Seeing escorts before the internet

[giddyup]

I didn't move to Vancouver until the mid 80s so did not see the 70's scene you described. Girls were still working the side streets around Jervis when I moved here until the "Shame the Johns" drove the customers and eventually the girls away. They moved to Seymour (were probably already there come to think of it) , and Broadway between Main and Commerical and side streets in that area. During Expo 86 they worked on Quebec as well, to be near the Expo grounds no doubt so as to catch the guys after they left the Expo grounds.

What you described about guys getting hand jobs standing on the sidewalks reminds me of a scene in the HBO series about the sex scene in New York during the 70s. It was a great series, 3 seasons longs, with a total of 25 eps. In one scene, a guy is getting a blow job in a phone booth. Actually the guy is in the phone booth, the girl is outside of the phone booth, on her knees, and she take time to say hello to one of the main characters in the series as he walks by lol. The series was called The Deuce, which was the name for the area of New York where the series mostly took place. Definitely worth watching.

JD

The Deuce was great!! Liked how James Franco played the role of two brothers. He done good. Maggie Gyllenhaal was great as well

Back to the West End I moved to the West End in summer 1983. It was a scene there then. SW on tons of corners through the West End particularly off Davie (like Jervis and Pendrell Bute and Comox etc etc) On top of that there was the West Georgia stretch from Seymour to Burrard, north side. Then yea expo time and into early 90s moved to Seymour and Richards as well as to a very nice stretch along Quebec Street from like 2nd to 6th/7th. a LOT of talent. Was fun. Then of course the internet changed everything. IN the big picture better for everyone, most importantly for the safety of the girls. But it was a fun scene while it lasted. Glad I'm enough of a geezer to have experienced it

 

[SeekSteadyRegSP]

Hi guys,

I have been wondering about this for quite some time after getting into this hobby but how did you go about contacting an escort before the internet was a thing?

The finest stereotype from the old days, was indeed The Yellow Pages, where all you had to go on was some tawdry silhouette of all black against all yellow and a few lust-implying words.

Then you dialed somebody and sat somewhat nervously for an hour until they approached your door, still purely 'random' among the many prospects out there.


This appealed to the same sorts of men who, today, will dart across three lanes of traffic to pull to the curb in front of something sexy, without one iota of would-be research or in that case, observation about what sort of vibes she was giving off.

 

[nmjoff]

I remember Seymour street, man there were so many nice looking SP's strolling back then
NO FAKE PICTURES THEN...

 

[Lady Vanessa]

I remember Seymour street, man there were so many nice looking SP's strolling back then
NO FAKE PICTURES THEN...

Amen, to no fake pics. What you see is what you got. And you sure ain't lying about the beauties strolling in their stilettos on the high track. I believe it was 93' when a team from Current Affair
came to the city to do a segment on how Vancouver had some of the best high class and beautiful prostitutes. I was pleased that my booty walking across Quebec St, made it into the segment.
We will never have those good 'ol days back.

 

[masterpoonhunter]

Amen, to no fake pics. What you see is what you got. And you sure ain't lying about the beauties strolling in their stilettos on the high track. I believe it was 93' when a team from Current Affair
came to the city to do a segment on how Vancouver had some of the best high class and beautiful prostitutes. I was pleased that my booty walking across Quebec St, made it into the segment.
We will never have those good 'ol days back.

My god Lady V. You know it just may have been that you and I did the wild thing in the back of my old Ford Chateau Van back in the day. Parked in that general area. Ah, the good old days indeed.

 

[PuntMeister]

Back to the West End I moved to the West End in summer 1983. It was a scene there then. SW on tons of corners through the West End particularly off Davie (like Jervis and Pendrell Bute and Comox etc etc) On top of that there was the West Georgia stretch from Seymour to Burrard, north side. Then yea expo time and into early 90s moved to Seymour and Richards as well as to a very nice stretch along Quebec Street from like 2nd to 6th/7th. a LOT of talent. Was fun. Then of course the internet changed everything. IN the big picture better for everyone, most importantly for the safety of the girls. But it was a fun scene while it lasted. Glad I'm enough of a geezer to have experienced it

Yup, cruised the back alleys around Davie many times back in the day, znd then the See-more strip. Holy, fuk, my young horny eyes nearly jumping out of my head. Those babes knew how to glam it up. When you got to know the traffic patterns, the cruise was an amazing continuous voyeuristic wonderland. We used to call it the “Who-er Tour”.

