Alpine loves the Chicken Ranch!

Wow! I didn't know what to expect in Alpine for my Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch signing at Front Street Books, but the end result was a fantastic evening! There was a great turnout, I signed lots of books and answered lots of questions about the Chicken Ranch brothel of La Grange, which closed 50 years ago. I like to tell people that after every book signing I have, there's always at least one person who finds his way over to me and whispers quietly, "I don't want everyone to know, but I went there the summer of '68." Guess what? This signing was no different!

I'd never been to Alpine before, which seems absurd now that I think of it. My best friend growing up had an older brother living in Alpine, so I've known about it as long as I've known about pretty much any town in Texas. We almost bought a house in New Braunfels 10 years ago from folks who lived in Alpine. I've been to Big Bend, the Davis Mountains, Terlingua and McDonald Observatory but never quite made it to Alpine, until now. I'm happy to report that it's a charming little town, reminding me a little of Winslow, Az., with some Flagstaff and artsy Marfa thrown in for good measure. I'm staying in the historic Holland Hotel, which has been renovated but not to the point of being a generic Motel 6 clone. It feels vintage. The character is preserved.

Jean Pittman (pictured below), the owner and manager of Front Street Books, was a delight. I don't know if I've ever met a more enthusiastic bookstore owner. She has build a fantastic bookstore here in West Texas and I am not ashamed to admit I am jealous. New Braunfels and San Marcos, each 10 times Alpine's size, have no bookstores whatsoever. That's sad. I hope the people of Alpine appreciate what they've got.

I was also fortunate to see longtime friends Sandy and Scott Cupp. They've been in Alpine for the better part of the past decade, but Scott's nearing retirement and they plan to return to San Antonio before the end of the year if everything works out. It'll be great having them nearby again.

And can you say "good omen"? This is the first thing I saw when I checked in at the historic Holland Hotel: A poster advertising my book signing. A couple from New Orleans who are road tripping across the U.S. happened to stop in Alpine for the night, saw the poster and came to my signing on the spur of the moment. Being from New Orleans, they knew all about Houston's Marvin Zindler and could not pass up the opportunity to learn more about the infamous Chicken Ranch. They had me sign several copies of the book they bought as gifts for friends and relatives. Talk about great timing!

I have to say, Alpine is charming and Front Street Books is a top-notch bookstore. If you ever find yourself in West Texas and have the opportunity, stop in and pay them a visit. It's well worth your time!

Next up on the signing tour is Armadillocon in Austin Aug. 4-6, Fabled Bookshop and Cafe in Waco Aug. 22 and Murder By The Book in Houston Aug. 26.

Now Playing: The Kinks One For the Road
Chicken Ranch Central

Pflugerville signing was pfantastic!

FIrst things first, I have a book signing coming up at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 at Front Stree Books in sunny Alpine, Texas. I will, of course, be signing copies of the 50th anniversary edition of Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse. This is likely to be the farthest west I travel on my current book tour, so if you're in West Texas (I realize that covers a lot of geography) and want to see me in person, this is you chance! I'll likely do a short reading and then go into a Q&A session--the Q&A is always the highlight. Hopefully, I'll have some good photos to share afterward.

And speaking of photos, my signing last week at The Book Burrow in Pflugerville was a blast. I did a reading, answered quite a few questions and signed lots of books. Some of my Austin-area friends showed up and mercifully did not throw fruit and/or vegetables at me. Folks I'd never met before turned out. Even some tiki folk showed up. It was a lot of fun even if it was so hot outside that the AC couldn't quite keep up. People came and went all night long. We stayed way longer than the alotted time, but that's to be expected when the bookstore is inside a wine bar. It was great fun and I can't wait to return in the future (and I signed a stack of Chicken Ranch books before I left, so if you're in Austin and can't make it to Front Street Books on Thursday, Book Burrow can probably fix you up).

Now Playing: Ernie Menehune Back to Aloha Land
Chicken Ranch Central

Upcoming signing at Pflugerville bookstore!

