DANGER CAY: Chapter 48 — It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask
Oct13
The Beige Bowler, of course, is a reference to the famous Brown Derby club in Hollywood.
The Mann Act is a federal law passed in 1910 prohibiting the transporting of a woman across a state line for immoral purposes. Â It was originally intended to fight forced prostitution and “white slavery”, but because of the ambiguity of the word “immorality”, it got used to go after any type of moral turpitude. Â The famous black boxer Jack Johnson was arrested and convicted under the Mann Act, as was Chuck Berry and Charlie Chaplin, believe it or not, although Chaplin was acquitted. Â The act is still on the books, although it has been amended to make it less broad.
I don’t know if hiring Ginger would count as “immoral”, but having watched her walking down the aisle of the train, I think that Harry would say that what she does with that tail when she walks ain’t hardly moral.
As for the “shoe polish” remark; well, what can I say. Â I saw “The Jolson Story” on TV when I was a kid, and it scarred me for life.
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