Episode 206: Steamy Alexandria - Red River Town Had Its Bawdy Days

Louisiana Insider

Folks in Central Louisiana sometimes refer to their beloved section of the state as “CENLA.” There was a time when some wags might have referred to the city of Alexandria and the area around it as “Sinla.” Historian Michael Wynne joins host Errol Laborde, and podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about discoveries from researching his new book, "Flaunting their finery and audaciousness: The Notorious Brothels, Gambling Houses, Opium Dens and Saloons of Alexandria (Central Louisiana)."

Wynne has tales to tell about the period from the late 1800's into the World War I era, when some cities had a bawdy reputation that paralleled New Orleans’ famous Storyville.

This discussion is a surprising slice of life that once ran contrary to its bible belt reputation. But part of the story is why it disappeared.