128: Gilded Sins: The Rise & Fall of a New Orleans Madam

About this episode

When Kate Townsend arrived in New Orleans in 1857, she was a young, poor, uneducated immigrant. Within just a few years, she opened one of the most luxurious brothels in the country. Her mansion at 40 Basin Street featured opulent, high-end decor. She hired beautiful women and catered to wealthy, well-connected clientele. As Kate’s wealth grew, so did her power. But a troubled relationship with her longtime boyfriend brought about her downfall. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Asbury, Herbert. The French Quarter: An Informal History of the New Orleans Underworld. Basic Books, 2008. “Brothels of Antebellum New Orleans.” June 23, 2009. https://news.tulane.edu/news/brothels-antebellum-new-orleans. Gauthreaux, Alan G., and D. G. Hippensteel. Dark Bayou: Infamous Louisiana Homicides. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2016. New Orleans Republican. “Murder in a Bagnio.” July 31, 1870. New Orleans States. “Sykes Acquitted.” February 1, 1884. Tallant, Robert. Ready to Hang; Seven Famous New Orleans Murders. Harper Brothers, 1952. https://archive.org/details/bwb_P9-BJW-162/page/34/mode/2up. Taylor, Troy. Wicked New Orleans: Th