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
Dr. William Edward Minahan
Dr William Edward Minahan was born in Chilton, Calumet, Wisconsin on 20 April 1867. He…
William Paul of Neenah
Notes on the unsolved 1973 murder of William Paul. The building at 311 North Commercial…
The Tragedies of Mackville
I was asked to provide on-camera history for the Gainor property in Mackville, an unincorporated…
The Trial of Lillian Lutzke
Milton Lutzke was born in Liberty (Manitowoc County) to Louis and Ida Lindeman Lutzke on…
The Case of Caspar Partridge and Oakaha
Winnebago County was broken off from Brown County in 1840, with a population of 135…
Elva Heup of Sherwood
Alvina “Elva” Heup was born in and grew up on a farm near Sherwood, Wisconsin,…
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)
