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An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos

Gold, gambling, guzzling booze as well as prostitution are all part of Deadwood, South Dakota’s history. In An Open Secret, Chris Enss and the Deadwood History Inc. folks have gathered stories from the bordellos of madams, soiled doves, and the men who visited them from Deadwood’s beginning in 1876 up until 1980 when Pam’s Purple Door and other houses of ill repute were closed for good. The book describes the poor working girls’ hard lives and some of their tragic ends. It relates how girls were tricked into the profession by evil Gem Theater owner Al Swearingen. Some madams such as Madame Moustache met tragic ends while others were fairly successful such as Poker Alice. An Open Secret reveals a sad facet of Deadwood’s past.

Bill Markley, Will Rogers Medallion Award Winner

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An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos

Fearless actress Geri Jewell, from the HBO series Deadwood, graciously provided the foreword for An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos. Here’s a bit of what she had to say about the book.

“And after reading Open Secret, I now have become more aware of what life was really like for the soiled doves, whores or prostitutes. Open Secret was an eye opener to what women have gone through just as a means of survival. It gave names and faces to the women, the madams, and the bordellos of ill repute.

It was fascinating to read about the hardships, the abuse, the fines and prison time that was served for the crimes committed and the battles just to survive. This book does not glorify the profession of prostitution, but rather present well documented and researched facts of life, supporting the truth about lives in a society that are generally frowned upon, and judged without really understanding what is actually going on behind the red lights, purple doors or cozy rooms.

Also, it was quite interesting to read about the real Al Swearingen, the man that Ian McShane played so brilliantly in the HBO series, Deadwood. Yes, he was even more ruthless than I previously understood. He was a shrewd businessman, an abusive pimp, and just as complex as McShane portrayed him in the series.”

Thanks, Geri!

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An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos

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An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos

Legend has it that some of the first fallen ladies in Deadwood arrived in the same caravan with lawman James Butler Hickok, wagon master Charlie Utter, and frontierswoman Calamity Jane in July 1876.  A few of those ladies opened their own brothels, and others went to work for businesses already established in town. Many were employed at hurdy-gurdy houses. A hurdy- gurdy is a musical instrument with strings that vibrate by a resin wheel turned by a crank and shortened at will by keys operated by the fingers of the player. The women that worked at the hurdy-gurdy houses performed high kicking, prancing dances that appealed to lonesome miners. Hurdy- gurdy girls charged the men for each dance and persuaded the men to buy them drinks. The hurdy-gurdy houses and many of the brothels were located in a section of town called the Bad Lands.

Among the most notable Deadwood soiled doves, or supposed soiled doves, in 1876 and 1877 were Belle McMahon, Jenny Hines, and DiGee, also known as China Doll. Belle was frequently arrested and charged with prostitution. Jenny Hines, also known as Popcorn Jenny, was apprehended several times for operating a bawdy house. An incident that occurred on February 21, 1877, marked the beginning of the end of Jenny in Deadwood.  Police raided her business after a complaint was made by neighbors about the numerous men coming and going from the location at all hours of the day and night.

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An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos

Buttonwillow Books

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Enss Has Done It Again….

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023

Verified Purchase

Turning history into a fascinating can’t-put-it-down read takes real talent, and in this case exhaustive research. What a fascinating and FUN read. Don’t miss this peek behind the curtain in one of the old west’s most fabulous gold-rush towns.

Linda Wommack

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid research.

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2023

A refreshing look at prostitution in the Old West – particularly Deadwood, South Dakota. Chris Enss and Deadwood History, Inc. have offered fine research to bring the reader a true sense of what life was like for these ladies in that bawdy gold camp of yesteryear.