1980_09 The Daily Collegian September 1980

              THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
llnterested in 'deviance'
Professor studies golden age of prositution
By Karen Krieger
Mary Robinson wat probably the
most successful businesswoman in St.
Paul, Minnesota In the 19th century,
with Investments of more than
$75,000 in real estate Robinson
owned and operated brothels.
'The 1800s were the golden age of
prostitution," said Joel Best, profes¬
sor of sociology at CSUF. Best, who
was on sabbatical leave from the uni¬
versity in 1979, spent the summer
that year in St. Paul studying old
court records and newspaper clip¬
pings on prostitution.
'Each month the police arrested
the madamet in the city and took
them to court to pay a fine. Looking at
the court records for the first of each
month, about eight to 10 women were
arrested,* Best said. 'Essentially
they were paying a tax, or a license
fee to operate their brothels '
'This type of prostitution seemed to
work very well,* Best mused. "The
police knew what was going on; they
allowed the madames to operate."
Best explained that many cities
'legalized* prostitution in the 19th
'It was a more realistic approach to
take," he observed. "We tend to think
In the Groove
of Victorian America at very prudish.
They had a better handle on the prob¬
lem, showing tome tolerance And
the problems associated with prostitu¬
tion (theft and violence) were very
limited.*
Best decided to investigate prosti¬
tution of the past because 'I'm Inter¬
ested in deviance and the history of
deviance, it'* a chance to look ah
regulation and its effect on deviance.
It's analogous to trying to control
marijuana.*
He did his research in St. Paul be¬
cause he knew there were records on
file (covering the years from 1865 to
1883) and K is where he was born, so
it was'tort of a hometown pride,* he
smiled.
'If you pay dose attention to one
city you can find out quite a bit,* Best
added.
The rapid growth of the midwestern
and western cities during this particu¬
lar time period also resulted in the
booming business of brothels.
'St. Paul began as a ctfy of around
15,000 and grew to about 60,000
persons,* Best said. 'The number of
brothels In the dty increased from
four houses to about 50. *
Prostitution was the best job some
women could get, he pointed out.
'There were three acceptable jobs in
that period for women,* he pointed
out, 'that of teamttresi, waitress, or
domestic servant. None of these got
much respect. Prostitution offered the
promise of more money and comfort.
For tome rt was the best option."
But prostitution earned no social
approval. Best cautioned, saying
there was much discrimination again¬
st the women.
'In 1863 the new mayor of St. Paul
closed down the brothels, but the city
dumped him after two years, and they
reopened the houses," Best recalled
Best, who is planning to publish his
research, said that most cities clamp¬
ed down on prostitution in the early
20th century, although brothels were
a big industry for organized crime In
the 1920s and 1930s.
'Certainly the telephone and auto¬
mobile helped draw the women out
onto the street. Brothels are very rare
now; of course. In those days there
was no such thing as streetwalkers "
The houses opened in the afternoon
and closed earty in the morning.
Many sold liquor, which was a profit¬
able sideline. The prostitutes were
Paul's    wealthiest
In the frontier community,  Best
said, a woman who wasn't married
was almost surety a prostitute. 'And
some of the women who were married
had been prostitutes.
The prostitutes spent a lot of money
on clothing. Contrary to the sober
dress of the age, these women would
wear bright colors.
'Kate Hutton was a name that kept
cropping up in the n*»wspapers.
Apparently she was about six feet tall
or taller, very striking, and she always
wore a yellow cape. She must have
been a colorful figure,* Best laughed.
. The age of the prostitutes varied,
the average age being around 22
years old. Surpriiingty the madames
were about 27 and usually out of the
business by age 28.
Best speculated I
were legalized today,
would likely return to the format of a
brothel.
'It would definitely be much safer,*
Best said. 'And it would take prosti¬
tution off the streets.'
Prostitution was by no means a
happy occupation for most women.
'Many women committed suicide,
some were morphine addicts or alco¬
holics, and some died miserable,'
Best said.
The.not.so Wild Blue Yonder
Who's the best band in Fresno?
Who cares? Well, quite a few people
do care and they generally agree that
Wild Blue Yonder is the best band in
* wn.
Wild Blue Yonder it a very compe¬
tent bank in concert. They don't work
an audience Into a frenzy as some
bands do but Instead gradually win
people over with their competence.
They have a smooth, jazz-rock sound,
highlighted with solo runs by Phil
Wimer on guitar. Bill Blxler on saxes
and Jeff Bowman on vibes.
