Before Times Square Became Family Friendly

Back in the 1980s, the Times Square area looked very different from its appearance today. These days, there are restaurants, Madame Tussauds’s Wax Museum, an AMC movie theater, and a theater (the Victory) dedicated to children’s shows, among other tourist-friendly attractions.

But in the 80’s 42nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue was filled with adult book stores, stores that sold sex toys, peep shows, and live shows. On 8th Avenue between 42nd and 43 Streets was a place that featured shows with young stark naked guys. It was over an adult book shop. You had to go up a flight of stairs and pay an admission fee. It was either $10 or $15. I don’t remember exactly.

Once you were seated, guys would come out parading right in front of the audience. The performance was nothing more than each guy stripping off either sexy underwear or a pair of shorts as loud music played. Eventually he would be stark naked and almost always had an erection. The lighting was bright, so you always had a good look. There was no stage, so the performers were on the same level as the audience. If you tipped (and it was always a good idea to come with lots of singles), you could caress the guy’s cock, and the feel of the veins in those rock hard cocks was amazing. Their erections were fantastic. Some performers used cock rings or tight bands to keep their cocks hard during their performance.

Each show featured six guys who performed for about 20 minutes each. On weekends, more performers were added, since the audience was bigger. All types appeared — white guys, Black dudes, Latinos. What they had in common was perfect bodies. The guys were always different, which made return visits interesting. You never knew what kind of performers you would see. Some were cut, some uncut, but their erect cocks kept me coming back again and again. I loved this showplace.

There was also the Gaiety Male Burlesque on 46th Street off Broadway (it was over a Howard Johnson's Restaurant, now long gone). Live shows would alternate with male porn films. Six well-built dudes would perform. Each had two segments. The first involved the guy sensually dancing bare chested wearing only shorts of some kind and boots. Then he left the stage while music continued playing. When he reappeared, he was stark naked with a rock hard erection. It was then that audience members tipped by slipping bills into his boots. He'd wave his cock close to you, but there was no touching allowed. On the weekends, ten guys would perform and the theater was always packed. I loved to sit up front with an ample supply of singles so I would have the best view of those amazing young cocks.

When Times Square was “cleaned up,” these venues along with the peep shows and adult book stores closed. I miss them to this day, and I have many fine memories of extraordinary young guys, stark n
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aked with heart-stopping erections.

Comments

It was interesting as a visitor how you could either see or not see these venues. On my first few visits with a lover we looked but didn't try, my next visits were with a lady friend and so I avoided, as much as possible anything like that - kept to the main drag! My last visit and I indulged in a place I suspect was 5th and 46thstreet, in a basement and very seedy. Like you said a small stage brightly lit with a revolving stage to wheel on the next near naked hunk. I'd like to say it was fantastic but regret I did feel it was exploitation - of the clients. I suspect it was nearer the end of the 80's and the clean up beginning. Popcorn and coke expensive sold alongside packets of Kleenex for the wankers of who there were plenty. While the guys in the show I saw were young and nubile and fully erect it was tired and all a routine.
That said thanks for reminding me of what was a semi glorious period of NY's history, sometimes it ys a memory that needs waking up.
 
Those were great times seeing so many young bodies with those amazing erections. A few guys had shaved cocks, but that hadn't yet become common among young guys.
Thanks for your memories of those days, @chrisrobin.
 
I remember walking down 42nd in the early 80's and feeling anxious and not safe. I had just moved to NYC and had never been near an adult theatre let alone actually in one. To me, the whole scene was seedy and scary; and this was during the day!
In hindsight I wish that I had the courage back then to actually walk into one. It would have been exciting to jack off with a bunch of other horny men watching the films. Missed opportunity for some fun. :confused:
 
Initially, I felt the same way, @naturist89, but the lure of taboo male sex drew me in. Those shows were great and the performers simply amazing as they flaunted their chiseled bodies and hard cocks.
 
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I remember some of these places - there was also a nude revue at what I think was called The Apollo, where the performers were on stage so customers couldn't touch (although there were rumours about meeting the "dancers" afterwards on a private basis). Similar to San Fran's much-missed Nob Hill Theater
 
Yes, I was pretty sure that meeting the guys in the back room was an unannounced service, but I was never brave enough to avail myself. Ah, the good old days when Times Square was a haven for male sex shows and porn book stores!
 
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I couldn't agree with you more! In Boston (where I grew up), our porn mecca area was called "The Combat Zone" where all the XXX theatres and peep show places were. In 1980, I was slowly coming out, and I had NO idea where to find gay guys in the suburbs. Or anywhere, really!

On a whim, I took the train into the city and went inside a few places. And I soon found out what was going on in those peep show booths, and it's where I got my very first blowjob. And boy did I go back to visit. A LOT!

Then in the mid 80's, I took annual trips to NYC, and always tried to book a hotel near Broadway and 8th, so I could walk down to the all the action. I was in heaven with all the places I found to play. And I have to admit: the seediness and the "danger" was part of the rush of playing in those places.

One night, I went to check out The Gaiety, and met an insanely hot older British guy who was a airline steward. And married with kids at the time! We spent two days together in my hotel room, and met up a couple of other times when he traveled to Los Angeles.

We completely lost track of each other for about 15 years, and last year, he found me on Facebook. Now, he's married to a man! But we reconnected instantly and enjoy reminiscing about those times.

Sadly, The Combat Zone befell the same "familyfication" fate by the mid 90's. And we can all blame asshole Rudy Giuliani for what happened to Times Square.

Anyway, thanks for indulging me and my story! :)
 
It was great to hear about your adventures in Boston and New York City, @ HotThroatLA. I wrote this reminiscence because those days are so memorable to me. I'm glad other guys experienced the naughty vibe of Times Square before the peep shows, live shows and adult book stores disappeared. There are still a few adult book stores, but they're usually south of 42nd Street.
 
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