Saturday, October 24, 2015

Photo Essay on Nevada Brothels

A photographer traveled to every brothel in Nevada — here's what they are really like

Harrison Jacobs

Oct. 23, 2015, 10:28 AM
1,136,956
15

Marc McAndrewsThese women at the Love Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, wait for customers to arrive.

Before traveling to Nevada, photographer Marc McAndrews had never been to a strip club, let alone a brothel.

Now he’s been to every single one in the state.

Over the course of five years, McAndrews made regular trips to Nevada’s legal brothels, staying anywhere from a week to a month each time. He stayed in bedrooms in the houses, shared a bathroom with the working girls, and saw the world that no one — except those who work at the brothels — see.

“It’s a different experience when you wake up in the morning and have to pass the cereal and the milk to your subject. It changes the relationship,” explains McAndrews. “People’s guards go down and they become more at ease. They start to let you see their world.”

McAndrews shared some photos from his trips inside the brothels with us. (You can see more photos and amazing stories in his book, "Nevada Rose.")

View As: One Page Slides

When McAndrews began shooting Nevada's brothels, he expected to find a seedy place, filled with drugs. What he found, at places like the Wild Horse Ranch (shown here from afar), was something completely different.

Marc McAndrews

He started by going to Moonlite Bunny Ranch, which was made famous by HBO's "Cathouse" series. When he first asked about photographing, the women didn't believe him, thinking that he was just a nervous customer. He was eventually turned down.

Marc McAndrews

After being turned down by several other brothels in the Carson City area, one of the prostitutes recommended that he try a smaller town like Elko or Ely, where proprietors might be more friendly.

Marc McAndrews

In Elko, he had his first luck at a "parlor brothel." According to McAndrews, there are "parlor brothels," (like the Old Bridge Ranch shown here) where it's more like entering a bar, and "lineup brothels," where as soon as you walk in, women line up for the customer to pick a woman.

Marc McAndrews

According to McAndrews, there are also "city houses," which cater to those wanting a slicker, party-going atmosphere, and "country houses," which are quieter and more friendly.

Marc McAndrews

Once inside, customers go to the pay room to withdraw cash for the night's partying.

Marc McAndrews

This photograph of Carli at Mona's Ranch in Elko was one of the first shots he took during the project. He stayed at Mona's for five nights and shared a bathroom with the working girls.

Marc McAndrews

McAndrews was given free rein to take pictures, as long as he had a woman's permission.

Marc McAndrews

McAndrews mostly photographed in the morning and afternoons when the brothels were quiet. Because he was shooting with a large-format camera on a tripod, he would have to pack up his gear when guests arrived, so as not to spook them.

Marc McAndrews

Most of Nevada's brothels are in places far outside of the cities and zoned into specific areas. Often many will occupy the same parking lot.

Marc McAndrews

McAndrews says that many of the women have kids, boyfriends, and husbands.

Marc McAndrews

The easy stereotypes that McAndrews expected (drug users, women without families) existed, but were not as prevalent as he expected.

Marc McAndrews

One woman who McAndrews met is a math teacher in Minnesota during the school year. On her summer breaks, she works at the Nevada brothels because it is a turn-on for her. (He wouldn't say which woman was the teacher.)

$One woman who McAndrews met is a math teacher in Minnesota during the school year. On her summer breaks, she works at the Nevada brothels because it is a turn-on for her. (He wouldn't say which woman was the teacher.)$

Marc McAndrews

The business is often a family affair. At Sharon's Bar and Brothel in Carlin, "Whorehouse" Charlie and his mom, "Miss Pat" run the business together.

Marc McAndrews

This is Ben, the former owner of the Wild West Saloon brothel in Winnemucca with his father, Art.

Marc McAndrews

Some customers were OK with being photographed. Here, Brett sits with his lady-for-the-night, Dimon, at the Stardust Ranch in Ely.

Marc McAndrews

McAndrews was able to photograph in every single brothel in Nevada. It took a lot of convincing.

Marc McAndrews

The final brothel he had to get access to was the Moonlite Bunny Ranch. He had to convince owner Dennis Hof (center), who owns six other brothels, that it was a good idea.

Marc McAndrews

McAndrews told Hof that the project was an artistic documentation of the community, not a generic travel guide to the brothels. Hof was eventually convinced by his good friend, publisher and radio host Judith Reagan, who thought McAndrews' project was important.

Marc McAndrews

Learn more about the business ...

AP Photo/Cathleen Allison

The owner of America's most famous brothel explains how he promotes a business that's illegal to advertise »

Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies

Translation from English

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Photo Essay on Nevada Brothels

A photographer traveled to every brothel in Nevada — here's what they are really like

View As: One Page Slides

When McAndrews began shooting Nevada's brothels, he expected to find a seedy place, filled with drugs. What he found, at places like the Wild Horse Ranch (shown here from afar), was something completely different.

He started by going to Moonlite Bunny Ranch, which was made famous by HBO's "Cathouse" series. When he first asked about photographing, the women didn't believe him, thinking that he was just a nervous customer. He was eventually turned down.

After being turned down by several other brothels in the Carson City area, one of the prostitutes recommended that he try a smaller town like Elko or Ely, where proprietors might be more friendly.

In Elko, he had his first luck at a "parlor brothel." According to McAndrews, there are "parlor brothels," (like the Old Bridge Ranch shown here) where it's more like entering a bar, and "lineup brothels," where as soon as you walk in, women line up for the customer to pick a woman.

According to McAndrews, there are also "city houses," which cater to those wanting a slicker, party-going atmosphere, and "country houses," which are quieter and more friendly.

Once inside, customers go to the pay room to withdraw cash for the night's partying.

This photograph of Carli at Mona's Ranch in Elko was one of the first shots he took during the project. He stayed at Mona's for five nights and shared a bathroom with the working girls.

McAndrews was given free rein to take pictures, as long as he had a woman's permission.

McAndrews mostly photographed in the morning and afternoons when the brothels were quiet. Because he was shooting with a large-format camera on a tripod, he would have to pack up his gear when guests arrived, so as not to spook them.

Most of Nevada's brothels are in places far outside of the cities and zoned into specific areas. Often many will occupy the same parking lot.

McAndrews says that many of the women have kids, boyfriends, and husbands.

The easy stereotypes that McAndrews expected (drug users, women without families) existed, but were not as prevalent as he expected.

One woman who McAndrews met is a math teacher in Minnesota during the school year. On her summer breaks, she works at the Nevada brothels because it is a turn-on for her. (He wouldn't say which woman was the teacher.)

The business is often a family affair. At Sharon's Bar and Brothel in Carlin, "Whorehouse" Charlie and his mom, "Miss Pat" run the business together.

This is Ben, the former owner of the Wild West Saloon brothel in Winnemucca with his father, Art.

Some customers were OK with being photographed. Here, Brett sits with his lady-for-the-night, Dimon, at the Stardust Ranch in Ely.

McAndrews was able to photograph in every single brothel in Nevada. It took a lot of convincing.

The final brothel he had to get access to was the Moonlite Bunny Ranch. He had to convince owner Dennis Hof (center), who owns six other brothels, that it was a good idea.

McAndrews told Hof that the project was an artistic documentation of the community, not a generic travel guide to the brothels. Hof was eventually convinced by his good friend, publisher and radio host Judith Reagan, who thought McAndrews' project was important.

Learn more about the business ...

The owner of America's most famous brothel explains how he promotes a business that's illegal to advertise »

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