The Last Madam

A Life in the New Orleans Underworld

By: Christine Wiltz

Narrated by: Donna Postel

1916: Norma Wallace, age 15, arrived in New Orleans. Sexy and shrewd, she quickly went from streetwalker to madam and by 1920 had opened what became a legendary house of prostitution. There she entertained a steady stream of governors, gangsters, and movie stars until she was arrested at last in 1962. Shortly before she died in 1974, she tape-recorded her memories - the scandalous stories of a powerful woman with the city's politicians in her pocket and whose lovers included the 25-year-old boy-next-door, whom she married at age 64. With those tapes and original research, Christine Wiltz chronicles Norma's rise and fall with the social history of New Orleans. Thick with the vice and corruption that flourished there, Wiltz resurrects a vanished secret world.

©2001 Christine Wiltz (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

pronunciations

loved this book but the narrator needs to brush up on how we talk in new orleans nd learn the correct pronunciation of what she talks about. that made me cringe

Interesting story poorly written. Narrator tried to sound like Mae West not southern belle.

Good story, but author often started a story line then didn't finish or began one with no background.
Historical parts interesting.
Narrator sounded like bad imitation of Mae West when trying to sound southern. "Goils????"

Fun Read

The book was interesting, and a good read. It did feel like something was missing, although I can’t put my finger on it. Some of the reader’s choices were a bit odd like a Popeye cartoon: girl=goyle?!

Loved this book and narration

If you’ve ever been to New Orleans or even if you haven’t this book draws you in and will make you want to go.

a must read before your NOLA trip

I got this book just because I was going to New Orleans and I wanted to research and know it much about the city as I possibly can. I became engrossed in the book and all its characters. I love this book i& highly recommend it

The Last Madame

This is a very interesting, good story almost educational and fun. I listened while I did crafting. Very enjoyable.

Norma had balls!

Good history reads like great fiction and this does not disappoint! Norma was a firecracker for sure. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her story. I had this on tap for some time and finally decided to listen to it. Glad I did!! It was great hearing more history about The Crescent City, the city where I grew into adulthood and fatherhood while in college and beyond. Norma’s time was before mine, but the areas and street scenes she talks about bring back some awesome nostalgic memories, nonetheless. N’awlin’s has a way of getting in your blood if you are there long enough and fortunately we got to hear and learn about its lifelong impact on Ms. Wallace, The Last Madam.

TGH

Good read on New Orleans History

Anyone with interest in New Orleans history should take time to read this book. Norma’s story is one that is important in the historical context of cultural and social fetal changes in modern New Orleans!

SO NEW ORLEANS!!!!!!

As a New Orleanian this book took me back in time. I could relate people and places in the book to stories told my by parents and grandparents and great aunts and uncles. I knew many of the people while growing up in New Orleans or my family knew them. I could imagine it all in my minds eye. Very authentic, well written and narrated. I wish I could have known Norma --what she described as night life in New Orleans is exactly what I heard from my parents like the Blue Room. I felt her pain seeing how the Quarter changed as my parents did in the late 60s and 70s.. I also wish for the glamour of their days. When my parents went out it was to the Blue Room. They spoke of Phil Harris. The Black Orchid in Gentilly -- Tony Angelo's place -- Daddy hung out there as a young man. Madam Dora Russo last house on Bayou Rd. was located across the street from my Great Aunt's beauty salon. Dora brought the new girls from the country to the salon and had my Aunts change the color of their hair. My Aunt said they were all Ladies! I could go on and on. Fantastic life story - What a Woman!!

I'm sad its over!

What a great untold history of New Orleans and the great Norma Wallace! I can't wait for my next trip to New Orleans to find all of Norma's gem spots.