The Cases of Robin S. Hood

On the night of February 11, 1963 members of the Aviation Post 1729, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), gathered at 1901 E. Locust St. in East Omaha, NE, for a "stag party." Around 9:15pm a complaint was filed with police of a possible "strip tease act" occurring at the Aviation Post. The police first observed the premises, noting that men had to knock at the door and wait to be admitted. The police returned to Central Station to obtain a warrant, signed by Municipal Judge David B. Anderson. An extra cruiser was called to help quell the party. Just before 11:00pm, officers entered the club where they observed a young dancer performing a striptease to a packed house. The strip-teaser self-identified herself as "Robin S. Hood". 

At the time of the raid, Robin Hood was "scantily clad"--only wearing a small diamond shaped g-string thong and "two pieces of paper above the waist." The police promptly arrested the burlesque dancer and the Post Commander, Melvin L. Brown, and brought them to Central Station for questioning.

Putnam and Flora, the two arresting officers, stated, "From the time we entered the club to the time we left after the raid there were no unkind words said by members of the club or from any of the policemen involved in the raid. It was carried out in a very orderly and mannerly procedure."

Bond was not set for the two arrestees until 8:00am the next day. According to the Putnam and Flora, they 'thought Mr. Brown would be more sober and feel more like talking in the morning to some other officer,' so he was held till about 8:15am at which time bond was set. Brown stated his constitutional rights were ignored, as bond wasn't set until 8 hours after he was booked and he wasn't allowed to use the telephone to contact his lawyer. Nebraska Attorney General, Clarence Meyer, said Nebraska had no law governing how long police may detain a suspect before allowing them to use a telephone.

(Evening World Herald. Melvin Brown [right]. Page 6. February 26, 1963)

Mayor Dworak launched a probe that lasted until March 1963. The stag party scandal was discussed at a City Council session the week after where post commander Melvin Brown said in a statement (read by his attorney) that he was arrested and held illegally for 12 hours without bond in a "filthy cell" on order of Captain Janing. Even when Brown's attorney was notified by friends of his arrest, he was unable to arrange bond and wasn't shown the warrant.

Earlier that week Janing had spoken of the "laxity in criminal prosecutions" in a public speech at the Optimist Club--pissing off City Council. Mayor Dworak was critical of Janing in the past so it was questioned whether the investigation would be impartial. A mediator was brought in to conduct the probe.

(Evening World Herald. "Mayor to Probe Charges Police Mistreated Man." Page 1. February 20, 1963)

The State Commander of the VFW stated, "The Department of Nebraska VFW is primarily interested in the unfavorable image that is being created throughout the state by this unfortunate incident." The VFW ended up suspending activities at the Aviation Post 1729 until the trial had concluded. The VFW was ready to add disciplinary actions should Melvin Brown be convicted.

Melvin Brown was charged with "showing an immodest exhibition" and Robin Hood was charged with performing "indecent acts." Three men were also charged with showing an immodest exhibition.

Robin S. Hood | The Strip-Teaser

(Evening World Herald. Robin S. Hood. Page 1. March 12, 1963)

It was later revealed that Hood's real name was Shirley Mauldin. She was a 26 years old burlesque dancer who was born in Dallas, TX and then living in a hotel in Omaha at the time of the stag party raid. She was born around 1937. Robin had been performing professionally as Robin S. Hood for the past 5 years. She was even performed at the Policeman's Ball in Phoenix, AZ. She was also traveling to performing in Des Moines, IA at the time of her arrest.

Unfortunately for Hood, her run-ins with police were not over yet. Three days after the stag party, Hood was arrested and charged with prostitution. When officers went to her hotel room--she answered the door nude-- with a business man inside. She was held in jail in lieu of a $500 bond ($5,173.36 today)--$250 for indecent acts and $250 for prostitution.

(Evening World Herald. Robin S. Hood. Page 29. April 15, 1963)

Hood eventually was released from jail on bond, where she traveled to Milwaukee, WI. Nebraska newspapers focused on Hood's lack of clothing, publishing statements like, "Hood was completely nude from the shoulders down to just below her waist."

The Charges

Robin Hood was facing a charge of indecent acts at the stag party and prostitution (from the second arrest). Hood's attorney filed a motion asking for complaints against her be dismissed. The judge denied the motion. The Judge did grant Brown a week's continuance. Hood did not appear in court at this time.

Melvin Brown stated in court, "A young lady, who I would say was about 25 years of age, began dancing to the music and appeared to be doing a type of ballet or acrobatic dance. She was dressed in a costume very similar to those worn by majorettes and there was no time that there was any vulgar display of her person." Brown didn't deny Hood was wearing the g-string, he stated, "I'm saying she had a lot more clothes over this costume that was mentioned."

(Evening World Herald. "Patrolman Merrill Putnam with dancer's costume..Like a majorette's?" Page 8. February 20, 1963)

The police reported her costume was 'about the size of a pack of cigarettes.' Brown described her dance as an art, akin to acrobatic ballet. The Judge heard a flimsy claim that Hood's costume was too short compared to "traditional majorette standards". Four baton twirling instructors from Omaha protested and became enraged that their costumes were being described 'like' costumes similar a burlesque dancer.

