New exhibit to showcase photos of Montreal prostitutes who worked in North America’s Sin City in the 1940’s

Their eyes convey a mix of emotions — dismay at being busted, surprise, sheepishness, smugness. Some even betray a glimmer of recognition, one that suggests they’ve crossed paths before with the policeman doing the booking.

Next month, Montrealers will get a rare glimpse of the mug shots of prostitutes and madams entered as exhibits in the 1954 Caron inquiry to crack down on corruption, gambling, brothels and boozing in the place known as North America’s Sin City during the Second World War.

The spread of disease among troops waiting in Montreal before they were dispatched to fight in Europe was notorious.

Read on...