Skin City: Uncovering the Las Vegas Sex Industry

by Jack Sheehan

Sex. No other city in America capitalizes on the power of sex like Las Vegas. Author Jack Sheehan, a writer who has lived in Las Vegas for thirty years and knows the true dark side of the city, pulls back the curtain of the adult sex industry and examines the lives of the people give Sin City its naughty reputation. Jack was able to get XXX-rated film stars, the top madam in town, beautiful call girls who command $1,000 per hour and up, swingers, and the most alluring exotic dancers on the Strip to tell him everything, both on and off the job and how anything goes in the arena of sexual self-expression. Sheehan discusses his visit to the largest adult video convention in the world, accompanied by a porn star who has appeared in over 300 films, to attend the Adult Video News Awards. He then talks with Mayor Oscar Goodman, Sheriff Bill Young, and casino owner Steve Wynn to discuss their concerns over the sex industry's role in Las Vegas. Skin City focuses on those whose names will never be on marquees but are the ones who create the legendary mystique of Las Vegas. It's a story that's never been told but lurks in the fantasies of us all.

Genres: Nonfiction

276 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book provides an insight to the sex industry in Las Vegas. Sheehan uses a numerous anecdotes from well-known porn stars, strippers, hookers, and other people involved in the Las Vegas sex industry. It was very revealing to me. I was so shocked to learn about all the numerous things that people were participating in Las Vegas. I was especially shocked to learn how much they're making. However, I felt as though Sheehan could have written more about the dark side of the sex industry. For example, the abuse or the emotional side of the sex industry. It felt as though he brushed over it and made the adult entertainment world in Las Vegas seem a bit glamorous and cool. There were parts in the book in which he mentions some of the darker side of the sex industry, mainly the pimps, but he could have gone more into it. I also enjoyed reading about some of the girls views on adult entertainment and the feeling of sexual liberty and empowerment they get from their job. I also didn't realize how much Las Vegas depended on the Sex industry economically. Overall, very informative book. I liked the touch the author gave of explaining proper etiquette when going to strip clubs or approaching girls who are in the sex industry.