(Evening World Herald. "Description Challenged--'Majorettes Do Not Wear Bikinis'." Page 6. February 21, 1963)
Captain Jening asserted Hood was wearing only a bikini and "some flimsy bits of material covering her breasts." City Councilman Pedersen stated, "Part of making this a clean city is making raids on parties such as this. The vice squad and Captain Janing have every right to do it, and I hope they keep right on."
John Sanna, 61, was a theatrical booking agent who was also arrested in the raid and charged with showing an immodest exhibition. Mr. Sanna was asked to define an "exotic dance", where he stated, 'A glamorous dance...The danceof the seven veils without taking off the last veil is an exotic dance.' Larry Watts, 22, and Charles Jacobsen, 42, of the downtown hotel, were charged with the same offense. 5 people total were charged in the stag party raid incident.

The Court Cases Against Robin S. Hood

The court case commenced during the second week of March 1963. Robin Hood appeared in court with her attorney, Thomas Carey. A witness, Chester H. Dreesen, testified that the stag party 'shook it up real good in my way of thinking'--meaning her dance was top shelf entertainment! He testified Miss Hood had started her performance fully dressed with 'wiggling of the hips and contortions'. "She took off her gown and threw it over the bar. When the police came she was wearing only a diamond-shaped cover below the waist and two pieces of paper above the waist."Mr. Dreesen's eyesight was questioned by the DA to no avail--he had recently had his eyes checked for new glasses. Dreesen stated he had paid $2 ($20.56 today) to enter the stag party.

Robin Hood was quoted in the Omaha World Herald in December 1963, "We pay the union to protect us. You see I had no protection here except for the union." She claimed she was wearing pasties and a g-string thong under two other pairs of panties. She protested authorities were trying to say she was ONLY wearing the g-string.

Robin Hood's booking agent called her dance "exotic" while her attorney described it as "acrobatic" but Judge L. Ross Newkirk said it was "indecent" and imposed a fine for "performing indecent acts." Vice Squad raiders testified Hood appeared wearing only a g-string when they entered. According to the Evening World Herald, "The officers said Sergeant Putnam had to get up on a chair to see over the heads of spectators around the dancer. Sergeant Putnam described her movements as 'bumps and grinds'." (March 13, 1963)

Robin Hood testified in trial that she was not performing "indecent acts" and that she had never been arrested before. She had been under investigation in Louisiana but was never charged. Her attorney argued the ordinance she was charged with indecent, lewd, or filthy acts was unconstitutional "because it contains no standard of behavior." Judge Newkirk overruled the objection and said: 'I just wonder how legislators are going to describe lewdness in detail.'

As for the prostitution charge, officers testified they obtained a warrant after seeing the businessman go to Hood's room with a bottle of whiskey. Hood had greeted the officers in the nude at her hotel room before jumping behind the open door. The out-of-state businessman was arrested as well. Her attorney argued the search warrant was obtained illegally because the police didn't have 'personal knowledge' of what was going on inside the hotel room.The objection was overruled. Arresting officer Putnam testified he was tipped off by the hotel bellhop about Miss Hood entertaining a man after the party. He testified, "I investigated and found several empty whisky bottles. The next day I observed a man with Miss Hood. I followed them as they went from bar to bar. I observed the man buy a bottle of whisky and take it and her to a hotel room." He then went to get the search warrant. The Judge found Robin Hood guilty of prostitution and sentenced her to 30 days in jail and fined $100 ($1,027.91). She posted $600 bond ($6,167.45 today) to appeal the decision.

Robin Hood filed a plea to throw out her convictions with a higher Judge. She also requested a jury trial in her appeal. However, her motion was denied as she didn't show up for her appeal day in court. Her bond was forfeited--she was in a hotel in Milwaukee. The Judge upheld the decisions of the lower court She was fined $200 ($2,055.82 today) for indecent acts at the stag party at VFW Aviation Post 1729.

A bondsman had to retrieve Robin Hood in Dallas, TX after she was recognized by a newspaper reporter in November 1963. She was taken to jail to execute her sentence for prostitution. She was reportedly performing in Milwaukee and Des Moines, making it tough to track her down. She served her 30 day sentence and was released.

The Case Against Melvin Brown

Melvin Brown, the commander of the VFW post, pleaded guilty to staging an "immodest show" in October 1963. He was fined $25 ($256.98 today) and released from his position as commander of the Post. He did not serve any jail time for the stag party incident. Brown owned his own business, the Mid-State Automatic Sprinkler Company (4108 N 24th St.), and was a government contractor with security clearance.

The Aftermath

The controversy of the Robin S. Hood case and VFW stag party created an uproar in public opinion over the prosecution of vice cases. Individual citizen's opinions about Robin and her dancing were preserved in the newspapers, like the ones below.