Book tour season is in full swing for me with the publication of Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch 50th anniversary edition! This Saturday, July 8 I will be at The Book Burrow, a plucky little independent bookstore in historic Pflugerville for a signing (and perhaps a bit of reading and Q&A) starting at 7 p.m.

There are two things you need to know about the Book Burrow: Firstly, it's located inside the Three Legged Goat wine bar, which is as great a combination as I've ever heard of. Secondly, a week ago the Book Burrow recieved a two-week notice to vacate their space because of needed renovations to the building. To say this short notice was problematic is putting it mildly. In order to fund an emergency relocation and keep the doors open (both literally and figuratively) they launched a book sales drive which has thus far proven quite successful. They haven't reached their goal of selling a thousand books yet, but they're getting close. Let's try and put 'em over the top during my signing tomorrow to help keep this independent purveyor of fine literature in business, shall we?

In other news, I will have a book signing on Thursday, July 13 at Front Street Books in Alpine. I don't often make it to West Texas or the Big Bend region, so if you're anywhere in the vicinity (and I realize that's a term subject to interpretation) I hope to see you there!

Finally, I made the S.A. Life section of the San Antonio Express-News' Sunday edition this past week! The story, "The Chicken Ranch has been closed for 50 years, but La Grange brothel's story still has some juice," sometimes has a paywall and sometimes not, but I'll share a couple of photos below because I'm nice that way:

Now Playing: Astrud Gilberto The Millennium Collection
Chicken Ranch Central

A Moment of Tiki: Witco barstool jackpot!

I am terrible about posting new episodes of A Moment of Tiki here in a timely manner, but better late than never, right? First up is my latest--Episode 57: Witco Stool Jackpot! And when I say jackpot, I don't use that term lightly. Vintage Witco decor is highly sought after by tiki and mid century modern collectors alike, so when the opportunity presented itself to obtain five classic Witco barstools for less than the cost a single one would command on the open market I had no choice but to pounce. The downside was that they were filthy and in a state of terrible neglect. Watch how I brought them back to life in the video below!

Episode 56: BossaNova Life, sees the Lagoon of Mystery play host to Duke and Lola BossaNova of the long-running YouTube series that delves into kustom kulture, vintage trailer rallies, antique and thrifting and home tiki bar builds. They're fun folks to hang out with, so why don't you hang out with us as we chat?

And last but not least is Episode 55: Music for a Dark Tiki Bar part 3, the final installment of my series on how to select musical genres to create an exotic and escapist ambience in your tiki space without letting the sounds of the modern world intrude:

Now Playing: Ernie Menehune My Hula Maid
Chicken Ranch Central

Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch makes the San Antonio Express-News

My 50th anniversary edition of Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse made it into the pages of the San Antonio Express-News courtesy of Deborah Martin's feature article, "The Chicken Ranch has been closed for 50 years, but La Grange brothel's story still has some juice." The timing is perfect, as I have a book signing upcoming at The Twig at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 30 in San Antonio. The Twig is located in the old Pearl Brewery complex, and I had a great time there back in 2016 signing copies when the first edition of this book first came out.

I hope to see you there! If you happen to be in the area--or even if you're not planning to be in the area but decide to head on over anyway--please be sure to stop in and say "H!" I'll be holding forth on all things Chicken Ranch and always look forward to the Q&A sessions!

Now Playing: Ernie Menehune My Way
Chicken Ranch Central

Chicken Ranch anniversary: Dolph Briscoe (1923-2010)

On this date in 2010, Dolph Briscoe, the 41st governor of Texas, died. Briscoe, a long-time Uvalde rancher, is generally remembered fondly from his terms as governor for being a decent guy. But his administration did earn some dubious distinctions. Briscoe was the last Texas governor to serve a two-year term and the first to serve a four-year term. He undermined two efforts to rewrite Texas' abysmal constitution (which remains a trainwreck to this day). Briscoe once appointed a dead man to the State Health Advisory Commission, and if what I've heard is true, called a press conference in the aftermath to reassure the press and public that he hadn't lost his grip on sanity.

