Prostitution In OKC

[BBatesokc]

yep... highway 77. at sw 44th, it went east and then followed south along shields.

-M

I was told Robinson itself was some sort of highway or major artery into downtown. Any idea if that is true or what it was known as? I may go by the library soon and see if any photos of the area are on record.

[BBatesokc]

There used to be a photo mural on the wall(NE corner) of an aerial view of OKC in the restaurant that was just north of the dozed motel(a rental place today I think), do you know if it is still there?

Interesting. Was the mural on an interior wall? If so I have no idea. If on the exterior, I've never seen it.

[kevinpate]

The lil' hovel-tel and former eatery places that are on the south side of 44th, where S Robinson hits 44th, were, if memory serves, used briefly for a film set many moons back. Drawing a blank on the name, maybe a Matt Dillion flick? Sorry for the blank space. It's been a weird couple of days.

[Martin]

I was told Robinson itself was some sort of highway or major artery into downtown. Any idea if that is true or what it was known as? I may go by the library soon and see if any photos of the area are on record.

like i say, highway 77 followed robinson going into downtown. that is to say, that the route of highway 77 was on robinson from sw 44th to california. shields didn't cross the river until the late 70's/early 80's, so robinson was a main route. -M

[Martin]

The lil' hovel-tel and former eatery places that are on the south side of 44th, where S Robinson hits 44th, were, if memory serves, used briefly for a film set many moons back. Drawing a blank on the name, maybe a Matt Dillion flick? Sorry for the blank space. It's been a weird couple of days.

can't help with the name of the flick, but a restaurant called groves was on the sw corner of 44th & rob for many years. -M

[Jim Kyle]

Robinson apparently used to be a highway (sorry, I'm not much of a historian) and was littered with small hotels. However, a much larger hotel was in the vacant field on the NW corner on SW 44 and Robinson. When the highway was no more, that is when the problems apparently began. Lots of businesses moved out and the demographic of the community began to change dramatically. The large nice hotel became a place where prostitutes frequented and the few hotels that remained also harbored many prostitutes who would stand in their doorways wearing not much at all (pretty much what was going on, on Lincoln Blvd. in the 80's).

The hotels eventually were bulldozed and the girls hit the streets as the neighborhood continued its decline and drugs became readily available in the area.

...snipped...

I would actually love to make time to research the area - photos of what buildings and businesses where there, crime stats, etc. Just don't know really where to start.

Before I35 and I40 were built, the major north-south route in this area was US 77 and the east-west one was, of course, US66. US66 came into Edmond from Arcadia, turned to the south at 2nd and Broadway, thence south to Oklahoma City via Kelly and the valley now followed by I44 from Kelly to Lincoln. It went south on Lincoln to NE 23, then west to Portland, and from there back north to NW39. The curving drive on the SW corner of NW 39 and Portland, now part of a service station, was originally a highway curve on Route 66. At one time, 66 turned north on Classen from NW 23 and ran up to NW 39, then west. The Portland route was a later version. There was also a "business route" that followed 77 on Rob down to Main Street, then back to the north on Olie and Classen.

As for US77, it merged with 66 east of Edmond and followed the 66 route to NE 23. However it turned south from 23rd onto Robinson, and went through the heart of downtown, across the river, and on to SW 44, all on Robinson. At 44th it turned east to Shields, then back south and on toward Moore and Norman.

The huge motel at SW 44 and Robinson was the Alamo Plaza. As you note it was only one of many along the two highways.

When I was the Oklahoman's police reporter for a few months during 1958 and 1959, the most active area for prostitution was downtown, mainly in the cheap hotels along California between Oklahoma and Walker. Streetwalking was almost non-existent; the bellhops in the Skirvin, Huckins, Wells-Roberts, and Biltmore took care of the upperclass, and the beer joints along Grand, California, and Reno took care of the rest.

You can find a lot of the city's history in web sites and blogs operated by two of the regulars here: Steve L. and Doug Loudenback. Check the links in their signatures...

[Martin]

However it turned south from 23rd onto Robinson, and went through the heart of downtown

perhaps the route changed over the years, but i thought that highway 77 went south from 23rd onto broadway, then south to california, then west to robinson and then south to 44th. -M

[Jim Kyle]

That's quite possible and even more likely, since Broadway was a trolley route and therefore a much wider street.