(Evening World Herald. Page 29. March 21, 1963)
Objects to Reporting. Fremont, Neb. "Teen-agers don't have to patronize the newsstands to obtain obscene reading material. The recent account of dancer Robin Hood's court appearance was about as vulgar as anything in print could be. Is this sort of tripe considered news? By H.O.
'Refined, Cultured' Massena, IA. "Do you think a 'refined and cultured' newspaper should have the story of Robin S. Hood smeared across its font page?" By Mary Lou Dygert

(The South Omaha Sun. "How Time Does Fly..." February 25, 1965)
The VFW Club was suspended for 30 days and failed to file it's renewal application for a beer license within a timely manner. City Councilman Arthur Bradley, attempted to have the Post's liquor license revoked entirely. However, the application was eventually submitted and the City Council of Omaha approved the license renewal in May 1963 by a 4-3 vote. By 1965, Bradley was an avid opponent of stripping in Omaha's nightclubs and lounges.
(Omaha World Herald. "Robin S. Hood to be on TV as Liar (Not About Dance)." Page 1. April 15, 1963)
Robin Hood continued to perform. She appeared on TV on the CBS show, "To Tell the Truth", however Omaha television station, WOW-TV, decided to cancel showing the episode and instead showed an episode of "The Third Man." The TV program she was in featured a game in which three contestants claim to be the same person, with only one bound to answer questions from the panel truthfully, in an attempt to identify the actual person.
(Evening World Herald. "Robin S. Hood Before Sorensen's Time." Barbara Hudson. Page 22. April 22, 1966)
In 1966, the VFW stag party incident was still being brought up in Omaha newspapers. The change over to the new Mayor Sorensen saw a crackdown on clubs featuring Go-Go dancers and semi-nude entertainment. However, burlesque continued to be a popular form of entertainment in Omaha and throughout the State of Nebraska.

 

Sources

  • Evening World Herald. "It's Bars, Not Bar, for Exotic Dancer." Page 6. February 15, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Mayor to Probe Charges Police Mistreated Man." Page 1 & 8. February 20, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Description Challenged--'Majorettes Do Not Wear Bikinis'." Page 6. February 21, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Long Confab on Stag Party; Mayor's Investigation Still Not Complete." Page 6. February 21, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "VFW Delays Final Action in Strip Case; Waits Court Decision in Brown Hearing." Page 1. February 25, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "'Strip' Action is Postponed; Continuance Granted to Post Chief Brown." Page 6. February 26, 1963
  • Holdrege Daily Citizen. "Vets await court decision on stag." Page 1. February 26, 1963
  • Lincoln Journal Star. "Robin Hood's Bikini Has Omahans Aquiver." Page 8. February 22, 1963
  • Omaha World Herald. "Dancing Girl, Police Dog Absent--Principals in Stag Party Case Talk 2 Hours, Say No Comment." Page 1. February 21, 1963
  • The York Daily News Tribune. "Hassle Over A G-String." Page 5. February 22, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Star of the Stag Goes to Court." Page 1. March 12, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Star Event at VFW's Stag 'Shook It Up,' Witness Says." Page 2. March 12, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Stag Party Wiggler Fined, Sentenced, Appeals." Page 51. March 13, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Objects to Reporting." Fremont, NE. By H.O. Page 29. March 21, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "'Refined, Culture'." Massena, IA. By Mary Lou Dygert. Page 29. March 21, 1963
  • Evening World Herald."Judge Praises Policeman, Denies Pleas for Dancer; Sgt. Putnam Tells of Getting Warrants." Page 42. March 29, 1963
  • The Grand Island Independent. "Charter Suspended; VFW Commander Acts in Omaha Club Case." David City, NE. Page 16. March 1, 1963
  • The Lincoln Star. "Judge Upholds 30-Day Sentence for Robin Hood." Omaha, NE. December 3, 1963
  • The South Omaha Sun. "Vice Detail Reports on Raid." Page 6. March 7, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "All in Court bu Stripper; Robin S. Hood Plans to Stay in Milwaukee." Page 42. April 5, 1963
  • Evening World Herald."'Deception' on TV is Next Booking for Robin S. Hood." Page 29. April 15, 1963
  • Omaha World Herald. "Robin S. Hood to Be on TV as Liar (Not About Dance)." Page 1. April 15, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "East Omaha VFW Post Gets License." Page 38. May 15, 1963
  • Omaha World Herald. "February 11, 1963--". Page 33. May 12, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Dancer Case Ends, Finally; Ex-VFW Commander Pleads Guilty, Pays." October 15, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Return Date for Stripper; Bondsman is Bringing R.S. Hood Back." Page 2. November 30, 1963
  • Omaha World Herald. "Robin Loses Court Joust; 'Exotic Dancer' Acts as Own Lawyer." December 3, 1963
  • The South Omaha Sun. "How Time Does Fly..." February 25, 1965
  • Evening World Herald. "Stormiest." Page 7. April 12, 1966
  • Evening World Herald. "Robin S. Hood Before Sorensen's Time." Barbara Hudson. Page 22. April 22, 1966

 


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