Overview of 522 - Live at the Paramount Theatre (Denver Night 2)
This is a live episode of My Favorite Murder recorded at the Paramount Theatre in Denver (Night 2 of the run). Hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark riff on live-show energy, local anecdotes, and deliver two main researched stories: the life and career of Denver journalist Nell Campbell (aka Polly Pry) — who helped secure parole for Alfred Packer, the “Colorado cannibal” — and the haunted history of the Stanley Hotel, including Stephen King’s stay that inspired The Shining. The show also includes a hometowns segment featuring a Colorado Springs homicide prosecutor, crowd interactions, recurring live-show bits (moths, wardrobe, air guitar), and multiple sponsor reads.
Key segments & running order
- Opening banter: live-show energy, moth jokes, air guitar, vintage-dress bits, hometown mishaps from previous night.
- Short recollections: Rockies game, shopping vintage stores, hot flashes, nervous nose running bit.
- Story 1 — Nell Campbell / Polly Pry: her background, work at the Denver Post, advocacy that led to Alfred Packer’s parole, later reporting and controversies.
- Story 2 — The Stanley Hotel: history, hauntings, 1911 gas explosion in room 217, reported ghosts, Stephen King’s 1974 stay and later cultural impact.
- Hometowns segment: rules, one strong hometown from Christina (Colorado Springs homicide prosecutor) recounting her first homicide trial.
- Closing: thanks, merch, social plugs, sponsor plugs.
Detailed summaries
Nell Campbell (Polly Pry) — “The woman who wrote the West”
- Who she was: Leonel “Nell” Campbell (pen name Polly Pry), born 1859 in Illinois; educated, striking, theatrical personality. Became a prominent, blunt reporter and gossip columnist in New York before relocating to Denver.
- At the Denver Post: Hired by Frederick G. Bonfils; wrote provocative columns exposing hypocrisy among politicians, socialites, clergy, and business interests. Nicknamed Polly Pry for her prying style.
- Alfred Packer case: In 1899 Nell traveled to interview Alfred Packer (convicted of killing and cannibalizing five men after a 1874 San Juan Mountains disaster). Convinced there was reasonable doubt and that sensationalism influenced his conviction, she used her platform to push for re-examination. Her reporting helped shift public opinion and contributed to Packer’s parole in January 1901.
- Other journalism & impact:
- Investigated prison conditions, asylum abuses, and the Fort Lewis Indian School (exposing abuse by superintendent Dr. Thomas Breen, which led to his firing).
- Wrote controversially about labor unions and immigrants (notably anti-Irish sentiments in some pieces), showing a complicated legacy.
- Survived a suspected assassination attempt (a shooting at her door), famously shielded her newspaper partners from a gunman during a separate office confrontation and became a local legend.
- Started her own publication, Polly Pry, and continued reporting (including interviewing Pancho Villa). Advocated for women in newsrooms; died in 1938. Inducted into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame (2011).
- Overall assessment: Trailblazing, sensationalist, fearless, and flawed — significant for advancing investigative reporting and opening doors for women reporters while also reflecting some of the prejudices of her era.
- Primary source referenced: Julia Bricklin’s book The Woman Who Wrote the West; Colorado Life Magazine piece by Matt Massich; show notes.
The Stanley Hotel & Stephen King’s inspiration for The Shining
- Hotel background: Built by Freelan O. Stanley (of Stanley Steamer fame) and opened 1909 in Estes Park as a luxury resort for those seeking Colorado air (tuberculosis-era context). Interior design overseen by Flora Stanley.
- The Kings’ stay: Stephen and Tabitha King stayed in room 217 in fall 1974 (the hotel near closing for the season). King’s unsettling experience (quiet hotel, chairs on tables, echoing music) inspired the opening concept for The Shining; he woke from a nightmare and outlined the novel.
- Haunt lore and incidents:
- Room 217: 1911 gas-lamp explosion injured chambermaid Elizabeth Wilson (survived, lived into 90s), alleged hauntings include clothing rearranged, beds made with guests inside, faucets turning on/off, and a camera artifact (purple bar in photos).
- Other haunt reports: rocking chairs moving, unexplained lights/smells (Flora’s perfume), a piano playing, ghost children, a nanny named Sarah on stairs, and a Victorian woman apparition.
