Forum Member on Travel Channel

[RJNorton]

One of the members of the forum, Richard Sloan (emma1231), will be on an upcoming Travel Channel show dealing with the Lindbergh kidnapping. Kudos, Richard!

Richard writes:

"The Travel Channel's "Mysteries of the Museums" show usually devotes ea. of its one hr. episodes to 2 half-hour topics,. It makes occass. exceptions. One of these recently dealt with the Lincoln assassination, which you may have seen. (It's repeated very often, but unfortunately, it didn't turn out very well, despite the appearances of our friends Kate Larson and Mike Kauffman. The May 31st episode, at 9 pm, will deal entirely with the Lindbergh kidnapping, which has more controversy than the Lincoln case! An entirely different crew produced it. (So far, I know only that it will be repeated at noon on June 2.) I'm going to be on it for perhaps four or five minutes.

Curator Mark Falzini will show relics in the Lindbergh Kidnap Archives in Trenton (such as the kidnap ladder). Harry Kazman will talk about the trial from inside the restored Flemington courtroom. I was taped in front of Dr. Condon's house (Lindbergh's go-between) and while en rte. to (and at) the spot in the cemetery where he paid the ransom money in the dead of night. The crew also taped inside the old Lindbergh home where the crime was committed.

How well I did remains to be seen. You see, I was at the mercy of being handed pages of script at the last minute -- lines to memorize just before each shot was taped. Although I know the Bronx part of the story well (and had recited it from memory to participants in over two dozen tours I conducted of Bronx sites connected with the story), most of my words -- instead of being adlib -- had to be scripted responses to questions posed by the on-camera narrator (a terrific guy by the name of Don Wildman). Most of what the script called for me to say was fine with me. However, there were a couple of lines I told the director were erroneous. Those were either changed or eliminated. (Nevertheless, due to the pressures presented, I think I may have misspoken once or twice. So if you are one of those who spots a mistake I may have made, please don't throw things at your TV!) The entire crew and the fabulous director were great to work with, and it was quite a professional operation. (Having worked first as a cameraman and then as an audio man on TV shows for almost half a century, it was so much fun to be on the other side for a change!) My adrenalin was way up, and it was a terrific experience, except for the average temperature during taping being about 30 degrees (It fell to 25 degrees at night - at the cemetery! Yes, I wore my long johns!) I hope they kept the night shot of us crossing Tremont Avenue at night to the cemetery. It was taken by a drone camera about 75 feet in the air!) I think the show will mention some -- not all -- of the controversies surrounding the case, but I doubt it will attempt to answer any of them. There is just too much to cover in what probably amounted to only 3/4 of an hour (after commercials). I sure hope it all turns out well and that you will find it interesting and entertaining!"

[Rsmyth]

Richard is indeed an expert on the kidnapping! I became aware of Richard on Lindbergh kidnapping blogs (like Rogers site) years before I was interested in the Lincoln assassination. Except for three sites in New Jersey (crime scene, trial and where the remains were found) everything else occurred in New York. With Richards detailed instructions I was able to visit them all. Congrats Richard!

[Jim Garrett]

Looking forward to watching it. Echo Rich and many others. Richard Sloan is the kidnapping encyclopedia and I hope the show can capture that. If it doesn't, it will be in no part reflective of Richards great intellect.

[Carolyn Mitchell]

Thanks for the info Roger. Will be on the look out for the episode.

[L Verge]

I hope that several of you were able to watch this and can report on it. Richard Sloan has been a great friend of the Lincoln field and the Lindbergh history for over the forty years that I have known him. Unfortunately, the May 31st showing coincided with my grandson's Awards Night for graduation, and today's missed showing was my stupidity because I thought it was being shown in the evening again.

After the Surratt experiences with Mystery at the Museum, I am a little leery of final products. When so-called expert historians are brought in and make incorrect statements in the first minute or two, that speaks volumes to me. And when the final half-hour of a show dwells heavily on a controversial theory that does not stand the test, things start to scream at me.

