Hell's Half Acre: The Life and Legend of a Red-Light District (Chisholm Trail Series)

Chisholm Trail Series

by Richard F. Selcer

Texas is a place where legends are made, die, and are revived. Fort Worth, Texas, claims its own legend – Hell’s Half Acre – a wild ’n woolly accumulation of bordellos, cribs, dance houses, saloons, and gambling parlors.

Tenderloin districts were a fact of life in every major town in the American West, but Hell’s Half Acre – its myth and its reality – can be said to be a microcosm of them all. The most famous and infamous westerners visited the Timothy (“Longhair Jim”) Courtright, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Sam Bass, Mary Porter, Etta Place, along with Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, and many more. For civic leaders and reformers, the Acre presented a dilemma – the very establishments they sought to close down or regulate were major contributors to the local economy.

Controversial in its heyday and receiving new attention by such movies as Lonesome Dove , Hell’s Half Acre remains the subject of debate among historians and researchers today. Richard Selcer successfully separates fact from fiction, myth from reality, in this vibrant study of the men and women of Cowtown’s notorious Acre.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, American History

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Sue Ellen Melo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided it was about time for a little non-fiction reading and I came up with this history of Fort Worth Texas’s Red Light district, also known as Hell’s Half Acre or the third ward. The author, historian explains how this part of the city was created to satisfy the needs of and wants of the cowboys who drove their herds up the Chisom Trail to be slaughtered. In those days it was a wide open area with plenty of whisky, gambling and “Friendly women” The author tells of the colorful characters who lived, worked and played in this area and how it was eventually remade as the city became more prosperous and the cattle trade gave way to railroad commerce and tourism. I was intrigued to learn of many western heros who were definitly not mentioned in my history books as well as some I have heaard of in other books about the late 1800s.

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and atmospheric look at a colorful place

I enjoyed this focused history book. I really got a new feel for a place that I thought I already knew. The book spent a little too much time talking about outlaws that weren't really connected to the Acre, but I can't blame the author for that. I'm sure if they weren't included readers begging for them.

[Catherine Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in Weatherford, but didn’t know this history of Fort Worth. Sam Bass held up the stage to Weatherford from Fort Worth! What interesting and hell-bent times. The book’s a bit dated, but well-worth a read.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUST READ for anyone interested in western, Texas, and/or Fort Worth history.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was ok but how much can you say about drinking, gambling, and prostitution? It was interesting until the end when it tried to tie Butch Cassidy and other famous outlaws to Fort Worth.

[David Trawinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great factual history of Fort Worth’s Hell Half Acre red light and gambling district. Very informative, with a litany of some of the Wild West’s biggest names passing through including WYATT EARP, Doc Holliday, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, among many others

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reading on Old Fort Worth and Hell's Half Acre.

[Robin Yaklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My relatives are from Fort Worth. I remember them talking and telling stories about the acre. A good read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book what is to me local history.

[Jeremy Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read on local history.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

well-researched, interesting topics, poorly written.