EP 94 - Norma Wallace Part 2

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! Bringing you part two of our multi-part series covering the book The Last Madam; a Life in the New Orleans Underworld by Christine Wiltz. This week we cover a lot of ground including three of Norma’s marriages, the purchase of the notorious Conti St. house, and we give background on a number of key players in Norma’s life. We end the episode nearing the end of the 40’s and a long cat and mouse game between Norma and the chief of police.
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
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 Last Days of Storyville”, Sally Asher, myneworleans.com, Sept 2017
“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