- Hotel-wide lore: staff say every room has ghost stories; reports of ballroom apparitions, phantom music, and sensations (cold spots, pressure).
- Cultural impact: The Kings’ stay led to the 1977 novel and subsequent film/TV adaptations. Kubrick’s 1980 film is widely known; a 1997 TV miniseries filmed at the Stanley Hotel. After the book and movie, the hotel experienced a tourism renaissance — now a frequent haunted-tour and Shining pilgrimage site.
- Sources referenced: Rebecca F. Pittman’s The History and Haunting of the Stanley Hotel; show notes.
Hometown segment (live audience piece)
- Rules stated clearly this night (unlike previous show): preferably local/Colorado hometowns, keep it short, don’t be too drunk.
- Featured hometown: Christina from Colorado Springs — she’s a homicide prosecutor who described her first homicide trial: the Lizzie Kramer case (body in a plastic tote, found off Gold Camp Road by teenagers via Snapchat footage). The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder in 2021. Christina noted a DNA/serology witness and an awkward connection to Paul Holes (husband of a witness), plus that the conviction was affirmed on appeal.
- Crowd moments: earlier hometown attempt in prior night included booing for Broward, Florida and an uncomfortable moment for the person onstage; hosts emphasized clearer instructions and safety.
Notable live-show moments & recurring bits
- “Moth” motif: multiple references/encounters — a moth landed on Georgia’s dress night one and was a running gag; another tiny moth appeared during Night 2.
- Live-show mistakes: hosts joked about forgetting lines, skipping intros, and previous-night flubs; they leaned into the imperfect, improvisational nature of live podcasting.
- Audience cosplay: fan dressed as a hot dog the previous night; fans sometimes give signs prompting bits (e.g., “Georgia, you promised air guitar”).
- Personal anecdotes: Stephen King music anecdote (Lou Bega Mambo No. 5 on repeat during 11/22/63 writing), Karen’s “nervous nose running” bit, hot flash/fan story, vintage-store finds (Bombshell/Goldmine) and wardrobe discussion (pockets vs. no pockets).
Sponsors & promotions mentioned (selection)
Multiple sponsor reads woven into the episode:
- Hyundai (warranty mention)
- Kleenex Lotion Tissues
- Pandora Jewelry
- Squarespace (promo code murder)
- SimpliSafe
- Article (furniture)
- HBO promo for DTF St. Louis
- Talkspace (therapy/psychiatry)
- Grooms (gummies)
- Hero Bread
- Cheap Caribbean
Notable quotes / soundbites
- “Get the fuck out right now.” — Hosts’ comedic response to people who disapprove of mixing true crime and comedy.
- On Nell Campbell: “Polly Pry rushed between us… had it not been for her, doubtless I would have been killed.” — Harry Tammen (quoted regarding Nell shielding him from a gunman).
- Stephen King (on that night): “By the time the cigarette was done, I had the bones of the book firmly set in my mind.” — describing how the Stanley stay spawned The Shining.
Themes & takeaways
- The tension between sensationalism and investigative advocacy: Nell Campbell used sensational prose but also achieved meaningful reforms and successes (parole, exposing institutional abuse).
- Live podcasting is raw and communal: host banter, audience participation, mistakes, and local pride create a show that’s as much about community as it is about the stories.
- Cultural legacies persist: both Nell Campbell’s influence on Denver journalism and the Stanley Hotel’s role in American horror show how single people/places can echo across decades.
Sources & further reading
- Julia Bricklin, The Woman Who Wrote the West (bio of Nell Campbell / Polly Pry)
- Rebecca F. Pittman, The History and Haunting of the Stanley Hotel
- Colorado Life Magazine article by Matt Massich (on Polly Pry)
- My Favorite Murder show notes (episode-specific sources)
If you want the core facts quickly: Nell Campbell was a pioneering, messy, effective Denver reporter (Polly Pry) who helped change public opinion in the Alfred Packer case and did sustained investigative reporting; the Stanley Hotel’s history (including a 1911 gas explosion and many haunt reports) directly influenced Stephen King’s The Shining after his 1974 stay in room 217.