#Cincinnati Prostitution

[handeaux]

A Cincinnati Health Officer’s Plan To License ‘Ladies Of The Evening’ Ends In Grief

Nobody, but nobody, utters the word reglementation today. It’s even difficult to pronounce. In the early years of the Twentieth Century, reglementation was stolen from French to define an effort to regulate or license prostitution. Overall, the campaign was a failure pretty much everywhere, but especially in Cincinnati.

Why adopt a strange word that most modern spellcheckers refuse to recognize? The answer lies in the tightrope reglementers had to walk in 1900. On the one hand, they did not want to admit that they were regulating or licensing prostitution – making the practice legal, in other words – although that is exactly what they were doing. On the other hand, they did not want to imply they were attempting to eliminate prostitution, because they most certainly were not.

Cincinnati’s chief reglementer was Health Officer Clark Wargatt Davis. As the man charged by the Cincinnati Board of Health with ensuring the purity and vitality of the city, Doctor Davis spearheaded campaigns for pure milk, antiseptic telephone mouthpieces, stiff enforcement of the anti-expectoration ordinances and regular and vigorous inspections of slaughterhouses and butcher shops.

Soon after his appointment as Cincinnati Health Officer in 1900, Doctor Davis announced his plan to reduce the incidence of venereal disease in the city’s red-light district in the West End. His plan was based on reglementation, and it did not go smoothly at all.

It appears that a lot of Cincinnati doctors had been making considerable profit by offering check-ups and treatments to the “frail sisterhood” of the red-light district. Doctor Davis announced that, henceforth, only his hand-picked “district physicians” could certify the health of the city’s prostitutes because the freelance doctors outside his department were either dishonest or incompetent. That made him very popular with the local medical community, as you may imagine. Two of those freelancers, Doctor E.P. Joseph and his father, Doctor Alexander Joseph, responded to this accusation by filing a $10,000 slander suit against Doctor Davis that dragged on for several years.

Health Officer Davis originally proposed that each prostitute in the red-light district pay a fee of one dollar per weekly examination and certification. This led to what the Cincinnati Enquirer [6 March 1901] described as “a wholesale revolt among the denizens of the Tenderloin.” Davis agreed to reduce the fee to 50 cents. His 21 district physicians screened 400 to 500 prostitutes each week.

Although Doctor Davis maintained that his district physicians were superior in every way to the independent doctors who had been profiting from their examinations in the red-light district, at least one embarrassing incident suggested otherwise. When the police raided a brothel managed by a madam named Vonnie Avel in March 1901, District Physician William T. Lindsay was found in the madam’s private apartment. Davis at first excused Doctor Lindsay, claiming he was present on official business. That assertion aged rather poorly as more details emerged, and Davis eventually demanded that Lindsay resign.

Doctor Davis expected the Police Department to help enforce his program, but he discovered that Cincinnati’s officers were embedded in the system of graft that maintained the red-light district. On one occasion, a police officer was sent to arrest a woman who had skipped her examination. The officer claimed she could not be found, but it came out that she, in fact, occupied a room next-door to the officer’s mistress in the same bawdy house.

When the police did decide to track down an unlicensed “woman of the town,” the results were often embarrassing. As it turned out, identifying a sex worker was not a simple matter. Most women operated from brothels managed by a madam, but many maintained an independent practice. A police detective, acting on a tip, knocked on an apartment door on Central Avenue and informed the occupant that she was overdue for her hygienic exam. It turned out that she was the very respectable wife of a bank executive, who gave the Mayor a piece of his mind.

Enough friction developed between the Police Department and the Board of Health that Mayor Julius Fleischman was dragged into the controversy. The mayor did his best to put a happy face on matters, but the newspapers reported some heated discussions behind closed doors at City Hall.

Even when flagrant violators were brought into court, things didn’t go as Doctor Davis anticipated. There was no law against refusing to be examined by a doctor, so the recalcitrants were charged with loitering, a truly vague accusation. With rare exceptions, juries refused to convict on that flimsy allegation, infuriating the prosecuting attorney who complained that he was wasting his time on trivialities.

Health Officer Davis raised so many legal questions with his program to combat venereal disease that the City of Cincinnati ended up suing its own Health Officer to clarify the rights and responsibilities of the Health Department. In its suit, the city claimed that mandating regular medical examinations of the sex workers in the red-light district amounted to an abuse of corporate power and that there was no legislative authority to enforce such a program.

In his response to the suit, Doctor Davis testified that he was acting under the municipal law giving him authority to regulate the health of the city. Davis asserted that “certain contagious diseases” prevailed in “certain quarters” of the city and that he was authorized to take actions to inhibit the spread of such diseases. Further, by levying a reasonable fee, he was ensuring that “the expense of this work is made to be borne by those responsible for the existence of the disease.” Typical of the Reformist politicians of the era, Doctor Davis blamed the women infected by male customers rather than the men involved.

The major opposition to Health Officer Davis’ program was Cincinnati’s Municipal Reform League, a progressive organization. In addition to generally impotent attempts to banish gambling, boxing, most forms of Sunday entertainment and alcohol, the League endeavored to close the red-light district entirely. In essence, the Municipal Reform League believed that venereal disease was the just desserts for men who indulged their lusts in the palaces of sin. The League saw Doctor Davis’ disease-prevention efforts as only encouraging the social evil.

The argument raged for years, even after Doctor Davis departed city employment for the far more tranquil position of Medical Director for the Union Central Life Insurance Company. Cincinnati’s red-light district was officially shuttered in 1917 by order of the United States Army which prohibited cities from allowing such enclaves within five miles of a military training facility. Fort Thomas in Kentucky was less than five miles from the West End and that was that.

Well, almost. Although no longer officially designated and no longer regularly inspected, Cincinnati’s Tenderloin limped through the Great Depression and was only finally closed down when it was demolished for “urban renewal” in the 1950s.

#clark wargatt davis #clark davis #cincinnati prostitution #reglementation

[doppleganger-rental]

I’m not sure he lived his best life. He will always be remembered as the mayor of Cincinnati …who paid a prostitute with a check and then hosted a freak show.

#jerry springer #cincinnati

[paquettesdownfall]

This stupid ugly toad did a podcast - via zoom - (she in Cincinnati) with her wrinkled mother and her retarded brother (both in Canada), although she's in Canada as of yesterday.  Why not meet in person for such a conversation (it's about that Hunted House nonsense again)?  And look at the old prostitute (I don't mean her mother), look at the way her cheeks sag...she now looks more like a bulldog than Blue😂

[aslamat]

The Dark Legacy of Charles Manson: Unpacking the Mind of a Cult Leader

Charles Manson, a name that sends shivers down the spines of many, is a figure etched in the annals of American criminal facts. As the mastermind behind the Manson Family murders, Manson's reign of terror inside the late Sixties left a direction of bloodshed, destruction, and a rustic in surprise. In this weblog placed up, we are going to delve into the life and times of Charles Manson, exploring the factors that common his twisted worldview and the events that induced one of the maximum notorious cults in current facts.

Early Life and Influences Born on November 12, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Charles Manson modified into the manufactured from a home. His mother, Kathleen Maddox, become a teenage prostitute who frequently left her son within the care of partner and kids or foster homes. Manson's early life come to be marked with the aid of overlook, abuse, and a revolving door of caregivers. These formative opinions ought to later shape his distorted perspectives on family, love, and loyalty.

Manson's fascination with music and the counterculture motion of the 1960s led him to California, wherein he started out to construct a following of disaffected youths. He drew notion from the Beatles, the Bible, and numerous philosophical texts, weaving a twisted narrative that equated love with obedience and sacrifice.

The Manson Family Manson's charisma and persuasive skills attracted a various business enterprise of young human beings, loads of whom had been disappointed with mainstream society. He promised them a sense of belonging, popularity, and a return to a simpler way of life. The Manson Family, as they got here to be regarded, turn out to be an amazing-knit community positive with the useful resource of a shared belief in Manson's teachings.

