HOLIDAY STREET
by Tony Ortega and Gary Shoe 6/13/21
Today's Market Street was once named Holiday Street and featured the most prominent brothels in old Denver. This tune is a fanciful tale about Jennie Rogers, Queen of 'the row', whose House of Mirrors was opened in 1889 and still stands !! Madames of the times were sometimes known to be agile with a fire arm which was occasionally necessary.
Ortega and Shoe with bassist Steve Ralph and the incomparable Ernie Martinez on mandolin
It's a rainy night in Denver the streets are shining black
A country tune rings through my mind and I'm thinking of the past
over on Larimer they're rolling up the streets
so I'm heading for Holiday a certain gal to meet
sure hope Jennie Rogers is still in town
she's the one that saved me the last time around
seen her House of Mirrors a hundred times before
form the fancy hanging Chandeliers to the dancing on the floor
piano playing jazz man a happy ragtime tune
a well remembered stairway up to Jennie's room
a jealous man who wanted Jennie for his own
started acting crazy when she answered "no !"
I guess he woulda got me then and there
as he saw me heading up the stairs
he drew his gun but just in time
Jennie shot and got him from behind
(c) 2021 by Tony Ortega and Gary Shoe
Jennie's House of Mirrors located at 1942 Market St
"...a well remembered stairway up to Jennie's room"
The facade of the House Of Mirrors was topped and adorned by a beautiful likeness of Jennie
Here's a link to more information about Jennie: