# 1940's Canadian hookers. Did they make any $$$? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 2, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155 "2013-10-02T02:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/21 "2013-10-02T12:26:01Z")
It was clearly before nose jobs became common. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/22 "2013-10-02T12:36:26Z")
I found the mugs of Madeleine Gagnon (12th one down) rather interesting. In her profile pic (on the left) she didn’t look that bad… But when you see her straight-on… it’s a totally different story! “That’s right baby, turn to your left again. Profiles really get me off. Yeah! That’s it… HEY! It’s that or the BAG!!!” ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/23 "2013-10-02T12:41:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I was all set to point out to you that standards of beauty were very different then, and someone from the 1940s would have the same attitude toward today’s streaked and permed hair . . . > > But then I looked at the pics, and I have to agree with you. “Ten dollars for a session. $20 dollars with the lights out, eh?” ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/24 "2013-10-02T14:22:13Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > I know it’s the Daily Fail, but according to the captions, most were arrested for running a brothel, not being a hooker themselves. This. These were not the “merchandise”, they were the women running the show. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/25 "2013-10-02T15:53:59Z")
Once again, television has lied to me. I thought all Canadian women looked like Shania Twain and Jillian Reynolds. And all hookers were Julia Roberts or at worst Melanie Griffith. Maybe there were a lot of School Marm fantasies in 1940’s Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/26 "2013-10-02T15:56:09Z")
Perhaps all the best whores were shipped overseas for the troops at the front? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/27 "2013-10-02T15:57:32Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > No wonder curling got to be popular. They didn’t wear helmets when they played hockey back then. A few pucks to the face and this is what you look like. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/28 "2013-10-02T22:10:23Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > This. These were not the “merchandise”, they were the women running the show. Yeah, but you don’t get to manage a McDonalds without having to run the fryer for a while first, so to speak. Good Lord, those women are _FUGLY!_ :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/29 "2013-10-03T00:45:34Z")
> [@SandyHook](#): > > The first one isn’t so bad looking. You gotta give some leeway, mugshots aren’t high end photography and they probably weren’t all that happy about the whole thing. > > But still. . . . Think of all the ‘actress without makeup’ pictures you’ve seen. Other than the first one, probably no real lookers in the set - but some of them would probably clean up to be 6’s or so. And much over a 6 and they could probably get a husband instead of hooking. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/30 "2013-10-03T01:03:18Z")
This is Canada we’re talking about. If it isn’t a walrus, it’s _beautiful_! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/31 "2013-10-03T02:05:23Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > 1940s Canadian prostitute eyebrows left a lot to be desired. They’re all horrible except the last one. Some women today still do that to their eyebrows. On purpose. :smack: Do any STDs cause your eyebrows to fall out, necessitating drawing them in and looking diseased? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/32 "2013-10-03T02:42:17Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I found the mugs of Madeleine Gagnon (12th one down) rather interesting. In her profile pic (on the left) she didn’t look that bad… But when you see her straight-on… it’s a totally different story! > “That’s right baby, turn to your left again. Profiles really get me off. Yeah! That’s it… HEY! It’s that or the BAG!!!” I think the head on look is from her suck starting too many Army Jeeps. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/33 "2013-10-03T05:23:06Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > It was clearly before nose jobs became common. In those days a nose job was a smack in the kisser, see? If you’re doin’ somethin’ that could get you bustin’ rocks in big stir, you ain’t mixing with hoi-polloi and Ducky shincrackers, got it? Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/34 "2013-10-03T05:28:35Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > “Ten dollars for a session. $20 dollars with the lights out, eh?” We can use two paper bags, one for my head and one for your’s in case mine falls off. (I wish I could remember where I heard that). ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/35 "2013-10-03T08:25:23Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > I know it’s the Daily Fail, but according to the captions, most were arrested for running a brothel, not being a hooker themselves. It appears that acknowledging this would ruin the point, so no one wishes to. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Yeah, but you don’t get to manage a McDonalds without having to run the fryer for a while first, so to speak. Really? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/36 "2013-10-03T09:51:21Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The face of hooker is not particularly important to her clients. It’s all about attitude. Really. 🙂 One of the stories in _Time Enough for Love_ uses this idea. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/37 "2013-10-03T11:51:23Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Yikes. Talk about needing beer goggles. 😛 I’m sure they had great personalities. Theres not even one attractive lady in that list. > > [Montreal's face of prostitution past in pictures: The working girls cashing in on Canada's 'Sin City' in WWII | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2440245/The-faces-illicit-sex-1940s-Montreal-Archive-mug-shots-reveal-madams-prostitutes-brothel-owners-cashing-Canadas-Sin-City-World-War-II.html) About one a year of so the local police do a hooker and john sting and pull in the usual suspects. I’ve always found it odd that while prostitutes (you would think) would have to have some degree of attractiveness to be successful the poor women netted in these trawls are always some of the most brutally homely and hard worn souls I have ever see. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/38 "2013-10-04T16:57:49Z")
> [@astro](#): > > About one a year of so the local police do a hooker and john sting and pull in the usual suspects. I’ve always found it odd that while prostitutes (you would think) would have to have some degree of attractiveness to be successful the poor women netted in these trawls are always some of the most brutally homely and hard worn souls I have ever see. That’s because the police/johns want the pretty ones to remain in business, and be available to them. The others are expendable. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/39 "2013-10-05T18:10:39Z")
> [@astro](#): > > About one a year of so the local police do a hooker and john sting and pull in the usual suspects. I’ve always found it odd that while prostitutes (you would think) would have to have some degree of attractiveness to be successful the poor women netted in these trawls are always some of the most brutally homely and hard worn souls I have ever see. I suspect that most of them started out looking normal, but drug abuse tends to do a real number on your looks. In my experience, most street walkers are drug addicts. I think the vast majority of women who don’t have drug problems are able to find better options than street walking. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155/40 "2013-10-05T19:42:22Z")
Do a search on “prostitution mugshots” and you’ll discover that 21st-century hookers look pretty much the same, with the addition of scabbed-over facial wounds and lots of missing teeth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1940s-canadian-hookers-did-they-make-any/670155.md?page=3)