Ep. 87: Camarillo State Hospital, Part 1 (1929-1957) Artwork

Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

This podcast examines the history of now-defunct or abandoned psychiatric hospitals. Listen every week to learn about the history of mental health care and the true stories of the people who lived and worked behind the walls.

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Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

Ep. 87: Camarillo State Hospital, Part 1 (1929-1957)

April 13, 2025 • Dr. Sarah Gallup • Episode 87

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This week's episode examines the early years of Camarillo State Hospital in Camarillo, California. Find out why it grew so quickly in its first decade, and learn how many patients it housed at its peak. Discover which movie patients said was true to life at the hospital and was one that the public needed to see.

My main source will be the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. Other sources include the CSU-Channel Islands Digital Library. All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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