LEGACY
Welcome to Show World Legacy, the official site for SHOW WORLD CENTER, circa 1975-1998; a comprehensive compendium of images and prose. For those of you expecting something else, this is not a porn site; it’s a dissemination of classified information by those who lived it, during a period where all we had were the bare essentials, though some of us paid the price.
Show World was a place that sustained us during tough times, where some of us prospered while others just survived. This is Show World, stretch-marks and all; sometimes pretty, at other times tragic, but always indicative of our dreams and desires, some grossly unfulfilled.
Show World, the legendary peep palace, epic emporium, live sex theater, and scumatorium, that catered to a diverse clientele; those who sought a sexual outlet, temporary companionship, or simply to express themselves. From the glamorous to the repressed, all came to see Show World and its lewd carnal attractions, which aroused far more than curiosity. And for those in captivity; a conveniently located deliverance from disgrace.
Show World, the original incarnation at 669 8th Avenue, once defined pornography. Shameless, sophisticated, and unique, Show World thrived and reached its peak. Then a tidal wave of hypocrisy comprised of ambitious politicians, conservative conglomerates, and the moral majority crushed a bastion of freedom that represented the rest of the world. Threatened by what Show World stood for, they brought about its inherent demise.
Regardless, Show World once stood as the quintessential component of a titillating Times Square, the likes of which we shall never see again. Countless individuals identified as segments of our population flocked to Show World, invigorated by the ambience and aesthetic Show World put forth. They respected the fact that it was there, even if they never set foot on the premises. That in itself Show World represented a sacred freedom of expression within our constitutional rights; far beyond the societal taboos still imposed on us to this very day.
Show World, with its thrills and spills, was fun. That Show World is technically no more leaves a void. No more blue movie stars and explicit live acts, no more orgasms and bodily assessments. Nevertheless, this site is devoted and designed for past visitors, customers, regulars, as well as former employees of Show World; the working class of which existed a distinct camaraderie. Not just the X-rated stars, but the Fantasy Booth babies and the Love Teams that lost track of time. And of course those out there that wish to know what we were all about.
Be that as it may, Show World Legacy is not intended for the effectuation of any form of exploitation, especially for those that have turned their lives around, or have chosen to forget and don’t want to drudge up memories, some of which are harmful. The purpose of the featured images and writings is to primarily pay tribute to the other stars: Some fallen, some forgotten, that had a memorable impact and became a part of us in a way that’s still unmistakably a part of us now.
Unequivocally, Show World was meant to be experienced in the flesh. And for a mere 25 cent token, you expanded your proclivities within the privacy of a booth. Like the Automat, Show World permitted all classes, all races, all religions and political affiliations. Show World didn’t pass judgment or discriminate against the disenfranchised. Our mission here at Show World Legacy is to cultivate a deeper awareness of the hidden divergent realities that existed within Show World and its satellites during their tenure in the periphery of Times Square. Drenched in dazzling indecency and meaning, there was far more to Show World than meets the peeper; and these factual accounts are not the speculation that became the fodder of tabloids. Be that as it may, we will at times deliberately confront uncomfortable subject matter, but set the record straight. Show World was indisputably a groove; and although for some it was hard core smut, for others it was simply a way to pull through against insurmountable odds, back in the day.