thanks for sharing Mr. B!
You are just brilliant. I appreciate you sooooo much!!!!
Don't ever change. Keep doing this please. Your story telling is out of this world. You should write scripts for Hollywood movies.
I think his mother writes the scripts or at least collaborates
Even so he brings them to life in a way that I uncommonly compelling
Mr Ballen is relentless in quality content. Feel like I be sitting around a campfire errday, love it. Whenever I feel sad, if I see a Mr Ballen appear, I click for comfort media. Even though it's the strange, dark, and mysterious, it doesn't matter. The storytelling is so comforting.
50,000 views a hour wow this man is loved by so many ❤thanks Mr Ballen for all that you do
Thank you!
@@MrBallen thank🫵🏼
@@MrBallen @frenchy1987 is exactly right. you are def loved by many, many people! Thank you for your amazing stories I look forward to them every week.
I’ve been watching his videos for way to long. I truly hope he never stops/ runs out of stories 😩💯❤
Mr Ballen you are one of the best story tellers on the internet. Thank you for all your dedication and hard work. I binge watch often.
I love your videos, each week I tune in to hear these crazy stories. I love the spooky stuff! And you’re doing an amazing job telling it!
Thank you so much!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 Stop spamming.
I'd read this story before; however, you breathed new life into it. You gave the characters depth, gave the mansion a 3-D makeover, and gave a truly engaging performance. This is why I always tune in: you don't know quite what you'll get, but you know it'll be good. Thanks, John. May your family have a safe and happy 4th!
It's 5 am binge-watching the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format. While I was dozing off a notification popped up and here I am, this is undoubtedly an act of great providence.
Sundays are my favorite days because I get to listen to your stories. Thank you I love your stories and soothing your voice is. Big fan
I am one of the subscribers of this channel not just because of the delivery or eloquent speech, but because all the stories are TRUE.
Respect 👐
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Yes, the unpopular opinion or even truth is that he sold out and like you said the content has been degrading. These groupies will have our heads for saying it but it’s the truth. It’s only about the money now, there isn’t a personal feel at all anymore
@@AB10103 Thank you my friend, it's plainly sad to witness what he's done to us after he built his financial success out of our supportness.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366Supportness is not, and has never been, a word.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366 Blah, blah, blah...go repeat this comment a few more time to make sure we all know your view. Mr. Ballen has found his niche community. He has fans, supporters, he's making bank and he seems to enjoy doing all of this. Why would he change what's working for him, clickbait or not? And you still watched this video and commented a few times, so you're only helping him at this point.
Ballen's my favorite youtuber because he tells spooky asf real stories that make me scared at night (I may be a male and may be scared) and he actually responds to messages you send which is rare. Johns a real one.
I look forward to my time with Mr. Ballen every week. I know he doesn't know who I am, but I love these stories only because he's telling them.
I swear, you make every story so much more interesting than they would be if I were reading them, and I love your hand and arm gestures, you're one of my favorite storytellers :)
All content creators with a devotion to their fans are impressive. Every single one. Everyone has a unique style and it’s lovely to watch all of their takes on the same stories and new ones! I also enjoy ThatChapter,True Crime with Elenor Neil, Danielle Chirsty, and many more. I love to watch the same stories over and over as I go through each channel to see who has done the most research. W each story I can tell who has. This Is Monsters does an absolutely PHENOMENAL job with minor details. I learn so much more about old cases through them. True Crime fans unite. 👊
I love Danielle when she gets spicy!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@maryeckel9682 lol me too. “Oh my gawd I can’t even. “Sharp breath” no don’t even get started!” She’s the best. I cry w her a lot too bc she’s so deep, caring so much about every single victim.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366Agree 💯. This channel is turning into a snoozefest 🙄
@@albtckl It's so sorry to witness such transformation happening to the once great story teller... But it's happened and he has gone full speed at it.
My man walked 16 miles in a night for oranges. That's dedication to frugality.
And so very sad. He had all the options wealth allows, but he chose that one. Truly pitiful story about the "evil" mental illness.
@@shadowlouiseso weird he could do many normal things but at the same time did some really rare things? 🤔
@@Channel24377 Not weird at all. If you think about it, that's the human condition. When a mental illness or disability is part of the mix, the contrasts can be shocking.
