December 15, 2025
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#1280 Who Drugged James Cameron? A Titanic Mystery
 Somebody had taken a pound of PCP and dumped it into the chowder. We have a pretty strong suspicion who it was, although it was never proven. -James Cameron
Jesse Brown
Host & Publisher
Julian Abraham
Reporter
Bruce Thorson
Senior Producer
Caleb Thompson
Audio Editor
max collins
Director of Audio

The mystery of who drugged the cast and crew of the blockbuster Titanic is Hollywood lore. In 1996 James Cameron shot part of Titanic in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, when someone dumped PCP into the clam chowder the team was sharing on the last night of shooting. Over 50 people ended up in hospital.

There was a police investigation but the case was never solved. Over the decades theories as to who and why have sprouted. These range from disgruntled caterers to vengeful bikers to insurance scams.

Canadaland decided to take up the case and look for the answer: who spiked the Titanic chowder?

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Julian Abraham (Reporter) Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing & Mastering) max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Additional Writing and Production from Rick Courtney.

Fact checking by max collins

Additional music by Audio Network

More information:

Further Reading:

“Grips are doing wheelies in wheelchairs” – Variety

James Cameron Recalls the Night the Titanic Crew Were Spiked with PCP – CBC

James Cameron on CBC’s The Q – Video

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