Brothel numbers decline due to Las Vegas, gas prices

This is the second of three articles wrapping up the history of prostitution with a profile of the industry’s legal crusader and lobbyist in Carson City, George Flint.

Number of Brothels Declines

When George Flint began his brothel lobbying effort in 1985, there were 34 licensed brothels in Nevada. In 2011 there were 24; today, there are 18. What is the future? At one point one owner said to him, “George, looking 20 years ahead, it’s going to be survival of the fittest.”

He has proved to be absolutely accurate, Flint said. In 2011, he told me, “Winnemucca went from four houses to one; Wells, Nevada, has gone from three to two; Storey County has gone from four to two. There are several right now that are right on the edge, and it wouldn’t take much to close them.”

What is behind the decline? Flint said it started with cost increases in gasoline and diesel.

There are quite a few a few brothels along Interstate 80. Most truckers have to buy their own fuel. High-priced fuel means they don’t have as much disposable income to party on. There’s still a certain amount of activity coming out of Las Vegas, Flint said. But, he said, “The biggest pimps in the state are the cab drivers because a guy gets in the cab and says, ‘Hey, take me out to the Chicken Ranch. I hear it’s a great place.’ And the cabbie says, ‘Ah, you don’t need to go out there. That’s an hour-and-a-half drive. I’ll take you over here 10 minutes away.’ And most guys are not thinking,” Flint said.

He noted that in about 2005 a deputy sheriff of a California county got caught in a raid on an illegal red-light operation in Las Vegas and it nearly cost him his job. Flint estimated 70 percent of the topless dancers in Las Vegas will turn tricks. Even though the professional group representing massage therapists has tried hard to tighten the regulations on massage parlors in Henderson and Las Vegas, they’re constantly getting in trouble for selling sex.

Is prostitution eventually going to be legalized in Las Vegas and Reno? Flint wonders. I asked him what he thought of the idea of a big Disneyland-type brothel in or near Las Vegas, where a client would have to have $3,000 in his pocket to walk in the front door. He suggested that wasn’t such a far-fetched idea. He said he had met with Oscar Goodman when Goodman was mayor of Las Vegas. At the meeting, the mayor said, “George, let’s get this on… Let’s create a New Orleans carnival effect.” The mayor had even suggested a site where he thought it could be done.

The mayor said, “This is going to be a whole new reason for people to come to Las Vegas.” Flint added, “I think the world is ready for that.”

Brothel business is a good business

Flint suggested that 40 years ago, there were “old traditionalists running the brothels,” and “they knew the way to run things.” They have all either retired or died and are gone, he said.

Newcomers coming into the business know nothing about the state and its counties and have no background in the business. He gave a civics lesson to one brothel owner not long ago, asking, “Tell me something. How many county commissioners are there?” The man replied, “I think there’s three.” Flint said, “No, there’s five.” He then asked, “Can you name them?” The man said, “No.” Flint said, “I suppose you can’t name their wives, either.” The man said, “Of course not.” Flint asked, “How many of their birthdays do you know?” The man, frustrated, asked, “Why are you asking me these questions?” Flint replied, “You ought to know all their names.

“You should know their wives’ names. You should know their birthdays. You should know her favorite perfume. You should know her favorite flower and their anniversary.”

Bob McCracken has a doctorate in cultural anthropology and is the author of numerous books in the Nye County Town History Project.

, including a history of Pahrump.