...and walked in the wintertime in NYC no less...
And With all his money he was too cheap to just go BUY oranges.
I can say that he's weekly format had became an inseparable part of my lifestyle.
Thanks Ballen
❤
Oh this is so heartbreaking !.
As difficult as their lives became, I am glad they had each other. Lot of love there !
This is how I get ready for the start of my week, just before bed I settle down to a story by Mr Ballen. Thank you for all your stories 😊
I have Parkinson’s @28, lot of TH-cam to pass time especially if stuck in bed/at PT- MrBallen is the #1 TH-camr, I have seen all 275+ TH-cam videos + 140ish podcasts including listening again to old stories xD thanks for your hard work, John 🥰
MrBallen never fails to make me not want to go outside 😂
You mean like Homer and Langley? Hope you have plenty of oranges! 😆
Also in all seriousness. I love how he never say "You came to the right place because that's all I do" He always says "You came to the right place because that's all WE do". A true team player
This one makes me want to go outside!
😂
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
I remember hearing about this story but Mr Ballen’s telling was much more captivating!
Hope you're doing well Mr b Been a subscriber for the last few years so I know this is the type of story that you would normally tell and this is where I think your talents really shine because you're telling it from all the perspectives of each character basically And you kind of make us understand from The actions of the persons you're talking about how things can get to where they got
I remember hearing this story on different channel many years ago. It still gives me the chills to this day...
Wow I remember viewing his channel at 400k subs and now I’m rewatching his videos and he’s a 7 mil sub! Keep being a awesome storyteller Mr.Ballen! 👏🏼
sigh. what do you think about the story? you like it? Worship comments are killing the comment section don't you think?
@@laurenk6741 he literally just posted the video, ofc there arent gonna be many comments about the actual story yet.....
@@laurenk6741 Ikr??
@@leif160 exactly. so the comment section is immediatelly rendered as spam.
@@laurenk6741 maybe come back a little later if u wanna read about other peoples opinions on the story then??
5:16 So interesting to stumble upon this video today, the birthday of a kid I used to work with at a camp who used to kayak there! Thanks, Universe!
its going to be a good day when MrBallen post
Keep up the good work!!!
18 min it ain't shit
I love how we went from practically killing the like button to just giving it slight inconveniences 😂
😂
The case was referred to in one of the episodes of the sitcom Frasier S6E17
"-Frasier: Dad, do you think we're odd?
-Martin: No, you're not odd. You're just special. Your mother told me that when you were kids, and I still believe it.
-Frasier: Yes, but do you think we spend too much time together?
-Martin: What kinds of questions are these? You're close. Lots of brothers are close.
-Frasier: Yes, I suppose you're right about that. I mean, the Gershwins, the Wright Brothers.
-Niles: I told you we were getting upset over nothing.
-Martin: [laughs] Course, then there were the Collyer brothers.
-Niles: Collyer brothers?
-Martin: Oh, yeah. A couple of nutsos that shared an apartment in New York their whole lives. They even built a maze out of newspapers in there that only they knew how to get through. It collapsed on one of them and the other one just sat there with the dead body until the neighbors complained about the smell. [laughs] Pretty crazy story, huh? You recycle right, Niles?"
When TV educates.
Ah, yes. The outro for that one was Frasier discarding his old newspapers. :D
Martin was great.
"Just sat there coz he was a nutzo"... The dude was old, blind and trapped ffs... When TV misinforms.
😢
@@JonnyKlin8Just another reason to love Mr Ballen.
My sister told me about this channel. I think I’m going to like it here! 😊
It's amazing to see how quickly you've grown since you first started on TH-cam.
The way you tell your stories is absolutely captivating! When we're listening to them, you feel immersed in each story.
I think I can speak for all your subscribers when I say
"Thank you" for the time and effort you put into creating your content.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
Thanks Mr Ballen, you've been a huge help in my sleepless nights.
You do really good at telling stories and its even better when they are stories barely anyone has heard of
sigh. what do you think about the story? you like it? Worship comments are killing the comment section don't you think?
@@laurenk6741 why cant viewers voice their appreciation to ballen’s story telling? ur weird
@@laurenk6741 They are just being nice to the creator. There's nothing wrong with that.
