From - Mon Sep 3 11:34:34 2001 Return-Path: Received: from peakpeak.com (tz0070.peakpeak.com [207.174.69.70]) by gash2.peakpeak.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id GAA03055; Tue, 23 Jan 2001 06:33:36 -0700 Sender: snowbear@gash2.peakpeak.com Message-ID: <3A6DF9BD.D7A434EA@peakpeak.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 14:38:05 -0700 From: Pam North X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.61 [en] (X11; U; Linux 2.2.12-20 i586) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "Green, Guerin" , "Douglas, Laura" , "North, Pam" , Vyner Jeff Subject: Article Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 X-UIDL: 391deae700000cdc WHAT'S IN A NAME? by Pam North It's simply a case of mistaken identity, but it has posed somewhat of a problem for the Shady Ladies of the Central City Motherlode. Their dilemma? Some people take their name quite literally, and come to the vastly wrong conclusion that this lively ladies' group might have an illicit and immoral purpose. In existence since 1992, the Shady Ladies have been an integral part of Central City's annual Lou Bunch Days, taking part in the famous festivities by donning elaborate costumes similar to the dress of yesteryear's madams and ladies of the evening. The group's name was originally chosen to reflect the theme of the event with which they were so closely associated, but it was all in fun and they never thought that intelligent people would get the wrong impression. After all, if they really were of the "soiled dove" genre, they would hardly advertise it. Additionally, in the years since the formation of the group, they have gone far beyond their initial concept, and have successfully ventured into serious historical theater performance, portraying various characters from their research into the lives of many unconventional women of the West. They have developed a fascinating selection of 5-minute profiles of thirty different women, all of whom were actual personalities who lived unusual lives in the frontier's early history. Included in their repertoire are taxidermist Mary Maxwell, labor activist "Mother" Mary Jones, stagecoach driver Charlie Parkhurst, Indian captive Olive Oatman, two of Brigham Young's wives, and other well-known characters such as Belle Star, Cattle Kate, Isabella Byrd, Doc Susie, Poker Alice and Nellie Bly. The Shady Ladies' presentations of these historical vignettes (called their "Survivors" series) have been widely acclaimed. The group acknowledges the important role that prostitutes had in the early days of the west; one of their characters in "Survivors" is Denver madam Mattie Silks. They also have a fascinating hour-long educational presentation, "The Parlor House," which accurately depicts a lifestyle that is often ignored by historians, but which was a reality for a large number of women who came westward, one into which they often were forced as a matter of economics and survival. Joan Hemm, founder of the Shady Ladies, has become a little concerned that more emphasis seems to be placed on the racier aspects of the group's name, and on only a single dimension of their multi-faceted focus. She fears that they occasionally might be losing opportunities for presentations of their "Survivors" because of mistaken impressions of what they're all about. Recent references in newspapers, such as "the naughty Shady Ladies," and an editor's caption, "Shady Ladies Go the Full Monty in Dress," have also been a bit dismaying. Hemm decided to present to the public the question of possibly changing the group's name, sending a short questionaire to about 350 names on her mailing list, including newspapers such as the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. The recipients of her query were given four options to choose from on the ballot: keep the name; change it to the Ladies of the Central City Motherlode; change it to the Reformed Shady Ladies of the Central City Mother Lode; or change it to something else suggested by the respondent. So far, 105 ballots have been returned to Hemm (some of them even with donations), and 85 (83%) of them were overwhelmingly in favor of the group's retaining their title as the Shady Ladies of the Central City Motherlode, something Hemm would prefer, since they already have attained wide recognition with that identity. The responses were interesting. "Changing your name would be as bad as changing the name of the Bronchos," said one. "I believe Shady Ladies adds character and captures people's attention, so I say live with it and continue to educate writers, publishers and those who would malign your group," said another. Dick Kreck, a Denver post columnist, wrote in an article on 1/1/00, "My advice is, don't do it. We're buried by enough political blandness. Hold your heads high, go right on with your charitable work, and let the "chippies" fall where they may." One woman took the time to write a three-page letter which, in part, conveyed her reaction to seeing the group's "The Parlor House" presentation at the Golden Clear Creek Museum: "On that summer day history lived. For me, it was almost like time travel." Other replies were, "Tell your detractors to go back to Shirley Temple movies and leave you alone;" "We love you just the way you are. I doubt the complainers have come to see you, or they would know better;" "People remember your name. It's cute and catchy. Embrace the controversy; what a great opportunity!" As for name change, one wry comment was, "Do you think anyone would bother to come to see the 'Women 's History Group'?" Another suggested only dropping the Central City Motherlode portion of their name. Three favored the addition of the word Reformed to the name; six voted for a total change, and nine had name suggestions. Interestingly, the people advocating change were all Gilpin County residents, seemingly those who should be the most familiar with the true character and many dimensions of the Shady Ladies. The consensus of opinion has strengthened the Shady Ladies' faith in the integrity of their name, and also in the fact that most people really do have a handle on what they're all about. The all-volunteer group has become, without a doubt, an outstanding representative of Central City and Gilpin County over the years, and has done much to promote area history and education about the American West. There's nothing truly naughty or shady about these ladies; they have a spotless reputation, and they're just very, very nice. We're lucky to have them.