In the early 20th century, Los Angeles was booming, and prostitution was a widespread phenomenon. This was especially true in the neighborhoods where laborers, sailors, and adventurers gathered. Losangeleska.com shares more about those times.
A Notorious Madam
In the past, Madam Cora Mae Phillips held sway over Hollywood’s vice. She owned an elite brothel called the “Golden Lion,” which was furnished with salons and tapestries. The brothel’s workers commanded higher prices than the much cheaper California prostitutes.
Madam Cora likely entered prostitution because she had few other options in Los Angeles. Women in this business were often alone. For example, after Madam Cora’s death, her insurance policy paid for her headstone. The stories of other famous women in the trade confirm this.
Top Books on Prostitution in Los Angeles
Liz Goldwyn, an author and filmmaker, released the book “Sporting Guide: Los Angeles.” We’ll start with this one. The title might be misleading, but it refers to the famous brothels of the era. It’s a brilliant, illustrated reproduction of a pocket guide to 1890s Los Angeles, a time when vice ruled the city.
Long before Hollywood became a magnet for dreamers, Madam Pearl Morton entertained the most famous politicians in her brothel. The book is a secret diary, a guide to the best brothels of the time. In the 1890s, a quiet conversation in a boudoir could destroy a person. The author conducted colossal research, basing her stories on data from Los Angeles libraries and archives. The story described in the book is inspired by a real person—Madam Cora Phillips.
The book reveals the history of prostitution in Los Angeles, where women wore tight corsets, applied makeup made from crushed pearl powder, and were treated for syphilis. These are stories forgotten by time, but they come alive again in these books.
Another book is “Good Time Girls of California: A History of the Red-Light District of the Golden State” by Jan MacKell Collins. It tells the story of the Gold Rush and the region’s rapid development, when thousands flocked West seeking fortune and riches. Prostitution flourished during this time, becoming an integral part of large cities and mining towns. In the book, the author focuses on the fates of the women who ended up in this industry. Who were they? Why did they choose this profession? Some were escaping poverty, others were tempted by the chance to get rich quick, and some dreamed of marrying well. Each woman’s story is one of survival, scorn, and hope. These women faced persecution, discrimination, imprisonment, and fines, yet they still found ways to survive. Some even achieved success, like Rosa May Hoodey and Madam Moustache.
A Glimpse into the Past
Downtown, near Alameda Street, low-rent establishments opened. In the early 1900s, Central Park in Los Angeles was a hub for the gay trade, while brick buildings housed elite brothels. In these prestigious establishments, men paid for the best service, which included the girls, the ambiance, laundry services, and champagne.
In those days, African American women could only work in African American brothels. However, men could receive services in all establishments; all doors were open to them.
Sacramento: Madams of the Past
- Eugenie Dumas ran a series of brothels in Sacramento for many years. The Hotel de France was the first brothel she owned. It burned down in the Great Fire of 1852, but she quickly opened new establishments, such as Frenchie’s Place, The Last Stop, and River City Saloon. Eugenie’s largest brothel was “The Clarendon,” which catered exclusively to an elite clientele of wealthy businessmen and politicians. The status of this brothel attracted other women to Sacramento. By the 1870s, Madam Eugenie’s famous brothels were closed.
- Cherry de St. Maurice ran “The Cherry Club” and “Cherry’s Place” in the early 1900s. A beautiful woman, she looked like a socialite and befriended high-ranking government officials. Strangely, she always carried a doll with her. Everyone who knew her believed she carried the doll because of an unhappy marriage and the abandonment of a child born out of wedlock. Madam Cherry was also called the “Queen of Sacramento.” Her life ended tragically; Cherry was found on the floor with a broken neck and signs of strangulation. Sam Raber claimed to have killed her accidentally and was sentenced to hang. A second man, Jack Drumgool, was sentenced to life in prison. Madam Cherry left no heirs, so all her money, jewelry, and property went to the state.
- Lucie Octave was another famous Sacramento madam who owned real estate by 1866. The woman left neither a will nor heirs.
The Story Continues
Prostitution in Los Angeles has changed under the influence of wars, economic crises, and shifts in legislation. Practitioners of the “oldest profession” have endured police raids, court cases, and public debates. Despite this, the history of prostitution in Los Angeles continues, albeit in a new, updated form adapted to modern conditions.