We talk about Babbage having a large number of bars, and its true. But then I see something like this…..
http://calumet412.tumblr.com/post/37266559139/this-to-me-is-the-most-interesting-thing-ive-ever
“Two meticulous maps showing the names and locations of every brothel,
bar, casino and saloon that existed in the Cheyenne and Levee Districts
of Chicago between 1870 and 1905.”
Rather impressive, actually.
Place my typest was born was famous in Wales as a place of depravity, having 13 assorted churches and 26 pubs! This was a rural community, not one of the mining ones.
Noticed the ‘School for Boy Thieves’ conveniantly placed behind the ‘Nickle Theatre’ spiffing
Galveston was known for a time as the Free State of Galveston or the Republic of Galveston Island, and not until the 1950’s was it finally rid of it’s ties to organized crime. It had a thriving red light district, gambling and illegal liquor since after the American Civil War, that only got more active after the Great Hurricane of 1900 when the city’s influence in the state declined and its income need to ‘diversify’.
There was an extensive warning network, and at one point the Texas Rangers planned and organized a coordinated raid. By the time they got to the pleasure pier the gambling machines were camouflaged, the liquor was all hidden, and the only women in view were respectable. As the officers entered the room, the band was playing The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You.
Norfolk was infamous for bars and brothels, even into the 1970s. the movie Cinderella Liberty might show it at the end of that era. the very worst streets don’t even exist anymore. the dwarf skeleton that is in the mutter museum in philly was taken from a norfolk brothel.
*doesn’t read into that at all*
yeah, I know. gotta love the mutter museum for letting us know that. captain practically threw us off the ship for making “forty pound colon” references over and over while doing our chores on the morning of our day off.
I saw the 40 pound colon. And the soap lady.
Drat. I missed the Mutter when I was in Philly. Dang place doan open until 10am and I had a plane to catch…
Just wow
Sweet home Chicago…
The second image, the one with the label about being the wickedest place in the world, shows a bar called Bucket of Blood.
Coincidence?
I think not.
http://www.chibarproject.com/Memoriam/BucketofBlood/BucketofBlood.html
That there’s a great link, Cyan!
wow. just wow. that is hard to wrap ones head around.
I like the fact there is a bar labeled “2nd Worst Dive”. I can imagine the conversations..
“Come on you lot! Drink up! Fight! How are we gonna make it to number 1 if you just sit there…”
Just goes to show… you can never have too much of a good thing.
There is actually a library behind the Bucket of Blood! Shows there must have been some emphasis on literacy and culture at least… oh wait. I get it, nevermind.