Times Square

I commend to you Jeremiah’s investigation into a single block of Times Square — 7th Avenue between 47th and 48th.

Here’s just a taste:

It’s nighttime on Times Square. Standing on the northern end of the block, on the corner of 48th and 7th Ave., start off the night with an Orange Julius and a hot dog to charge your batteries. Next, duck into the Doll theater, where the “Sexsational School for Sex Arts” beckons you above a sign for “Live XXX Acts.” Take a seat inside and enjoy the double features interspersed with live sex performances, both onstage and in the audience members’ laps.

Russ Kick writes that The Doll “was basically a mellow, secure place. Less assault-prone than 8th Avenue’s Venus, although Japanese tourists were frequent targets for toilet muggings.” Dom Deluise cruises by–he gives you an autograph. “The projectionist sold Percodans,” says Kick, “the live sex-show teams sold coke and pot.” Choose your poison.

I am a huge fan of Orange Julius, although I’m not sure I’ve had one in decades. Now they’re only in malls I think. Is that one in the subway gone? where was it? 34th Street, or was it actually Times Square? And, while we’re on the subject, what the hell was in that powder they put in their drinks anyhow? Never mind, I don’t really want to know.

But enough about frothy orange drinks, it was really all about the porno theaters, wasn’t it? I loved checking out those marquees with the mix and match movie titles that you could adjust in any order and they made perfect sense. Those were the days.