2017年1月20日 星期五

LA vs. the Saloons, part II: The Parkhurst Society plays Vice Squad - KCET

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just before midnight on Dec. four, 1896, two men asked to use the bathroom at la' Olive Saloon. The older and larger of the two had a well-trimmed black moustache and darkish eyes. He gave the impression of a stern headmaster who secretly enjoyed watching his students blush and stutter while reciting their instructions. The more youthful man stood in the shadows, trembling. Charles Pickenbach, the saloon's proprietor, was simply closing up. He had grew to become out the lights, taken off his apron, and placed on his coat and hat. Reluctantly, he agreed to let in the pair. The guys stayed within the lavatory for about 5 minutes after which entered the bar. The older man asked for a beer, while his unsteady pal requested port wine. Noting that the man appeared to be in distress, Pickenbach counseled that if his "bowels have been out of order," blackberry cordial would be superior than port. both drank on the bar for a few minutes, purchased a bottle of whiskey for 25 cents, and then hurried away.[1]

right here day, Pickenbach was served with a observe to appear in decide D. C. Morrison's Police court docket for selling liquor after hours. The complainant turned into the Rev. Jesse W. Ball, a member of the Parkhurst Society's Committee on Immoral places and Practices. His accomplice, H. S. Ryder, become a younger theological student at the university of Southern California.[2]

Over the direction of a few weeks, the Parkhurst Society filed more than 300 complaints in opposition t the bartenders, saloon homeowners, and madams of l. a..

After a brief trial, the judge dismissed the case, declaring that there turned into no evidence to indicate that Pickenbach supposed to violate the closing legislation.[3] The decision turned into the first of many failures for the Parkhurst Society. Over the direction of several weeks, they filed greater than 300 complaints in opposition t the bartenders, saloon house owners, and madams of los angeles.[4] The situations did not quantity to a whole lot legally, however, for a brief duration, the Society was the talk of the city.

founded earlier in 1896 through a small group of eager residents and zealous spiritual leaders, the Parkhurst Society took their identify from Rev. Charles Henry Parkhurst, a brand new York political reformer. Like their East Coast namesake, the aim of the l. a. community was to root out corruption and public officers who supported vice. Their first goal changed into the city's saloons. within the years in view that passing legal guidelines that required saloons to shut in the dark and all day on Sundays, individuals of the Parkhurst Society felt that now not ample had been finished to implement the law. The group called on l. a.' Police Chief Glass and Mayor Rader but were unsatisfied with the response.[5] The Society employed two private detectives from San Francisco who visited saloons after hours to gain facts of wrongdoing. participants of the Society additionally begun an undercover campaign within the city's theaters, brothels, and dives.

Rev. John B. Wilson of the primary Methodist Episcopal Church served as the Society's president and spokesman. Rev. C. C. McLean, chief of the Simpson Tabernacle, chaired the committee liable for the Society's nightly excursions. each turned into a firebrand preacher who saw "depravity spreading" from unhealthy to respectable materials of los angeles.[6] Wilson advised that their anti-vice campaign would shine a lightweight on "harpies too vile to reside", while McLean described the campaign as one where he would enthusiastically style the evil of the metropolis "for the sake of God and legislation."[7]

Rev. J. W. Ball of the Parkhurst Society visited the Olive Saloon to collect proof against its owner. Drawing from the la Herald's insurance of the incident.

Rev. John Wilson turned into the Parkhurst Society's leader and first spokesperson. He had come to California after being disregarded from his ministry in ny. In l. a., his primary foe changed into Police Chief Glass who described Wilson as a vindictive "knave." Drawing from the la Herald.

Rev. C.C. McLean, of the Simpson Tabernacle, served as chair of the Parkhurst Society's Committee on Immoral places and Practices. Drawing from the la Herald.

The Parkhurst Society's outings have been exhaustive. On Spring road alone, they stalked the Hollenbeck, the Eintracht, Mike Pulanski's Hoffman Café, Charles Bauer's Anheuser, the McInnes Brothers' l. a. Theater, the Nadeau inn and Gillmore and Zorb's Fountain Saloon. participants of the Society attended boxing fits and a masked ball held on the Turnverein corridor to be certain that the dancers were no longer served beer after midnight.[8]

On the night of Nov. 26, Rev. McLean, Rev. Ball and three theological college students visited Madam Lottie Van's brothel on New excessive highway. The party arrived with flushed faces, having already visited the los angeles Athletic membership and a number of other "parlor houses." while numerous ladies sat on their laps, the community ordered drinks. a collection became taken up to pay a lady named Dolly for her excessive-kicking. Dolly become additionally provided $5 to do the "hula hula." The girl danced for a minute or two but most of the evening changed into spent sitting round whereas the ladies told "smutty stories." Dolly's dancing, or in all probability the conversation, must were a little stimulating, since the community back right here evening with extra committee individuals.[9]

all through the trial that followed, Madam Van became accused of promoting beer with no license. In court, under a "profusion of blond hair," the lady appeared to be "unusually sober" and a picture of propriety. Her attorney argued convincingly that Parkhurst contributors had arrived to her establishment inebriated and cited that it became no longer in opposition t the legislation for a woman to bop.[10]

Turnverein hall located at 321 South leading road was the third building erected by the German American activity and social membership. The constructing opened in 1894 and survived as a theater and men's membership until it became destroyed through hearth in 1951. In December 1896, the Parkhurst Society attended a masked ball at the corridor to be sure that no dancer became served beer after dead night. l. a. Public Library, security Pacific national financial institution collection

individuals of the Parkhurst Society sampled the saloons on Spring road, together with the Hollenbeck, the Eintracht, Mike Pulanski's Hoffman Café, Charles Bauer's Anheuser, the McInnes Brothers' la Theater, the Nadeau lodge and Gillmore and Zorb's Fountain Saloon. View of Spring highway looking north from First road in 1885. image courtesy of the USC Libraries – California ancient Society collection.

