Sex, Jazz & Ax Murders - Robert Charles Riots & the Mayor of Storyville

In the late 1890’s a well-dressed man from Mississippi on the run from the law moves into New Orleans under the name of Robert Charles. By all accounts he’s a well-groomed and well-spoken man who enjoys a well fitted suit, and bowler hat. One evening he and his friend are approached by police officers. As the officers and Robert get into a scuffle, Robert is shot, but escapes returning to his home and arming himself against the police. As police Captain Day comes knocking on his door later that evening, he is met with a loaded Winchester rifle and a desperate Robert Charles who shoots Captain Day and a patrolman dead in the street.

What follows next is four days of rioting and mob rule that will shut down the city of New Orleans and require over 1500 volunteer police officers and the Louisiana State militia to be deployed to the city and restore order. Dozens of black bystanders will be murdered or seriously injured in what will become known as the Robert Charles Riots. Only ending in a deadly and extended shootout with Robert trapped in a New Orleans neighbourhood.

Following the riots and the Saratoga Street Standoff with Robert, the crushing segregation laws of Louisiana were enforced with renewed vigor just as the historic Storyville opens its doors, forcing the black and Creole musicians of the era to fuse their distinct sounds together.

In 1901 Thomas Anderson rings in the official opening of his Annex (previously the Fair Play Saloon) as a monument to the Gilded Age excess, and celebration of all things vice. By now he’s known as the unofficial Mayor of Storyville as Thomas Andersons Annex is the official stopping point for all things vice inside Storyville. Tom, ever the entrepreneur looks to make money on both sides both by plying his patrons with alcohol and entertainment, and also through his notorious Blue Books which provide a tourist guide to all the bordello houses, bars, juke joints and dance halls within Storyville’s 18 blocks.

Madams like Josie Arlington and LuLu White operate the high-end brothels catering to the richest of the rich as everyone competes for the time and money of visitors. One way to keep the visitors in the seat was entertainment in the form of jazz, and its this time when a young 15-year-old Creole pianist by the name of Jelly Roll Morton will begin making his name and taking jazz in a new an innovative direction as he plays the piano in all the high-end clubs.

In this episode we explore the Robert Charles Riots, the aftermath on the city, as well as the early years of Storyville and Thomas Anderson to see how the riots, jazz, and Storyville all blend together in one of the most unique eras of New Orleans history.

Sources Used: Empire of Sin, a Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder and the battle for Modern New Orleans

Author: Gary Krist

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