Red Light is an eye-opening cross-examination of the voyeurs who pointed fingers and hoped that no one would ever look back in their direction.
JAnelle Molony
Red Light Districts of Tucson: A History, 1870-1912
by David Grassé (Foreword by Janelle Molony)
March 2026 Release
Long after other parts of Arizona had outlawed prostitution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tucson maintained its red-light districts, Maiden Lane and Gay Alley. However, amid growing moral and religious backlash, sex workers were severely marginalized. Many women turned to sex work because of poverty, abandonment, or social scandal, and were further stigmatized by prevailing racial and gender biases.
This book is the first comprehensive history of Tucson’s red light districts and the women who worked in them. Using a variety of primary sources including court documents, police records, census data, and period newspapers, the author examines the relationship between moral and political movements and the women of the red-light districts themselves, offering a uniquely thorough look at how Tucson’s history reflects broader social and cultural dynamics of the American West at the turn of the 20th century.
A Fresh Break from a Century of Voyeurism
Finally, Red Light is a book that acknowledges women’s rights to personal safety and security in a time when what they were doing was legal. Grassé explores the predatory tactics of hypocritical hounds who dammed the boudoir business while simultaneously keeping their subscription active. He addresses the technicalities and legalities with refreshing conciseness and delivers a breakthrough argument that deserves a standing ovation.
-Janelle Molony
David Grassé B.A., is a 3rd-gen. Arizonan and history enthusiast. He has written five books on Arizona History and authored numerous magazine, newspaper, and journal articles. Grassé is a member of the Wild West History Association and Arizona Historical Society. When he’s not writing, he serves as a reference librarian in Payson.
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