1
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,874
I was a working girl.
2
00:00:06,875 --> 00:00:07,874
- Working girl.
- Working girl.
3
00:00:07,875 --> 00:00:09,208
- Courtesan.
- Escort.
4
00:00:09,375 --> 00:00:11,666
- Escort girl.
- Former adult film star.
5
00:00:11,667 --> 00:00:13,957
I'm a sex trade survivor.
6
00:00:13,958 --> 00:00:17,666
If I could talk to
my 11-year-old me,
7
00:00:17,667 --> 00:00:19,417
watching Cathouse...
8
00:00:19,542 --> 00:00:20,957
I need a minute...
9
00:00:20,958 --> 00:00:23,916
I would definitely
tell little me that...
10
00:00:23,917 --> 00:00:26,750
not everything you see
on TV is a reality.
11
00:00:26,875 --> 00:00:29,832
HBO put us in
the living rooms
12
00:00:29,833 --> 00:00:32,332
of America,
with Cathouse.
13
00:00:32,333 --> 00:00:34,500
[News] The Bunny Ranch
bills itself as one of Nevada's
14
00:00:34,625 --> 00:00:35,832
most upscale brothels,
15
00:00:35,833 --> 00:00:37,916
and the program shows
the inner workings
16
00:00:37,917 --> 00:00:40,666
of the business
behind the brothel.
17
00:00:40,667 --> 00:00:43,707
Cathouse was one of the most
watched HBO documentaries
18
00:00:43,708 --> 00:00:44,667
in the history
of the network.
19
00:00:44,917 --> 00:00:46,125
At first, I thought it was
the sequel to
20
00:00:46,292 --> 00:00:47,624
the Cat in the Hat movie.
21
00:00:47,625 --> 00:00:49,541
I was not even close.
22
00:00:49,542 --> 00:00:51,041
Prostitutes on TV.
23
00:00:51,042 --> 00:00:53,082
Who thought that was
gonna sell? Dennis did.
24
00:00:53,083 --> 00:00:55,624
It's just sex.
Relax, it's just sex.
25
00:00:55,625 --> 00:00:57,332
We felt like we were stars.
26
00:00:57,333 --> 00:00:59,333
[News] Joining us now live
is the owner of the
27
00:00:59,500 --> 00:01:01,791
Bunny Ranch himself,
the legendary...
28
00:01:01,792 --> 00:01:03,791
[laughing]
Dennis Hof.
29
00:01:03,792 --> 00:01:05,832
Dennis changed the system.
30
00:01:05,833 --> 00:01:07,332
Dennis made it a business.
31
00:01:07,333 --> 00:01:09,333
He made the women
businesswomen.
32
00:01:09,458 --> 00:01:10,416
[Dennis]
It's not going away.
33
00:01:10,417 --> 00:01:12,541
Sex for sale is
here to stay.
34
00:01:12,542 --> 00:01:14,957
He was a marketing,
media genius.
35
00:01:14,958 --> 00:01:18,666
But Dennis Hof's legacy
is extremely mixed.
36
00:01:18,667 --> 00:01:20,500
Look.
37
00:01:20,625 --> 00:01:25,332
Dennis's world was buying
and selling people.
38
00:01:25,333 --> 00:01:27,041
That's how he thought of us.
39
00:01:27,042 --> 00:01:29,833
He thought of us as
objects that he owned.
40
00:01:29,958 --> 00:01:32,666
He made us feel like [beep]
on the bottom of his feet.
41
00:01:32,667 --> 00:01:35,167
[sobs] And I remember
saying, "Okay..."
42
00:01:35,375 --> 00:01:37,916
[inhaling]
"Just do it."
43
00:01:37,917 --> 00:01:39,874
I was scared.
44
00:01:39,875 --> 00:01:43,292
But HBO wanted
to sell a show.
45
00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:46,707
They just didn't want to
show the ugly side of it.
46
00:01:46,708 --> 00:01:48,999
I really had no idea that
people were being
47
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,166
drawn in by the show, itself.
48
00:01:52,167 --> 00:01:55,791
Women watched Cathouse
as young girls.
