KEY WEST AREA BORDELLOS BACK WHEN

The Key West area had its share of houses of prostitution back in the late 1940’s into the 1950’s. Going back 300 years, also. And since the 1950’s.

An age old business. Its roots traced to Biblical times. However, my house of ill repute comments are limited to the late 1940’s, early 1950’s time frame.

Today, a significant one in local prostitution history. On this day in 1953, Mom’s Tea Room on Stock Island was closed. A popular place. Open 11 years.

A forced closing.

The US Navy was upset its men were big time customers of Mom’s. Not that anything bad happened to them while they were enjoying Mom’s ladies. The Navy merely felt it was morally improper and leaned on local officials to close Mom’s down.

Mom’s was a local example of white slavery in operation. Mom was from Georgia. Her husband would travel to Georgia and abduct young Georgian ladies. Returned them to Mom’s to become working girls.

Mom and her husband felt this was not abuse since they made sure the girls were at least 17 years old.

There was another brothel on Stock Island at the time. Big Anne’s. However, I know nothing more about it than it existed.

Key West itself had many whore houses. Two on Petronia Street.

The Square Roof. White ladies available.

Another whose name I have not been able to determine. It provided primarily black women.

Sex was cheap in those days. Generally, $2. Not shocking when you consider a loaf of bread cost 2 cents and a gallon of gas 15 cents.

Between getting the blog out and working 3 hours with Sloan yesterday, I was wiped out. Decided to stay home. Never made it to Hot Dog Church or the Gardens.

Laid around watching the Masters.  Outstanding! Several could have won. One did. The leader for most of the day, Patrick Reed. He hung on to win by one stroke. A “dogfight” as he described it afterwards.

Big event later today. From 4-7. At the Grand Vin at 1107 Duval. A fundraiser for Commission candidate Mary Lou Hoover.

My candidate. A deserving person who based on prior performance will do much to help Key West.

The event is a Best BBQ Chef competition. Donation $20 and eat all the barbecue you can consume!

Trump and California Gov. Jerry Brown have been engaged in an ongoing battle re sanctuary cities. Brown recently used his Governor powers to pardon 5 convicts facing deportation because of their illegal status.

Well done, Jerry Brown! Trump had to be disturbed.

This day again one of significance. Sad historical significance. On this day in 1942, the US surrendered Bataan to Japan. Twelve thousand Americans and 66,000 Filipinos. Followed immediately by the Bataan Death March where many died.

We are engaged in another type war today with Japan. A tariff war. Tariff wars can lead to fighting wars. Recall that the primary reason the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor was the oil embargo imposed on Japan by the Roosevelt administration.

Roosevelt’s message to Japan was simple. Get out of China and we will withdraw the oil embargo.

China was not to be insulted by such terms. The result was Pearl Harbor.

War is all around us. Assad it is claimed chemically attacked his people again. A little town called Douma outside Damascus. Films of the event sickening. Gas bombing has been a no no for all nations since World War I.

Assad does not care. He has done it several times. Russia and Iran who support Assad do not seem to care. In fact, Putin does not believe it occurred. He wants proof.

TV film not enough for him. It can be rigged.

Trump said yesterday that Assad would have a “big price to pay.” He has drawn a line in the sand. He must do something. Otherwise Russia, Iran and North Korea will not believe we will do anything to them at any time regardless of what they do.

There cannot be another Obama situation. Recall after an Assad gas bombing, he “drew a line in the sand.” The next time it happened, Obama failed to follow up. He did nothing.

Trump should immediately get a few other nations on board. France has already indicated it will cooperate. Such must be done this week.

The retaliation must not be equal to, but rather even more harsh than merely gassing a population. What, I do not know. Outside my pay grade. But again must be severe. Like taking out every Syrian industrial area, bomb Assad’s quarters, etc.

I doubt Putin would get involved. At this point, he is all mouth. His military forces are old and lacking. He does have nuclear bombs, however.

Whatever, Putin cannot go to war with anyone with out China as a partner. China is not stupid. It is not in China’s best interest to engage in a fighting war with the US at this time. China believes it can beat us economically.

Tomorrow, a big day for Louis and Irma and Me. Our first book signing. From noon to 3. At Andrews Inn at Zero Whalton Lane. Come visit. My sense is it will be fun.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Two months ago, I researched and wrote a column on female genital mutilation. A sensitive issue. An all important one.

It has been sitting on the corner of my desk waiting for the right time to go forward with it. Tonight is that time. Not as a written article. Rather, it will be the lead segment on my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

A break from politics. There is more than Trump in this world.

Join me at 9 my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Other topics include, U.S. credit card debt over $1 trillion for first time in a decade, some questions as to whether Syrian gas attack chemically based, America’s retail stores closing at a rate faster than ever, Golden Sachs heavy influence wise in Trump administration, and more.

Seder dinner last night! At Donna’s daughter’s home. Thirty four of us. Did it all religious wise! Ate everything! Amazing how cooking can be done without yeast/unleavened.

Sat with Donna, Lynda and Bob Frechette, and Lori.

