Exploring Deadwood's Hidden Past Inside a Real Brothel

Step into the tantalizing history of a brothel in Deadwood. In the last of this Deadwood series, Kevin Hicks explores Deadwood's hidden past inside a real brothel. Join our intrepid guide as he unearths some of the secrets and stories housed within the walls of this historic establishment. With a blend of amusement and education, Kevin sheds light on a slice of history that was both scandalous and integral to the fabric of the Old West.
Big thanks to Deadwood History Inc for allowing us to film on location. Click on the link for details about tours of the brothel, as well as the Adams House & Museum.
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[@ricebrown1]

"Special rates for Politicians and Lawmen." Some things never change!

[@davechapman7735]

naa they use kids

[@mortem-tyrannis]

Just the age of the service providers... Pedo-ticians as they're all seem to be now.

[@paulmurphy216]

Where's Hunter?

[@dks13827]

@@paulmurphy216 snorting. ok youtube????

[@RobertSmith-iw2kb]

Yea,polititions screw the girls and then screw us😅

[@paulmanson253]

No pissing in the cuspidors. That is priceless.

[@dashcamabouttown]

Thanks for teaching this in a very professional way. Some parts of history are very difficult to teach because of the subject matter but you actually made it fun and not awkward.

[@thehistorysquad]

Hi @dashcamabouttown, I really appreciate your SUPER, thank you. I'm glad you found the video insightful 👍🏻

[@peterjones7673]

Another fascinating video insight into history Kevin, once again you take what many may consider a taboo subject and present it in a very well considered way, you sir are a fantastic historian and I thank you for your efforts.

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow Peter, that's so kind of you, thank you.

[@RichWoods23]

Well. When I woke up this morning I didn't realise I was going to be visiting a brothel. All the same, that was quite satisfying.

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@dganim9196]

Hi Kevin, every weeks topic is something new, extremely interesting and always expertly presented in a personalized way. Excellent work by you and Julie. Great to see Rupert supervising :) . Thankyou.

[@thehistorysquad]

Much appreciated Daryl ! @dganim9196

[@davidcreager1945]

I was in Deadwood years ago and took this tour , very interesting . Great video , Kevin !

[@randalmayeux8880]

Hi Kevin! I once worked as a photographer in Fort Worth, Texas. The man I worked for came from a long line of photographers who had been documenting the Fort Worth area since around 1900. Some of the photos I saw from Hell's Half Acre, the red light district on the south end of town, included pictures of prostitutes from the brothels. While there were a few comley ladies, many were downright ugly. I don't know if they got the same pay as the more attractive girls or not, but I'd have to be pretty drunk to avail myself of their services! I knew a beautiful young lady who was going to university on an ROTC scholarship. While not a prostitute, to make extra money, she worked as a stripper on weekends over in Dallas. On Friday and Saturday evenings, she could make $1,200 to $1,500. And that's just from dancing! God she was beautiful, and smart too! Upon graduation, she was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army and made the rank of Captain before she finished her service commitment 3 years later. She met another servicemen while in the Army and they were married in my backyard, back in the late 90s. Thanks for the tour, Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, that's impressive 👍🏻

[@fangslaughter1198]

I’ve noticed Very many old west stories of Mayhem come from Fort Worth. Luke Short made the local papers regularly regarding shootouts.

[@ellen4956]

I appreciate the comparison between the Gem and the other place where you were showing us around. I like the character of Al Swearingen in the TV show but I knew that the real person was terrible and lured women there with ads for other things, then forcing them into prostitution once they were there. But I never thought about the children! I saw a studio photograph online for sale once of a little girl in Deadwood in the 1890s. Imagine growing up in a town like that! Thanks for the great video!

[@margomaloney6016]

Thank you, Kevin . . . you present fascinating topics in each of your videos! It is always a joy to see that you have posted another one! By the bye, what is your charming dog's name? 🐕

[@thehistorysquad]

That would be Rupert 🐶

[@apcolleen]

Thank you for not shying away from the hard parts of this topic.

[@thehistorysquad]

😜

[@jefflatham3247]

Thank You for another great video Mr Hicks , yeah !!!

[@tomservo5347]

Having been stationed in Germany with the US Army one of the first things we were told was that prostitution was legal, regulated, and taxed by the German government. Just going and getting it over with was better (and way cheaper) than falling for the bar flies that could spot someone new and drain them of their pay buying 'drinks' (usually worked out with the owner of the bar) and being all flirty giving the young GI the misconception that they'd 'score' with them. Usually the night would be over, you had no more money, and the girls were gone. You were broke but hopefully a little wiser. We could wear our civilian clothes but our regulation haircuts and ballcaps made us stick out like glowsticks.

[@hedgehog0856]

I love your delivery of history, and how you throw in personal stories! It's like sitting around the family table listening to my parents or uncle's stories.

[@imdeplorable2241]

"Special rates for POLITICIANS and LAWMEN" 🤣🤣🤣 Well done, Mr. Hicks. Well done. 👍

[@shelbeepollino6025]

I love this video! I live about 30 minutes away from Deadwood, it is an awesome place.

[@thehistorysquad]

It really is!

[@mrbutch308]

A delightful tour. Thank you Kevin.

[@shin4ko131]

Thank you Mr. Hicks for the great video about this subject!

[@michaelpage4199]

Great bit of history. I agree Peter Pan will never be viewed the same again. Cheers

[@thehistorysquad]

😜

[@TommyMurphy999]

Another great video, thank you Kevin ❤👌

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure!

[@KC-gy5xw]

Love that the locals helped the girls to get away.

[@marcoengelbracht4141]

Wow, you brought a lot of stories with you from your trip. And mixing them with your experiences from the germany of my childhood makes it even more interesting. This is a more sad part of life on the frontier, but, my personal opinion, if the girls did it voluntarily, this is also something that may have stopped some of those lonely men to do something to women or girls that we do not want to talk about. It is called the oldest business in this world, and it is not good at all. But sometimes necessary to prevent things happening that are even worse. As always, many thanks for telling the story. This kind of insights I haven't had before.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Marco - oh we could have some fun over a pint discussing stories from my time in Germany, some of the best Christmas' I ever had were in Germany 👍🏻

[@laurentdevaux5617]

Fascinating, though this brothel appears to me as somewhat irreal, as so luminous, neat, clean. It's true that, in our imagination, we don't see bordellos like this one is. And may be because, I must confess it, those I frequented (yes, I did, may heaven forgive me) when I was younger in the Far-East were, well... quite different. But there was a scene that instantly reminded me my adventures in these sinful places : those ladies lining up in front of their client, waiting he picks one of them ! And thanks for pointing that these ladies, whoever they are, deserve respect and are not always abusively or violentely exploited. As far as I am concerned, it was the first thing I cared about, and that's surely why some of these moments spent there left me really good memories...

[@dmcarpenter2470]

Brother Kevin, thanks for another enjoyable tale.

[@blackline66]

Fantastic video. Respectfully made. 😊 Thank You! 😊

[@thehistorysquad]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@arthurdoucette1786]

Greetings once again from nova Scotia, thanks for another important video on the lesser known subject of our history. I apologize for the long pauses in my comments, I am sporadically, " displaced " please keep the good stuff coming, I am as usual, a big fan of your channel, best regards, Arthur

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Arthur, I hope you're doing okay over there in Nova Scotia. We haven't had a real snow dump here in Saskatoon yet, so winter is going to be short for us 👍🏻

[@davidcooke8005]

I don't have time to watch this at the moment, but I'll be back. I just had to wonder how closely the lovely Mrs Hicks was watching Kevin during his 'research' for this one. "Popping out for a pint!" "Like hell you are!"

[@thehistorysquad]

😂 yeah, Mrs H was just behind the camera watching every move 👍🏻

[@karenboouk531]

Hey Kevin. Very interesting you learn something new. I'm glad some of the ladies were looked after. Thank you for the video. Xxx 🌹🌹🌹

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@Captain-ln3vh]

I really like Mr. Hicks, I bet he was a fun young man. Now his wittiness shines through.

[@AJShiningThreads]

Thank you for covering this topic!

[@christinebutler7630]

Just gotta say, the puppy is adorable!

[@Syndr1]

Hi Kevin, that was nice of you to show my Nana's old bedroom.😉

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@dereksmith2910]

Great job and fascinating look into American history. Thanks.

[@mbenn8168]

What a great channel - Kevin, you have a nose for interesting stories - I am binge watching, planning to turn in for the night, after watching 'Just one more video', and another....Thanks for all the work you've put in.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks!