49
00:01:55,792 --> 00:01:57,708
11, 12 years old.
50
00:01:57,833 --> 00:02:00,707
And then decided that they
wanted to go to that place.
51
00:02:00,708 --> 00:02:02,707
[Dennis] Chrissie is
the reason why you use
52
00:02:02,708 --> 00:02:05,707
parental controls on your TV.
because at 15,
53
00:02:05,708 --> 00:02:06,999
she was
watching Cathouse,
54
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:08,541
and here we are.
55
00:02:08,542 --> 00:02:11,333
They made it seem so
fun on the show, and...
56
00:02:11,500 --> 00:02:14,208
what was really
happening was force.
57
00:02:14,417 --> 00:02:16,499
- Rape.
- Coercion.
58
00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:18,500
- Murder.
- Abuse.
59
00:02:18,667 --> 00:02:20,749
- Overdose.
- Control.
60
00:02:20,750 --> 00:02:24,124
If someone had told me,
I would've said no.
61
00:02:24,125 --> 00:02:26,666
Is this something that we
want to beam into homes?
62
00:02:26,667 --> 00:02:30,375
The place was about lying.
It was all lies.
63
00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,999
It's important for us
to hold HBO accountable.
64
00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,499
It's kind of hard to say
it was a documentary
65
00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:37,707
when you have
a pimp directing scenes
66
00:02:37,708 --> 00:02:39,375
in his own brothel.
67
00:02:39,583 --> 00:02:44,624
♪ [moody pop] ♪
68
00:02:44,625 --> 00:02:49,082
♪
69
00:02:49,083 --> 00:02:52,166
♪ You put me
under the covers. ♪
70
00:02:52,167 --> 00:02:55,250
♪ For all the world to see. ♪
71
00:02:55,458 --> 00:02:58,124
♪ But I never recovered. ♪
72
00:02:58,125 --> 00:03:01,499
♪ You never
cared about me. ♪
73
00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:04,292
♪ So now you're
being uncovered. ♪
74
00:03:04,542 --> 00:03:07,874
♪ I kept all the receipts. ♪
75
00:03:07,875 --> 00:03:10,832
♪ You and
all of the others. ♪
76
00:03:10,833 --> 00:03:13,749
♪ Under a fantasy. ♪
77
00:03:13,750 --> 00:03:17,041
[rumbling thunder]
78
00:03:17,042 --> 00:03:20,582
[sirens]
79
00:03:20,583 --> 00:03:23,916
In 2003, a tornado
hit my house.
80
00:03:23,917 --> 00:03:25,999
And, I had just
gotten a divorce.
81
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,291
♪
82
00:03:28,292 --> 00:03:31,041
And when you have young
children to take care of...
83
00:03:31,042 --> 00:03:34,124
I decided to go and work
at the Bunny Ranch.
84
00:03:34,125 --> 00:03:36,375
I did what I had to do.
85
00:03:36,542 --> 00:03:39,916
And that decision
altered my life.
86
00:03:39,917 --> 00:03:42,082
Completely.
87
00:03:42,083 --> 00:03:44,166
- I'm Shelly.
- Marker.
88
00:03:44,167 --> 00:03:46,707
I was a working girl at the
89
00:03:46,708 --> 00:03:48,916
Moonlite Bunny Ranch
in Nevada.
90
00:03:48,917 --> 00:03:50,582
Owned by Dennis Hof.
91
00:03:50,583 --> 00:03:53,708
I heard about the Moonlite
Bunny Ranch from a talk show.
92
00:03:53,833 --> 00:03:56,916
[Tyra] Tucked away in a dusty
corner of the Nevada desert,
93
00:03:56,917 --> 00:04:00,541
the world-famous Bunny Ranch
is a legal brothel...
94
00:04:00,542 --> 00:04:02,500
where a man can
hire a prostitute
95
00:04:02,667 --> 00:04:05,249
to satisfy almost
any desire.
96
00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:08,166
[Shelly] I remember
seeing Dennis Hof.
97
00:04:08,167 --> 00:04:09,499
[Dennis] Men come to the
Ranch to do things
98
00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:11,541
that their wives
can't or won't do.
