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Legal Nevada Brothel Prostitute's Archive, 1988-2003 [167529]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Legal Nevada Brothel Prostitute's Archive, 1988-2003 [167529]
SOLD
4,600.00USDto g******k+ buyer's premium (1,150.00)
This item SOLD at 2023 Jun 16 @ 12:56UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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A Legal Nevada Prostitute’s Fifteen Year Archive, c1988-2003

This remarkable archive comes to us directly from Kathy Eastland, aka “Destyny”. Legal sex workers never use their real name, but here our consignor made an exception. In her own words, “I loved my job, it was a wonderful job.”

Destyny not only collected memorabilia and personal photos from her fifteen years on the job, but also assembled perhaps one of the all-time best currency serial number “poker” collections, present elsewhere in this sale.
Ms. Eastland/Destyny worked the Nevada legal “ranches” from 1988 to 2003. She never worked the “shady” side of the business, preferring the professionality of the many legal houses of prostitution in Nevada. “I worked all the good houses,” she said. “I was an old-school girl.”

Destyny got her start as a cocktail waitress and bar tender at the Grand Ballroom where she made $400-$500 a night in tips and wanted to make more money. After she “retired,” she bought the Wonder Bar in Reno and has run it ever since. Her name is used here by permission.

She wrote a manuscript about her time in the business, “Hell on Heels” in 1997 which has yet to be published, which I’m sure is a fascinating read. The manuscript is not included here.

This archive is like nothing we have seen before. Years ago, we offered a private collection of photographs and menus from the original Mustang Ranch as collected by an “agent” working for Conforte that carefully “solicited” business for Mustang at large venues. That large lot was quite probably the only original material collected by a related sex worker offered for public sale. When the Mustang Ranch closed, the leftover goods were all sold at auction by the Bankruptcy Court, hence the thousands of books of Mustang matches, place mats and the like found all over the internet. But no archive from any legal worker has ever been offered. This is a first.

Much has been written about Conforte, his wife Sally, the murder of boxer Oscar Bonavena, the IRS takeover and running of the Ranch for years for a profit, and so much more. Politician and legal sex worker Jessi Winchester put Nevada brothels on the map with her campaigns for public office, as well as writing a scandalous “tell-all” book about her life and times in Nevada. In later years, Dennis Hoff used television as the limelight to promote the legal sex trade in Nevada. Destiny worked for all of them, and has nothing but good things to say about each.

Destyny says the legal sex trade in Nevada has greatly changed. It once was a special place of graciousness and kindness. “ It had more decorum back then … more personable.” Nobody was allowed out naked. No kissing. Nobody was allowed to do “stupid stuff” to get the attention of men. Today it has turned into more of a “show,” as she says. “It is more of a modern exotic/erotic culture.”

The Legal Sex Trade in Nevada Archive
The archive is contained within two file storage boxes. There are two notebooks full of photos and printed matter, and another box full of Nevada whorehouse collectibles, all obtained by Destyny “on the job.” Needless to say, the provenance is impeccable.

Notebook 1. This notebook contains the only printed promotional material that was universally used by all legal houses of prostitution – the “Menu.” Sex menus are rare. Even the Mustang menus are rare, as most were destroyed. Destyny collected menus from every house where she worked, as well as others. Most of these houses today are long gone, a product of modern times and changing cultures. This collection may be the only such collection extant. It includes varieties of menus from differing places, as well as some duplicates. Includes with each house menu may be news articles about the place or other printed matter, inclusive of some business cards and mailed promotional material.

The collection contains 33 menus and more than 300 original private photos of the girls and places. There are no pornographic photos. There is a collection of about 100 different lady business cards. There are matchbooks from about 40 different houses. Collectibles are not left out. There are three large bottles, one of champagne signed by the Bridge Ranch girls; a full bottle signed by the girls of Kitty’s; a full bottle of Chardonnay with a Mustang Ranch label; Crown Royal miniature bottles in custom Mustang and Old Bridge little blue cloth bags. There are calendars- two from Jessi Winchester, with one completely signed by all the girls. A 1991 calendar from the Chicken ranch, all signed by the girls. There are several books, including Hoff’s “The Art of the Pimp.” In all, there may well be nearly 1000 pieces in the entire archive.

The following lists the houses (aka “ranch”), the number of menus and the approximate number of “other” items in Notebook 1. The format here is House name, number of menus, number of other items.
Bella's, 1, 6,; Chardori's Club, 2, 1; Cherry Patch, 1, 3; Chicken Ranch, 3, 2; Donna's, 1, 4,; Kitty's, 1, 2, poem; Bunny Ranch, 3, 21,; Mabel's, 1, 0,; Mustang, 2, 28, wine list, copy of first Conforte license, checks, signed $20 pass by Conforte; Bridge Ranch, , 2, wine list; Sagebrush, 8, 3,; Shady lady, 2,; Sheri's, 2, 8,; Sue's, 0, 2,; Wild Horse, 2, 4,; Unknown, 4,. Plus ten or more prostitute biz cards.

Notebook 2. Photographs. The format here is House, # photos (approximate)
Sagebrush, 11,; KitKat, 2; Kitty's, 1; Moonlight, 1; East Wells, 3; Lazy B, 1; Villa Joy, 1; Denny's, 1; Pussy Cat, 1; My Place, 2; Billie's, 1; Janie's, 1; Cottontail, 2; Shady Lady, 2; Angel's , 2; Cherry Patch, 3; Sheri's, 2; Chicken Ranch, 2; Hana's, 1; Inez bar, 1; Green Lantern, 1; Big 7, 1; Stardust, 1; Hacienda Donna's, 2; Donna's, 1; Old Bridge, 2; Mustang 1, 2; Mustang 2, 1; Kitty's , 21; Bella's, 4; Sue's, 20; Mustang 1, 56; Mustang 2, 2; Old Bridge, 14; Sheri's, 47; Sagebrush, 45; Lelaini's Room, Sagebrush, 14; Sagebrush Fire, 28; Sagebrush , 14, , 317 photos