That said, Richard Sloan's knowledge and his ability to share that knowledge could stand alone, and I certainly hope that this program took advantage of that. Comments?

[JMadonna]

Richard,
I know the FBI didn't work the case but they doubted that Bruno was the man or if he was part of a crew. Any thoughts?

[emma1231]

(06-02-2018 09:43 PM)JMadonna Wrote:  Richard,
[i][i]I know the FBI didn't work the case but they doubted that Bruno was the man or if he was part of a crew. Any thoughts?[/i][/i]

First of all, the investigators always felt that more than one person was involved. But they were under great pressure to solve the case. So when they got their hands on Bruno, who, after all had $14 G of the ransom money hidden away, they changed their story and said he was a loner. It tended to take the pressure off them and supposedly "solve" the case. (Later, a NJ Governor started asking questions that really angered the prosecution.)

There is air-tight proof that Bruno was involved in the kidnapping in some way, simply because he definitely build the kidnap ladder. About seven or more years ago, Mr. Kelvin Kerega re-examined wood expert Arthur Koehler's research and improved upon it tenfold. He never published his findings, unfortunately. I have a copy of his report. His conclusions DID appear on a TV show about trials a few years ago.
You can argue about whether or not Bruno wrote any or all of the kidnap notes. You can argue that his friend Izzy Fish had the ransom money and simply asked Bruno to hide it until he returned from visiting his parents in Europe. (He never returned, leaving Bruno holding the bag.) But you can't argue with the wood evidence. (There's a theory that the entire attic floor of the house he lived in, where wood for the ladder came from, was re-done in an effort to frame him, but it is extremely weak. The more it is pursued it, the weaker it gets.) There is just too much evidence that he was in on it, and that he wasn't simply an extortionist trying to capitalize on it and lead Lindbergh and his go-between, Dr. Condon, into thinking he was the kidnapper. It's a complex case, with unanswered questions about whether or not it was an inside job*, how the kidnapper could have gotten through the window with the ladder placed so far to the right of the window; how Bruno could have been in NJ if, as he claimed, he was picking up his wife that night from her waitress job at a nearby bakery, etc; etc;it goes on and on, making the case so fascinating to me and many others. I noticed that in the TV re-enactment, the ladder was a little TOO far from the window than I thought it was when 1.) the kidnapping took place, and 2.) when the police did their re-enactment. However, I haven't looked into that yet.
* The new TV show was going to mention the case of a Lindbergh maid, Violet Sharp, and why she committed suicide just before she was going to be taken in for further questioning, but the show turned out to be too long and it had to be deleted. There is also another story they had to delete for time: I was taped at the cemetery explaining that Lindbergh heard the man who was about to received the ransom money calling out to Condon, "Hey doktor! Over here!" The program was going to later explain that Lindbergh subsequently identified the voice as Bruno's. It was a key piece of evidence. But could he have really firmly identified that voice after two + years? Or did he do so, as I suspect, only because the police assured him (before the wood evidence agst. Bruno had been conducted) that they got the right guy and just needed him to ID him so the prosecutors could get a conviction. (It sure did the trick!)

[L Verge]

Richard - Are you pleased with the final results of the filming? What are your thoughts on Violet Sharp?

[emma1231]

I am not pleased with the final show. I should have been more objective and wary that they would do with some of the participants' footage what they did to Mike Kauffman and Kate Larson with their Lincoln assassination episode -- butcher it for the sake of spending more precious time on more sensational theories. All things considered, I fared a lot better than Messrs. Harry Kazman and Mark Falzini. I am grateful for that, even tho about a minute of good stuff I said (about Lindy hearing the kidnapper calling out from behind a cemetery stone, "Hey doktor! Over here!")was deleted.
I think Violet Sharp was a loose woman, and involved -- not with the kidnappers, but with men. I think she had a past she didnt want revealed. I vaguely recall reading that she once had an abortion, and felt that her past might bring shame upon herself, her family, and the Lindberghs. When they were going to take her in for yet a third round of questioning, she panicked. I don't think she was involved in the commission of the crime. I could be wrong. She could have unwittingly told someone about the baby staying in Hopewell that night and wondered if that somehow might have tipped off the kidnapper( s ). We'll never know the answers. She lies in an unmarked grave -- I think in an Englewood cemetery.