99
00:04:11,542 --> 00:04:13,833
We can fulfill almost any
fantasy at the Bunny Ranch.
100
00:04:13,958 --> 00:04:17,124
It has to be safe, and most
of all, it has to be fun.
101
00:04:17,125 --> 00:04:18,500
[Shelly] I think
Air Force Amy was
102
00:04:18,708 --> 00:04:20,292
on the talk show
with Dennis.
103
00:04:20,542 --> 00:04:21,500
[Host]
Air Force Amy.
104
00:04:21,875 --> 00:04:24,999
[Amy] I orgasm for a living
at the Bunny Ranch.
105
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,166
[Audience] Woo!
106
00:04:26,167 --> 00:04:28,874
And I was astounded.
I had no idea
107
00:04:28,875 --> 00:04:30,999
that prostitution was legal
108
00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,916
anywhere in the United States.
109
00:04:33,917 --> 00:04:37,208
And so,
I sent an email
110
00:04:37,333 --> 00:04:39,207
with a picture
of myself to the
111
00:04:39,208 --> 00:04:42,332
Moonlite Bunny Ranch,
and Dennis Hof himself
112
00:04:42,333 --> 00:04:45,667
called me back within
2 hours, and said,
113
00:04:45,833 --> 00:04:49,000
"I want you out here."
114
00:04:49,125 --> 00:04:51,582
When I flew out to Nevada,
115
00:04:51,583 --> 00:04:54,957
I was picked up by
Dennis Hof at the airport...
116
00:04:54,958 --> 00:04:56,708
♪
117
00:04:56,833 --> 00:05:00,124
And Dennis told me that
HBO was doing a show,
118
00:05:00,125 --> 00:05:02,458
and he wanted me
to do that.
119
00:05:02,750 --> 00:05:04,041
He walked me in.
120
00:05:04,042 --> 00:05:06,624
♪
121
00:05:06,625 --> 00:05:09,041
And there was
cameramen there
122
00:05:09,042 --> 00:05:11,082
filming for the HBO show.
123
00:05:11,083 --> 00:05:13,832
♪
124
00:05:13,833 --> 00:05:16,916
Dennis took me out to the
bungalow behind the building,
125
00:05:16,917 --> 00:05:18,666
and wanted sex.
126
00:05:18,667 --> 00:05:20,792
And I had just
met this man.
127
00:05:20,917 --> 00:05:23,042
I had flown there to work.
128
00:05:23,167 --> 00:05:25,207
He was the boss.
He was the owner.
129
00:05:25,208 --> 00:05:28,375
And he wanted to have sex
130
00:05:28,583 --> 00:05:30,166
the very first day
I got there,
131
00:05:30,167 --> 00:05:33,124
and he didn't want
to wear a condom.
132
00:05:33,125 --> 00:05:36,166
So, I was absolutely
horrified.
133
00:05:36,167 --> 00:05:38,749
That was my first day
at the Ranch.
134
00:05:38,750 --> 00:05:43,249
I was afraid to
tell Dennis no.
135
00:05:43,250 --> 00:05:45,958
I had no idea what
I was getting into.
136
00:05:47,917 --> 00:05:50,374
Nobody seems to care if
a prostitute gets raped.
137
00:05:50,375 --> 00:05:51,667
[Dennis] I believe
in the product.
138
00:05:51,792 --> 00:05:54,791
I love the product.
I use it daily.
139
00:05:54,792 --> 00:05:57,166
[Shelly] I saw the
ugly side of Dennis.
140
00:05:57,167 --> 00:05:58,917
[camera shutter clicking]
141
00:05:59,042 --> 00:06:01,167
But the world,
on Cathouse,
142
00:06:01,292 --> 00:06:04,583
only saw the
fun side of him.
143
00:06:04,708 --> 00:06:06,291
[Dennis] Girls,
how about a toast here?
144
00:06:06,292 --> 00:06:08,207
Here's a toast to
the best family,
145
00:06:08,208 --> 00:06:09,749
the Bunny Ranch family.
146
00:06:09,750 --> 00:06:12,749
[Shelly] Because they didn't
know the real Dennis.