Their main drawback during a live
show it Judy Blxler's extremely irri¬
tating arm-swinging stage presence.
When she is not singing lead vocalt,
she doesn't seem to know what to do
with her body.
Aside from that, the band it basi¬
cally pleasing to the eye and ear. If
you have a few bucks to spend some
night and want to catch a dass live
act, go down to their dub (alto called
the Wild Blue Yonder) and enjoy.
Unfortunately, on their second
album, Enthusiasm, wild Blue Yon¬
der comes across as a pop rock
schlock band with only the slightest
traces of Jazz. Ironically, enthusiasm
one of the main things missing on
life on alt but two of the songs. (There
are only six songs on this album, an¬
other source of Irritation to me. We'll
get to that later.) The songs are so-o-o
predictable.
The first time I heard this record I
knew exactly what they were going to
do next, every minute of every song.
The instrumental solos, as fine as
theyt are, come at approximately the
tame place in every song. This makes
it a pleasant album to listen to the
first time' through, but by about the
third listen it's practically back¬
ground music.
Another thing that bothers me
about this band it their arrogance. In
the little booklet I received introduc¬
ing the band, they had the nerve to
say Wild Blue Yonder plays 'New
Musk.* That is total garbage. There
is nothing new about Wild Blue's
music. 'Look What You've Done*
the best cut on the album, sounds ex¬
actly like a Steely Dan song. Bill
Bixler tries to copy the vocal charac-
teristics of Donald Fagen of Steely
Dan throughout the enure tune.
'Suzanne* sounds an awful lot like an
Earth Wind and Fire song, yet neither
browed little booklet.
Also, there are only twenty-eight
minutes of musk on this LP (Most
Long-Ptayers have approximately
forty-five minutes of musk), and they
are charging the full album price of
SS.99. Well, dose to the full album
price.
Aside from a song called Too Ear¬
ly" the lyrics are-let's face it-
ttupld Here are some shining
examples: From 'Love Wasn't Meant
Well your body looks okay
well you always walked away
and that will do for now
but someday you'll say
I love you, I love you
Like wow, that's heavy! This is
supposed to be Wild Blue's "break¬
out" album, where they burst Into the
bigtime and become famous Interna¬
tional pop stars. The one thing they
have going for them is the fun little
single called "Wthout You" that has
already conquered the Fresno radio
market and is now moving up the
charts throughout the state. What
they have going against them, weli...
we won't dwell on it anymore. After
!*aring Enthusiasm, I just have a
feeling these guys (and gal) will be
sticking around Fresno for a little
while looser.
RESUME SPECIAL]
23 RESUMES^00
25 MATCHING KrrVKLOPES
f Accunra   -v
291-3543
3097 WILLOW. fM. CLOVIS
■^atSTmssvrrcowcatKasMctJU.-
T HE DAILY COLLEGIAN
Friday Classifieds
Students are invited to submit
free classified ads' for Friday's
paper. The ads must be in by Tuesday
at the Collegian office located In
Keats Building.
LILA-
I'm starting a committee for the
suppression of meatloaf. Care to join?
I'll make you vice president.
the dass presidency with no trouble.
HEYHARRY-
What's all this stuff about "ebb and
flow"? You rub me the wrong way
(fundamentally, of course). You
remind me of Nancy Sinatra that
night she stayed at my townhouse
resort in Tulare. That night wa ate
at Larry Chuck Wagon, and she came
home and technicolor vomitted all
over the place. You do It too, that's
why the business building has that
terrible stench. See you at the cross-
The coffee maker
DEAR LORDSHIP SHYLER R-
I saw you burning the midnight
oil last night in the library lobby.
I'll tell the authorities if you don't
stop. But I will admit, you do look
sexy wearing only that apron and
printer's hat.
-Your mother
HELPMEI
I went to an Associated Students
meeting and lived to tall about It.
But now I'm completely disfigured.
Cowboy Max
WANTED-One Trans-Am or throe
camels to trade for hostages. Con¬
tact students, Tehran, Iran
WANTED-Mercenaries. Must like
warm dry climate. Apply In person
Minister of Defense, Baghdad,
Iraq.
JEAN BLOWS -FROMANONIDJIT
MARGARET SHARP IS A HIGHLY
qualified candidate for the Fresno
County Board of Supervisors. Her op¬
ponent is Jeff Reich. She is looking for
politically active students to walk pre¬
cincts. If Interested please call Jeff
Watson at: 487-2657-Days, 226-4584
Bt/CAY   CTVIL   RIGHTS   FRESNO
Association. Call for information,
Peer Counseling, and referrals: 226-
2710. (>rfidentiel and discrete ser-
vkes available. Volunteers and organ¬
izers needed for the Fresno area.
