Chuck Benson: Top 10 Things I Learned at the Storyville Museum

October 4, 2024

Top 10 things I learned at the Storyville Museum:

1. Guests enjoyed the finest champagnes and they were advertised in the Blue Book, a reference for madams and prostitutes.

2. Well-known jazz musicians, like Louis Armstrong, played in the clubs.

3. Possible location of the “House of the Rising Sun”.

4. Hamilton Beach, well-known for their small appliances, made vibrators.

5. Red lights, an international symbol for prostitution, enhance the look of your skin.

6. There was a separate Black Storyville on the other side of Canal Street.

7. Bellocq’s photos of the Storyville women were exhibited at MoMA.

8. Three buildings from Storyville are still standing today.

9. Several movies, vintage and modern, have been set in Storyville.

10. Even though Storyville only lasted 20 years, it seemed to have left a lasting impression on the drinking, decadence and entertainment New Orleans is world-famous for.