@@laurenk6741 also literally one the main purposes of the comment section is to voice ur support and critiques to the creator
@@laurenk6741While I agree with you, this is not the worst of them. The hero worship and praise sure does get sickening.
I read a book on the Collyers years ago. That Langley was trying to cure Homer with oranges always made me a little sad.
Mental illness is a terrible thing
Agree, terribly sad
@@sy_dianne5224
Their mental illness was most likely inevitable, due to their parents being first cousins.
You’re an amazing storyteller and the sound effects and pictures make it so much more intriguing
I waited so long for this video! You're the best story teller ever!
Thank you!
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
That's so sad. These guys could have done some amazing things with how incredibly intelligent they were, but the paranoia got the best of them. This is truly heartbreaking 💔
At first I thought it was those 2 guys that hosted a party with their former teacher invited and a body inside the house the whole time just to show off that they could pull it off but I remembered that mrballen told that story already
I really wanna kno more of their childhood, dad sounds super eccentric like I wonder what happened behind closed doors that both brothers turned out like this, sounds like either childhood trauma or shared delusion for both of em to be like this to dumpster dive, changing the house for robbers, hoarding so bad.
They were children of incest which explains their paranoia and strange behaviours. Many supers hoarders has made their homes into a death trap but this was probably the first time it happened
I was gonna say something like this but you did it better than I could
@jenicdarling9425 Same!! I'd love to hear more about how they grew up, their attachment style, the psyche behind everything. I have a DSM-5 and would like to learn what diagnoses they would have been given. Very fascinating stuff.
This reminds me of another story that you told where there was a wealthy, eccentric genius with a trashy house full of tunnels and a dead body.
MrBallen would be the best campfire story teller ever. How cool it would be if he ever hosted such an event, I would attend 🙋🏻♂️
mrballen should get some really cool 10 mil award based on the stories he tells
Thank you for all your hard work in bringing these stories to us ❤
Healing Restoration And Longevity for MrBallen! MAY GODBLESS YOU MR.BALLEN!
Its crazy how the show 911 on hulu used this real story and made it into an episode but in the show the brotheres survived. Pretty amazing 👏
I was trying to remember where did I see this before! Thanks hahaha
Thumbs up to john for dealing with his ptsd by making videos for us.
The saddest part about this is two unmarried brothers who fell into the sickness of hoarding. They could have had a maid or housekeeper, they surely had the means, but in the end there was just nobody there to prevent their untimely deaths or even look after them.
So true. They really needed just one person to care enough to advocate for them. Very sad
they didn’t have anyone to tidy their house bc they didn’t trust anyone. 😭
They were way too cheap to have a maid.
@@gillianwells5702it's not sad at all. they didn't want anyone else around.
Now even though they could afford to hire help they were paranoid and trusted no one they would think they were stealing from them
This guy is one of the best storytellers. Can’t stop watching. I had to subscribe! Keep up the great work, Mr B.
Mr.ballen never disappoints in his stories ❤️
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
The Collyer brothers are the most complex case of hoarding I have ever come across. It wasn’t just the amount of items they collected, but also the fact that they essentially rigged the entire mansion with a myriad of booby traps like something straight out of a Legend of Zelda dungeon. As sad as their deaths were, it’s also fascinating to learn about what led them to do this. Idk that’s all I got
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
I've heard of these brothers before and this story but not to this level of detail. Well done, sir!!
Their story is THE one I've wanted to hear you tell!!! My strange, dark, and mysterious dream has come true!
I actually saw something similar to this with 911! Brother was trapped under the garbage and he called 911 while he also kept talking to his brother and making sure he was ok. Traps almost killed a 911 fire fighter they got them safely out of the house!
I was thinking the same thing
When he said the blind guy in his chair dead and all the trash I knew that episode was based off this story.
I think I have seen the same episode as this story sounded so familiar.
How is this mansion evil? It is a sad but beautiful story, and it was burnt down only because it was fire hazard. The clickbait has gone insane and Mr. Ballen's abused his credibility really hard this time. With the recent constant noticeable degradation of content, Mr. Ballen can no longer hold his channel as the anticipated weekly content.
@@acknowledgedofalltheconseq366
With references to death and booby traps.
“A mansion so evil…” they literally tore it down so no one would go into it and never come out.