Hilma Burt

Hilma Burt (sometimes misspelled Helma or Hilda Burthe or Burtte) was a brothel madam in Storyville, New Orleans during the early twentieth century. This area, also known as "The District", permitted legalized prostitution from 1897 to 1917 and became the most famous area for prostitution in the nation.
Until the district was shut down in 1917, Burt operated a lavish house of prostitution on Basin Street where composer and pianist Jelly Roll Morton was employed by Burt, while still a youth, to entertain customers.