Porn Valley- Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was a guest on Los Angeles’ KLSX 97.1 FM Friday afternoon. Judging by the types of calls she got, you might suspect that the Tom Sizemore-related ones were being filtered out.
Fleiss was basically trumpeting both her book, Pandering [$50-autographed], and her new store Hollywood Madam which opens on Hollywood Blvd. and Highland near Frederick’s of Hollywood.
Fleiss said she owns a huge lot in the back of her store. “I can fit a 1,000 cars there.” It was pointed out to Fleiss that the area her store’s located is considered the s- hole of the world. Fleiss begged to differ by saying that it’s the trend-setting capitol of the world right now. “It’s all starting right there,” she said. “You can feel it. Hollywood is the most powerful word on earth. It’s going through the same Renaissance as the 3rd St. Promenade and what used to be pan handlers and vagabonds.”
Fleiss said she’ll be in her store every single day for the next two months. Fleiss describes her store which features clothing, bath products, and lingerie as “Hustler without the porn. It’s a very sensual store- nothing offensive because I want our guests when they visit our town to have a memorable, enjoyable experience.” Fleiss also said you won’t find vibrators in the store because she doesn’t want to offend the tourists. “Larry Flynt’s got his Hustler place. They can go there [for vibrators]. I built the store for Hollywood and Los Angeles itself. I think they owe me some kind of placard.” Fleiss said Hollywood Blvd. is basically a dump but she’s opened a beautiful store where famous people will be coming in. “I’m doing a service to all of Hollywood and Los Angeles as a whole.”
Fleiss was asked which was easier, running a prostitution ring or a retail store. “It’s all easy for more,” she said. “I’m a people person. It doesn’t matter what line of work I’m in. I can go from prison to this. I slide right in.” Fleiss said she tried being a pro herself but she wasn’t cut out for it. “Who would hire me? I’m the laziest person on earth when it comes to that. I worked so hard I wanted to go to bed at night. I didn’t need someone telling me to do a back flip.”
Fleiss was also very candid in stating that she doesn’t personally like sex that much. “No, I don’t. It’s not all about the sex. For me it’s about how you connect. Sex is all in your mind.” By the same token, it was also pointed out that Fleiss exploited peoples’ desire for sex and did it better than most. Fleiss wouldn’t use the word exploit but claims she knows the dynamics of human nature than anyone and what will or won’t work. “I don’t know why I have this, but I do. It’s like a special power.”
A caller-in asked if Fleiss could hook both him and his wife up. Fleiss recommended Mabel’s Brothel in Nevada. “I heard you can get whatever you want there…the handicapped, anything.” Asked if the hooker business is fleeing L.A. to Nevada, Fleiss said, “Are you kidding? It’s everywhere you go. People marry them. How do you know? It’s not like they have a sign on their heads. Everyone’s cleverly disguised these days.”
Fleiss was also asked about the “unauthorized” USA Network movie, Going Down: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss. Fleiss said she felt sorry for the girl who had to portray her. “I’m sure she’ll do a great job whoever she’s portraying. I saw some of that script. It’s not me.” On the other hand, Fleiss said she did a real deal with Paramount that includes Nicole Kidman playing Fleiss with Fleiss acting as a consultant on the script. “It’s done, I’ve been paid,” said Fleiss as far as the deal was concerned. Fleiss said there’s been a lot of rumors as to who’s directing but nothing has been nailed down yet. “Let me tell you, it’s going to be as compelling as Scarface.”
Another caller-in said it’s been chatted up about Fleiss’ resemblance to Steve Nash on the Dallas Mavericks. Fleiss said she’s been hearing that a lot lately. It was observed that Fleiss was looking pretty good and she admitted to having some plastic surgery after she got out of the penitentiary. “I have lead a life that has had an abnormal amount of stress,” she said. “I deserve whatever I want.”
A female caller-in asked Fleiss what she thought sexy was, and it was noted that Fleiss girls always dressed to the nines. “They came straight off the Greyhound bus. I had a whole program for them,” she quipped. “I turned them into like they were born and raised in Beverly Hills. You got to look at those girls with a little vision.” Asked if she actually recruited her girls at a bus station, Fleiss said girls came to her in droves and flocks. “I don’t know where they came from but it wasn’t only the Greyhound. They came from modeling agencies. They came from everywhere.” Fleiss said she employed many girls who are very famous now and that no one will ever know the business better than her. But she’s not likely to go back into it.
Fleiss also predicted that the prostitution will become legal and regulated. “The laws are set up for the men, even though it’s illegal,” she said. “The women are the only ones punished, persecuted, prosecuted, labeled, shackled. The men are coddled, patted on the back. They need to regulate it so it’s fair.
“Look at Charlie Sheen. Whew. He’s a big hot shot. He says he spent $53,000. I don’t remember him spending $53,000. There’s no proof of that.” It was pointed out that Fleiss’ name was found in Sheen’s checkbook. Fleiss said she had Sheen’s Travelers Cheques in her purse. “Why do you have to pay with Traveler’s Cheques?”
Although she doesn’t recommend prostitution as a career, Fleiss said there’s a mystique about being a hooker. “You go to a party and see the most beautiful girl in the room. Then someone says over there that girl’s a hooker. Every guy wants to meet that hooker. They don’t want to see the most beautiful girl in the room. That’s just life. Men respect hookers because hookers respect themselves because they aren’t giving it away for free.”
Fleiss said the business has devolved into where girls are all turning $300 tricks. The most Fleiss ever made in a night, according to her, was $97,000. Fleiss claims she declared it on her income tax. “I paid income tax but not the right amount. What criminal tried to pay income tax? No one. I wanted to contribute. I brought foreign dollars in. I kept money in circulation. People don’t understand this.” Fleiss also said that men [presumably running escort agencies] have no place in the sex business other than paying for it. “That’s why this pimp-thing is not happening,” she said.
Fleiss also noted that street walkers are again plying their trade in droves on Sunset towards Normandie. “Since 1983 it hasn’t been like that.”
Fleiss was also very complimentary about Hugh Hefner and what he’s done for the women’s movement. Fleiss said when she got out of jail, Hefner threw her the Nietzsche line about what doesn’t kill you making you stronger. One cynic inquired whether Hefner and his silk pajamas ever spent time in a jail cell. Fleiss was also of the opinion that if given a choice, most men would love to live the life of a Hefner or Frank Sinatra.
It was also suggested that Fleiss needs to get together with a regular guy. Fleiss said she doesn’t look for who’s got what but that a man has to treat her right. “I’m not going to support a man. I’m a hard-working girl. I need a hard-working man. The man I’m with I have to look up to him, respect him. he has to be my role model, my example. He has to spoil me, and I will treat him well in return.” Fleiss said she’d like to find an accomplished artist who likes to sit at home and paint. “I’m a very simple girl.”
Asked for her opinions on swing clubs, Fleiss said menage-a-trois are overrated. “One person’s always in the way. I don’t need a swinger. There’s a reason why we all date. We’re looking for the one we connect with.”