[@annettehernandez147]

Great episode Sir

[@999Giustina]

"Animal and other acts cost more". OMG it had to be put on a sign it was enough of an issue.

[@battywattywoo]

"No sleeping in the beds"?!

[@mallanac]

Another great video from the best storyteller.

[@FranssensM]

Really enjoying the uploads about the American West. You have me hooked. More of these please.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Thank you Mr. Hicks! That was a fascinating and nuanced take.

[@grprather]

Great video and historically accurate! I went on a brothel tour in Virginia City, Nevada a few years ago and the protocols in the 1800's were the same as they were in Deadwood. From what I hear, those protocols in legal brothels today are very much the same but with much higher prices for services!

[@coffeecocaine8878]

30 years old and I’ve never heard the term manual outside of a stick shift or manual transmission 😂😂😂😂

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@williamgunter6801]

Wow, well presented of a difficult subject.

[@sonnydaze6071]

Back in 93 I ride my first Harley that I bought brand new. I actually ordered the bike because I had made a commitment to friends that we would all ride over to sturgis together what memories!!! 1993 Dyna Wode Glide. First year of the rubber mounted out Motors. And I believe the dyna Glide was the test run on this new approach to a smoother ride. We rode day and night back then 5 -6 hundred miles a day. Once we got to sturgis and on the way we did a lot of stopping and looking and just all the history. I believe most of us on that trip tgat year made some good history. If you catch my drift. We went to deadwood and Mount Rushmore what a trip.

[@peterkrey7273]

Very interesting. Love our guide! Keep up the good work.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks, will do!

[@andrewstahl2274]

South Dakota! I’m from there! Lots of history in the Black Hills from native Americans to Wild West outlaws and gunmen also beautiful countryside!

[@patcallahan485]

Thank you for your enjoyable videos. I find them historically interesting…please keep the up! Orlando, Florida USA🏝️😎

[@doreekaplan2589]

8 years ago in Costa Rica we went to a hotel where customers put the room rental money in a slit in the wall before leaving. Odd an Englishman talking about American history.

[@lloydbrown7365]

I love this history Channel I'm learning a lot

[@LeadingPaws]

East of Eden is a really great book and there’s a couple of chapters that takes place inside of a brothel. It’s very interesting.

[@laara1426]

The Warehouse in Port Costa, California has a very colorful history .

[@donnahdunthorn5207]

You're a great storyteller. That photo above the bed though isn't from Deadwood, it's from New Orleans and was taken by EJ Bellocq who photographed the prostitutes of Storyville there. If you remember the Louis Malle film "Pretty Baby," the main male character was this very photographer.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cool!

[@RobinMartz-x9f]

That was interesting! And your doggie is just so adorable. ❤

[@mickmcguire4571]

Brilliant work as always 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks again Mick 👍🏻

[@conniecarroll747]

I love that the girls had that box for their money to be placed in. That way, they wouldn't be cheated out of their fair share.

[@Vcaser]

How interesting! Thank you very much for the video ❤

[@thehistorysquad]

Our pleasure!

[@LaTigerGenesis]

love that there's a poster of lyrics from Pink Floyd's "Money" in the Madame's office 😂

[@retiredmusiceducator3612]

well done!

[@draleigh8881]

Why'd they have to do Peter Pan like that? 😂

[@paulyates2548]

another great vid i didn't realise that children would be running around the brothels but hey kevin a red cap you don't mess with those red caps

[@HanoiHustler]

Stayed at a old brothel in Leadville Co. Great show🎉😂

[@OliverClothesofff]

Lololol the Peter Pan. I won't look at that movie the same again either haha. Great name for a vital tool.

[@rezank5859]

"seedy side of life" 🤣 That killed me

[@robinwitting2023]

Fascinating. Presented with great tact. Robin Witting England

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Robin 👍🏻

[@mizukarate]

Fun video!!!!

[@bobversheck2131]

Well done!

[@robertsolomielke5134]

Thumbs up! TY Mr. Kevin Hicks. North America is soooooo uptght about the sex trade , and brothels, we really need at a realistic view on the matter. TY an your msm. for a realistic look into things .

