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The assumption, both before and after Prohibition, was that any unescorted woman in a bar, tavern, or saloon was a prostitute. Many cities passed blue laws banning unescorted women from drinking establishments.
When I visited Vancouver, B.C., in the mid-1960's, all of the taverns in Gastown had two entrances, one for men and escorted women and the other for unescorted women.
Yes. In fact Gloria Allred made a name for herself as an attorney by fighting the Los Angeles city ordinances that prohibited un-escorted women in bars and lounges. It was illegal for a woman to sit at a bar and order a drink. Late 70's/early 1980's. She got those laws taken off the books then went on to sue the all-male Friars Club. They wouldn't allow women to enter parts of their club... which included the lounge.... so she sued them for gender discrimination. And won. It made her famous and she was able to use that fame to build a law firm specializing in feminist issues.
With god knows how many bars/taverns that have been set up during the history of the USA and being they were mostly independent from each other, I highly doubt there was ever a second in the past 400 years on the land that now constitutes the USA that no woman could ever enter one somewhere. Sure there were elitist establishments scattered all over with all sorts of stupid rules and requirements for entry, but come on... there are only 2 real reasons to go to a bar and it's not for the spittoons or salty snacks. Take either one of those reasons away and your bar goes broke pretty fast.
About 30 years ago my sister took my dad to dinner and they walked through the bar. He was shocked that women sat at the bar. He hadn't been in a bar since the 40's.
Yes. In fact Gloria Allred made a name for herself as an attorney by fighting the Los Angeles city ordinances that prohibited un-escorted women in bars and lounges. It was illegal for a woman to sit at a bar and order a drink. Late 70's/early 1980's. She got those laws taken off the books then went on to sue the all-male Friars Club. They wouldn't allow women to enter parts of their club... which included the lounge.... so she sued them for gender discrimination. And won. It made her famous and she was able to use that fame to build a law firm specializing in feminist issues.
Was it illegal for a woman to sit at a bar and order a drink all along up until that period then?? Was it an actual law or just ordinances set by various cities? Also, based on your wording, does that mean that it was ok for a female to be inside such an establishment but she just could not order a drink up until the 70's/80's?
The reason I ask is that an elderly gentleman that I was having a discussion with a few days ago INSISTED that it was once illegal for a female to even be inside a bar/tavern/pub/saloon, but I did not believe him as I remember seeing in silent movies and in old black and white westerns that there were females in saloons and not only just as dancers/performers, but as actual patrons. I tried researching this myself but I could not find anything that stated it was ever law, or that it was ever illegal for a female to be in such an establishment....only that there were certain establishments that were deemed "male-only" by the owners, not that it was ever law.
He's one of those people who put on airs, claiming to know everything and is always right, so I was hoping to find some printable proof that he is wrong in this instance lol
Was it illegal for a woman to sit at a bar and order a drink all along up until that period then?? Was it an actual law or just ordinances set by various cities? Also, based on your wording, does that mean that it was ok for a female to be inside such an establishment but she just could not order a drink up until the 70's/80's?
The reason I ask is that an elderly gentleman that I was having a discussion with a few days ago INSISTED that it was once illegal for a female to even be inside a bar/tavern/pub/saloon, but I did not believe him as I remember seeing in silent movies and in old black and white westerns that there were females in saloons and not only just as dancers/performers, but as actual patrons. I tried researching this myself but I could not find anything that stated it was ever law, or that it was ever illegal for a female to be in such an establishment....only that there were certain establishments that were deemed "male-only" by the owners, not that it was ever law.
He's one of those people who put on airs, claiming to know everything and is always right, so I was hoping to find some printable proof that he is wrong in this instance lol
Do you believe everything you see in the movie now? Geesh.
Some bars in some areas allowed women who had male escorts....most did not allow unaccompanied women....and the few that did....well...it was assumed the women were 'ladies of the night'. 'Respectable' women just didn't go to bars.
The person you were talking to is more Correct on the issue than you are.
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