Loved seeing the ads in the Courier, North Shore News, and the Straight, etc, but the Buy & Sell was the Bomb. There were a few local published directories or North-American mags (like DDI) too, that you could pick up at The Love Shop or Granville novelty stores.

Sigh. Internet killed the Who-er Tour, but gave us soooo many great Indies and Intel.

 

[pinkpanther]

The Georgia Straight and West Ender.

I looked up my first escort using the Georgia Straight! Stephanie aka Lady Creole Marmalade. Good times ... and I wore a suite because for whatever reason I thought you needed to dress up. Now I show up in suits cause I'm sneaking out of the office.

 

[zaig]

That was the oldest hi track I remember, Georgia and a few side streets north of Georgia.
Granville down past the mall and Seymour were sketchy at best, Hastings west of Main was really bad.
Davie was a mix of higher end ladies and drag queens, around Tamblyn’s.
I had a friend who stripped at a place on Davie, was it the Crazy Horse?

Before I moved to Vancouver, I would be here on business here 3-5 times a year. I'm talking 75-78, and the Crazy Horse was my go to place. Two stages and so many lovely ladies to converse with before making a deal. Possibly the single best lady I ever had the pleasure to spend time with was a Stock Brokers assistant who had got herself in a financial bind by making some very poor investments, and had to find a way to pay it back. To this day, I still have fond memories of her and time spent.

 

[steverino]

I was backpacking through Europe in the 1980's and the red light districts were fun to stroll through and, when the time seemed right, to sample the offerings. Brussels and Hamburg were my favorites. I spent some time working in youth hostels to support the experiences.

 

[SeekSteadyRegSP]

LOL @ memories of the old days... when the block around Richards/Helmcken/Seymour/Nelson was teeming with remarkable hotties plying their trade.


Remember when there was a billboard of... possibly Kate Moss or somebody (on Seymour, facing north over what was mostly a vacant lot)... and all of the working girls hurled open bottles of nail polish at said billboard?

And that random-ish little diner at the corner of Richards and Helmcken, which was a visual paradise all night long.

IF ONLY a guy could know those opportunities with an endless supply of cash. (there were so many better values strewn all throughout the DTES, although discerning them from the {poor choices} was a task that demanded a clear head and plenty of attention)

 

[Van Chambers]

I remember Seymour street, man there were so many nice looking SP's strolling back then
NO FAKE PICTURES THEN...

I happened to be down that way tonight for other reasons and I think I saw only 1 girl the entire time. And what's funny, just past her in a gas station parking lot, was a cop. (Kingsway and Victoria) and an hour later on my way back, same girl, same area, still a cop sitting there.
But I have noticed in the last couple months while driving down king George highway, The usual spots have no one there at all. (I drive down King George often)
And I still have yet to this day see one in Langley. (Only see junkies near 7/11) (Again, drive through downtown Langley often)
Heard Abby and Chilliwack has lots strollin, But I don't get out there often at all. (Again, have not seen any while there, just see junkies)
Heard White Rock has some, Saw on FB anyways people bitching about it, Never seen one. (Drive king George to the beach often)

Where did they all go????? New areas? Cops push them out?

 

[masterpoonhunter]

It has been quite a few years since I partook in the street lady scene but I drive Kingsway fairly regularly and I would say the past 5-6 months there have been very few gals out. My old keen roving eye for this still works well!! It's pretty statistical ie time of me driving, amount of time I am in any one block, chance of a lady being there and so on but if you do it enough you get the lay of the land so to speak and I would say compared to the past few years, Kingsway has very few ladies working the street. I don't think its a police presence, maybe Covid? The heat this summer? They've all gone online?

 

[JimDandy]

It has been quite a few years since I partook in the street lady scene but I drive Kingsway fairly regularly and I would say the past 5-6 months there have been very few gals out. My old keen roving eye for this still works well!! It's pretty statistical ie time of me driving, amount of time I am in any one block, chance of a lady being there and so on but if you do it enough you get the lay of the land so to speak and I would say compared to the past few years, Kingsway has very few ladies working the street. I don't think its a police presence, maybe Covid? The heat this summer? They've all gone online?