The employer's each day ordinary consisted of meditation, track, and menial obligations, all designed to boost Manson's authority and manipulate. He preached a gospel of loose love, however in fact, he come to be the only arbiter of relationships and sexual encounters within the corporation.

The Tate- LaBianca Murders On August 9, 1969, Manson's followers committed a heinous crime that might all of the time be etched within the public focus. The brutal murders of actress Sharon Tate, her future little bone, and four others at her Los Angeles domestic had been discovered day after moment with the resource of the bloodbath of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, a brace who lived hard.

The killings were unpleasant and reputedly random, with the simplest obvious connection being the sufferers' association with the rich and famous. Manson's motivation, however, come to be an extended manner more sinister. He believed that by means of committing the ones atrocities, he should spark a race battle, which he dubbed "Helter Skelter," a time period borrowed from the Beatles' tune.

Trial and Conviction Manson's arrest in October 1969 marked the beginning of a protracted and tumultuous criminal journey. His trial, which began out in 1970, modified right into a media sensation, with Manson's wild-eyed stare and defiant demeanor charming the nation.

In the end, Manson turned into condemned of first- degree murder and conspiracy to devote murder, at the hand of several of his suckers. He crop as doomed to loss of life, but the judgment modified into latterly changed to actuality in captivity while California abolished the death penalty in 1972.

Legacy and Impact Charles Manson's darkish legacy extends a long way beyond the confines of his cult. His movements and ideals have stimulated endless other businesses and people, perpetuating a cycle of violence and worry.

Manson's tale serves as a exemplary tale roughly the pitfalls of eyeless obedience, the corrupting effect of electricity, and the ruinous results of unbounded pride. As we reflect on his actuality and crimes, we are reminded of the significance of pivotal thinking, empathy, and the need to venture dangerous testaments in advance than they take root.

Conclusion Charles Manson's lifestyles become a twisted tapestry of chaos, destruction, and loss of lifestyles. His actions left an indelible mark on American records, a grim reminder of the horrors that may spread while we surrender to the whims of a charismatic chief. As we remember the victims of the Manson Family murders, we want to additionally renowned the enduring impact of Manson's dark legacy and maintain to train ourselves about the warning signs of cult conduct.

#CharlesManson #MansonFamily #CultLeaders #TrueCrime #MansonFamilyMurders #HelterSkelter #1960sCounterculture #SharonTate #LenoAndRosemaryLaBianca #CultPsychology #CriminalHistory #NotoriousCriminals #RaceWar #CultInfluence #MediaSensation #TrialAndConviction #LegacyOfCharlesManson #WarningSignsOfCults #PowerAndManipulation #CharismaticLeaders

[twentythreemillionstories]

Tuesday 16th January 2024, Cincinnati, 4.27pm.

#161,777 — A coyote is seen in Central Park, pursued and finally captured. She has to prostitute herself to survive, but she keeps writing letters to her mother about her wonderful acting career.

[paranormalworld8888]

Charles Manson: Manson Family Cult Leader

Let's take a deep dive into the dark and chilling world of Charles Manson: the infamous cult leader of the Manson Family. This captivating article will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Manson's criminal mind, his heinous acts, and the intense manhunt that led to his capture. Through forensic analysis, investigation, and eyewitness testimonies, we will delve into the horrifying crimes committed by Manson and his followers. Discover the captivating details of this true crime case, from the haunting murder spree to the trial and sentencing that followed. Brace yourself for a chilling exploration of Charles Manson and the Manson Family. Early Life This image is property of pixabay.com. "Uncover the Dark Secrets Behind History's Most Infamous Killers!" Childhood Charles Manson's early childhood was marked by instability and dysfunction. He was born on November 12, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother, Kathleen Maddox, was a teenage prostitute who struggled with substance abuse. Manson never knew his father, and his mother was unable to provide a stable home for him. As a result, he spent much of his early life in and out of correctional facilities. Family Background Manson's family background was troubled, with a history of criminal behavior and instability. His mother, Kathleen Maddox, had a criminal record of her own, including charges of robbery and assault. Manson's father was unknown, and he was given the last name "Manson" from William Manson, a man Kathleen briefly married after Charles' birth. Criminal Record Manson's criminal record began at a young age when he was first arrested for burglary at the age of eight. This marked the beginning of a pattern of criminal behavior that would continue throughout his life. Manson spent a significant amount of time in and out of correctional institutions, including juvenile detention centers and federal prisons. These experiences shaped his worldview and contributed to his later involvement in criminal activities. Formation of the Manson Family Recruitment In the late 1960s, Manson began to attract a following of young, impressionable individuals who became known as the Manson Family. He used various manipulative tactics, including mind control techniques, to recruit and exert control over his followers. Manson preyed on vulnerable individuals who were seeking a sense of belonging and purpose in their lives. Through a combination of charisma and psychological manipulation, he was able to convince them to follow him unquestioningly. "Dive Deep: What Really Drives a Psychopath?" Beliefs and Ideologies Manson promoted a twisted ideology that was rooted in a blend of various esoteric beliefs, including elements of Christianity, Scientology, and the occult. He presented himself as a messiah-like figure and claimed to have received messages from a higher power. Manson believed in an impending apocalyptic race war, which he called "Helter Skelter." He manipulated his followers into carrying out violent acts in the hopes of inciting this race war and ultimately emerging as the leader of the new world order. Crimes Committed by the Manson Family Tate-LaBianca Murders The most notorious crimes committed by the Manson Family were the Tate-LaBianca murders. On August 8, 1969, Manson ordered a group of his followers to carry out a series of brutal killings. They targeted the home of actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, along with four other victims. The following night, they murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their Los Angeles home. The crimes were marked by extreme brutality and shocked the nation. Other Crimes In addition to the Tate-LaBianca murders, the Manson Family was responsible for several other crimes. They engaged in armed robberies, auto thefts, and other acts of violence. Manson and his followers saw themselves as above the law and believed that their crimes were necessary to bring about the impending race war. Cult Leader Persona Manipulation Tactics Manson possessed a unique ability to manipulate and control those around him. He used a combination of psychological, emotional, and physical coercion to break down the will of his followers and make them completely reliant on him. Manson employed techniques such as isolation, sleep deprivation, and mind-altering drugs to ensure his followers remained submissive and obedient. "Evil Minds Decoded: Are You Brave Enough to Understand?" Psychopathic Traits Manson exhibited a range of psychopathic traits, including a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and an inflated sense of self-importance. He exhibited a charismatic charm that allowed him to gain the trust and loyalty of his followers. Manson's ability to exert control over others and his complete disregard for the well-being of those around him is characteristic of psychopathy. Investigation and Arrest Discovery of the Murders The murders committed by the Manson Family shocked the nation and initiated one of the largest and most complex investigations in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. The brutal nature of the crimes, as well as their high-profile victims, garnered intense media attention and put pressure on law enforcement to bring the culprits to justice. Suspects and Evidence The investigation into the Tate-LaBianca murders eventually led the police to the Manson Family. Through a combination of evidence, including witness statements and physical evidence found at the crime scenes, law enforcement was able to identify the individuals responsible. Manson and several of his followers were arrested and charged with murder. Trial and Legal Proceedings Courtroom Drama The trial of Charles Manson and his followers was marked by intense media coverage and courtroom drama. Manson used the trial as a platform to espouse his twisted beliefs and gain attention. He frequently disrupted the proceedings and engaged in bizarre behavior, further adding to the spectacle surrounding the trial. Legal Defense Manson and his followers were provided with legal representation, but they largely chose to represent themselves. Their defense strategies were often chaotic and focused on presenting themselves as innocent victims rather than engaging with the actual evidence against them. The trial was further complicated by the involvement of various co-defendants, each with their own unique defense strategies. Verdict and Sentencing After a lengthy trial, Manson and several of his followers were found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder. Manson himself was initially sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life in prison when California abolished the death penalty in 1972. The remaining members of the Manson Family were also sentenced to life imprisonment. Impact on Society Public Reaction The crimes committed by the Manson Family left a lasting impact on society. The extreme brutality of the murders, combined with Manson's charismatic persona, captivated the public's attention. The case sparked widespread fear and fascination, leading to increased interest in cults, mind control, and the dark side of human nature. Cult Following Despite being imprisoned, Manson maintained a dedicated cult following. His ability to manipulate and control others continued even behind bars. Manson became a symbol of rebellion and counterculture movement for some, perpetuating his legacy of violence and manipulation. Media Coverage The Manson Family case received extensive media coverage, both during the trials and in the years that followed. The sensational nature of the crimes and Manson's larger-than-life persona made for compelling news stories. The case influenced the way the media covers criminal trials and contributed to the rise of true crime as a popular genre. Imprisonment and Death Life in Prison After being convicted, Manson spent the remainder of his life in various correctional facilities. His time in prison was marked by continued manipulation and attempts to exert control over others. Manson often granted interviews to journalists and continued to garner attention from the media. Attempts for Parole Manson continuously sought parole and was denied multiple times. His parole hearings captivated the public's attention and reignited interest in the crimes committed by the Manson Family. The parole board cited his continued dangerousness and lack of remorse as reasons for denying his release. Death Charles Manson died on November 19, 2017, at the age of 83. He passed away in prison due to natural causes. Manson's death marked the end of an era and brought an end to the ongoing fascination with his twisted charisma and the crimes of the Manson Family. Cultural Legacy Books, Movies, and Documentaries The story of Charles Manson and the Manson Family has been extensively documented in various forms of media. Numerous books, movies, and documentaries have explored the crimes, investigation, and the psyche of Manson himself. These portrayals have contributed to the enduring fascination with the case and its cultural impact. Influence on Popular Culture The Manson Family case has had a significant influence on popular culture. References to Manson and his crimes can be found in music, TV shows, and films. The dark allure of Manson's charisma and the brutal acts committed by his followers continue to captivate audiences and serve as a cautionary tale of the destructive power of manipulation and extremism. Conclusion Legacy of Violence The crimes committed by Charles Manson and the Manson Family left an indelible mark on history. The extreme brutality of the Tate-LaBianca murders and Manson's ability to manipulate and control others continue to fascinate and terrify. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can exist within the human psyche. Lessons Learned The Manson Family case is a stark reminder of the dangers of charismatic leaders and the power of manipulation. It serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and maintaining individual autonomy. The case also underscores the need for vigilance in identifying and preventing the influence of destructive ideologies. "Discover the Disturbing Truth Behind the World's Most Notorious Criminal Minds!" Read the full article