147
00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:15,082
♪
148
00:06:15,083 --> 00:06:17,166
Dennis was all about...
149
00:06:17,167 --> 00:06:19,041
being violent.
150
00:06:19,042 --> 00:06:21,542
♪
151
00:06:21,833 --> 00:06:24,957
♪
152
00:06:24,958 --> 00:06:27,999
Dennis Hof was actually born
in Phoenix, Arizona
153
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,249
in 1946.
154
00:06:30,250 --> 00:06:31,874
His parents were immigrants,
155
00:06:31,875 --> 00:06:34,874
and they came to America
for a better place.
156
00:06:34,875 --> 00:06:38,207
So, Dennis Hof actually grew
up with very little money,
157
00:06:38,208 --> 00:06:41,499
and Dennis resented that,
which made him
158
00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:45,667
want to be more of a
successful individual.
159
00:06:45,833 --> 00:06:48,499
He started by sweeping
the gas station floor
160
00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:50,541
and then ended up
buying a gas station.
161
00:06:50,542 --> 00:06:54,249
After that, he decided to
get into timeshare sales.
162
00:06:54,250 --> 00:06:56,166
[Shelly]
Dennis sold timeshares
163
00:06:56,167 --> 00:06:57,791
before he owned
the Bunny Ranch,
164
00:06:57,792 --> 00:06:59,916
and he used to
always say...
165
00:06:59,917 --> 00:07:02,416
that he was still
selling timeshares,
166
00:07:02,417 --> 00:07:05,207
it was just a
triangular-shaped...
167
00:07:05,208 --> 00:07:07,666
piece of land.
168
00:07:07,667 --> 00:07:11,374
Pretty terrible to say,
but uh, it was true.
169
00:07:11,375 --> 00:07:13,750
He was still
selling timeshares,
170
00:07:13,875 --> 00:07:16,124
just it happened
to be women.
171
00:07:16,125 --> 00:07:18,957
♪
172
00:07:18,958 --> 00:07:22,332
[Vernon] Dennis and his father
decide to travel cross-country,
173
00:07:22,333 --> 00:07:23,916
and as they go
through Reno,
174
00:07:23,917 --> 00:07:27,249
Dennis finds out about
these brothels.
175
00:07:27,250 --> 00:07:30,374
He fell in love
with the idea of...
176
00:07:30,375 --> 00:07:34,332
that type of business...
177
00:07:34,333 --> 00:07:35,666
The rest is history.
178
00:07:35,667 --> 00:07:37,166
[camera shutter clicking]
179
00:07:37,167 --> 00:07:39,332
♪
180
00:07:39,333 --> 00:07:41,332
Before Dennis,
the prostitution industry
181
00:07:41,333 --> 00:07:44,957
was kind of like in the
shadows for decades.
182
00:07:44,958 --> 00:07:46,957
But he mainstreamed it.
183
00:07:46,958 --> 00:07:48,250
I'm the new breed
of brothel owner.
184
00:07:48,375 --> 00:07:49,833
I'm a straight guy.
185
00:07:49,958 --> 00:07:51,957
I pay my taxes,
I do the right things.
186
00:07:51,958 --> 00:07:54,332
I come from, from a
business background.
187
00:07:54,333 --> 00:07:55,832
I'm educated.
188
00:07:55,833 --> 00:07:57,291
That's the new breed
of brothel owner.
189
00:07:57,292 --> 00:07:59,249
The old school is over.
190
00:07:59,250 --> 00:08:04,041
♪
191
00:08:04,042 --> 00:08:06,999
Hello, I'm Air Force Amy.
192
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,541
I'm the most celebrated
courtesan of modern times.
193
00:08:11,542 --> 00:08:15,124
[Crew] Air Force Amy interview.
Take one. Marker.
194
00:08:15,125 --> 00:08:18,291
[Air Force Amy] Wait a minute.
I got hair in my mouth.
195
00:08:18,292 --> 00:08:19,875
I worked for
Dennis Hof...
196
00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,249
and helped put the famous
Moonlite Bunny Ranch
197
00:08:22,250 --> 00:08:24,082
on the map.
