Those are the Madames, not the girls. I was told by an old gezzer that lived the times that many of the ladies were just ordinary people short on the rent, or have booze problems doing a few tricks here and there to get by. Of course there were full timers. There were also Hotel Ladies that would go to a downtown hotel, have a drink and pick up a guy and go up to his room. The old Laurentien Hotel that was torn down in the late 70s had their own Hotel mafia where the manager would extort money and sex from these ladies and chose who worked at the hotel and who did not.
I was told by an old gezzer that lived the times that many of the ladies were just ordinary people short on the rent, or have booze problems doing a few tricks here and there to get by.
These women are in serious need of a makeover. Yikes!!! I think the price of US girls has gone through the roof after the downfall of BP. For example, NinaRose is getting 400$/hour.
I talked to an old guy that use to be a house detective or house dic in the 50s and 60s. Every hotel had one to ensure that working girls were not using it for meetings, this was to comply with municipal law and not risk losing their business permit. Theater ushers were there to ensure there was no funny business in the movies. Evidently, there was as much screwing around in those days as today if you know where to look for it.
As I understand the situation, pre 50s the cops were corrupt and you could do anything you want as long as you paid off the cops. Things in Montreal were cleaned up in the Drapeau years.