My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark 522 - Live at the Paramount Theatre (Denver Night 2)
Mar 5, 2026
A live Denver show that dives into a pioneering female reporter who defended a notorious Colorado cannibal and risked her life for the story. A deep, spooky tour of the Stanley Hotel, from Stephen King’s fateful night to haunted rooms, ghost lore, and a famous piano. Plus lively stage banter, hometown storytelling, and crowd reactions.
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Episode notes
Investigative Reporting Can Force Institutional Change
- Karen highlights Nell’s investigative focus beyond sensationalism toward institutional abuses.
- Her reporting exposed mistreatment at Indian boarding schools and led to the firing of Dr. Thomas Breen.
Polly Pry Launched Her Own Successful Paper
- Karen describes Nell launching the Polly Pry paper after being fired, growing 3,500 subscribers, then selling it when bored.
- The publication combined gossip, politics, theater, and automobiles as a uniquely female-led outlet.
Polly Pry Got An Interview With Pancho Villa
- Karen tells how Nell traveled to Mexico, spent six weeks pursuing Pancho Villa, and published popular dispatches in 1914.
- The Mexico reporting revitalized her career and broadened her reputation beyond Denver.
