Gavin Schmitt, Author, Historian, Podcaster
Author Gavin Schmitt has researched Wisconsin’s darker history for decades, and has written multiple books related to crime in Wisconsin. Gavin began co-hosting two podcasts that have been heard all around the world: The Milwaukee Mafia podcast, and Fox Cities Murder & Mayhem.
When not digging through dusty archives and FBI files, Gavin spends his days drinking too much coffee, watching films, and being a local historian.
Posts by Topic
Recent Posts
Carrie Shaw and Charles Abrams
Herman F Abrams (1847-1932) of Oshkosh worked in the marble and monument industry. For a…
The Murder(?) of Patricia Wisniewski
This is the story of Patricia Wisniewski and her apparent murder in 1975. First, one…
The 1971 Gilbert Paper Disaster
The Gilbert Paper Company was founded in 1886 with a capital stock of $100,000. Originally…
James Jesse Strang and Beaver Island
(These notes were largely modified from Wikipedia. I am not claiming them as an original…
Phantom of Delhi, or the Badger Witch
Marie Helen Mayborn was born on December 10, 1915. Her obituary says she was born…
The Murder of Bicycle Bob
Ralph E. Ritschke was born around 1963, to Duane Allen Ritschke (1935-2016) and Shirley Ann…
Gavin’s Books
Newest Book: Karl Freund
Karl Freund is the most important film pioneer you’ve never heard of. From the silent film era to the rise of the American sitcom, Freund was there at every turn. Countless camera techniques can be traced back to his “unchained camera.” His lighting setup for filming I Love Lucy live remains standard to this day. He was the man behind the lens for many influential and award-winning films, from Metropolis to The Good Earth to Key Largo. This biography is the first book-length look at one of the world’s greatest cameramen. It details the events of his early life, his entrance into the world of film, his work in both Germany and America, and his legacy, while also putting his life and films into the historical context of the 20th century. The author gives particular attention to Freund’s role in the early horror films Der Golem, Dracula, Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Mummy, and Mad Love.
Karl Freund: The Life and Films (affiliate link)