[wikibiofact]

Jerry Springer Net Worth and Biography: The Story of a Successful Talk Show Host

Jerry Springer is a well-known American talk show host, television personality, and former politician. Jerry Springer's net worth is known to be around $60 million. 

Jerry Springer, who was a renowned broadcaster and actor, has died at the age of 79. He passed away at his residence in Chicago on April 27, 2023, after battling pancreatic cancer for the past few months. His sudden death was confirmed by Jene Galvin, a spokesperson for Jerry's family.

With the majority of his wealth coming from his television career. However, he has also made money from other ventures, such as his appearances in movies and his work as a political commentator.

In this blog post, we will explore Jerry Springer's life, career, and net worth. We will look at how he became famous, what he did before hosting his own show, and how he has managed to maintain his success over the years.

Early Life and Career

Jerry Springer took birth on February 13th,  1944, in London, United Kingdom, in a family of Jewish refugees running to save their lives during Holocaust. His family immigrated to the United States when he was five years old and settled in Queens, New York. Springer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University, where he specialized in political science.

After completing his studies, Springer attended Northwestern University School of Law and earned his law degree in 1968. He then began practicing law in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also served on the city council and later became the mayor of the city. Springer's political career ended in 1974 when he was caught in a scandal involving paying for the services of a prostitute.....Read More

#jerryspringer #jerryspringershow #judgejerry #mauryshow #maury #comedy #jerrygarcia #maurypovich #stevewilkosshow #steveharvey #memes #stevewilkos #funny #love #jerrystiller #jerryseinfeld #trashtv #talkshow

#celebrity biography #celebrity news #Judge Jerry Springer #talkshow #talkradio

[checkthreetimes]

𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

Jerry Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor and talk show host who became one of the most controversial and influential figures in American television, died on Thursday.

His death was confirmed by a family spokesperson who says He died peacefully in his Chicago home.

Springer was best known for his long-running daytime show, The Jerry Springer Show, which debuted in 1991 and ran for 27 seasons until 2018. The show featured guests who revealed their darkest secrets, confessed their infidelities, confronted their enemies and often engaged in physical fights, while Springer moderated the chaos with a mix of humor and empathy.

The show was notorious for its sensationalism, vulgarity and violence, earning Springer the nickname of "the ringmaster of the circus". It also attracted millions of viewers who were either fascinated or appalled by the spectacle of human drama.

Springer defended his show as a form of entertainment and social commentary, saying that he was giving a voice to people who were marginalized and ignored by mainstream media. He also claimed that he did not exploit his guests, but rather helped them resolve their issues.

"I don't judge them. I don't exploit them. I don't tell them what to do. I just listen to them," he said in a 1998 interview with CNN.

Springer's show also inspired several spin-offs, parodies and imitations, as well as a musical, Jerry Springer: The Opera, which won several awards in London. Springer himself appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Ringmaster and Dancing with the Stars. He also hosted other shows, such as America's Got Talent, Baggage and Judge Jerry.

Springer was born on February 13, 1944, in London, England, to Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany. He moved to the United States with his family when he was five years old and grew up in Queens, New York. He graduated from Tulane University with a degree in political science and from Northwestern University with a law degree.

He began his career as a lawyer and political activist, working for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968. He ran for Congress in Ohio in 1970 but lost. He was elected to the Cincinnati city council in 1971 but resigned in 1974 after admitting that he had hired a prostitute with a personal check. He later regained his seat and became the mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978.

He then switched to journalism and became a news anchor and commentator for WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, where he won several awards for his reporting. He also hosted a radio show and a syndicated talk show called The Jerry Springer Show, which was different from his later show of the same name.

In 1991, he moved to Chicago and relaunched his talk show as a more provocative and sensational program, following the success of The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Phil Donahue Show. His show soon became a ratings hit and a cultural phenomenon, making Springer one of the most recognizable and controversial personalities on television.

Springer was married to Micki Velton from 1973 to 1994 and had one daughter, Katie. He was also involved in several charitable causes, such as animal rights, veterans' affairs and children's education.

He is survived by his daughter, his longtime partner Krista Noland and his two grandchildren.

[keywestlou]

DONALD TRUMP’S LONELY NEW YEAR’S EVE

DONALD TRUMP’S LONELY NEW YEAR’S EVE - https://keywestlou.com/donald-trumps-lonely-new-years-eve/Donald Trump's New Year's Eve was nowhere as grandiose as those of recent years. Even before his Presidency. The "quality" of his guests tell the tale. A very limited number of "name" guests. The most prominent person in attendance was Rudy Giuliani. Says it all! Number 2 was the My Pillow guy. And third, son Eric. Son Donald Jr. and daughter Ivanka failed to attend. The remainder of the guests Mar-a-Lago members. Bess Levin says a Ron DeSantis Presidency would be as terrifying as a Trump. Kevin McCarthy's campaign for Speaker political prostitution at its best. His failure on the first ballot, as is anticipated, will result in an unprecedented floor fight. The first in modern times. His failure to obtain the required 218 votes will leave the House in chaos for the next 2 years. Bad blood will remain. His win on the first ballot will create a major problem for him if it occurs. He sold his soul to get the job. Clearly reflecting his inability to be a leader. Hooray for the Ukrainians. On New Year's day, they bombed a Russian stronghold located on Ukrainian soil. Depending on who is releasing the news, 63 or 400 Russians were killed. the Ukraines fired 4 rockets supplied them by the U.S. - HIMARS launchers. The "kill" justified retribution. Proof that what goes around does come around. Vengeance in the finest sense. Moscow is demanding punishment of the Russian commanders in charge of the area. Someone has to be held responsible! A major sports tragedy occurred last night at the Bills/Bengals game in Cincinnati. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during the game. He made a tackle, got up and fell backward. Cardiac arrest. He received CPR and other appropriate treatment on the field and then was ambulanced off to a hospital. He remains in critical condition. The event occurred in the first quarter. The game was called at that point. Not completed. The players from both teams kneeled together in prayer while Hamlin was being treated on the field. Many were crying. Susan Neill has been a Key West friend for 20 years. She was Dr. McIvor's assistant for the 20 years he was my heart doctor. I developed a close relationship with both. Dr. McIvor died a year ago. Susan was sickly during his last year. After his death, her condition went into a dramatically downward spiral. She ended up in a hospital in northern Florida. We kept in contact. With diminished frequency. Then nothing. I assumed my unanswered calls meant she had died. The last time we actually talked was prior to my parathyroid surgery in July. For some reason, she was frequently on  my mind this past week. Yesterday, I received a telephone call from her. She was alive! Sounded well. Attitude good. Where had I been she wanted to know. I told her of "her death." Susan has recovered. Now, retired. Is moving today with her son and his family to Maryland where she will live with them. Best news I received over the holidays! I definitely will keep in contact, as will she. My eyes are tearful. Hearing from Susan is a God is good thing. I never expected it. Syracuse/Louisville basketball tonight at 7 pm. Syracuse should win. Never know, however. Louisville is 2-12 for the season and 0-3 in the ACC. Syracuse 9-5 and 2-1. Enjoy your day! I wish each of you a Susan Neill type call!  

[amywestley22]

How A Prostitution Sting Could Take Down The Largest Hedge Fund In Oregon

The arrest of Jim Bisenius, founder of $3 billion hedge fund Common Sense Investment Management, rocked Portland's close-knit finance community.

Among the affluent and proper chattering classes in Portland, Oregon, Jim Bisenius, the 62-year-old founder of the state's largest hedge fund, preferred to keep a low profile, letting his evangelical Christianity and charitable contributions shape his reputation among his peers.

That's why his arrest last week in a prostitution sting shocked the Portland finance world and threw the fate of his 22-year-old firm, Common Sense Investment Management, into uncertainty.

Multiple sources close to Bisenius professionally and personally told BuzzFeed they were floored by his arrest and that Bisenius was the "absolute last person" you'd expect to be implicated in a prostitution sting. These sources said some people in the community were so surprised by the revelation that they consulted public records on Bisenius to confirm that he was indeed involved in the sting.

Outside of his nonprofit, The Master's Plan, and his substantial philanthropic donations to the Christian youth group Young Life, Bisenius kept such a low profile that The Oregonian's initial report on his arrest failed to make the connection to Common Sense.

Bisenius' Arrest Could Spell Trouble for Common Sense

Even before Bisenius' arrest, it was a poorly kept secret of the Portland finance community that his once high-flying hedge fund was in trouble.

Common Sense experienced huge financial growth beginning around 2000, with assets peaking between $4 billion and $5 billion, according to sources familiar with the hedge fund's books. But performance waned in recent years and assets dwindled to just under $3 billion, made up of mostly foundation and endowment money and that of high-net-worth families. (Common Sense did count some midsize public and corporate pensions among its clients.)

The firm got hit hard last winter after partners and portfolio managers Scott Kelly and Jonathan McGowan left abruptly, eventually starting their own fund, 801 West Capital. The departures, coupled with the fund's weak returns, resulted in a handful of client redemptions — basically, investors asking for their money back.

Despite the downward spiral, one of Common Sense's largest investors — Portland-based institutional consultancy Arnerich Massena — stuck with the fund. Sources attributed the loyalty to the fact that the consultancy's CEO, Tony Arnerich, worked together closely with Bisenius earlier in his career.

But Bisenius' arrest seems to have been too much to take. BuzzFeed exclusively obtained a memo sent by Arnerich Massena to its clients (image below) advising a full redemption of assets invested with Common Sense.

"At this time, we also believe the prudent course of action is to provide notice to CSIM for a potential full redemption of CSLB at year end," the letter said. "While our continuous due diligence of CSIM has never given us reason to question the firm's integrity or their safekeeping of our clients' assets, Mr. Bisenius' arrest raises serious concerns in spite of the fact that everyone is innocent until proven guilty under the American legal system. As such, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates on any changes at CSIM and to our recommendation as we learn more."

Representatives for both Common Sense and Arnerich Massena did not return phone calls seeking comment. Common Sense did say last week that it would stand by Bisenius in spite of his legal troubles.

In addition, public pension clients The Fresno County Employees' Retirement Association and the Cincinnati Retirement System both also fired Common Sense this week.

Reputation Tarnished

Still, even with those redemptions, Common Sense has hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars under management. A consulting source familiar with the fund's investments and history said its only hope may be to shrink down to a much smaller entity to survive — and even that might not work.

Some are worried, perhaps ironically, that the fund's struggle to stay viable will be such a distraction that turning around its performance will suffocate under its weight. Closure would be a major blow not only to the roughly 60 employees of Common Sense and Bisenius' foundation, which shares an office and is closely tied to the fund, but also to the handful of smaller managers of which Common Sense, as a fund of hedge funds, is a client.

Small wonder, then, that in the eyes of Portland's rattled finance community, Bisenius' reputation will never be the same.

[handeaux]

That Was No Lady Whose Pooch Poached The Prize At Cincinnati’s First Dog Show

The oddly specific award, presented at Cincinnati’s first major dog show, was buried in a long list of prizes bestowed upon the finest canines in the Queen City:

“The finest and handsomest dog of any kind, and owned and entered by a lady, a gold-mounted collar; awarded Miss Jeanne Bassett; spaniel John Wilson.”

Therein lies a tale (or tail).

It was 1877. New York attracted a great deal of national attention with the inaugural Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Boston announced it would soon stage a similar event. In Cincinnati, George M. Arnold, an actor, and Robert Miles, proprietor of the Grand Opera House on Vine Street, decided that New York had nothing on our fair city and announced a major dog show to take place on Mount Adams in late June.

Arnold and Miles procured a large vacant lot next-door to the Highland House at the top of the Mount Adams Incline. Many years before, the property held a fireworks factory and in the future the Rookwood Pottery would locate there. On this plot, Miles erected an immense circus tent, 150 feet in diameter, sheltering 250 kennels.

Dogs were packed in everywhere. They came in all sizes, from a “Siberian Bloodhound” (a type of mastiff) weighing 192 pounds, to Toodles, a “black and tan,” who tipped the scales at just over 24 ounces. Cincinnatians kept different breeds back then. Newfoundlands were popular, as were spaniels, poodles, Irish setters and pointers. Other breeds seem exotic today, such as coach dogs, fox dogs (believed to be fox-dog hybrids – an impossibility), Greenham dogs and Russian shepherds.

The show got off to a wet start. Although Thursday, June 21, started out fine, a storm “of no ordinary importance” blew through and soaked the pavilion, scattering the crowd and soaking the grounds. After retying the tent ropes and hauling in a couple of truckloads of straw, the show went on, attracting so many customers at a quarter apiece that an extra day was tacked on to accommodate demand.

Other cities took envious notice. The Indianapolis Journal opined that Cincinnati staged the canine exposition to direct attention away from accusations by the Temperance newspapers that local brewers were selling adulterated suds. The St. Louis Times observed that Cincinnati was on a roll, with the dog show opening simultaneously with the display of a live beluga whale at Mount Auburn’s Lookout House, a revived professional baseball team and the ribbon cutting for the new Cincinnati-Southern Railroad.

