From the moment the Allen Brothers hawked their first town lots, Houston developed a reputation as a can-do town of business where real estate fortunes were made and oil men burnished their colorful reputations. There is another side to the Bayou City, however, a seedier side of flashing Bowie knives, privileged bad boys, hard-bitten prostitutes and unchecked serial killers. Perhaps it is the laissez faire Southeast Texas character, or maybe it is the same jealousy, revenge and madness that can be found in the remotest ends of the Earth, but Houston's past is filled with bloody tales, heartbreaking loss and downright creepiness.

This lecture explores a few of those disquieting stories and promises something new for even the most informed Houston history buff.

If you would like to reserve a box lunch for this lecture, please contact Elizabeth Martin by 11 a.m. on Jan. 14.