198
00:08:24,083 --> 00:08:25,957
♪
199
00:08:25,958 --> 00:08:28,082
I left home at a
very, very early age,
200
00:08:28,083 --> 00:08:32,041
and I started hitchhiking
around the country.
201
00:08:32,042 --> 00:08:35,999
I learned real early
how to be resourceful.
202
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,957
And I learned also that
sex was a commodity.
203
00:08:39,958 --> 00:08:43,041
So, my first 10 years
in the industry,
204
00:08:43,042 --> 00:08:46,250
most of the brothels
were really, really bad.
205
00:08:46,375 --> 00:08:48,291
The last place I worked
had one window
206
00:08:48,292 --> 00:08:50,457
in the whole place
that big, okay?
207
00:08:50,458 --> 00:08:53,207
On weekends, they would
lock up the payphones
208
00:08:53,208 --> 00:08:55,625
because they didn't want you
calling home and talking,
209
00:08:55,833 --> 00:08:58,416
and getting upset
and leaving.
210
00:08:58,417 --> 00:09:00,332
It was awful.
211
00:09:00,333 --> 00:09:02,167
We used to call it
[beep] Prison.
212
00:09:02,292 --> 00:09:05,499
♪
213
00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:07,499
So, when I first got
to the Bunny Ranch,
214
00:09:07,500 --> 00:09:11,374
I just got catapulted-
Pew!- into the 20th century.
215
00:09:11,375 --> 00:09:13,291
And everything was
upbeat, upbeat,
216
00:09:13,292 --> 00:09:15,124
upbeat, upbeat, upbeat.
217
00:09:15,125 --> 00:09:16,333
♪ [dance]
218
00:09:16,458 --> 00:09:18,166
Fun, fun, fun, fun.
219
00:09:18,167 --> 00:09:19,833
♪
220
00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,374
Brothels are not, by law,
allowed to advertise,
221
00:09:23,375 --> 00:09:25,832
but they can still
go in the media.
222
00:09:25,833 --> 00:09:27,541
They can appear on TV shows,
223
00:09:27,542 --> 00:09:29,207
they can talk about
their businesses,
224
00:09:29,208 --> 00:09:31,499
but they can't put up
an ad in the newspaper.
225
00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:34,166
So, Dennis was
very savvy.
226
00:09:34,167 --> 00:09:35,541
He used the media.
227
00:09:35,542 --> 00:09:37,374
"Oh, I can't put
an ad up? Great.
228
00:09:37,375 --> 00:09:39,416
I'll go on CNN
and talk about it."
229
00:09:39,417 --> 00:09:41,999
[Host] Dennis Hof.
Bunny Ranch owner.
230
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,917
[Amy] That was just a stroke
of genius right there.
231
00:09:44,042 --> 00:09:45,374
And who would
have ever thought-
232
00:09:45,375 --> 00:09:47,541
who had the balls
233
00:09:47,542 --> 00:09:49,875
to put prostitutes on TV?
234
00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:51,624
Who thought that
was gonna sell?
235
00:09:51,625 --> 00:09:53,875
[Dennis] After the airline
sticks it to you...
236
00:09:54,083 --> 00:09:55,957
Come stick it to us!
237
00:09:55,958 --> 00:09:58,582
[Amy]
Dennis did, and it did!
238
00:09:58,583 --> 00:10:00,582
We would go on
every talk show.
239
00:10:00,583 --> 00:10:02,207
At the time, it was
talk shows, right?
240
00:10:02,208 --> 00:10:04,041
There was Jenny Jones...
241
00:10:04,042 --> 00:10:05,416
[Jenny] But what's the
right word for-
242
00:10:05,417 --> 00:10:07,249
is prostitute okay now?
243
00:10:07,250 --> 00:10:09,707
[Amy] I got Most Outrageous
Guest of the Year
244
00:10:09,708 --> 00:10:13,124
on Jenny Jones.
There was Tyra Banks.
245
00:10:13,125 --> 00:10:15,333
[Tyra] Joining us also
is Dennis Hof.
