Madam Millie: Bordellos from Silver City to Ketchikan

by Max Evans

Mildred Clark Cusey was a whore, a madam, an entrepreneur, and above all, a survivor. The story of Silver City Millie, as she referred to herself, is the story of one woman's personal tragedies and triumphs as an orphan, a Harvey Girl waitress on the Santa Fe railroad, a prostitute with innumerable paramours, and a highly successful bordello businesswoman. Millie broke the mold in so many ways, and yet her life's story of survival was not unlike that of thousands of women who went West only to find that their most valuable assets were their physical beauty and their personality. Petite at five feet tall with piercing blue eyes, Millie captured men's attention by her very essence and her unmistakable joie de vivre. Born to Italian immigrant parents near Kansas City, she and her sister were orphaned early and separated from each other. Millie learned hard lessons on the streets, but she never gave up and she vowed to protect and support her ailing older sister. Caught in a domestic squabble in her foster home, Millie wound up in juvenile court with Harry Truman as her judge. This would be only the first of many brushes in her life with prominent politicians. When physicians diagnosed her sister with tuberculosis and recommended she move West to a Catholic home in Deming, New Mexico, Millie moved with her. Expenses ran high and after a brief stint waiting tables as a Harvey Girl, Millie found that her meager tips could easily be augmented by turning tricks. Thus, out of financial need and devotion to her sister, Mildred Cusey turned to a life of prostitution and a career at which she soon excelled and became both rich and famous.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Prostitution, Womens

344 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2002

Reviews

[Peter Tillman]

Out from the library in NM. Not sure if I actually read it. If so, no lasting impression remains.....

[Anslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read! I greatly enjoyed it, even though I have some issues with it. The issues were not large enough for me not to enjoy the story.

[Tristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As another reviewer said, the amazing stories in this book outweigh the choppy, badly edited writing. The "Afterglow" section at the end of the book explained that the only way Millie would talk to the author on a deep level, was if he would get totally drunk with her - so that might explain the chaotic writing style. You can tell that the author adored Millie, as just about everyone who knew her seemed to. And her story is quite amazing. I did have a hard time bridging how brilliant of a businesswoman she was with how she also got herself into horrifically abusive relationships. I guess the alcoholism didn't help any. And yet, she was probably the most successful madam in the history of prostitution. I also learned that it was the male pimps who came along and took the power away from the women, and brought drugs into the scene, thus basically destroying the old ways of the female-run whorehouse. It's a really fascinating book - you just have to approach it like you are sitting with Millie on her back porch and listening to her stories, as opposed to a more traditionally-written biography.

[Amber Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a woman with an interesting life, but this book doesn't have a "balanced" feel to the biography, and sometimes the quality of writing is very "tell not show".
A pity Millie didn't write her life story in her own words--while I don't agree with her life choices, she sure lived an interesting and colorful life. Points on being smart and using her money wisely, not just depending on what she earned as a working girl.

The book makes good arguments for legalized, controlled, and fair prostitution--if men are still paying for it, and women are willing to do it, making the profession safe, clean, drug-free, and free of pimps or abusers would do many women some good.

[Liesl McQuillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Madame Millie was riveting enough to overcome the bad writing. The writer was clearly enamored with Millie, which is understandable, but it led to less perspective in the writing. The profuse butt kissing got a bit old.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is a bit rough. However, the stories are well worth the read, especially the one about the cat and the preacher.

[MaryAlice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Whilst reading I found myself irritated by the casual writing style. The story is infinitely entertaining but the writing just seems juvenile. Now, I know. Max Evans basically transcribed his interviews with Mildred Clark Cusey verbatim. The epilogue explains his reasons.

Madam Millie follows a young orphaned girl from her birth to Italian immigrants on a farm in Kentucky. After her parents die within a week of each other during the 1918 flu epidemic, she is sent to a series of foster homes. Through the goodness of a local judge, one Harry S. Truman, she and her sister are sent to live in New Mexico. She enters into prostitution at the age of 14, in order to pay for her sister’s treatments for TB. The story continues bawdily through her acquisition of half a dozen houses, a parking lot, several bars, and her miraculous survival by her own wiles and the occasional favor by one of her most powerful (MP) friends, among them bankers, attorneys, judges, mayors, governors, priests and bishops. Her entrepreneurial spirit is remarkable.

This is a wild ride through the end of the Wild, Wild West. It ended early in big cities like Denver but didn’t end in smaller towns like Silver City, NM until the late 1960s. When Millie’s houses in Silver City are finally closed in 1968, the reader feels a sadness developing over this bygone era.