NBC News this morning reported that Ivanka was “heartbroken and outraged” over Syrian chemical bombing. Her brother Eric so reported. Eric thought Ivanka influenced her father in part to retaliate.

The best part of my Sunday was the Master’s. I forgot to comment on it yesterday.

I was glued to the TV set. A battle between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose. From the 13th hole forward. A couple of times I thought Garcia was going to blow it again. He did not. He held his head and won on the first playoff hole.

The match tired me out. Intense. Decided not to go out.

Enjoy your day!

LET MY PEOPLE GO

At sun down tonight, Passover begins. Families and friends will join in what is referred to as a Seder dinner. Passover will last 8 days.

A celebration. Passover celebrates freedom of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.

I will join my dear friend Donna and her family for Seder. Donna has always required her family to join her where ever she is for Passover. They come. Religiously! The one year one of her sons and his family could not make it, they were here for the Seder dinner via Skype. Skyped from both ends.

We are also celebrating Donna’s birthday tonight. Seventy. She does not care I mention her age. She wears it well. She is proud and happy she is still here.

I must mention my Father. Today is his birthday. He would have been 103. He died 5 years ago at 98. I miss him.

Back to Passover. The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach. Means to pass over.

Moses had visited the Pharaoh. “Let my people go!” The modern version. Actually, “Set forth my people.” Intent of either: Set my people free.

Pharaoh said no. God delivered 10 plagues upon Egypt. All kinds of bad things. The tenth plague was that on this evening the first born of each family would die. Except for Jewish children. Death would pass over their homes rather than enter. The source of the term Passover.

My yesterday began with 5 Guys for lunch. I have been on a diet for 2.5 weeks. Lost 12 pounds. Only problem is I lost 11 the first week. However, I am losing inches. No question. Can wear shorts once too tight. More impressive, I can cross my legs.

The diet high protein.

Lunch consisted of 2 hamburgers, no bread, topped with mushrooms. No fries either.

Then to Walgreens and Publix. The worse time to grocery shop at Publix is sunday afternoon. So many people!

Conch Republic Days begin friday and will last a week. Fun time! Exciting events! My favorite is the Sea Battle. Conch Republic against the forces of the United States. U.S. jets versus pre-World War II bi-planes. Bombs of rolls of streaming toilet paper dropped on U.S. Coast Guard vessels.

The Conch Navy valiantly opposing Coast Guard vessels. Conch pirate ships hosing sea water on the Coast Guard together with eggs, tomatoes and cabbages. Many on the Conch vessels lovely bikini clad young ladies.

An event not to be missed!

I have been opposed to GMOs. I suspect the battle has been lost. A Republican President, Congress and Supreme Court make it impossible to win the fight.

Florida Keys Community College’s Bill Irvin will speak to the GMO issue next sunday at the Botanical Gardens at 1:30. He is a biology professor.

On this day in 1953, the 3-D color film House of Wax appeared on the screen. Starred Vincent Price.

I was a senior in high school at the time. Everyone went to see the movie. Young and old alike.

Especially thrilling was that we had to wear some kind of glasses while watching the film.

The scariest part of the film was not people being killed, dumped in hot wax, etc. It was a fellow on the street hitting a paddle ball. A hand paddle with a rubber ball attached by an elastic string. The ball came flying right out into the audience! Everyone yelped and screamed at the sane time!

Harry Truman time again. On this day in 1950, Truman left Key West after a one month vacation.

Key West loves Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West.

Enjoy your Sunday!

I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR GUINEA PIG

Last night was the first major battle in the war. The war to keep genetically modified mosquitoes out of Key Haven. A meeting was held. Monroe County Mosquito District and Oxitec representatives in attendance. And tons of Key Haven residents. The residents furious over the proposed use of GM mosquitoes on the island. The natives properly incensed.

I am a resident of Key Haven. I could not be at the meeting because of my blog talk radio show.

My voice was not required. My neighbors did the job well. Especially neighbor Ed Swift.

Ed is a nice guy. A tough business man. An important figure in our area. He spoke out loud and clear: “I don’t want to be your guinea pig.”

He went even further. Members of the mosquito control district are elected. Swift swore he would work to defeat each of them in the next election. Properly so. What they have connived to do is dangerous and with out thought.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports something that came up at the meeting I did not know. The chemicals used to screw up the male mosquitoes contain fragments of E-coli and herpe viruses.

There is another meeting scheduled next week.

My face was still a mess. Only the second day. I had it covered with Neosporin. Three quarters covered. I looked strange.

Ergo, I stayed in, except for a manicure appointment with Tammy.

My blog talk radio show was scheduled for 9 last night. It is a half hour show. It ended after 15 minutes. Automatically ended.  Screw up again. Sloan is looking into it with the station.

It did not take long for listeners to contact me. Within minutes, I received four e-mails and several telephone calls wanting to know what happened, did I know, etc.

One of the items in yesterday’s blog concerned breakfast clubs. Bars that have drinkers waiting for the doors to open at 7 in the morning. Several readers e-mailed me. From outside the Key West area. They had never heard of a breakfast club. Neither had I till I moved to Key West.

