The Chicken Ranch: The True Story of the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

by Jan Hutson

A book as interesting and as much fun as the famous Texas bordello it so vividly describes.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

115 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Jayme Blaschke · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book almost single-handedly started me on a three-plus year odyssey to research and write my own book about the infamous La Grange brothel known as the Chicken Ranch. To be charitable, Hutson's work is mercifully unburdened by anything approaching fact. She includes no sources, has some very strange ideas about Texas history and the only quotes she includes were directly lifted from newspapers or the Texas Monthly and Playboy articles regarding the Chicken Ranch. I'd say 80 percent of this rather slim book is pure fiction, and that may be a generous estimate. There aren't many other books out about the Chicken Ranch, but anything is better than this drek. You have been warned.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very simply written. If it weren't for the subject matter it's written at middle school level. Easy to read but very repetitious. Almost word for word repeating of the same information just pages apart. Also, I am reading this on my kindle and there are numerous typos and misspellings and missing words, as well as odd punctuation marks throughout the book. I have feeling entire paragraphs are missing as sentences and thoughts are started and not completed. It seems like they did not do a final edit to correct mistakes.

[Lee]

Many years ago, driving home from some family function or other, my dad pointed out this building on the side of I-10 and goes "that used to be the Chicken Ranch." Me, not having any interest in poultry farming, gave an noncommittal nod and looked back at what I was doing until he added "it was one of the oldest brothels in Texas."

I don't feel like I know a whole lot more about it now. But hey, it's a start, and a quick read.

[Mary Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Informative, interesting and fascinating. Being from west Texas and only 21 when the closure was accomplished, I was unaware of the Chicken Ranch. This book lifted the veil to my ignorance of this story. Well written. I recommend it to others trying to learn the true story.

[Karen Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short 115 page history lesson on prostitution & the famous building that survived generations of leading madams; from the mid 1800's until 1973 when Texas's famous news icon, Marvin Zindler got it closed down.
Entertainment @ best!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of Texas' oldest whorehouse is a short and interesting read. A place that started in 1844 and ran until 1973 has a very unique history of prositution in a state that outlaws it. Most whorehouses are able to stay in business because of the relationship they have built with local law enforcement over the years. The balance of protection and no drugs or crime is what helped to ensure its success for so long in La Grange.

The story of this book covers the ladies who ran this house until it was shutdown. It talks about their lives, how they grew up and go into the work of managing a whorehouse. It in order for the house to be around for so long, the plot also dicusses where most of the clients come from and what their backgrounds are like throughout the changing years. Another chapter explains where most of the girls come from and how much money they make and the lifestyle they live because of their work.

The important part of the relationship of the house with the town was its from protection from the sheriff. The reason the house was there was because the madams of the house ensured over the years to earn their trust. In order to do that the madams contributed a lot of money to the community over the years.

This story is very interesting as it explains a part of texas history that often ignored in the history books. It explains a trend, that at one point, shows what types of girls started to work in that house. The book is very short with each chapter being only a few pages to read. Good for an afternoon or evening read.

[Wendell Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet non-fiction book about the Chicken Ranch! An enjoyable read. Fills in all the details about the well-loved story and characters from the musical, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." Loved it!

[Haylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its a very simple story about the Chicken Ranch i.e. "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". It reads quick and is kinda boring.