There is no way now to know how well she treated her “girls” or how she “trained” them. It’s all her words and no direct corroboration but Max Evans claims to have interviewed hundreds of people and, he claims, everyone of them could substantiate her stories. We see no direct evidence, just his words, and hers. There is also very little exposition of the actual business win which she was engaged. A substantial chunk of the narrative about prostitution is missing. No discussion of birth control, pregnancies, resulting abortions or children. I don’t have an argument against prostitution. Like Millie, I believe that sex is going to happen. Men are going to pay for it. Some women are going to be willing to be paid for it. Might as well keep it regulated and honest.

I read this book because I now live not far from where Millie plied her trade. I am fascinated by the raucous living that happened in New Mexico in the early and mid-Twentieth Century. And I am in awe of the women who were able to survive here. If you’re not interested in these things, this is not the book for you.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't remember how I came across this book written by a New Mexico author about a New Mexico madam. At any rate I thought it would be interesting to learn about not too distant historical New Mexicans. It was an interesting story about Mildred Cussey (AKA Angelina Fantetti). I'm a fanatic for stories of how women overcome great obstacles to be successful and this story had more than its share of that. The writing was a bit basic and over the top but you could tell the author really knew and admired his subject. She was remarkable in a life that I would not have wanted. I learned a great deal about the profession of prostitutes back in the day and about sisterly loyalty.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
Millie was definitely a character that I wish I could have met in real life.
She was a very strongwilled orphan that picked herself up by her bootstraps. From orphan to madam she had an awesome life full of ups and downs but she kept fighting no matter what. Loved the historical aspect of the book.

[Christopher Delara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about an unknown (to me) history of New Mexico in the fifty years before I was born. It seems that everyone knew Millie, but without this book she might have been lost to history. A must read for fans of New Mexico history.

[Chiemi Ash]

History defined in the area I live in. Good read

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! What a fascinating & interesting life Millie lived. Smart, industrious, & fun woman! 19 Chryslers! My gosh!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What anmentertaining and educational book to read - especially for us fairly new to our adopted state of New Mexico!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always impressed when I'm hooked on a non fiction book

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fascinating history of our Southwest. It's difficult to relate to today's standards of living.

[LibraryCin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Millie and her sister were orphans in the early 20th century after their parents died within a short time frame. Although, they were in and out of foster homes, they mostly managed to stay together. When Millie’s older sister Florence, got sick, it was suggested she head for someplace dry. They ended up in New Mexico, with Florence in a sanitorium and Millie needed to find a way to make enough money to pay for Florence’s care. It’s how Millie got into prostitution, and not long after, she started buying and running the whorehouses, herself. She married a number of times, but held on to those whorehouses, and added to them.

Millie was feisty, that’s for sure. She was also well-respected. And had a few brushes with the law. I’m not sure she was someone I would like, but it takes all kinds. She has lots of good stories. The book certainly kept my interest. Overall, it was good.

[Katrin · Rating 1 out of 5]

New Mexico became a state in 1912, and my book club read three books this year about some aspect of our state's history.
The first was Murder on the White Sands, about the infamous murder of Albert Fountain and his 8 year old grandson. The second was No Life For a Lady, written by Agnes Cleveland about her life growing up on a rural NM ranch in the late 1800s to 1940 or so.
This book was the third - and was a complete waste of time! Every chapter was about sex and drink - names of towns were mentioned, but there was little redeeming value.
K

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. The writing is not great but the story is, WOW what a story! Max Evans presents a very open and at time graphic picture of the life of Mildred Clark Cusey known as Millie. Millie was orphaned and separated from her older sister. At a young age Millie discovered how to use her looks and business sense to make lots of money. With this discovery Millie was able to take care of her sister who came down with tuberculosis.

[Jacquelyn Hilliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a NM resident, this book had lots of everything for me. A true story, fabulous descriptions of NM's history, and all around great read. Our book club chose this on my recommendation, and we had a lively discussion about Millie, her family, her life, and her business acumen - legal or illegal. What a feisty broad!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Millie was a woman that took very little stuff from life. Not to say she didn't have her trouble and her road was rough and dirty, but she made a life for herself that many woman wouldn't have done. Believe in yourself is over whelmingly the message I take from this book.

[Larry Schwartz]

Well. Isn't THIS special? It's the story of her losing her honor, and of all of her beaux who succeeded in getting her honor back.

[Rebecca Mcfarland · Rating 2 out of 5]

An entertaining read if not taken too seriously or considered factual.

[Avi Aharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting story, told as shallow as possible. Insights that could be used by striving businessmen are scaterred here and there, and there surely are not enough of them.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful tale woefully written.