In this episode of The Old Death Valley, we pull back the velvet curtain on one of the Wild West’s most flamboyant and controversial figures — Lola Montez. Known for her fiery temper, provocative spider dance, and a list of lovers that read like a European royal who’s who, Lola’s journey from European courts to California’s gold rush towns is nothing short of legendary.
We’ll dive into her rise from Irish actress to infamous courtesan, her escape from scandal across the Atlantic, and her wild days in Grass Valley, California — where she became both a socialite and a spectacle. Was she a misunderstood feminist ahead of her time or just a magnet for chaos?
Join us as we explore how Lola Montez danced her way into history — and left a trail of headlines, heartbreaks, and hair-raising stories in her wake.