Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! Bringing you the final installation of our multi-part series covering the book The Last Madam; a Life in the New Orleans Underworld by Christine Wiltz. In this episode we cover what is left of Norma’s history. Starting in the late 50’s and taking us all the way up to 1974. We dive into a few key players, Norma’s less illegal business adventures, and the sad end to her extravagant life. Mack wraps up our episode with some Louisiana history regarding sex work, race, and the wrong doings of a lot of men in power.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about the sex work industry, statutory rape, poverty, and the New Orleans underworld. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
The Last Madam: A Life In The New Orleans Underworld, Christine Wiltz
Norma Wallce Audio 1, The Historic New Orleans Collection, donated by Christine Wiltz
Norma Wallace Audio 2, The Historic New Orleans Collection, donated by Christine Wiltz
“The Last Days of Storyville”, Sally Asher, myneworleans.com, Sept 2017
The Last Madam, Snap Judgement, NPR, Host: Glynn Washington, Byline: Stephanie Foo
Former French Quarter brothel becomes home sweet home, Stephanie Bruno, NOLA.com, Nov 2011
The Best Little Whorehouse in NOLA, Back Story Radio, Diana Williams, March 2016
Biography of Christine Wiltz via christinewiltz.com
“The History Behind 5 of New Orleans' Favorite Mardi Gras Traditions” Olivia B Waxman, time.com, February 2018
1026contist.com
“Gov. Huey Long impeached in Louisiana, April 6, 1929”, Andrew Glass, Politico, April 2012
“A Hamm’s ransom: How the kidnapping of one of St. Paul’s most prosperous brewers reshaped a corrupt system”, Ben Reeves, The Growler, November 2016
“The 1934 Bremer kidnapping: Gangsters replace bootlegging cash with ransom money” Cathay Wurzer, MPR, January 2014
“Jim Crow & Segregation”, 64parishes.com, Nikki Brown
“8 reasons why New Orleans neighborhoods remain segregated” NOLA.com, Jennifer Larino for The Times-Picayune, April 2018
