Las Vegas- With Los Angeles looking to turn its back on a multi-billion dollar industry and assuming the rubber brigade begins making its unwelcome presence felt in Porn Valley, the thought has occurred to more than a few adult companies that a move across state lines might be in their best interests.
Arrow Productions, www.xxxdeepthroat.com is an adult company that resides in Las Vegas and we spoke to owner Ray Pistol about the pros and cons of having an adult company residing in Sin City.
“The adult industry would certainly fit,” Pistol agrees. “But the political climate at this point is unknown,” Pistol states.
“We’ve had new elections in the county and where the new D.A. stands, I don’t know. But the guy before him basically believed in the First Amendment and that you had a right to shoot in Clark County but he’s retired now and I don’t know where they stand. Because no one asked the question where do you stand on shooting adult movies.”
Then, again, it was pointed out that the prospects of adult companies coming into Nevada possibly in droves hadn’t been considered before.
“They busted Stevie Secrets,” Pistol remembers. “Then the whole thing kind of went away. Basically they had all kinds of things on her- I can’t remember all the charges. Then they found out she basically shoots fetish and the whole thing kind of disintegrated. But that was several years ago and there’s a whole new ballgame today.”
Pistol said everything’s up in the air right now for several reasons.
“The mayor is an ex defense attorney and quite frankly for the mob,” Pistol points out. “And he’s very understanding of the adult business. He understands part of the landscape. On the other side of the issue, the county where the actual high rise hotels are, they run under a county commission thing and half of them are under indictment by the Feds right now. They’re all in a folderol. They’re too busy dealing with their own problems much less anyone else’s.”
Of the seven commissioners, one has already resigned and two are under indictment. Pistol points to an instance two years ago when new dancing rules prompted a revolt among Las Vegas’ strippers.
“They kind of backed off on the whole thing there when they saw that the whole dancing populace was up in arms. They didn’t do well on their last attempt to crack down on the adult business.”
The populace is pretty sympathetic to strip clubs, according to Pistol who owns one himself. “I’d say the climate and the people are very laissez-faire overall. Of course you have your Mormon contingent. They’ve very anti-pornography and anti- strip club and very anti anything X-rated. But they’re for polygamy. So I don’t know,” he laughs.
“Everyone’s got their hot points and cold points but I would say, politically, things are up in the air but more favorable than any other state. The people here are more rugged individualists and more open-minded because of our gambling and prostitution.”
Gene: That whole opening it up to the family never worked.
Pistol: No. The finally did a survey and found out their visitors didn’t want kids around here. They were coming here to get away from kids. They dropped it in the trash and have now come up with their new campaign, ‘Whatever Happens in Las Vegas, Stays in Las Vegas.’
Gene: What’s available for shooting?
Pistol: There are studios here but everybody shoots on location nowadays anyway. There are a couple of studios around but I don’t know what their feeling is towards X. But I’m sure it could be accommodated.Gene: And the obvious tax advantages.
Pistol: All that is here. But it’s real easy to feed a crew. All you got to do is put ’em in a couple of vans and take ’em to a buffet. I’ve done it.