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Good Time Girls of California

A Red-Light History of the Golden State
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While settlers were drawn out West by the often empty promises of the Gold Rush, prostitution grew and flourished within the mining camps, small towns, and cities of nineteenth-century California. Whether escaping a bad home life, lured by false advertising, or seeking to subsidize their income, thousands of women chose or were forced to enter an industry where they faced segregation and persecution, fines and jailing, and battled the other hazards of their profession. Some dreamed of escape through marriage or retirement, and some became infamous and even successful, but more often found relief only in death. An integral part of western history, the stories of these women continue to fascinate readers and captivate the minds of historians today. Working girls and madams like Bodie's famous Rosa May and the gambler Madame Moustache remain notorious celebrities in the annals of history, and Collins also includes the stories of lesser-known women whose roles in this illicit trade help shape our understanding of the American West.
Jan MacKell Collins has been a published author, speaker and presenter since 2003. Her focus has always been on western history, with an emphasis on historical prostitution. Three of her books: Brothels, Bordellos & Bad Girls: Prostitution in Colorado 1860-1930, Red Light Women of the Rocky Mountains and Wild Women of Prescott, Arizona have focused on this intriguing subject. Ms. Collins was also a contributing author to Preserving Western History, The Colorado Labor Wars: Cripple Creek, 1903-1904 and Extraordinary Women of the Rocky Mountain West, with chapters in each book about the prostitution industry. She also has been featured on several radio programs in Arizona, California and Colorado. Finally, she is also working as an historical consultant with a director in the feature film industry. Ms. Collins currently resides in Oregon, where she continues researching the history of prostitution.
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