Some Angelenos accused the neighborhood of going too far, most found their methods distasteful, and nevertheless extra suggested that the Society's participants found too a great deal pleasure in their night work.

regardless of public assist for the liquor laws and the at first positive insurance of local newspapers, the temper of the metropolis at once turned in opposition t the Parkhurst Society.[11] Some Angelenos accused the community of going too far, most found their strategies distasteful, and nevertheless more advised that the Society's individuals found too an awful lot pleasure of their night work.[12] during their investigations, the preachers spent more than $300 on beer, whisky, and amusement, a sum neatly past the general public's expectations. Police Chief Glass changed into a particularly vocal opponent of the "meddling ministers," calling them "wolves who are looking to grasp a person with out decide or jury." Glass accused the neighborhood of the use of their crusade to create worry in the metropolis for his or her personal aggrandizement.[13]

in accordance with its individuals, the Society's dissipation turned into completely "for the betterment of the morals of the city". besides the fact that children, after 300 complaints and 21 trials, the community's efforts resulted in just two convictions.[14] J.E. McDowell of the notorious White Wings saloon and a madam named Ella Rorick have been discovered guilty of violating the liquor ordinances. every changed into fined $2.[15] charges were dismissed in opposition t Madam Van, who lower back to a now noted and infinitely extra profitable enterprise.

Reverend McLean served as pastor of the Simpson Tabernacle (also called Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church) at 730 S. Hope St. The church was constructed within the late 1880s and protected a huge auditorium. within the early 1910s, the church grew to become Third Church of Christ, Scientist. The church sanctuary turned into demolished after it became broken within the 1971 San Fernando-Sylmar earthquake. a fragment of the constructing remains because the Christian Science reading Room on Hope at seventh road. l. a. Public Library, protection Pacific country wide bank assortment

The Christian Science analyzing Room at 730 S. Hope is a surviving fragment of the Simpson Tabernacle complex. photo by way of creator, January 14, 2016.

Notes

[1] "ethical Dissipation: The Parkhurst Society Lays a Snare" los angeles instances (1886-1922); Dec 6, 1896, pg. 24; "Taken below Advisement: the first Case for the Parkhurst Society" l. a. Herald, Sunday Morning, December 6, 1896,

[2] "Parkhurst strategies: The Ministerial Union Approves" la times, December 22, 1896, pg. 7

[3] "Pickenback is Discharged" la Herald, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1896, p. 3; "Paid to Kick: McLean Held Stakes while the women performed" la instances, December 17, 1896, pg.11

[4] "To implement the legislation: Warrants Issued for Keepers of Saloons" l. a. times (1886-1922); Dec four, 1896, pg. 7

[5] "Parkhurst Society: Mass-assembly for guys only" los angeles instances (1886-1922); Dec 1, 1896, pg. 9

[6] "Parsons put together to Purge city of Vice" los angeles Herald, Friday morning, December four, 1896

[7] "How the Ministers Went out Slumming" l. a. Herald, Saturday morning, December 5, 1896; "Parsons put together to Purge city of Vice" l. a. Herald, Friday morning, December four, 1896

[8] "Taken under Advisement: the primary Case for the Parkhurst Society" la Herald, Sunday Morning, December 6, 1896; "Parsons put together to Purge city of Vice" los angeles Herald, Friday morning, December four, 1896

[9] "Kicked for the Preachers: Dizzy women Entertain the Parkhurst Committee" l. a. Herald, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1896, p. three; "Paid to Kick: McLean Held Stakes while the women carried out" la times, December 17, 1896, pg.eleven

[10] "Kicked for the Preachers: Dizzy ladies Entertain the Parkhurst Committee" l. a. Herald, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1896, p. 3

[11] Parkhurst evidence" la times, December 23, 1896, pg. 6

[12] "To implement the law: Warrants Issued for Keepers of Saloons" los angeles instances (1886-1922); Dec 4, 1896, pg. 7

[13] "Parsons put together to Purge city of Vice" l. a. Herald, Friday morning, December four, 1896; "Taken below Advisement: the first Case for the Parkhurst Society" l. a. Herald, Sunday Morning, December 6, 1896

[14] "Reformers in courtroom: seem as Prosecutors" l. a. instances (1886-1922); Dec 5, 1896 pg. 5; "accomplished repute: Dr. McLean Has His picture within the Examiner In San Francisco" los angeles instances (1886-1922); Jan 9, 1897 pg. 9

[15] "ratings Two aspects" l. a. instances, December 29, 1896, pg. 7

precise graphic: John Black's Saloon in Bishop, California, ca. 1894-98. photo courtesy of the core for the study of la research assortment, Loyola Marymount institution.

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