Sex Shops, Peep Shows, and Violence: Rare Photos Capture Times Square’s Wild Past in the 70s and 80s

By the early 1970s, Times Square was packed with grindhouses—movie theaters that played cheap, often violent or adult films all day and night. There were dozens of them, with bright neon signs promising shocking shows. Names like the Apollo, the Victory, and the Selwyn no longer offered classic films or plays. Instead, they showed pornographic movies, horror flicks, and exploitation films. Some charged only a dollar or two. Inside, the seats were sticky, the air smelled of smoke and sweat, and rats ran along the aisles.

Peep shows became just as common. In these booths, men paid to watch short loops of adult films or live dancers through small windows. The businesses made money by offering a cheap, fast escape from the outside world. Many were open 24 hours a day. Bright marquees lit up the night with names like Show World Center and Peepland. Signs offered “Live Nude Girls” or “Totally Private Shows.” Some places had dancers behind glass who performed for anyone who dropped in a coin.

Street-level stores were just as shady. Sex shops sold magazines, videotapes, toys, and drugs—often all under the same roof. Behind the counter, workers kept an eye out for police, though arrests were rare. Some businesses paid protection money to gangs. Others operated under the noses of corrupt city officials. Signs were bold and crude. Windows were blacked out or covered with posters promising things that went far beyond legal entertainment.

Drug use was out in the open. Heroin, crack, and cocaine were easy to buy. Dealers stood outside subway stations or lingered near theater entrances. Addicts shot up in alleyways or vacant buildings. Discarded needles littered the sidewalks. Bathrooms in nearby diners and bus terminals were often used for getting high. Tourists who made a wrong turn found themselves surrounded by danger in just a few blocks.

Prostitution was everywhere. Some women worked on their own, while others were controlled by pimps who watched them from nearby cars. Many of the women were teenagers, some as young as fourteen. Police officers would arrest them, but they were back on the street within days. Johns lined up in parked cars or loitered around hotels that charged by the hour. Most transactions happened in alleys or behind dumpsters.

Crime was part of daily life. Muggings were frequent. Wallets, purses, and bags were stolen in seconds. Tourists were easy targets, especially those arriving by bus. Thieves worked in teams, with one person distracting a victim while another snatched valuables. Violent crime was common after dark. Shootings, stabbings, and assaults happened just steps from Broadway theaters. Police reports told of gang fights, drug deals gone wrong, and homeless people beaten or killed.

Many officers avoided Times Square altogether. The crime rates were so high that some called the area “No Man’s Land.” Others who worked the beat felt defeated. They would make arrests, only to see the same people back on the street the next day. Some officers accepted bribes or looked the other way. Others were afraid to intervene at all. The lack of trust between the public and police only made the problem worse.

The homeless population was large and growing. Shelters were full or dangerous. Many people slept on cardboard or newspaper under the neon signs. Some used abandoned buildings to stay warm in the winter. Fires broke out often, sometimes started by candles or makeshift heaters. In one case, an old hotel burned for hours because the fire department had trouble getting through the blocked streets.

Graffiti covered nearly every surface. Subway cars were tagged inside and out. Walls, windows, and doors were covered with gang signs, names, and curses. Trash piled up in doorways and along curbs. Broken glass and dirty syringes were common. Rats ran across the streets at night, feeding on scraps from the fast-food joints and hot dog stands.

The buildings themselves were falling apart. Many had broken windows, leaking roofs, and faulty wiring. Elevators didn’t work. Hallways smelled like urine. Once-beautiful facades were now stained and crumbling. Some theaters had holes in the ceilings or mold on the walls. Water damage was everywhere. Even the famous theaters of Broadway were struggling to stay open.

In the middle of all this, thousands of people still passed through Times Square each day. Office workers commuted through the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Tourists arrived expecting glamour and left in shock. Locals warned visitors to avoid the area. Parents held their children close. Cab drivers refused to stop. Even newspapers told readers to steer clear.