CRIME AUTHOR ELLEN POULSEN TO GIVE AUTHOR TALK, “THE AMERICAN GUN MOLL: FROM BONNIE PARKER TO VIRGINIA HILL,” AT THE MOB MUSEUM, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1 – 2 p.m.
CRIME AUTHOR ELLEN POULSEN TO GIVE AUTHOR TALK, “THE AMERICAN GUN MOLL: FROM BONNIE PARKER TO VIRGINIA HILL,” AT THE MOB MUSEUM, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1 – 2 p.m.
Poulsen to Sign Copies of Her Books Friday, March 21, 1 – 5 p.m.
LAS VEGAS (February 2014) – On Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22, Depression-era researcher, author and lecturer Ellen Poulsen will appear at The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. She will be signing copies of her books, “Don’t Call Us Molls: Women of the John Dillinger Gang” and “The Case Against Lucky Luciano: New York’s Most Sensational Vice Trial” on Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Museum gift shop and giving an Author’s Talk in the Museum’s historic courtroom on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m.
About “Don’t Call Us Molls”
Buried under decades of stereotype and parody, the true history of the female companions of the Great Depression’s bank-robbing gang is uncovered. “Don’t Call Us Molls” carefully examines the legacy of the Dillinger women using eyewitness and descendants’ accounts as well as courtroom and prison records. This book explores the collective experience of these fugitives and offers a thoughtful commentary on past attitudes toward the marginalized women of the day – the lawbreakers, the informers and a lone female sheriff. FBI memos, court transcripts and never-before-published photos reveal the events experienced by women under siege, resurrecting historical figures and their private behavior. This history lays bare the personal lives of the wives and girlfriends of the public enemies of the 1930s and examines how their conflicting loyalties were challenged and exploited by the unrelenting pressure of the U.S. government to betray their men.
About “The Case Against Lucky Luciano”
In 1936, the New York trial of “Vice Czar” Lucky Luciano for the crime of compulsory prostitution resulted in his conviction. Luciano was the banner name for a trial that also included many co-defendants. Poulsen’s book addresses the other side of the Luciano trial, the story of the low-level street people who were brought into the trial to act as material witnesses. While Luciano’s fabled conviction and, later, pardon and deportation are widely remembered, little has been done to tell the story of the material witnesses and co-defendants. “The Case Against Lucky Luciano,” which received the Silver Medal for True Crime at the 2008 Independent Publishing (IPPY) Book Awards and was favorably reviewed in both Library Journal and ForeWord Magazine, tells the other parts of this story.
Poulsen is a Depression-era crime researcher, author and lecturer. She has appeared on The Discovery Channel, The History Channel’s “Crime Wave,” the NYC Channel’s “Secrets of New York” as well as numerous television documentaries and radio broadcasts. First and foremost a Dillinger researcher, she meets the diverse interests of the typical “crime buff” by also speaking on topics related to organized crime in the 20th Century.
In addition to speaking in libraries and historical societies in her native New York metropolitan area, Poulsen has traveled to Chicago, St. Paul and Tucson to offer her slide show and lecture on the subject of molls, gangsters, the FBI and police history in regional events. She recently participated in an article on the subject of gangster memorabilia which appeared in The New York Times. Poulsen works as a freelance stenographic court reporter and holds a B.A. in English from Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY). She writes articles and conducts interviews on the subject of criminal history for magazines such as “The Informer” and the now defunct “On the Spot.” Her work can also be found on the website www.americanmafia.com in an archived article, “People v. Good People: The Luciano Trial.” She maintains two websites devoted to her books: www.dillingerswomen.com and www.lucianotrial1936.com. Poulsen is currently researching and writing a true-crime biography, “Chasing Dillinger: Indiana’s Matt Leach Collides with the F.B.I.”
Poulsen’s book talk is free with the purchase of Museum admission. To purchase Museum tickets, please call (702) 229-2734 or visit https://themobmuseum.org/archives/category/events/.
ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the Mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. True stories of Mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and more than 600 artifacts, the largest collection of Mob and related law enforcement memorabilia under one roof. Since opening in 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine, “Las Vegas’ Best New Attractions for 2012” by Travel + Leisure magazine, “9 Reasons to Visit Las Vegas” by CNNgo, a finalist for the “Best Wider World Project Award,” by the British Guild of Travel Writers and “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine. Admission is $19.95 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for children, seniors, military, law enforcement, Nevada residents, and teachers. Museum hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. For more information, call (702) 229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themobmuseum and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.