The Yellow Pages of Prostitution: The Blue Book
The madams, working girls and
services offered were published between the years 1895 and 1915 in a trade
paperback called the Blue Book. For a quarter, a visitor could get photos,
names, races, address and specialties of every girl at every place in the
district, as well as adverts and locations for liquors, eateries and druggists,
to name a few (6). It was in this book that the madams revealed
their proffered specialties with risqué photos and brazen claims aimed at
attracting prosperous men to their mansions for salacious activities (1).
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Above: Blue book covers showing an advert for one of Mayor Anderson's many establishments in Storyville.
Right: A page from a blue book promoting the working girls of Mahogany Hall. Far right: An advert for Burnett's gin and a listing for "colored" harlots, and their respective business addresses. Below left: An announcement for an upcoming Mardi Gras Gala. Below right: A beer advert from a blue book. |