The Strip Times - Est. 1902 - Las Vegas - Daily Columns

Saturday 15^th June 1946
Reporter: Kenny Jenkins

“A long way from Home”

Good Morning Las Vegas, today I have something a little different for you. Today I will be discussing a new topic compared to the previous issues outlined. And before you ask, “Kenny, are you in fear for your life and rather than continue with publishing damning evidence linking serious crimes in Vegas with powerful, dangerous psychopaths; had, on second thought decided to pull back from revealing said damning secrets and conspiracies in-order to prolong your life? “, the answer is yes. Yes, your Johnny on the spot with that one.

Therefore, today my fine people of the strip and surrounding districts, I will be delving into the murky world of prostitution. Rest assured I won’t be winning any “best in class” prizes for today’s scoop.

Las Vegas is a growing city, and since the fist casino here on the strip opened its shiny, metallic dream material doors back in 1941 we have been a city of attraction, culture and reckless ambition.

Yes, our dear sin city is full of fantastic dreams, high roller fiends and sadistic means; but even when we think we succeed, remember dear Las Vegas; it’s the house that prevails. The house always wins.

When it comes to the world of prostitution Las Vegas is neither different from nor comparable to any other city. Whether it be Atlantic City, New York, Chicago or Hollywood, there’s no place like Vegas.

Our glasses, wallets and desert graves are full, but our hearts and souls are empty. We have a crisis on our hands. The world’s oldest profession is in dire straits here in Nevada. Our ladies of the night are having a real hard time of it, no pun intended. They get little percentage of the take for the back-breaking work that they do, also not intended. The pimps and the mobsters that push these poor gals are raking in the cash while our Vegas beauties are used and abused.

I went out on the strip in search of these ladies, purely for journalistic venture. I wanted to hear to straight from the horse’s mouth, and to understand how bad the situation is.

I met two girls down by south 7^th street off Bonneville Avenue. The lovely Mandy, a high school drop out with dreams to make it on the silver screen in Beverley Hills one day, of course she was also sporting a black eye and fat lip. After a few minutes of general chat about her school days, I questioned her about the look she was sporting. She hesitantly looked over her shoulder toward a well-dressed gentleman across the street leaning against the wall with one leg straight, one leg arched on the wall and what appeared to be a toothpick hanging out the side of his mouth.

Mandy sharply replied, “Hey, if ya ain’t paying for the goods, ya ain’t getting’ the merch hun, now beat it!”.

That was the end of that conversation. The other delightful young girl was named Bella. A shockingly young lady by the age of 14 from simple beginnings back at Richfield, Utah. I was curious as to why a 14-year-old girl was so far from home in a place like this. I asked, “What on heaven’s earth are you doing here kid? Where’s your parents?”. The fresh-faced sweetheart answered in a calm gentle rather opposite tone to lovely Mandy, “I don’t have anybody, pal. I came here to make money and meet rich connected guys. Guys who are somebody in this town. I shouldn’t be talking to you, you’re bad for business buddy”.

I left the girls with a sense of dread and a lot to think about. I have since come to the realization that with wealth, glamour and casinos; comes the dark, questionable and sinful morals that has now fallen on our fine town.

The streets and back alleys are full of hoodlums, cons and vulnerable girls with dangerous rich somebodys. These so-called “somebodys” are the same “somebodys” that run this town in a bloody manner. There are now rackets and fronts on every street, in almost every “legit” business and hiding under all our noses. These establishments make the wrong kind of cocktails; mixed to bring pain and suffering to make a quick buck.

The casino business in this town has boomed in the last five years, and now it’s a shot at the big time for all the wrong reasons. I hope all you rich “somebodys” out there reading this enjoy the life in which you took by the scruff of the neck, and I hope the bubble you’ve created around yourselves doesn’t one day suddenly burst.

I’m Kenny Jenkins, and that’s the scoop. Stay safe folks, don’t become another hole in the desert.

Reporter: Kenny Jenkins
 

[original Newspaper columns found in Las Vegas Business District: HERE ]