There are still ways to fraudulently apply for Covid assistance that I know is being used by many of the ladies that otherwise would be on Kingsway (and other streets) plying their trade. The latet scheme I hear is to say you are unable to work because you are a caretaker of someone in your family that is ill due to Covid 19. These ladies need not worry about what happens when they are causght because as my dear old dad used to say: "you can't squeeze blood out of a stone".

If you have no worries about what happens when you are caught, here you are:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-caregiving-benefit.html

JD

 

[westwoody]

"you can't squeeze blood out of a stone"

CRA thinks otherwise. Once you are flagged you are fucked for life.

A friend of mine takes care of her mother, total legit situation. You would not believe the amount of paperwork involved, as well as home inspections. That scam looks easy but I wouldn't try it.
BITD I knew a few guys who had ladies on their business's books just to give them a job on paper, help with benefits, and create a job history.
Not sure you could get away with that now.

 

[smash.hit]

Amen, to no fake pics. What you see is what you got. And you sure ain't lying about the beauties strolling in their stilettos on the high track. I believe it was 93' when a team from Current Affair
came to the city to do a segment on how Vancouver had some of the best high class and beautiful prostitutes. I was pleased that my booty walking across Quebec St, made it into the segment.
We will never have those good 'ol days back.

Neon green?

 

[Lady Vanessa]

And that random-ish little diner at the corner of Richards and Helmcken, which was a visual paradise all night long.

I don't remember what it was called, but it was very popular during the cold season. Street walking in the Fall and Winter wasn't for the faint of heart. I swear my feet are still paying for all that stiletto mileage
I put them through. And these Heaux's nowadays won't understand the reality of taking a Hoe Bath !!! No luxury of showering after seeing a client. I was real close with the owner of Mr Sub on the corners
of Hastings and Vernon, who let me wash up in his bathroom.

Neon green?

Ah hahahaaa, naw man. Black and white mini checkered denim Daisy Dukes with thigh high patent leather stiletto boots to be exact.

 

[grusse]

seems to me that, before internet, there were a lot more young independent SP's?

 

[Lady Vanessa]

seems to me that, before internet, there were a lot more young independent SP's?

That is so far from the truth. First of all, before the internet, sex workers were operated by a strong and visual Pimp business. Each and every female prostitute you saw on any main track/stroll had a "Man" and often belonged to a "family", where that Pimp had a stable of other hoes with the wifey being his main. Prostitutes were of all ages. I remember one of the OG Heaux's on the stroll was a 45+, openly transvestite, renegade (indy) worker. I shall keep her name anonymous, but that Bish, was mad cool, successful and pulled up to work her corner, every damn night in a luxury car. I always enjoyed standing with her and conversing.
The internet has truly given sex workers the liberty and empowerment to run their own business. Love, respect, support and learn from each and every one of us. We all come from somewhere and we all have a story and goals.

 

[grusse]

That is so far from the truth. First of all, before the internet, sex workers were operated by a strong and visual Pimp business. Each and every female prostitute you saw on any main track/stroll had a "Man" and often belonged to a "family", where that Pimp had a stable of other hoes with the wifey being his main. Prostitutes were of all ages. I remember one of the OG Heaux's on the stroll was a 45+, openly transvestite, renegade (indy) worker. I shall keep her name anonymous, but that Bish, was mad cool, successful and pulled up to work her corner, every damn night in a luxury car. I always enjoyed standing with her and conversing.
The internet has truly given sex workers the liberty and empowerment to run their own business. Love, respect, support and learn from each and every one of us. We all come from somewhere and we all have a story and goals.

I don't doubt what you are saying.I am going on my admittedly small sample size.
Replying to ads in the Straight and the West Ender, is where I had sessions with ladies,nearly all of whom were early 20's or late teens.
I can't speak to the track/stroll scene.

 

[Lady Vanessa]

And again, I am sticking to what I am telling you. I had girlfriends ran by Pimps who also marketed their Ladies through newsprint ads, to have less heat from streetwalking life. Street life could be tough and plenty couldn't hack it, so working indoors and offering ads was an alternative. And if any chick fucked up while walking the streets and got her ass beat by other hoes, there was no coming back, without always having to watch your back. Quite a few reasons to offering services indoors......but still with a Pimp.