The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing

Studio Centennial Benefit

Literary dramatist Betty Spinelli enthralls her audience with a historically revealing presentation, including vintage photographs, about American society at the turn of the twentieth century in this true crime story of a beautiful girl and two prominent, very extravagant men. It’s a tale of forbidden love, jealousy and mental instability that resulted in a shocking, cold-blooded murder, at a rooftop theater in New York City in front of nearly a thousand witnesses. 

The trial that followed was quickly dubbed "the trial of the century" - it mesmerized the public and helped bring down the curtain on America's "Gilded Age."  As this bizarre story unfolds you will be amazed to discover several local connections to Saratoga and Lake George.

Betty Spinelli’s passion for storytelling and in-depth narrative of historical figures makes her a sought-after speaker for local not-for-profit groups and civic organizations. Currently, Betty serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Sembrich.