Portland Confidential: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Rose City

by Phil Stanford

From a Portland Tribune columnist comes Portland Confidential, the story of Big Jim Elkins, a conman and criminal who arrived in Portland in 1937 and helped unleash prostitution, bootlegging, gambling, and drug running.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Crime, Book Club, Politics, True Crime

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Frankie · Rating 3 out of 5]

difficult to follow.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting look at how Portland was considered "Sin City" only 60 years ago. I had no idea. But that makes sense considering Portland has the most strip clubs and video poker per capita in the country. It's also probably why strippers in Portland can get completely nude while customers consume alcoholic beverages (the only other place that's legal is Vegas I believe). The writing got a pretty boring at times though, and I had a hard to keeping all the people involved straight. I think there should have been a lot more pictures too! Especially ones of Portland in the '50s. So overall, it was an interesting read, but could have been done in a better way.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually it's one of the core books for studying the Mafia

---

The Seattle Crime Family

a. Bare: The Naked Truth About Stripping - Elisabeth Eaves
b. Seattle Vice: Strippers, Prostitution, Dirty Money, and Crooked Cops in the Emerald City - Rick Anderson
c. Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland - Robert C. Donnelly
d. Portland Confidential: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Rose City - Phil Stanford

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

The coolest thing about this book is the pictures of Portland from the 1950's. I could look at books of those and never get tired. But apparently I cannot read about Portland mobsters for more than twenty pages without getting bored. So there you have it. I just kind of looked at the pictures.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read on the grit behind the Rose City, not as slimy as I was hoping though...

[Ramon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when it first was published, but recently found it half off at our local Barnes and Noble after it turned into an outlet store, so I thought I'd give it another read.

It's a fractured, clunky telling of about a decade of Portland's criminal history. What starts off as a string of fun stories about various criminal enterprises, schemes, and turnabouts turns into a single story about how all of these pieces were connected in a single story of corruption.

It's a thin but fun read, especially if you're from here. There are SO many names that I really only knew from various buildings or plazas around town. The common story around here is that the city was really corrupt, but then in the 40s (get this) a lady mayor was elected, and she CLEANED up this town! She did make a dent, and she was famously incorruptable, but as this book makes clear, there was still gambling, sex work, and drugs all over, and the police (of course) were paid off to keep it all going.

It's a breezy read, full of pictures, and Stanford writes with an easy tone, so I was able to get through half of it last night before bed. The story itself is disjointed because there are so many moving parts, but it kind of reads like Stanford excitedly telling you a story that he keeps remembering additional branches to. It's not a history text you're going to glean a lot of specific information from, it's more of a fun tale that informs you of the general criminality of Portland in the 50s.

And you know what? I found myself thinking the thing I think every time I watch a movie set in Times Square in the 70s: I really wish I could go there, see it in person, knowing full well I would get my ass kicked, or worse, almost immediately.

I have his somewhat sequel, Rose City Vice on deck, which continues this story into the 70s.

[Hunter Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being from Portland and being interested in mob stories and how it relates to my hometown is pretty cool. This book has a lot of interesting chapters and stories about the times in the 50s when Portland was a different place. However there are a lot of names of people and stories that go off from the main storyline that creates a bit of a confusing story. I was really interested and wanted to read as much about Jim Elkins because I feel like a movie could be made about him and his affect on Portland but there were a lot of times that moved away from that storyline. A lot of people added that made it a little confusing to follow at times. Lots of really cool and interesting pictures.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's interesting. It's a quick read, mainly because of all the large photographs and big print. I read it one day, but it was interesting enough to keep me going. For anyone living in the Portland area I'm sure it would be a great read.

[lara phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

learning about the dark side of my new city...

[fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met Phil Stanford when i volunteered at the first wordstock fest, '05 maybe? nice guy/cute book.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style is a bit lurid and sensationalistic but it never claims to be a scholarly work. It’s a fascinating, shallow look at the height of Portland’s seedy years. Also: this is the second time I’ve read this (the first time in 2004 and it’s now 2021), and I can’t believe that some of the places and buildings I know so well in downtown Portland (namely Terry Schrunk Plaza) are named after corrupt former Portland officials. I’m actually surprised that in light of the current political climate, those names haven’t been reconsidered. Also: I didn’t realize at the time of our meeting a few years ago, but I’ve met one of the (non-corrupt) people mentioned! An entertaining, fast, pretty fluffy read, though might be confusing for people who aren’t familiar with Portland: Stanford does a lot of “this place stood where this other place stands now” which isn’t helpful to non-locals.

