Polly Adler

Polly Adler (1900–1962) was an American madam and memoirist best known for her autobiography *A House Is Not a Home* (1953). Born in Yanow, in the Russian Empire (now in Belarus), she immigrated to the United States and became a prominent figure in New York City’s nightlife during the Prohibition era. Adler ran brothels that attracted wealthy and well-known clients, and she was repeatedly arrested as authorities targeted vice operations. After leaving New York, she lived in Los Angeles, where her memoir—written with journalist Virginia Faulkner—recounted her life and the underworld she navigated. She died in 1962.