Bebe Clark. My friend of many years who I do not see enough. Bebe is to be congratulated. Her granddaughter Allyssa Nicole Sawyer is running in the Boston Marathon on April 18th. She is an experienced runner. Will come in under four hours.

This week’s KONK Life hits the stands today. My column this week is Shakespeare Incidentals. One of the items discussed is Shakespeare’s contribution phrase wise to today’s speaking culture..

“Knock, knock! Who’s there?” I thought something the grandkids came up with. Not so. It was Shakespeare. How about, “It’s Greek to me.” Shakespeare again.

There are similar phrases outlined in the column.

Tiger Woods won his first Masters on this date in 1987. Seems like yesterday.

Enjoy your day!

 

COW KEY BRIDGE RACE HUGE SUCCESS

Races and walks. Constant in the Key west area. There is a race/walk for everything. The natives are walk/race crazy.

Yesterday, the Cow Key Bridge Run took place. Only in its third year. Already a success! 1,400 participated. This morning’s Key West Citizen described it as a RACE FOR FUN.

The bridge is only 300 feet long. Even those less than hardy can make it.

Each year, attempts are made to set a new record. One was accomplished yesterday. Took the winner all of 22 seconds to make the run.

The weather this past week has been perfect. High 70’s, cool breeze and no humidity.

Sundays are generally spent writing my KONK column. Took five hours yesterday. From 11 to 4 non-stop. Well worth it,

The title is Shakespeare Incidentals. Interesting and revealing. Not a composite of his life. Too much to write. Rather, I spelled out incidents  in Shakespeare’s life I thought might be unknown to many.

Dinner last night with Keith. Met him at Don’s Place. Our ultimate destination Duffy’s. Jennifer waitressing at Duffy’s.

Toni and Larry at the bar at Don’s Place. Toni a big time basketball fan. Kentucky her school. I went over to chat with them. I expressed my condolences re Kentucky’s relatively early defeat. She offered congrats re Syracuse’s play.

I like Toni.

I had not been to Duffy’s in 20 years. Used to go frequently at the time. I was on the Atkins diet. Duffy’s prime rib was good and cheap. $8.95.

The price has changed over 20 years, but not the quality. Cost $17.95. Still a bargain. A large juicy piece of prime rib. The best I have had in years. Obviously, I will be returning.

Jennifer took good care of us.

Excitement at the Key West Airport yesterday. An American Airline plane took off. Came in contact with a bird as the wheels were raised. Crew quickly returned to the Airport one engine less. No one hurt.

A few moments of concern. Airport fire engines lined the field. Everyone in the ready if a problem occurred.

I missed the Masters yesterday. When I finished the column, I was tired. Dropped on the bed for a nap. Don’s Place was buzzing with what had occurred. Jordan Spieth was winning as he headed into the back nine. He dropped 6 shots in three holes.

Such is golf.

Enjoy your day!

CONTEMPORARIES

Happy Sunday!

I watched the Masters’ opening drives Thursday. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. They looked a bit aged. Palmer and Nicklaus definitely. Player could pass for a younger man. Palmer is 85. Nicklaus, 75. Player, 79.

It dawned on me! They are my contemporaries! I literally grew up with them. From early adulthood on. I am 79.

For the first time, I realized how I look. When it is your own face in the mirror and one you have seen daily for years, the aging process appears slow. It does not hit you as dramatically as it did watching the three golf greats. I do not look as young as I thought!

My day was spent doing further reasearch on this week’s KONK Life column. I will write it today. It concerns Iceland and Iceland’s treatment of bankers following 2008. Iceland did not let bankers push them around. Iceland went for the jugular.

My first stop last night was Louie’s Backyard. It had been quite a while since I was last there. The deck bar is one of Key West’s most beautiful locations.

I met Dan and Mitzie. They have been together five years. Dan has spent time in the keys about as long as I have. He is a retired Michigan marine owner.

We talked of many things. Especially, aging. We have comparable experiences. Like forgetting. The discussion was ultra humorous. I wish it could have been recorded.

Then it was to Tavern ‘n Town for dinner. The season is definitely over! The bar empty. I enjoyed some good food and Bobby Nesbitt. Judy was her usual lovely self.

I was supposed to have dinner with Donna and Terri. They backed out at the last moment.

Walgreens in the news! Walgreens plans to close 200 stores this year. Not sure where yet. Walgreens recently merged with a European drug retailer.

Walgreens is the largest U.S. drug chain. Were you aware? I was not.

Tom Cotton in  the news again. He is on a roll since his Iran letter. He was on a TV talk show yesterday. One of his brilliant comments was to the effect we should bomb Iran now and destroy its nuclear danger once and for all. He failed to see value in the negotiation process.

Cotton is 37. He speaks like a 20 year old. He worries me. Especially since he is being groomed as Presidential timber.

I am reading Elizabeth Warren’s most recent book. A Fighting Chance. I am about two-thirds through it. Great reading!

Warren is one smart woman. Comes from a humble background. Never intended to be where she is. Her efforts over the years and her ability to get things done continue to be recognized. No question in my mind, she will be a serious candidate after Hillary is done.

Enjoy your Sunday!