At the conclusion of the show, the newspapers printed lengthy lists of prize winners and a couple of controversies. Dognapers stole some of the prize dogs from their be-ribboned kennels and a few pooches escaped. A lawsuit or two alleged that judges had illegally awarded prizes to undeserving mutts and the owners of a few honored dogs claimed they never received their prizes. Still, the show was declared a roaring success, a feather in Cincinnati’s cap, until, that is, the Cincinnati Gazette [26 June 1877] spilled the beans:

“At the dog show held last week, the prize for the ‘handsomest and finest dog of any kind, owned and entered by a lady,’ a gold-mounted collar, was awarded to the keeper of a house of ill-fame. The dog was named after a circus-rider who, a few days ago, shot a man with the intention of killing him.”

All of this was true. The lady in question was Jeanne Bassett, who maintained a brothel at 130 Longworth Street, the very heart of Cincinnati’s red-light district. Miss Bassett was no stranger to the newspapers. In fact, her recent feud with a neighboring madam, Kate Riley, had gotten so out-of-control that the police “pulled” both houses and fined the landladies and inmates for disturbing the peace.

Madam Bassett’s award-winning spaniel was named John Wilson and may have been a gift from the gentleman with that name. Mr. Wilson was, as the Gazette intimated, a sometime equestrian for the John Robinson Circus, based in Cincinnati. As his namesake dog was wowing the judges on Mount Adams, Wilson himself was incarcerated, unable to raise bail after shooting a security guard at Wood’s Theater. As is often the case with hot-headed gunplay, alcohol was involved. In the middle of a pub crawl, Wilson and a friend, gambler Bob Cathcart, popped into Wood’s Theater at the southeast corner of Sixth and Vine. There, private policeman Charles Thompson told Cathcart to ditch his cigar. Wilson took offense and shot Thompson as they argued. Wilson fled but sent a messenger to Miss Bassett’s house. The young courier was intercepted by the police and led officers to Wilson’s hideout. Miss Bassett apparently raised money to guarantee Wilson’s bond.

All of this was still fresh in the public’s mind as the dog show was organized. It would be beyond belief that Bob Miles, the theater impresario, and George Arnold, the actor, were unfamiliar with Jeanne Bassett and her Longworth Street house. They surely would have heard about the shooting at Wood’s Theater. How they allowed Miss Bassett to register her spaniel, much less take top honors, is a bit of a mystery.

The scandal of Miss Bassett’s success, however, cast a pall over the entire enterprise and it was some years before anyone dared to stage another dog show in Cincinnati.

#cincinnati dog show #cincinnati prostitution #mount adams

[handeaux]

Cincinnati’s White-Slavery Crusader Couldn’t Resist Forbidden Sweets

When Leonard A. Watson, officer of the court, was discovered naked in the bed of a known prostitute, he uttered a most unusual statement.

Watson was the Secretary – essentially the executive director – of Cincinnati’s Vigilance Society. The society was devoted to ending white slavery, the seduction of young women into prostitution. According to a report Watson compiled for national distribution, prostitution in Cincinnati was worse than anywhere in the United States.

“When Detective Sergeant Bowler of Chicago was in Cincinnati, early in the month of February, 1911, and walking through the outskirts of the ‘red light’ district with me, between eight and nine o 'clock one evening, he was aghast at what he saw, and stated that never at any time, would such things have been tolerated in Chicago, as were transpiring openly in Cincinnati. This was but another way of saying, what we, who have been waging a war against the ‘white slave’ traffic and its kindred vices, have realized for a long time, namely, that Cincinnati is perhaps the most depraved city, from the view point of public immorality, in the country.”

Cincinnati’s red-light district, from around 1880 to 1918, occupied a large swath of the West End, from Plum Street westward to Mound Street between Fifth Street and Seventh Street. On George Street, which ran between Sixth and Seventh, there were 45 brothels between Plum and Mound. Just one block of Longworth Street, which ran between Fifth and Sixth, offered 18 “bagnios.”

As the designated agent of the Vigilance Society, L.A. Watson was deputized as an officer of the Juvenile Court and given free rein to investigate wayward women in Cincinnati’s brothels, particularly to search for underage girls brought to Cincinnati across state lines in violation of the new 1910 anti-white slavery law known as the Mann Act. In fact, Watson proudly included in his national report the details of his most successful case, arresting a prostitute and her madam, both of whom were convicted of Mann Act violations.

“Emma Harris, who for twenty-three years has kept one of the largest and most lavishly equipped houses in the city, which she owns, was sentenced to four years at hard labor, in the federal penitentiary, at Leavenworth, together with the costs of prosecution.

“Bessie Green, twenty-six years old, who for several years had been an inmate of the Harris house, and who acted as the emissary of Emma Harris in bringing two girls from Charleston, W. Va., was sentenced to one year at hard labor in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, together with the costs of prosecution.”

So, imagine the surprise of Frank Kuhn, juvenile court probation officer, when he discovered Watson in flagrante delicto with, of all people, Bessie Green, in the brothel owned by the notorious Emma Harris. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer [28 December 1911], when Officer Kuhn, accompanied by Cincinnati Police Sergeant John F. Ringer, pulled the blankets off Watson’s unclothed form, the Vigilance Society Secretary said:

“The jig is up, Kuhn. But don’t say anything for God’s sake. I can do you a great deal of good. I’m done and will quit. Everyone is liable to fall sometime. Don’t be too hard on me.”

To Sergeant Ringer, assigned to patrol the red-light district, Watson said something even more peculiar, suggesting that his behavior was not a one-time event:

“You’ve been trying to get me long enough.”

Publicly, Watson claimed he was framed. The nefarious white-slave ring, he asserted, had drugged him and led him into Bessie Green’s bed. He told the Cincinnati Post [28 December 1911]:

“I merely have been a fool. To think of a man of the world and sophisticated, allowing myself to be the victim of a conspiracy like this.”

There were forces at work, Watson told reporters, that implicated powerful people in Cincinnati and would shock the populace once the facts came out.

He may have been correct. Watson arrived in Cincinnati a few years before his embarrassing downfall and immediately accused the Cincinnati Police Department of lax enforcement of the vice laws, which was certainly the case. In January of 1911, Watson presented a list of people who owned property in the red-light district to a meeting of ministers. Allegedly, some of the most prominent names in Cincinnati society appeared on that list. Not surprisingly, none of the city’s newspapers would print the roll of shame.

On the other hand, Watson had a habit over several months of bouncing checks all over the red-light district. The night before he was exposed, witnesses saw Watson and a companion enter the Diamond Saloon, directly across the street from Emma Harris’ brothel. The proprietor there, J.L. Franks, told police that Watson asked to see the saloon’s girls. When Frank informed him that there were no women on the premises, Watson and his companion walked over to the Harris place.

The only outcome from any investigation were two lawsuits. Watson sued the Vigilance Society to recover back pay and the Vigilance Society sued Watson claiming he owed them money. A few members of the Vigilance Society believed Watson’s conspiracy theory and backed him in organizing a new anti-white slavery organization, but nothing came of it. The original Vigilance Society continued its work but agreed that sending male agents into the red-light district might not be the optimum approach. They advertised to recruit women agents.

Neither of the lawsuits went anywhere, both Watson and the Vigilance Society agreeing that discretion was called for as they settled privately. Emma Harris and Bessie Green both went to prison in 1913 after their appeals failed.

One footnote to Leonard A. Watson’s legacy in Cincinnati might be mentioned. Watson was among the few men who openly supported women’s suffrage. In August 1911, Watson announced a meeting to organize a Men for Woman Suffrage organization to support women’s right to vote. No one showed up.

#leonard a. watson #vigilance society #cincinnati prostitution #emma harris #bessie green #mann act

[handeaux]

Ringing Down The Final Curtain: A Most Curious Assortment Of Cincinnati Deaths

Over the years, quite a few Cincinnatians have shuffled off this mortal coil under very curious circumstances. Here are eleven examples from the macabre annals of our city’s history.

Death By Clown #1 It was Halloween night in 1921. Joseph Clark, a factory worker, was walking home through Lower Price Hill near the intersection of Eighth and State. He may not have noticed, across the street, that a fracas involving three men wearing clown costumes battling a half-dozen rowdies had escalated beyond mere fisticuffs. One of the clowns, William Shewmaker, pulled a gun and fired several rounds either very poorly aimed or as warning shots. One shot hit Clark squarely in the chest and he died at the scene. One of the assailants, Robert Cahill, died later from a gunshot wound. A jury failed to convict Shewmaker, the killer clown.

Death By Tin Horn #1 On a delightful spring evening in 1877, fourteen-year-old James McKenna and his friends chased each other along Ellen Street, then located along the base of Mount Adams. Their game appeared to involve grabbing and holding a child’s tin horn. The street was steeply inclined and poorly maintained. As he ran down the hill, tin horn in hand, James tripped on a tree root bulging out of the pavement and fell lengthwise on the slope. The tin horn punctured his jugular vein and blood spouted profusely from the wound. James attempted to struggle home, just a block away, but fainted halfway there. His friends carried his lifeless body to his distraught mother.

The Chalk Will Julia Butterfass, an invalid aged 67 in 1895, was despondent and regularly announced that she planned to end her life. So often had she declared her morbid intent, and so often failed to carry out her threat, that her family stopped paying attention. Her chronic condition was exacerbated by the declining health of her husband, Jacob, a varnisher who could not hold a steady job because of his own health issues. One morning, Julia arose to prepare breakfast and then made a fateful decision. She returned to her room and scrawled her last will and testament in chalk on the floor of her closet. When the rest of the family woke up and noted her absence, they searched the house and found her note, which read: “Good-bye friends. I am tired of life and am going to commit suicide. I leave all my clothes to my daughter.” Searching outside, the family discovered that Julia had drowned herself in the backyard cistern.

Incinerated By Mouthwash In November 1894, Leah Clifford was 20 years old and worked as a prostitute in Georgia Hudson’s brothel at 145 George Street in the West End. As she dressed to attend the theater one evening, Leah opened a bottle of mouthwash, prescribed by Dr. Charles Muscroft and prepared by druggist David Allen. Whether improperly prescribed by Dr. Muscroft or improperly compounded by Mr. Allen, the bottle contained a dentifrice known as pyrozone dissolved in highly flammable ether. When Leah lit a match, the bottle exploded, spraying her with incendiary liquid. She ran screaming from the house, setting fires wherever she stumbled. Transported to the hospital, she died hours later and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery.

Sledding Into Eternity Frank Mauntel was 19 in 1919. He was a linotype operator and lived on Milton Street, just off Sycamore Hill. In December of that year, the snows landed heavy and froze overnight. Sycamore Hill was the hottest “coasting” hill in the city and young people assembled there in packs to try their skill navigating the precipitous drop down to Liberty Street. Mauntel took his turn and hurtled downhill, just as an automobile driven by Albert Schraeder of Delhi chugged through the intersection. Mauntel didn’t stand a chance. He was the 71st death by automobile in Cincinnati in 1919 and the second to die by sledding or “coasting” in the streets.

Frozen In A Quarry Henry Mastrup and John Mastrup were brothers who lived in South Fairmount at the base of Bald Knob. In 1905, they eked out a spare existence digging limestone out of Anthony Spitzmueller’s quarry at the top of Amor Street. Henry had been feeling poorly, but rallied one February afternoon and said he would take a walk, wrapping himself in three layers of clothes. When Henry did not return in time for dinner, John went looking for his brother. In the winter darkness, John found Henry frozen to death, sitting on a large stone in the quarry. John lit a match to examine the body, determined that he was in fact extinct, then walked home to eat dinner, leaving his brother’s corpse in the quarry all night. In the morning, John flagged down a cop, who called a patrol to remove the body. The coroner, incredulous, asked John why he had left his brother’s frozen body outside all night. John said he knew the quarry could not be reached by a wagon in darkness and he knew no harm would befall his brother overnight.

A Commercial Toxin On her 1908 death certificate, Daisy Sherman was described as a “harlot.” Under the name of Madge Simpson, she entertained customers at a brothel operated by Nan Newman at 309 Longworth Street. It was, sadly, all too common for sex workers of that era to end their lives by suicide. The most frequent method chosen by women was to ingest some vile potion, usually morphine or laudanum or carbolic acid. What distinguished Daisy Sherman’s exit from this vale of tears was her swallowing a commercial product that had only recently been introduced to Cincinnati – Lysol disinfectant.

Poem To A Pipe Bookkeeper Charles Drinker, aged 54, shot himself in the head one chilly morning in December 1905. He was estranged from his family and out of work, yet he went to his reward after leaving behind two light-hearted compositions. One was a jocular note to the coroner, hoping that his earthly remains might find some use in an anatomy laboratory. The other was a farewell poem to his tobacco pipe, the stalwart briar that had accompanied him for some years. Drinker’s final encomium read:

From thee, old friend, I have had my last puff; To leave thee thus, I know, ‘tis rough For in trial, trouble and tribulation You have been my only consolation. Now, alas! of use no more You can’t accompany me to the other shore. For on that shore there is no smoke – I tell you, old friend, this is no joke. You, like myself, have had your day – You remain briarwood – I return to clay.

Drinker was not shipped to one of the medical schools. He was buried in the Potter’s Field.

Death By Tin Horn #2 John Schaeffer was a shoemaker who lived in Covington. In 1897, he was unemployed and so purchased a supply of gewgaws and set up a little streetside stand on Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati. One evening, a customer asked for one of the tin horns Schaeffer had for sale. The horn was at the bottom of a display hanging from a long pole. Schaeffer lifted up the pole to extract the desired tin horn and made contact with an arc lamp hanging over his little toy stand. The electrical current paralyzed Schaeffer immediately and the strength of the current repelled anyone attempting to come to his rescue. When someone finally switched off the streetlight, Schaeffer’s corpse slid to the pavement.

Death By Clown #2 On the evening of January 10, 1854, there was a "small Spanish theatrical representation” on Stockton Street in San Francisco. A 13-year-old boy named William Snyder, who had been born in Cincinnati, was peddling candy and peanuts. For whatever reason, Manuel Reys who was described as being a "mentally defected" circus clown grabbed William by the heels and swung him around several times. By the time Reys released the boy, blood was flowing from William's mouth. William was rushed to a hospital where he died. Manuel Reys was arrested for murder and his case was sent to the grand jury, but it doesn't appear he was ever legally charged. The death was eventually found to be accidental. William was buried in the Yerba Buena cemetery.

Was It Poison? The coroner’s official verdict claimed that Elbert Wise died from blood poisoning as the result of a ruptured spleen, but there were many unanswered questions. Wise’s wife, Katherine, found her husband slumped on the front stoop very early on the morning of 14 April 1895. He claimed he had been poisoned; that he had drunk some beer and found a greenish substance at the bottom of his glass. He lingered in a delirious state for three weeks before he died. It turned out that he had been “keeping company” with the unmarried 26-year-old Frieda Eisele for a couple of years. Freda discovered that Elbert was married and attempted to break off the relationship. Elbert persisted in seeing Freda over her mother’s objections and it was with Freda and her widowed mother that Elbert drank that fatal glass of beer. The coroner’s finding of natural causes ended any investigation. It was very curious, therefore, twenty years later, when Freda’s aged mother killed herself by swallowing an arsenic-rich dye known as Paris Green. One wonders whether she had ever used that substance before.

#cincinnati deaths #cincinnati suicides

[handeaux]

The Scandalous Can-Can Amused Cincinnati Until One Newspaper Clutched Its Pearls

No one really knows when or where the dance known as the can-can originated. Although associated with France, some authorities point to the exotic corners of Asia. Other boffins find roots in the Middle Ages, and a few discern a mutation of the Eighteenth-Century quadrille.

