Soho in the seventies

Le Voyeur · August 1st, 2015, 05:57 PM

I used to work in Frith Street, London in the 70s. I had two jobs, one in a kitchenware shop and the other as a lunch time and evenings projectionist in a seedy porn cinema.

I lived close by in a bedsit, and got to explore most of Soho during the years I was there. The strip joints, the porn shops, cinemas and the numerous pubs and restaurants.
It was a very different place in those days, and I really loved it. I even got invites to the Raymond Revue Bar a few times and saw all the best acts.
The cinema job was fun, because I could set a movie running and then sneak off to the pub next door. As long as I kept my eye on my watch it was all fine.
One lunchtime I started up a show with two reels of film, and the first reel lasted 44 minutes - more than enough time for a couple of pints and a sandwich. I think it was called "Nurses in Training".
I was just settling down to my second pint, about twenty minutes in, when a bloke rushed into the bar shouting, "where's the bloody projectionist?"
Apparently the celluloid had snapped and they had all been sitting in the dark waiting for it to start up again! So funny...

If anybody wants I'll post more of my Soho stories here... let me know

Le Voyeur · August 20th, 2015, 09:19 AM

A few of us used to visit the basement strip clubs in the evenings. I knew most of them, and also knew a lot of the owners and doormen, and usually got in free. But sometimes you were given a voucher when you bought a £5 entry ticket, and were then led all around the back streets of Soho to a completely different club, got hopelessly lost and didn't care because you were going to see something awesome! You never did of course lol

The voucher would buy you one drink, and you would duck down in the front seats of the tiny, sleezy club about 10 inches from the stage, and sit there with an endless erection for about 2 hours.

So unhealthy. Part of a lost era...surrounded by other lonely guys all immensely frustrated and desperate for affection!! Those days are gone forever - thank goodness - but I can't help feeling that today is far worse than those 'innocent times' when there was still a bit of mystery and imagination in the world.

TheWickerMan · August 20th, 2023, 03:41 PM

Would be an absolute delight if there were a book of memories of Soho and Bloomsbury in those days.

**Schwenck** · August 20th, 2023, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Voyeur

If anybody wants I'll post more of my Soho stories here... let me know

Yes please, it sounds absolutely fascinating and I would love to hear more.
Thanks.

urpgor · August 29th, 2023, 05:03 PM

Anyone remember a private members afternoon drinking / strip club in a basement on Goodge St, near corner of Charlotte St? Think it might have been called Jacks. These were the days when pubs closed at 3pm and you needed somewhere to carry on drinking untill they re-opened at 5pm. The place was full of off duty cops, advertising people, young ladies of negotiable affection and ordinary drunks. It was very discrete, nothing outside suggested it was there, and only the smallest of signs on the basement door. You didn't find this place by accident. The strippers did their "blue" acts; fingering, insertions, etc while the audience stood round the bar boozing and the tarts chatted up business. I was only there to look and talk so don't know what happened when they pulled a punter, maybe therebwas a nearby flat. The girls were quite laid back, happy to still keep flirty talking even though it was clear I wasn't going to be a client. There didn't seem to be any kind of "ladies drink" extra, you'd incude them in a round, nor was there a charge for the strippers. Once I was chatting to a very pretty girl when she suddenly said "Gotta go, my turn.." picked up her sports bag , jumped on the low stage and dived into the dressing room at the back. A bit later she was on naked stage, legs akimbo, feeding a long golden chain into her pussy. It took her ages to find the end and get it out again, even though she had many offers of help. Sigh, I do miss the seventies.

**onthebusesfan** · September 7th, 2023, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Voyeur

A few of us used to visit the basement strip clubs in the evenings. I knew most of them, and also knew a lot of the owners and doormen, and usually got in free.

did you ever meet mary millington ? would love to hear stories about her

Pownowgrapha · November 16th, 2023, 11:37 AM

My aunt was a pub stripper in London in the 70s and 80s but I'm not sure if it was Soho. I know she worked in those "pound in a pint glass" pubs.