[Erick Mertz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I'm a lifelong Portland resident. I have a passion for history. The blend of new and old media is a constant enticement.

Most importantly, I found this book thin on location specific details. Stanford gives us a bunch of criminal operations, shady characters and underworld creeps to salivate over but the fact that they're in Portland is secondary. These are generic characters and stock situations that just so happen to occur in the Rose City. I would have been more pleased if this book revealed a pattern or some deeply hidden civic secrets and obviously they're either not there OR Stanford glossed them over.

Having read the columnist for years, I'm inclined to believe the former. Overall, this book felt like a feature article that was bloated and covered in pictures for a hasty journey to press.

www.well-lightedetcetera.com

[Mark Schomburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this a lot, but it left me wanting more. I know very little Portland history, but it's captivating to hear dirt about the real estate deals behind the Memorial Coliseum. Well, there's not enough info about that exactly, but it's a good teaser. We never hear too much more than the basics. Despite the brevity, or maybe because of it, and because of the accompanying photographs, this is a treat to read - a quick read. Terry Schrunk caught with his pants down? Who would have guessed. It's not the same Portland anymore, but this is a nice visit to 1950s and earlier prohibition era Rose City.

[Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're interested in the history of Portland, Oregon, this is a pretty interesting book. It paint the picture of a decade or two when the city thrived on gambling, girls, and police corruption. The book can be kind of hard to follow at times, on account of every man in the 50s being named Jim (okay, I think there's really only two in this book). Actually there's just so many characters to follow, I felt like I should have been taking notes and drawing maps while I read... which is a good thing. It was keeping me interested after all.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh man this book was awesome! it seems as if none of the stories has anything to do with the other, but in the end you find out all of the characters have something to do with the other. i actually found myself jotting down the real addresses he gave and doing a drive to the places that no longer exist. i even went to the lloyd center nordstrom's to find the piano player mentioned in the book to ask him questions but sadly he was out sick that day.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this at the Portland airport coming home from visiting our friends, and will give it to them - when we've both read it. This is a very entertaining book. In the 40s and 50s Portland was quite a corrupt town, and this is a great account of the characters involved, with many fantastic photos of slot machine dens and local burlesque stars of the period.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea of this book. But kind of your garden variety rackateers and burlesque dancers. At one point he discusses Bugsy Siegel coming to Portland...it consisted of (I'm paraphrasing), "One time Bugsy Siegel came to Portland. He was going to build a casino on Sauvie Island, but then didn't."

This book could have been a pamphlet.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've decided to learn more about the history of my adopted hometown. If you think Portland is crazy now you need to take a trip through this little book -- while it's 190 or so pages I read it in only two sittings. I liked the style and liked the pacing. Look forward to reading Phil Stanford's other book(s).

[Pamela Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Portland was truly the "wild, wild west" in the 40 and 50s.... was it different from other growing cities though? Pinball, poker, gambling, prosecution, and burlesque shows.... and big pay-off or "smile money" for city employees - cops, mayor, city officials.... to look the other way! Weeeee! Is that any different from today? Hmmmm.... don't know! Great photos!

[Zack]

I wanted to read a book about the history of the sex industry in Portland because I'm writing a poem about a strip club in Portland. This book was OK! It was fun and interesting but didn't dig too deeply. Could have used more first person sources and I wish he placed the whole story in more of a global historical context.

[Susan Ainsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I joined a book group that meets through Multnomah County Library. This was the first book I've read with them and I enjoyed the stories. I didn't grow up in Portland so I didn't find the historical aspect as exciting as someone who has lived here their entire life and is perhaps a little older than myself.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining history of Portland's seamy underside in the 1940s and 50s. Though Stanford clearly meant for the book to be complete narrative, it doesn't read as such, but rather as a series of columns on a common theme but without a common narrative thread.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a hot bed of crime Portland was before I moved here! This book, written conversationally with humor, exposes how the police, politicians, and criminals can work together to feather their pockets, unbeknownst to the public. I wonder what is currently going on beneath the surface . . .

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about Portland's not-so-distant past of gambling and corruption (how the hell did Terry Schrunk get thrice-elected and earn a plaza with his name on it?), although Stanford's writing style is choppy and rather irritating.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

an interesting read, if you live in or have recently moved to Portland. it's the "unofficial" history of the city. I read it while waiting for a delayed flight at the airport.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read about Portland Oregon in the early-mid 20th Century. There were some interesting characters here in town.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

weird voice, but interesting facts about the seedy underbelly of portland.

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portla...

[Yvonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting look into Portland's seedy past, but it's slooooow ...

[Sara]

per CoR
Also "Portland Confidential: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Rose City" - same book?