It took a long time for the can-can to land in Cincinnati. The first rumblings appeared in the local newspapers around 1860 with a few brief mentions about the sensation this dance caused in Paris. Mozart Hall, on Vine Street just north of Fountain Square, seems to have been the first Cincinnati venue to present the can-can locally. The Daily Gazette [10 March 1868] approved:

“Undine [a sort of Victorian “Little Mermaid”] drew a very large house last evening. The scenes are splendid as ever, and their audiences lose none of their enthusiasm. The new feature of the evening, the Can-Can, was a perfect success, eclipsing the former ballet completely.”

Among the Cincinnati theatrical community, anything that sold out one theater was soon added to the bill at several other stages and so it was with the innovative can-can. The Gazette [8 July 1868] reported that a newly redecorated Wood’s Theater, across the street from Mozart Hall, now offered this “fancy dance”:

“The little theater on Vine Street is so clean, with its new paint, and so cool, with its lace curtains, and its company so good, that there is little wonder that it is crowded nightly. The programme is full and complete, and very attractive. The rage for fancy dancing has got into the company, and can-can is given nightly.”

Only the Cincinnati Enquirer grumbled about the new can-can fad, but even the staid “Grey Lady of Vine Street” devoted a couple of lines [20 July 1869] in defense of the dance, quoting an otherwise unidentified “Cincinnati lady”:

“Now, I believe I know enough to know when a dance is improper. To me the can-can is full of all grace and refinement and bewitching charms. And I believe it is the fault of those horrid newspapers that have said so much about it.”

Just three days later, the Enquirer, presumably in its role as a “horrid newspaper,” editorialized [23 July 1869] against a production offered by Yale’s concert hall and saloon on Walnut Street:

“The Can-Can is not the most moral thing in the world when put forward in its most presentable shape. As rendered by the depraved creatures on Walnut Street it is filthy, obscene and disgusting, without arising to the dignity of the lascivious.”

The Enquirer rejoiced when the proprietor, whose name is variously reported as Phillip Yale, G. Wilkins Yale and J. Croissant-Yale, was arrested a week or so later. The competing Commercial Tribune reported the arrest [2 August 1869] but noted that the key witnesses for the prosecution were all Enquirer reporters:

“The local reporters of the Enquirer, who have assumed to determine the exact degree of immorality characterizing the can-can, as danced in the Walnut Street cellar, have been subpoenaed as witnesses against Yale, and will probably make some interesting revelations concerning this indecency, as compared with the many other indecencies which they seem to have seen.”

The Enquirer’s campaign drove the Yale family out of town. One news item had one of Yale’s sons accompanying one of the can-can dancers, Nellie Whitney, on a train eastward. The article specified that she danced at the Yale saloon on Walnut Street and identifies her as a “cyprian,” in other words, a prostitute. That could be some libelous hyperbole or it could be accurate, but it emphasizes the Enquirer’s objection to women dancing the can-can. While Cincinnati’s on-stage performers were exclusively female, the can-can, among the demimonde, was danced by all genders at Cincinnati’s bohemian soirees.

Despite the Enquirer’s disdain, the can-can continued its invasion of the Queen City. Just as the Yales closed their saloon, an advertisement appeared in the Commercial Tribune [14 August 1869] that Mademoiselle Aline Lefavre, who claimed to have introduced the can-can to the United States, would appear nightly at the Variety Theater on Race Street. In its advertisements, the Variety described Mlle. Lefvare as “the most beautifully formed woman in the world.”

The Commercial Tribune [3 May 1870] observed a sort of irony at work in the city’s esthetic morals. An exhibition that month at Wiswell’s Gallery, largely supported by charging admission to view paintings of “the type men like” as they used to say, featured a canvas depicting a very nude woman titled “Sleeping Beauty.” The paper’s art critic found it interesting that the can-can was condemned while a fully nude woman was celebrated:

“It was formerly a subject of animadversion that our ball-room belles dressed very low down in the neck – that is, wore no clothes much above the pit of the stomach; but had they gone in and become decollete down to their heels, that would simply have been Art – High Art. We see, too, how the moral comes in; to see the lady of the Can-Can is shocking, and we call for the police, but seeing her at second hand, through the eyes of the artist, it is great, and the price is all the same – only twenty-five cents.”

Perhaps the Commercial Tribune convinced the Variety Theater on Race Street to lean into the fine art proposition, because that establishment soon began offering, in addition to the can-can, an exhibition of “tableaux vivants” or “living pictures” in which women, clad only in flesh-colored tights, posed in the manner of Greek statuary or famous paintings. This despite the proprietor enduring several stints in the Workhouse on charges of operating a disorderly house.

Not to be outdone, the Vine Street Opera House announced a program headlined by “The Queen of the Serio-Comic Vocalists” Jennie Engle, Irish comics Mullen and McGee, as well as living pictures, the can-can and something billed as “weird dance.”

The show, it seems, must go on. And so it did. The forces of propriety and the minions of moral turpitude held an uneasy truce throughout most of the 1870s, with an arrest here while a new show popped up there, like whack-a-mole.

The fragile peace was broken dramatically in 1877 by the National Theater who booked Madame Ninon DuClos’ “Dizzy Blondes” for an extended engagement. The troupe claimed to specialize in the authentic Parisian can-can regardless of the reality that Mme. DuClos’ origins lay a lot closer to Dublin than Montmartre. Even though the Blondes were hauled into court and although they had been kicked out of Indianapolis, the show went on in Cincinnati for months. The Cincinnati Star [1 December 1877] simply sighed:

“The Dizzy Blondes at the National Theater have captivated a number of our young men, who come home exclaiming: “Did you ever?”

#can-can #cincinnati dance #cincinnati newspapers #cincinnati demimonde

[handeaux]

Cincinnati Women Who Smoked Endured Disdain, Harassment And Even Divorce

Back in the 1970s, with the tagline “You’ve come a long way, baby,” the Virginia Slims cigarette brand published a series of humorous advertisements linking a woman’s right to smoke with women’s liberation in general. A typical ad portrayed a sepia-toned damsel sneaking a smoke in the basement, with the caption:

“In 1915, Mrs. Cynthia Robinson was caught smoking in the cellar behind the preserves. Although she was 34, her husband sent her straight to her room.”

Boffo yucks, no? But did those advertisements really reflect reality? In Cincinnati, at least, that was very much the way things were. Queen City women who smoked faced all sorts of harassment. Lighting up a cigarette was not only grounds for divorce, but evidence that a woman hankered for the louche life of a prostitute.

The Cincinnati Enquirer [13 November 1900] related the sad tale of Arthur Graham and his newlywed wife, Viola:

“Arthur Graham, a young shoemaker who is employed in a big factory on West Fourth street, between Main and Sycamore streets, believed that he was the happiest fellow on earth, and that his wife was the soul of honor, until she began to spend his wages for cigarettes. That set him to thinking, and he was not at all surprised when she left him. He heard that she had entered a house on Longworth street, and yesterday afternoon he called Patrol 1 and had her removed from the place to Central Station, where the mismatched couple told their troubles to Lieutenant Geist. She was released on her promise to return home.”

It appears that the Grahams patched things up despite her sojourn on Longworth Street. Although that infamous avenue was the very heart of Cincinnati’s red-light district, it might be uncharitable to imagine Viola engaging in naughty behavior. Maybe she sought employment in a brothel as a maid or a cook. Maybe. In any event, the couple remained together until Arthur died in 1966. Perhaps they learned to share an ash tray.

Not so George Osgood of 256 Butler Street. He was granted a divorce in 1902 from Mary “Millie” Osgood. George told the judge that Millie started on a “faithless career” by smoking cigarettes and had even adopted an alias as “Kate Keller,” a typical practice by prostitutes at the time.