[@jamesschneider3828]

Yes the last time I seen them working was 1980. We sat in a window booth in a bar across the street from the last brothel and would watch to see if they hooked a client or two

[@thehistorysquad]

😜

[@nicolascoley4412]

There is a small photo above the cutout of dora and I have the exact same one! Came from my great grandparents house it is very old!

[@chetanjoshi2159]

Amazing!!

[@rikijett310]

Nice, very nice!!!! 😂😂

[@apolloskyfacer5842]

Don't forget to mention the Syphilis problem .

[@keymaster430]

When talking about the sky-light and how the lads would go up to watch the show, you said "Me personally, I would have been up there...and charged them extra." I thought you were gonna say, "...I would have been up there...watching also."

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@keithskelhorne3993]

I remember 1 knocking shop ( read bar) in Berlin, went in at 23:30, just sat there talking to the girls and others having a great laugh, next we knew it was breakfast time at 06:45!!! and time for the U-Bahn back to Roberts Bks

[@thehistorysquad]

Happy days!

[@keithskelhorne3993]

@@thehistorysquad Daze you mean!

[@CurtisGrupe]

Hello there Mr hicks how is everything going with you

[@thehistorysquad]

Good thanks, just finishing up a model for a video this weekend 👍

[@christinebutler7630]

Something that is seldom considered is that some of the prostitutes had been wives or daughters of miners who got killed or died of disease, and without a husband or father to provide for them, they had no other option.

[@CatherineKeehn-l6k]

Sadly even in todays times working in this trade still pays more than" honest" work. There is no same pay for same work yet today. Men make more than women.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Unfortunately penicillin wasn’t invented until the 40s and STDs before then was a painful death sentence many times

[@johnbest4513]

Amazing.

[@Banditt42]

Cancelling the Deadwood show was HBOs biggest mistake ever.

[@scrappydoo7887]

We need some more videos on the darker side of the world and specifically the wild west. Im sure theres a wealth of subjects to cover

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes for sure. The next stop after Deadwood was the Little Bighorn in Montana - coming soon 👍🏻

[@scrappydoo7887]

@@thehistorysquad sounds like a good watch kev 👍

[@AA-ys4hi]

Huge fan of Kevin and this is his best video ever! Peter Pan hahahaha!

[@thehistorysquad]

😜

[@CurtisGrupe]

Hello Kevin how is everything going with you

[@thehistorysquad]

Very good thanks, we’ll be shooting another video this weekend

[@charlescorris3469]

Very good…

[@Helan87]

Can you answer a question? Which type of ancient bow has more range? English Longbow or Mongolian Composite Bow? thanks

[@thehistorysquad]

It's horses for courses, I've shot both. I found that the horse bow was faster than the longbow, but the longbow outranged it and delivered a heavier blow, but at the end of the day it was the local materials that dictated what kind of bow was developed. 👍🏻

[@Helan87]

thanks =)@@thehistorysquad

[@CurtisGrupe]

Hello Kevin how are you doing

[@thehistorysquad]

Good thanks, ready for a holiday 👍

[@andrewbreeding4972]

I wish we still had these lol

[@WolfingtonStanley]

Use the Peter pan to clean your tinker bell

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣 nice one

[@JS6969tz]

It was a place to relax and get the dust off your boots.

[@MbisonBalrog]

What about the bouncers/security? I’m sure must have been there to at least stop bandits from breaking the money box.

[@Jameskenomis3]

Sounds like Al got some of that stuff called karma. I like it too.

[@scrappydoo7887]

Good lord. The "peter Pan" 😆 You're right, it puts a whole different slant on the children's story

[@thehistorysquad]

😜

[@ruthl3ssstudio163]

Did he say that was an active brothel until 1980?

[@thehistorysquad]

Yep

[@ruthl3ssstudio163]

@@thehistorysquad I visited Deadwood in summer of 2021. I was 41 years too late. HA!

[@limjahey3119]

How kind of them to offer a police discount.

[@geoffreybudge3027]

VD ran rampant.

[@robertphillips6296]

Work Room.

[@bimini1216]

The lighting is wrong. The led crappy lighting. It would be dramatic candle light or wall gas lights

[@frankdoss6313]

Sure it was just a cup of coffee :D

[@crippleguy415]

Kinda like SHERI'S ranch in Pahrump , Nevada . Nice place .Cute girls . Good food too . ❤

[@briancoughlin6732]

In Chicago in the 20s after the girls were used up they ended up on bug row