'79 CHEVETTE, EXCELLENT
cond., silver/maroon, low mileage, 35
m.p.g., 4 speed, U500, call 439-6261
after 7:00 p.m.
MEME-
Happy Anniversary, my love. I love
you. —John
POOPSIE, SORRY ABOUT LAST
night. I really feel much better now
Thank Cod I finally stopped twitch¬
ing. -Mo
REVENGE - AH, SWEET REVEN-
ge. Do you want to get back at some¬
one but can't afford a hit man? Try
Pie In the Face, a fun-loving local
group in business for you. Employees
will
surprite tl
I of vour
ii (or s
man) of your choke with either a
pie just when they least expect it.
Call and ask about our reasonable
You take my breath away. Your bi¬
ceps are all I ever dream about.
I get weak In the knees whenever you
walk by. The smell of your Brut
just gives me chills. Only one thing,
it really bothers me that you still sleep
with your mother. Will you be lass
insecure when football season is over?
JULENE-
So when  are your  pa
to bring us another pief
DENISE-
Mappy      anniversary!
journalists do it dairy.
D.J.-
I admire your mind, but yo
' rac.a.
MICHELLE-
Is it love? Does he care? Do you care?
Will It be a photo finish?
SCIENTIST:      Highe
doesn't  seem  to  have  hurt  you!
P.S. I'm not seven out of 10 women.
P.S. My cup runneth
All form of art; musk, dance, mime,
etc. Is welcome. If you are interested
In experience and exposure...call 439--
8977eves. T.G.I.Coffee
KATH, BOUT TIME FOR A ROAD
trip isn't it? The coast on the 11th
sounds good to me I Cowabungal
T.Y.R.
FOR SALE: '73 CHEVY VAN 350
V-fl, insulated, paneled, new seats,
17 m.p.g., stereo cassette and dual
speaker system. $2650 or make offer.
Call 674-2544 or 227-9248.
FOR SALE-TAKAMINE 12-STRINC
guitar, new condition. With semi¬
hard case & new Adamas strings.
$225 firm. 442-1684 eves, after 5:00.
HEY   ALGER!   GO   CLEAN   THE
bathroom, will yal
The Anti-Bacteria Kids.
ATTENTION: ALL HOME ECO-
nomks students interested In joining
Phi U. Applications are due In the
Home Economics Office Wednesday,
October 1st.
I don't want you to move out! You've
been such' a neat roommate. We
must keep In touch.
TO ALL FOOTBALL FANS-
Look for the Houston Oilers to be in
this year's Super Bowl.
—Joann and Joan
DOUC BUNNELL -
BLACK AND WHITE MEN To¬
gether. A nationwide Support Croup
Write BWMT-CF, 279 Colllngwood
1 San Frandsco, Calif. 94114
TO ROB AND TUCK BUDDY- .
Happy anniversary kiddos. In four
more years, it will be your fiiiive-
year anniversary. I'm so stoked.
Let's keep the buddy system strong
Your fellow journalist
Joan Buddy
TOMEMEANDJOHN-
It's one year for you guys too. Al:
rightlKeepftup.
TOMIKEANDCHRIS-
Congratulations on getting  Fresno
Bee scholarships. You done good.
MR. TUCKER-
You're learning me a lot in J. 114.
Me and my friend have gone to school
TO CEORGE BENSON'S NO. 1 FAN
Let's escape to Monterey for the
weekend and then again after gradua¬
tion permanently. Thanks again for
the rose; you're so thoughtfu.
It was against my moral code to buy
a Willie Nelson album, but I did i ,
lust for you (although I washed my
hands thoroughly  afterwards)  Just
of sixth grade. I heard you had
popcorn last night. Clve up on the
diet already?!
— Yourbunkmate
DIANE-
l   I  I
MtXXXXX-XXXXXXXXXKXXXX-XXlfc
"    *%** 8
NEW & OLD COMICS J
SCI-FI M
MOVIE, FANTA8Y *
but  I'm  just  so  doggone  pretty
-Big Sis
SUE-*
I'm glad you're going to the party
Saturday. Should be great!
Vlntafs Diyi
Coordinator and sub
committee applications
available at
Student Activities
Office, room 306.
*2373E.8h«w
at Op	
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Deadline—
Friday October 3