August 1st, 2015, 05:57 PM	#1
Le Voyeur Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: The West of UK Posts: 38 Thanks: 55 Thanked 1,061 Times in 36 Posts	Soho in the seventies I used to work in Frith Street, London in the 70s. I had two jobs, one in a kitchenware shop and the other as a lunch time and evenings projectionist in a seedy porn cinema. I lived close by in a bedsit, and got to explore most of Soho during the years I was there. The strip joints, the porn shops, cinemas and the numerous pubs and restaurants. It was a very different place in those days, and I really loved it. I even got invites to the Raymond Revue Bar a few times and saw all the best acts. The cinema job was fun, because I could set a movie running and then sneak off to the pub next door. As long as I kept my eye on my watch it was all fine. One lunchtime I started up a show with two reels of film, and the first reel lasted 44 minutes - more than enough time for a couple of pints and a sandwich. I think it was called "Nurses in Training". I was just settling down to my second pint, about twenty minutes in, when a bloke rushed into the bar shouting, "where's the bloody projectionist?" Apparently the celluloid had snapped and they had all been sitting in the dark waiting for it to start up again! So funny... If anybody wants I'll post more of my Soho stories here... let me know Last edited by Le Voyeur; August 1st, 2015 at 06:48 PM..

August 20th, 2015, 09:19 AM	#2
Le Voyeur Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: The West of UK Posts: 38 Thanks: 55 Thanked 1,061 Times in 36 Posts	More Soho Tales: A few of us used to visit the basement strip clubs in the evenings. I knew most of them, and also knew a lot of the owners and doormen, and usually got in free. But sometimes you were given a voucher when you bought a £5 entry ticket, and were then led all around the back streets of Soho to a completely different club, got hopelessly lost and didn't care because you were going to see something awesome! You never did of course lol The voucher would buy you one drink, and you would duck down in the front seats of the tiny, sleezy club about 10 inches from the stage, and sit there with an endless erection for about 2 hours. So unhealthy. Part of a lost era...surrounded by other lonely guys all immensely frustrated and desperate for affection!! Those days are gone forever - thank goodness - but I can't help feeling that today is far worse than those 'innocent times' when there was still a bit of mystery and imagination in the world. Last edited by Le Voyeur; August 20th, 2015 at 09:25 AM..

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August 20th, 2023, 03:41 PM	#3
TheWickerMan Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 85 Times in 4 Posts	Would be an absolute delight if there were a book of memories of Soho and Bloomsbury in those days.

August 29th, 2023, 05:03 PM	#5
urpgor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 109 Thanks: 322 Thanked 2,406 Times in 109 Posts	Anyone remember a private members afternoon drinking / strip club in a basement on Goodge St, near corner of Charlotte St? Think it might have been called Jacks. These were the days when pubs closed at 3pm and you needed somewhere to carry on drinking untill they re-opened at 5pm. The place was full of off duty cops, advertising people, young ladies of negotiable affection and ordinary drunks. It was very discrete, nothing outside suggested it was there, and only the smallest of signs on the basement door. You didn't find this place by accident. The strippers did their "blue" acts; fingering, insertions, etc while the audience stood round the bar boozing and the tarts chatted up business. I was only there to look and talk so don't know what happened when they pulled a punter, maybe therebwas a nearby flat. The girls were quite laid back, happy to still keep flirty talking even though it was clear I wasn't going to be a client. There didn't seem to be any kind of "ladies drink" extra, you'd incude them in a round, nor was there a charge for the strippers. Once I was chatting to a very pretty girl when she suddenly said "Gotta go, my turn.." picked up her sports bag , jumped on the low stage and dived into the dressing room at the back. A bit later she was on naked stage, legs akimbo, feeding a long golden chain into her pussy. It took her ages to find the end and get it out again, even though she had many offers of help. Sigh, I do miss the seventies.

November 16th, 2023, 11:37 AM	#7
Pownowgrapha Senior Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: UK Posts: 148 Thanks: 733 Thanked 1,172 Times in 143 Posts	My aunt was a pub stripper in London in the 70s and 80s but I'm not sure if it was Soho. I know she worked in those "pound in a pint glass" pubs.