In this special Volsteadland Live episode, Amy and Heather take the stage at the legendary CC Club in Minneapolis for a raucous, revealing, and sometimes emotional journey into the life and myth of Isadore “Kid Cann” Blumenfeld. Joined by authors, filmmakers, musicians, and descendants of the men who ran the town, we dive into the bullet-riddled underworld of Prohibition-era Minneapolis—and the family lore that still surrounds it.
Hear firsthand stories from:
• Ron de Beaulieu, author of Minnesota's Most Notorious Mobster, who tried to separate the man from the myth (and ended up in the ghost files).
• Michael Greenberg, filmmaker behind the short film The Combination, who aims to bring Minneapolis' Jewish mob history to the big screen.
• Paul Maccabee, author of John Dillinger Slept Here, who shares what finally brought Kid Cann down (spoiler: it wasn’t bullets).
• Marc Percansky and the extended Percansky family, who tell unforgettable stories about The Flame nightclub, pool cues, gangster funerals, and a glimpse into their grandfather, Abe Percansky.
• Sherwin and Pam Linton. Sherwin brings country music charm and jaw-dropping memorabilia from his days at The Flame (including bar counters and contracts!).
• Special guests from the audience, including Rita (with tales of blood oaths and milk bottle bootlegging) and David LaBonne (whose dad managed a prized liquor store), Percansky Cousin Michael, and one of the owners of the CC Club, Steve.
Plus: haunted soundboards, backroom politics, a mystery tunnel, and the Italian musician who wrote a haunting tribute to Kid Cann...from Italy.
🎧 Featured Song:
The Last Prayer for Isadore Blumenfeld by Paolo For Lee (used with permission)
📺 Related Links:
🎞️ Watch The Combination on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jtY82Ma5A18?si=L0k5uM9CqpIEdYkj
📖 Buy Minnesota's Most Notorious Mobster by Ron de Beaulieu: https://amzn.to/4jQKzGz
📖 Read John Dillinger Slept Here by Paul Maccabee: https://amzn.to/4jQKzGz
🎵 Learn more about Paolo For Lee’s Minneapolis project: https://www.youtube.com/@paoloforlee
🎤 Find Sherwin & Pam Linton’s tour dates: sherwinlinton.com | pamlinton.com
📚 Explore Twin Cities Music Highlights: twincitiesmusichighlights.net
Magic Marc Productions: https://www.magicmarcproductions.com/
Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound by Andrea Swensson: https://amzn.to/434j0mt
Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in a tiny commission to the podcast at no extra cost to you.
This episode was recorded May 3, 2025 at the CC Club in Minneapolis. This version was released May 16, 2025.
Volsteadland is a podcast about the seedy underworld of the 1920s and 30s and even beyond, in Minneapolis, with a special interest in Isadore Blumenfield, aka Kid Cann. In each episode, we choose a story from that era to present to you.