But what most people remember him for--and which doesn't appear in most official biographies--is that he is the governor who ordered the closure of the infamous Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange. Ironically, Briscoe had no actual legal authority to order the Chicken Ranch (or any other brothel, for that matter) closed. But he did, hoping nobody would call his bluff. Fayette County Jim Flournoy certainly knew the governor had no authority to do so, but acquiesced to Briscoe and effectively ended a surreal two-week media circus that captured the attention of Texas as well as the rest of the country.

Governor Briscoe died after ignoring myultiple interview requests from me. Way to sidestep this writer, Dolph!

Autographed copies of Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse 50th Anniversary Edition are available now at https://jaymeblaschke.bigcartel.com.

Now Playing: Stan Getz The Complete Roost Recordings
Chicken Ranch Central

Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch marks 50th anniversary of brothel’s closure with new edition

NEW BRAUNFELS – The infamous Chicken Ranch brothel of La Grange, Texas, closed a half century ago and the History Press is marking that historical milestone with the June 26 publication of the 50th anniversary edition of Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse.

Revised, updated and expanded, the new edition of the landmark book brings more of the Chicken Ranch’s history to light, including additional interviews and new insights into the lives of Jessie Williams and Edna Milton, the two madams who consecutively owned and operated the brothel as its fame grew throughout much of the 20th century.

“Almost from the moment the first edition arrived in bookstores local historians, genealogists and even eyewitnesses began approaching me at book signings, online or through old-fashioned letters,” said author Jayme Lynn Blaschke. “They shared their research and experience with me freely. They felt a connection with this history and wanted to help me tell more of the story, and tell it as accurately as possible. They understood this is an important part of Texas history. This 50th anniversary edition would not have happened without them.”

The Chicken Ranch closed on Aug. 1, 1973, on the orders of Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, following a series of broadcast reports by Houston consumer advocate Marvin Zindler. The high-profile closure marked the end of a 58-year run which saw the brothel operating more or less openly with the tacit support of state politicians and law enforcement. At the time of its 1915 relocation outside of La Grange city limits by Williams, the brothel claimed a history dating back to 1844, when Texas was still an independent nation.

“When I interviewed her, Edna claimed the Chicken Ranch had a grandfather exemption, as its operations long predated the criminalization of prostitution in Texas,” Blaschke said. “I’m not sure her claim would’ve held up in court, but the question is moot. Once Edna saw her political allies deserting her—broadcast news really was a disruptive newcomer to Texas back in 1973 and terrified the state’s power brokers—she lost the will to fight it out. I’m sure a great many powerful men in Texas let out a sigh of relief at that point.”

For its part, the Chicken Ranch refused to fade away quietly. Zindler and Fayette County Sheriff Jim Flournoy got into a literal street brawl one year later, resulting in hospitalization, lawsuits and litigation for years to come. The Tony Award-winning musical, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, told the story of the demise of the Chicken Ranch in song and dance for a whopping 1,584 performances and spawned a hit movie of the same name starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. An attempt to develop the property as a museum and tourist attraction in the 1980s ended with lawsuits and acrimony, and a planned Y2K party at the site imploded when the sheriff and county judge arrived threatening mass arrests. The Chicken Ranch’s unparalleled ability to generate controversy continues unabated even in 2023—an adjacent landowner has blocked access to the property, going so far as to change the locks on the gates and threaten trespassing charges against the current Chicken Ranch owner if they so much as set foot on the site.

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say the site is cursed, but it definitely provokes wildly irrational behavior in some people,” Blaschke said. “Most people I’ve met in La Grange are curious about the history and see it as a part of the overall Texas story. There’s a handful, though, who hate it passionately and are determined to bury it by any means possible.

“That is a fool’s errand. Inside of 10 years the Chicken Ranch went from a minor, local scandal to folklore, then made the leap into mythology,” he said. “These half-baked attempts to cover up this history only serves to bring more attention to it. This particular genie is never going back into the bottle.”

About Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch 50th anniversary edition
ISBN: 9781467153935
Genre: Non-fiction, History
Format: Paperback
Publisher: The History Press
Publication Date: 6/26/2023
Pages: 336
Price: $23.99

Now Playing: Waylon Jennings Nashville Rebel
Chicken Ranch Central