The Sporting District in the U. It was established by the city council to manage prostitution in the city. For a time it was one of the nation's largest vice districts with venues ranging from brothels to gambling halls. The area was officially shut down in resulting from the mobilization for World War II. Many communities around the U. The District contained approximately 10 blocks of the city. This is the boundary within which the women are compelled to live according to law. During the earlier years of the state, San Antonio was Texas' largest city.
One of the city's most important business leaders was Jack Harris, who established the Vaudeville Theater and Saloon in , in what would later become the Sporting District. The saloon, which was the city's first business to utilize the fledgeling Electric Company in , quickly became the most popular entertainment venue in the city, offering liquor, live theater, and gambling. The Theater's location, the corner of Soledad and Commerce, became known as "Fatal Corner", owing to the violent crowd that the saloon attracted.
The Sporting District was formally established in by the San Antonio city council to contain and regulate prostitution. City officials did not officially condone the activities but rather unofficially regulated them.
By the early 20th century, the District had become so large that, not only was it the largest red-light district in Texas, but it was one of the largest in the nation [1] [5] third in the nation by some accounts. Because of the area's size a "Blue Book" was published as a tourist guide for visitors. An unusual facet of San Antonio's red-light district was the lack of racial segregation in the District.
Between the world wars, particularly during the Depression, the District deteriorated as higher-class prostitutes abandoned the area in favor of working as call girls in hotels. Anderson, with the strong approval of Major General Richard Donovan. Roosevelt had signed into law a federal ban on prostitution near naval and army bases.