[L Verge]

(06-03-2018 01:37 PM)emma1231 Wrote:  I am not pleased with the final show. I should have been more objective and wary that they would do with some of the participants' footage what they did to Mike Kauffman and Kate Larson with their Lincoln assassination episode -- butcher it for the sake of spending more precious time on more sensational theories. All things considered, I fared a lot better than Messrs. Harry Kazman and Mark Falzini. I am grateful for that, even tho about a minute of good stuff I said (about Lindy hearing the kidnapper calling out from behind a cemetery stone, "Hey doktor! Over here!")was deleted.
I think Violet Sharp was a loose woman, and involved -- not with the kidnappers, but with men. I think she had a past she didnt want revealed. I vaguely recall reading that she once had an abortion, and felt that her past might bring shame upon herself, her family, and the Lindberghs. When they were going to take her in for yet a third round of questioning, she panicked. I don't think she was involved in the commission of the crime. I could be wrong. She could have unwittingly told someone about the baby staying in Hopewell that night and wondered if that somehow might have tipped off the kidnapper( s ). We'll never know the answers. She lies in an unmarked grave -- I think in an Englewood cemetery.

Thanks, Richard, you have restored my distrust in the way current filmmakers attempt to swing historical fact to their theories thinking that they will get better ratings. The History Channel, Nat Geo, and others have changed their methods and treatment of history so drastically over the past decade that I seldom watch their shows because I'm trying to remove irritations from my life (and failing!).

[Jim Garrett]

all in all, I thought Richard came off as genuine and professional.

[emma1231]

(06-03-2018 09:22 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  all in all, I thought Richard came off as genuine and professional.

Thanx, Jim. Well, let's move on. I apprec. the kind words from my friends!
I'll try being more active on this site from now on -- about Lincoln and Booth, not Lindy. (I did rec. convince my Town's Landmark Pres. Commission to erect a marker pointing out a defunct country club airport (in what is now LevittownNY residential area) where great aviation figures flew. Lindy and Amelia Earhart were charter members, and Lindy taught his wife to fly there. Now it's up to the Town government to decide whether or not to take the commission's recommendations and spend time and money to erect the sign on the site, close to where the club's main bldg., pool, and tennis court were! My wordage for it was approved. I'll let you know what developes. Lindy's daughter, Reeve, liked the idea. I've met her a couple of times. Nice lady. SHe's not at all like her father, and more like her mom.
Oh, by the way, I printed out that lady's great research on Booth being photographed with the Richmond Grays, and I put it in a little binder next to Gutman's book. What a great piece of work! Do you all agree?

[Steve]

I don't have cable, so I don't watch the History Channel. But about 5 years ago I saw a documentary on PBS that mentioned Violet Sharp. It suggested that she committed suicide because she unintentionally tipped off the kidnappers to the Lindberghs' location. They didn't mention any rumors of scandal in Violet's past.

Interestingly, the forensic expert interviewed by the program disagreed with the notion that young Charlie Jr. was killed when one of his kidnappers accidentally dropped him and felt that Charlie had been intentionally killed by the kidnappers.

Here's a link to a transcript of the show:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/killed...-baby.html

[L Verge]

(06-04-2018 08:50 AM)emma1231 Wrote:  

(06-03-2018 09:22 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  all in all, I thought Richard came off as genuine and professional.

Thanx, Jim. Well, let's move on. I apprec. the kind words from my friends!
I'll try being more active on this site from now on -- about Lincoln and Booth, not Lindy. (I did rec. convince my Town's Landmark Pres. Commission to erect a marker pointing out a defunct country club airport (in what is now LevittownNY residential area) where great aviation figures flew. Lindy and Amelia Earhart were charter members, and Lindy taught his wife to fly there. Now it's up to the Town government to decide whether or not to take the commission's recommendations and spend time and money to erect the sign on the site, close to where the club's main bldg., pool, and tennis court were! My wordage for it was approved. I'll let you know what developes. Lindy's daughter, Reeve, liked the idea. I've met her a couple of times. Nice lady. SHe's not at all like her father, and more like her mom.
Oh, by the way, I printed out that lady's great research on Booth being photographed with the Richmond Grays, and I put it in a little binder next to Gutman's book. What a great piece of work! Do you all agree?

Is that defunct airfield close to where Mitchell (Field) AFB used to be? I was born on Mitchell, and I remember learning as a teenager that there was a nearby airport that Lindbergh used.

I also have met Reeve Lindbergh and agree that she is a lovely lady - very open and friendly. I casually said to her that I am afraid to fly. She responded that she has always been also -- except when she knew that her father was the pilot.

As a plug: I met her at the College Park Aviation Museum here in Maryland. It is one of the historic sites owned and operated by the same gov't. agency that owns Surratt House. The airport has the distinction of being the oldest, continuously operated airport in the world (despite what France tries to claim). It is called the Field of Firsts because most of the "firsts" in early flight in the U.S. happened there - including the Wright brothers teaching the first military pilots, first female to fly, first air mail...

There was a bit of a scare after 9/11 when all small airports within a large radius of D.C. were shut down. The government managed to salvage our reputation by making it an official airstrip for police helicopters and such. It is now fully functional and just opened a huge ops building next to the museum. Just google College Park Aviation Museum for more info.

[emma1231]

(06-08-2018 10:55 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(06-04-2018 08:50 AM)emma1231 Wrote:  

(06-03-2018 09:22 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  all in all, I thought Richard came off as genuine and professional.

Thanx, Jim. Well, let's move on. I apprec. the kind words from my friends!
I'll try being more active on this site from now on -- about Lincoln and Booth, not Lindy. (I did rec. convince my Town's Landmark Pres. Commission to erect a marker pointing out a defunct country club airport (in what is now LevittownNY residential area) where great aviation figures flew. Lindy and Amelia Earhart were charter members, and Lindy taught his wife to fly there. Now it's up to the Town government to decide whether or not to take the commission's recommendations and spend time and money to erect the sign on the site, close to where the club's main bldg., pool, and tennis court were! My wordage for it was approved. I'll let you know what developes. Lindy's daughter, Reeve, liked the idea. I've met her a couple of times. Nice lady. SHe's not at all like her father, and more like her mom.
Oh, by the way, I printed out that lady's great research on Booth being photographed with the Richmond Grays, and I put it in a little binder next to Gutman's book. What a great piece of work! Do you all agree?

Is that defunct airfield close to where Mitchell (Field) AFB used to be? I was born on Mitchell, and I remember learning as a teenager that there was a nearby airport that Lindbergh used.

I also have met Reeve Lindbergh and agree that she is a lovely lady - very open and friendly. I casually said to her that I am afraid to fly. She responded that she has always been also -- except when she knew that her father was the pilot.

As a plug: I met her at the College Park Aviation Museum here in Maryland. It is one of the historic sites owned and operated by the same gov't. agency that owns Surratt House. The airport has the distinction of being the oldest, continuously operated airport in the world (despite what France tries to claim). It is called the Field of Firsts because most of the "firsts" in early flight in the U.S. happened there - including the Wright brothers teaching the first military pilots, first female to fly, first air mail...

There was a bit of a scare after 9/11 when all small airports within a large radius of D.C. were shut down. The government managed to salvage our reputation by making it an official airstrip for police helicopters and such. It is now fully functional and just opened a huge ops building next to the museum. Just google College Park Aviation Museum for more info.

It was "The L.I. COuntry Club Airport." It was in Hicksville. WHen Levitt bought it for houses, it became "Levittown." I would say it's site is about a ten min. drive from Mitchell. Mitchell, I think, is now where Nassau Community College is now, sort of next door to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, where I last met and chatted with Reeve. about three months ago.