A history of Atlanta strip clubs (Clayton: sales, law, legal)

[Newsboy]

Interesting story in today's AJC that helps explain how the adult entertainment business came to be so prominent in the city:

"And the Atlanta clubs went nude the next day"

Unfortunately, with the AJC's new pay-for service I can't tell you where/how to read the story online. Better rush out to the corner store -- QUICK!

[Newsboy]

For everybody who missed the article, the basics are this:

In 1971, a touring company of the Broadway musical "Hair" was set to come to town and Fulton County officials sued to stop it, claiming the nude scenes were "obscene." A federal judge ruled instead that nudity was "free speech" protected by the Constitution and ... "The Atlanta clubs went nude the next day."

FAST FORWARD to 1987, when -- in anticipation of the 1988 Democratic National Convention -- the state legislature passed a law banning the sale of alcohol by nude establishments. In 1989, the State Supreme Court overturned the law, saying nude dancing was an expression of free speech. Within days, before local ordinances could be written, nude dance clubs expanded throughout the metro area, primarily into North DeKalb, South Fulton and Clayton where they still operate to this day.

There's a lot more to the story -- like the fact that most every attempt by local governments to limit adult clubs has backfired and had mostly opposite effects -- allowing them to proliferate! (Though there is a legal limit on the number that can operate in Dekalb now).

At the height, the early 1990s, there were about 45 clubs in metro Atlanta. Now, there are “probably 34.”

FASCINATING STORY!

[DTL3000]

I fully support the right to "free speech."

[workaholics]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

For everybody who missed the article, the basics are this:

In 1971, a touring company of the Broadway musical "Hair" was set to come to town and Fulton County officials sued to stop it, claiming the nude scenes were "obscene." A federal judge ruled instead that nudity was "free speech" protected by the Constitution and ... "The Atlanta clubs went nude the next day."

FAST FORWARD to 1987, when -- in anticipation of the 1988 Democratic National Convention -- the state legislature passed a law banning the sale of alcohol by nude establishments. In 1989, the State Supreme Court overturned the law, saying nude dancing was an expression of free speech. Within days, before local ordinances could be written, nude dance clubs expanded throughout the metro area, primarily into North DeKalb, South Fulton and Clayton where they still operate to this day.

There's a lot more to the story -- like the fact that most every attempt by local governments to limit adult clubs has backfired and had mostly opposite effects -- allowing them to proliferate! (Though there is a legal limit on the number that can operate in Dekalb now).

At the height, the early 1990s, there were about 45 clubs in metro Atlanta. Now, there are “probably 34.”

FASCINATING STORY!

so....basically it's just decades of the Baptist, Good ol boy network trying to squash freedom of expression in the name of Jesus only to get smacked down every damn time. LOL. I'm not saying strip clubs are what the founding fathers envisioned when they wrote the bill of rights but clearly they have a right to exist in a free, capitalist society and that's something our politicians never understood.

[Dude of Gwinnett]

What is also interesting is the battle between strip clubs and porn shops throughout other outlaying counties. For example, strip clubs and topless bars are still not allowed in Gwinnett County. It is also funny note that a lot of the strip clubs change every 3 years but are the exact same club. They change the name, they change the color scheme and look, but they keep the same girls on staff and don't even change owners.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by Dude of Gwinnett

What is also interesting is the battle between strip clubs and porn shops throughout other outlaying counties. For example, strip clubs and topless bars are still not allowed in Gwinnett County. It is also funny note that a lot of the strip clubs change every 3 years but are the exact same club. They change the name, they change the color scheme and look, but they keep the same girls on staff and don't even change owners.

I wonder if the same laws exist in Cobb County. There are no strip clubs in Cobb either. Seems only Fulton & Dekalb have them. I'd like to read this article & see who this Supreme Court judge is.

[AnsleyPark]

Nasty. Nasty. Nasty.

[janet bubby]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Nasty. Nasty. Nasty.

What is nasty?

[kayoticworld]

Originally Posted by workaholics

so....basically it's just decades of the Baptist, Good ol boy network trying to squash freedom of expression in the name of Jesus only to get smacked down every damn time. LOL. I'm not saying strip clubs are what the founding fathers envisioned when they wrote the bill of rights but clearly they have a right to exist in a free, capitalist society and that's something our politicians never understood.

Yep, basically. Funny how the people that are always arguing about free speech and rights are almost always the same ones trying to limit those of others as long as they can use the name of Jesus. The whole Sunday alcohol sales debate was beyond silly to me. In a supposedly capitalist society we reward or punish any establishment by either patronizing it or not.
No one is forced to go into a strip club. If it’s not successful, it’ll close. It’s that simple! As far as Sunday alcohol sales go, some stores choose to open others choose not to. It’s their right to do either.....
Same with gambling in the state.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by janet bubby

What is nasty?

The Bible Belt Attitude!