A digital companion to the biography Becoming Richard Pryor
In January 1942, the federal government notified Peoria that unless prostitution was curbed in Peoria, the city would be closed to soldiers on leave.
The action was taken in response to a spike in venereal disease observed by the US public health service.
A reform-oriented alderman ratcheted up the pressure on the mayor and police chief with a resolution that threatened to cut off their salaries if the city’s brothels were not closed.
“Report U.S. Plans To Close City To Men On Leave Unless Prostitution Is Checked.” Peoria Journal-Transcript, Jan. 28, 1942.
Ad Cole, 19th-century madam, brought glamour and audacity to North Washington St.
The street in the red-light district where Marie Pryor settled — and where Peoria's most famous 20th-century madam plied her trade
Diamond Lil, a black madam in Peoria, was squeezed by the DA but refused to name names
An account of the rise and fall of Diamond Lil', a well-connected black madam in 1920s and 1930s Peoria
The block, in the red-light district, where Pryor was raised
A spike in VD in Peoria led the US public health board to take action
The Jaycees led the attack against the red-light district
The Christian Century editorialized against Peoria as “the sinkhole of midwestern vice”
Illinois's State Attorney stepped in where Peoria's mayor did not, attacking the red-light district
Ministers called vice “sabotage” and accused Peoria's citizens of thwarting the war effort
The Pryor family diversified its operations, becoming proud owners of a tavern in the mid-40s
A black sergeant, flush with cash, was robbed on N. Washington Street — and Richard's father seems to have been the culprit
China Bee Parker, wife of Harold, ran a N. Washington St. brothel for thirty years without spending a night in jail
Collins lost his first tavern to fire, but rebuilt the building and business
A new partner in the coalition against vice: the Advertising and Selling Club
Arrest was nothing new for Collins
The Murray Baker Bridge was over fifteen years in the making
A reporter dropped into Bris Collins's tavern to take black America's pulse — and met Richard's “Uncle Dickie”
“Cleaning up Peoria” meant more raids on Bris Collins' place
Richard Pryor's childhood home was demolished to make way for the Murray Baker Bridge
Joe Eagle, a fellow N. Washington St. brothel owner, was charged with perjury and tax evasion
Whisper Magazine punctured Peoria's reputation as an All-American city
Parker and his bouncer beat waitresses over $1 mistake
Harold Parker fought the law in Chicago — and won
A columnist for Black Chicago took note of stylish Harold Parker and his “interracial night club”
Harold Parker, proud proprietor of “Harold's Club”
Parker tried to “set things right,” but instead he lost his liquor license
Mayor Day did everything in his power to shut down Harold Parker's club