The Revolt of Mamie Stover

A San Francisco prostitute banished by the police who reinvents herself on a Honolulu-bound path. She becomes Flaming Mamie, leveraging Bertha Parchman’s club to climb to a substantial fortune through shrewd handling of money and property rentals to the military. Her rise is marked by bold decisions, romantic entanglements, and a willingness to bend rules to secure independence. In the end she leaves Hawaii, claiming she made and gave away a fortune, returning to her Mississippi roots.

A successful writer who uses Mamie’s life as material for his work, initially offering help but keeping a cautious distance due to class and moral concerns. He enlists after the Pearl Harbor attack and envisions a future with Annalee, yet his relationship with Mamie becomes strained as she grows wealthier and more independent. His pursuit of a conventional life clashes with the reality of Mamie’s transformed world, leading to a painful severance.

Jim's sweetheart who feels jealousy and insecurity as Jim pays increasing attention to Mamie. She represents the life and stability Jim might have pursued on the mainland, contrasting with Mamie’s new-found independence. Her presence underscores the tension between romantic devotion and the pull of fame, wealth, and wartime opportunity.

The mean-spirited owner of the Honolulu dance hall who enforces four strict rules to control hostesses and maximize profits. She benefits from Mamie’s rising fame and negotiates a lucrative arrangement as the club thrives, while manipulating finances and promises to maintain Mamie’s livelihood. Bertha embodies the calculating, survival-driven side of wartime entertainment business.

The club’s brutal manager who enforces the harsh rules and frequently beats hostesses who disobey or push back. His violence underscores the oppressive environment Mamie navigates, and his firing signals a shift in the club’s power dynamics as it grows with the wartime boom. He is a catalyst for Mamie’s resilience and eventual independence.

An old friend who introduces Mamie to Bertha’s world, serving as the bridge between Mamie’s past life and her entry into the club’s lucrative but coercive system. Her presence helps Mamie navigate the social network that makes her ascent possible. Jackie’s role reflects the way social connections shape opportunity in wartime Honolulu.