Case 100: Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan, He Had It Comin'

To celebrate our 100th case, we discuss the women who inspired Maureen Dallas Watkins' play and longest running musical, Chicago. During the height of prohibition the beautiful and classy pair ended up in Cook County's murderess row after being charged with the murders of their lovers.

Belva Gaertner, the real life counterpart to Velma Kelly, was accused of shooting her lover after a drunken fight in her own car. After weeks of dominating the newspaper headlines, she had competition when Beulah Annan, counterpart to Roxie Hart, joined the cell block after shooting her lover while her husband was at work.

Join in as Savannah and Elysia put on their 100 year old personas and dance to Hula Lou, Beulah's favorite song. We discuss the crimes, trials, and how it was that they were acquitted.

Don't forget to let us know if you've seen Chicago for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook!

Sources:

"The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago" by Douglas Perry

https://www.chicagohistory.org/true-crime-beulah-annan/

https://chicagology.com/notorious-chicago/beaulahandbelva/

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/03/09/photos-chicagos-murderess-row-in-1924-and-all-that-jazz/

https://blog.history.in.gov/maurine-dallas-watkins-sob-sisters-pretty-demons-and-all-that-jazz/

Graphic Art By: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Taylor Poe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music By: https://archive.org/details/78_hula-lou_california-ramblers-milton-charles-and-wayne-king_gbia0430195a