Landmark Center is proud to present this popular literary series featuring local authors discussing their newest works. Join us as we welcome Deborah Fretheem and Cynthia Schreiner Smith, local historians and gangster guides, both who have been known to come in character, as they discuss their latest collaboration Alvin Karpis and the Barker Gang in Minnesota. This will be a morning full of crime laden intrigue.
About the book:
From their home base in Minnesota, the Karpis/Barker Gang cut a swath of crime and terror across the Midwest in the early years of the 1930s. They kidnapped two important businessmen,William Hamm Jr. and Ed Bremer, and held them for exorbitant ransoms. They stole payrolls and robbed banks as the bullets flew. Corrupt police and wily crime bosses helped Alvin Karpis and the Barker Brothers, Freddy and Doc every step of the way. Who were these men and women? What made them into killers and kidnappers? How did their reckless lifestyles lead to their downfall? From Ma Barker to Volney Davis to Edna Murray the Kissing Bandit, authors Deborah Frethem and Cynthia Schreiner Smith, delve into the crimes, personalities and motivations of one of themost successful and infamous gangs in American history.
The book will officially be released on September 28th and available for purchase from Amazon, as well as onsite at the event.
About the authors:
Deborah Frethem previously published Ghost Stories of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Pinellas County with The History Press in 2007; Haunted Tampa: Spirits of the Bay in 2013; and Haunted Ybor City in 2014. She has also written scripts for historical tours in Minnesota and Florida and conducted these tours for more than twenty years. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from Olaf College and has served as tour manager for Down in History Tours in St. Paul. She is currently a writer and storyteller, living on a boat in the Mississippi River in downtown St.Paul.
Cynthia Schreiner Smith is an actor/writer/producer born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she still lives in a suburb outside the city. This is her first book, but she he has published short pieces on St. Paul history in the St. Paul Almanac in 2012 and 2014. Since 1998, she has worked as a tour guide for Down in History Tours in St. Paul, researching and writing scripts for their historical tours. She is best known there for performing the St. Paul Gangster Tour as Karpis-Barker gang member Edna Murray, the Kissing Bandit. Cynthia and her husband, Bick Smith, are co-owners of CyBick Productions, producing corporate videos and short films. In
2011, they produced Gangsterand, a documentary-style movie about 1930s gangsters in St. Paul.
About the Event:
Doors will open at 10 a.m. Program will start at 10:30 a.m. Guests are asked to enter from 6th street or the accessible entrance on Market Street. Audience chairs will be socially distanced. The authors will have books available for purchase, and be available to sign books and greet guests after the presentation. Guests will be dismissed by rows to purchase a book and/or meet the authors.
Following the event, the authors will lead an outdoor walking tour to delve further into the Gangster history of St. Paul. This is open to anyone willing to stay, and weather permitting.
COVID-19 Considerations:
All guests must wear a face covering / mask while inside the building. If you do not have a mask we will have one available for you. We ask that guests practice social distancing while in the building; chairs will be spaced to maintain social distance. We will dismiss guests by row to purchase a copy of the book and/or meet the authors after the author presentation.
Questions about this event can be directed to Jenny Reinhard at 651.292.3237 or [email protected]