In 1914, truck driver William Middaugh of West Fourth Street filed for divorce from his wife, Cassie, because she smoked cigarettes in front of company. Apparently, sneaking a smoke behind the preserves was okay by him.

The situation was somewhat more complicated when Charles W. Mangan’s wife filed for divorce in 1917. Mangan, employed by the Central Railway and Hotel Distributing Company on Reading Road, responded that Nettie Mangan not only smoked, but drank and threw furniture at him.

Similarly, John H. Gardner of 1036 Findlay Street had more than tobacco on his mind when he filed for divorce in 1922. His wife, Nellie, he alleged, not only smoked cigarettes, but spent his money at the racetrack and absconded to Phoenix with another man.

When she lit up a smoke on their 1925 honeymoon, Mabel Collinsworth Kopp “shattered the ideals” of her groom, Melville Kopp. Asserting that she also read “questionable” magazines, Melville, who made his living playing the organ at movie theaters, filed for divorce. Mabel responded that Melville had only married her to escape the affections of another young lady and that Melville’s parents never liked her. Melville told the court that his mother objected to Mabel’s smoking.

As early as 1885, cigarette smoking raised serious questions about a woman’s morals. The Cincinnati Post [3 November 1885] interviewed a dealer in second-hand books at his stall on Fifth Street near Mound. That neighborhood included several elementary schools and the reporter, noticing that the book monger offered several brands of cigarettes for sale, assumed that his customers were school children. Not so. It was women who bought the smokes. The dealer told the Post:

“I believe there are more women than men who smoke in this part of town – and drink – if you could see as much of it as I do. I believe there are five women to one man in this locality who drink.”

This led the Post reporter, it appears, to reconsider his entire opinion of the fairer sex.

“The old gentleman placed the smoking and drinking by women in juxtaposition and the Post realized that the woman who stimulates with a cigarette will soon not object to a fluid stimulant.”

That is just the opinion, nearly 35 years later, expressed by Rabbi David Philipson of Rockdale Temple, who in a 1919 sermon, excoriated “slaves to fashion” who smoke, drink, “emulate chorus girls” and regard as old fogies those decent folks who try to abide by “laws of decency and reverence.

The rabbi was strongly seconded by famed evangelist William Ashley "Billy" Sunday, who blew into Cincinnati on a 1921 crusade. After blasting a veritable menagerie of modern wickedness, Sunday zeroed in on one particular target: the “damphool woman” who smokes cigarettes. “She’s skating on thin ice,” he thundered as his audience at the First Presbyterian Church shouted “Amen.”

Having none of this was Allene Sumner, author of the “Woman’s Day” column in the Cincinnati Post. When the National Fire Protection Association proclaimed that incendiary hazards had increased astronomically since women took up smoking, Ms. Sumner was roused [9 June 1927] to feminist ardor:

“They say sarcastic things about ‘the natural refinement of women rapidly succumbing to this habit.’ Wonder just how many generations it will be before human minds will function sufficiently rationally to have shed tradition and prejudice and do enough straight thinking to see that there is little or no connection between ‘a woman’s refinement’ and whether she smokes or not, any more than whether or not she can be refined and eat chocolates or drink coffee?”

#cincinnati tobacco #women smoking

[handeaux]

Cincinnati’s Law & Order League Fulminated Against Pornographic Pollution

Cincinnati’s obsession with dirty pictures goes way back, long before Robert Mapplethorpe sent the Queen City into a tizzy with his “Perfect Moment” exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center in 1990.

As early as 1854, The Ohio Organ Of The Temperance Reform, published in Cincinnati, railed against the obscene pictures decorating the city’s saloons. The newspaper had an idea where those naughty paintings originated:

“The fashionable saloon keepers who ride in their fine carriages, occupy prominent seats in high places, and control the elections of our officers, are confederates with prostitutes, and it is not unlikely that the obscene pictures which cover their walls are furnished by the proprietors of houses of infamy.”

In 1864, while the Civil War raged, William Walker, who kept a small bookstore on Third Street was hauled in on charges he sold obscene pictures to young boys for thirty cents apiece – a tidy sum in those days. According to a reporter for the Daily Commercial [14 July 1864], who was obviously a connoisseur:

“A large number of the pictures were seized – several thousand in all. The most of them are photographs – some colored – and in their variety they represent as vulgar a collection probably, as were ever seen.”

When a Cincinnati scam artist, Dr. William Raphael, who conducted his work under the guise of fortune-telling, was arrested in 1876, one of the charges brought against him involved his library of erotica. According to the Enquirer [30 April 1876]:

“Among the number was a volume of obscene pictures of men and women naked in conditions too horrible to describe.”

It was not only criminals and fly-by-night conmen who dealt in salacious images. Meyer Silverglade, proprietor of The Hub, one of the premier saloons in town, was dinged in 1901 on a charge of exhibiting obscene pictures at his elite establishment.

A fair number of Cincinnati’s saloons reserved a small back room as a gallery to display photographs and paintings of “the kind men like,” as they once described such images. William Miller, keeper of a saloon at Second and Ludlow streets in the East End, was arrested for just this reason and readers of the Cincinnati Post [11 April 1892] could almost hear the reporter smacking his lips as he described the inventory:

“In the rear of his bar he has a little room partitioned off where to gratify his depraved mind and the vile tastes of a particular few of his patrons, he has arranged a large number of obscene pictures so suggestive and disgusting as to call for police interference.”

Some of the photographs in question were imported. Pictures from Paris always carried a risqué cachet. But some were homegrown. George Morrison and Frank Jennings appeared in police court in 1890 to answer charges they enticed young women from the West End – location of Cincinnati’s red-light district at the time – to pose for obscene photographs. Although the evidence was “too filthy” to be heard in court, both men were fined.

Because newspapers were too timid to publish testimony that was “too filthy” to be heard in court, or to print images of a “suggestive and disgusting” nature, we might wonder just what all the fuss was about. Or, we might have been left wondering had not the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, in the issues for 13 April and 14 April, 1887, published illustrations that were condemned by a Cincinnati watchdog group.

The Law and Order League was dedicated to removing all sorts of immoral activity from Cincinnati. They opposed gambling, prostitution, anything enjoyable (theater, music, baseball, saloons) on Sunday and, of course, pornography. The League published a resolution in the Cincinnati Post [18 April 1887] blasting the Commercial Gazette for publishing the two images reproduced here:

“Resolved: That we solemnly protest against the violation of the law by the publishing and circulating of such obscene and indecent pictures as appeared in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette of April 13 and 14 in connection with the advertisement of the ‘People’s Theater,’ and we hereby call upon the Mayor and Chief of Police to prevent such exhibitions as are advertised by them.”

The mayor and police chief did nothing of the sort and the reviews for the People’s Theater production were generally favorable and often enthusiastic. The troupe in residence was the Night Owls, who boasted eight handsome women and three costume changes “made before the audience, a novelty only to be seen in the Night Owls.” In addition to the leggy women, the Night Owls featured a “funny Dutchman” (German comic), a couple of French duetists warbling tunes from the latest operas and a gymnast or two. Rave reviews appeared for several weeks with no evidence of police or other interference.

Still, filthy pictures were not universally condoned in Cincinnati, despite being promoted as “the kind men like.” A dispute about the propriety of indecent images in a saloon erupted into fisticuffs in the wee hours of 22 November 1898. Frank Eagan and Harry Talbing had spent the evening pouring suds down their throats at an East End watering hole. In his cups, Talbing insisted on displaying one of his French postcards. Eagan took offense and demanded that Talbing return the offensive photo to his pocket. Talbing demurred and Eagan smacked him upside the head. The battle escalated and the pair found themselves in front of Police Court Judge Edward Schwab. Even though Eagan initiated the tussle by striking first, it was Talbing who went to the Workhouse for 30 days, based on his taste in art.

#law and order league #cincinnati pornography #night owls #people's theater