THE SINNER Pearl DeVere

What'sHerName

Dr. Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 538 Ratings

🗓️ 1 January 2018

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

[episode remastered in Oct 2025] Pearl DeVere was one of the most famous and successful madams in the history of the American West. From a suitably mysterious background, Pearl built a thriving business that became one of the most famed “parlor houses” in the country. Her incredible business acumen, as well as her famed beauty and charm, ensured that her legend endures to this day in the historic gold rush town of Cripple Creek, Colorado. Recorded on-location at the Old Homestead House Museum in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Guest Charlotte Bumgarner has been Executive Director for Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway Association since 2001, and is one of its founding members. She first became involved with the Old Homestead House Museum as a tour guide in 1996, and is now the manager and protector of the museum. Music featured in this episode performed by Half Pelican, The New Hot 5, Daniel Henderson, Amanda Setlik Wilson, and the Earth Stringband. Want to help us “make history”? Become a Patron or Donate here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	So, picture this.
0:10.0	Okay, it's 1896.
0:12.4	You are a wealthy, powerful, well-respected businessman, living in the American West.
0:18.4	Perhaps you've made your fortune in gold.
0:20.7	Perhaps you're a banker.
0:22.1	Do I have really good facial hair?
0:24.7	Probably.
0:25.8	Okay.
0:26.5	You're looking for a good time.
0:28.0	Mm-hmm.
0:28.6	Now, if it's 1896 and you are in the Western United States, you want to be at Pearl Devere's Old Homestead in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
0:40.1	I'm Olivia Mickle, and I'm Katie Nelson, and this is What's Her Name?
0:47.6	No one has heard of this now. I would guarantee that probably almost none of our listeners
0:52.4	have heard of Pearl Devere. I have never heard of her.
0:56.1	At this point, in American history, she is the most famous madam in the United States.
1:02.7	Now, Pearl DeVier was outstanding at her job. She not only ran her house, she owned her house, which was
1:10.3	extremely unusual.
1:11.4	Usually brothels were owned by men and run by women.
1:15.7	She owned her own parlor house, as it was called, and was well known not only for her own beauty,
1:21.3	but for the exceptional quality of everything in her house, the food, the music, the company, the other men,
1:30.3	and of course the women. And if you were anywhere within reach of Colorado, you would make your way
1:36.8	to Cripple Creek to pay a visit to Pearl. Like a pilgrimage. You were making a special trip to this
	...

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