[Tritone]

Nice work, JK. I value your posts and their great info. They bring back fond memories of OKC when I was a lad. Others times they make me think "Really. I'd wondered about that." Please keep it up.

[BBatesokc]

Volunteers with No Boundaries International; Project Hope this weekend bringing compassion and prayer to the lost ladies on South Robinson Ave.



The groups 2nd monthly meeting was a success. Even more people in attendance than the first meeting. The out of state speaker was really great and people in attendance received information on areas where they can volunteer and/or donate.

These initial few months will be spent training volunteers and building more alliances (already partnered and supported by the Salvation Army). Once their presence is firmly established on the streets and relationships and trust are built, they will begin the second phase of their project. I think we will see some very good things from this organization.

[BBatesokc]

Also, Dr. Phil's crew was in OKC the last couple of days getting footage. Member's of OATH (Oklahoman's Against Trafficking Humans) will be taping a show today regarding the issue of sex trafficking. It should air by the end of this month.

[SSEiYah]

Big Crackdown yesterday.
http://newsok.com/17-arrested-in-pro...rticle/3657338

[Roadhawg]

Glad I decided to stay home yesterday

[Bunty]

My goodness, if one is good looking enough to get sex for me, why even think of paying a whore for it?

[Roadhawg]

Big Crackdown yesterday.
http://newsok.com/17-arrested-in-pro...rticle/3657338

Looking at the pictures in the article that first one looks a little rough for only being 28.

[BBatesokc]

Looking at the pictures in the article that first one looks a little rough for only being 28.

I know her. She's experienced more than I can imagine.

[BBatesokc]

Monday's arrests also marked the first time the new vehicle impoundment law was utilized since taking effect.

Six vehicles driven by the John's arrested were impounded. The owner's can't get them back for 90-days and the fees equal $2,000.

[Ozzie]

I know her. She's experienced more than I can imagine.

Is she mentally ill? What options does she have?

[BBatesokc]

Is she mentally ill? What options does she have?

She has the mentality of about a 10-12 year old. She just started prostituting about 6-12 months ago.

She is apparently on state assistance but her family takes it from her. Working with a group to try and get her some help.

[Roadhawg]

She has the mentality of about a 10-12 year old. She just started prostituting about 6-12 months ago.

She is apparently on state assistance but her family takes it from her. Working with a group to try and get her some help.

Sad... hope she finds the help she needs.

[BBatesokc]

Sad... hope she finds the help she needs.

Fortunately, people who know her saw this video and contacted me with the details needed to try and get the state to help (like her address, mom's name, etc.).

[ljbab728]

http://newsok.com/block-party-for-pr...rticle/3668431

[BBatesokc]

http://newsok.com/block-party-for-pr...rticle/3668431

Should be a good time. That's one of the best things about the energy No Boundaries brings to the fight on South Robinson - they see the entire community as victims of street level prostitution and want to become a part of the community and remind them they are a community worth saving.

We've been planning this for awhile and hopefully with good weather a good time should be had by all.

[oneforone]

Brian.... Why aren't you on TruTV. They have shows about pawn shops and repo services. I would think your show would be a hit. If nothing else it might show people the reality of prostitution.

[BBatesokc]

Brian.... Why aren't you on TruTV. They have shows about pawn shops and repo services. I would think your show would be a hit. If nothing else it might show people the reality of prostitution.

As much as many people would like to believe I try to whore myself out to the media for fame more than the women do on Robinson for cash and crack, it simply is not true. I've had several tv show offers and I've been approached by the biggest names in the business. I've been flown to California to meet with the bigwigs at CAA and even been offered huge cash sums to simply license my entire library for others to distribute. Not to say I wouldn't, I'm just not overly motivated to do so. If someone came to me with the right idea I'd consider it. But they don't want 'reality' TV, they want scripted and contrived BS that is the furthest thing from reality. I'm content with licensing my footage to studios producing documentaries and doing occasional one-off's with news and infotainment productions. Dateline was in town last week and I spent several days with them for an upcoming one-hour special. A piece I did for France's largest TV network M6 just aired a special on my video activism.

My idea of a show would be a cross between 'To Catch a Predator' and COPS with some real back stories on the women and their victimization and hopefully some followups showing some getting out of prostitution.