246
00:10:15,458 --> 00:10:17,083
He owns the
Moonlite Bunny Ranch.
247
00:10:17,208 --> 00:10:17,833
[Amy] Oprah.
248
00:10:18,125 --> 00:10:19,624
[Oprah] While she waited
for a client,
249
00:10:19,625 --> 00:10:21,541
Brooke gave us a tour
of the Bunny Ranch.
250
00:10:21,542 --> 00:10:23,291
[Brooke] There's
approximately 30 rooms,
251
00:10:23,292 --> 00:10:24,458
and they're always full.
252
00:10:24,750 --> 00:10:26,792
Dennis made himself the
authority on prostitution.
253
00:10:26,917 --> 00:10:27,875
And he said
that's how it works.
254
00:10:28,042 --> 00:10:30,207
He goes,
"Media begets media."
255
00:10:30,208 --> 00:10:32,792
Once you do one story
on prostitution,
256
00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,750
networks go,
"Let's interview that guy."
257
00:10:34,958 --> 00:10:37,666
Pretty soon,
he's the guy.
258
00:10:37,667 --> 00:10:40,124
[Dennis] I'm selling sex
like other people
259
00:10:40,125 --> 00:10:41,916
are selling soda pop.
260
00:10:41,917 --> 00:10:43,667
[Amy] And when Dennis
got into the industry,
261
00:10:43,875 --> 00:10:46,416
it was really popular...
262
00:10:46,417 --> 00:10:47,999
and cool to be a pimp.
263
00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,666
You had Snoop Dogg,
you had Pimp My Ride,
264
00:10:49,667 --> 00:10:52,374
you know, pimps were really,
really glamorised,
265
00:10:52,375 --> 00:10:56,582
so Dennis had his hat in the
ring at the exact right time
266
00:10:56,583 --> 00:10:58,499
because it was
cool to be a pimp.
267
00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:00,291
[cheering]
268
00:11:00,292 --> 00:11:01,999
In the early 2000s,
269
00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,124
it was a time that was
sort of selling itself
270
00:11:04,125 --> 00:11:06,666
as being all about women's
sexual liberation.
271
00:11:06,667 --> 00:11:08,291
There's Heidi Fleiss
whose job as a madame
272
00:11:08,292 --> 00:11:10,375
is being talked about as the
ultimate success story
273
00:11:10,500 --> 00:11:12,417
of an intendent woman
entrepreneur.
274
00:11:12,542 --> 00:11:14,332
There's Paris Hilton's
leaked sex tape
275
00:11:14,333 --> 00:11:16,124
becoming a
pop culture staple.
276
00:11:16,125 --> 00:11:18,124
And then there's the
photoshoot of Britney Spears
277
00:11:18,125 --> 00:11:20,042
that is clearly invoking
some kind of
278
00:11:20,208 --> 00:11:22,332
Lolita fantasy for men.
279
00:11:22,333 --> 00:11:27,042
And so, sex itself becomes
a thing to be celebrated.
280
00:11:27,208 --> 00:11:28,332
[honking]
281
00:11:28,333 --> 00:11:30,542
HBO at that time also
had this show called
282
00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:33,166
Taxicab Confessions,
where they put
283
00:11:33,167 --> 00:11:35,874
hidden cameras in a taxicab
and picked up people.
284
00:11:35,875 --> 00:11:37,167
And it just dawned
on me, I said,
285
00:11:37,417 --> 00:11:39,707
"Let's put hidden cameras
in a brothel and capture the
286
00:11:39,708 --> 00:11:42,541
conversations of why men
and women go there."
287
00:11:42,542 --> 00:11:45,374
So, I called the
Bunny Ranch, and I said,
288
00:11:45,375 --> 00:11:47,541
"Dennis, can I
come do that?"
289
00:11:47,542 --> 00:11:49,291
"Sure!" [chuckling]
"Come on out!"
290
00:11:49,292 --> 00:11:50,707
♪
291
00:11:50,708 --> 00:11:52,207
So, we drive to the
Bunny Ranch,
292
00:11:52,208 --> 00:11:54,624
and Dennis says, "George,
you know what I want?"
293
00:11:54,625 --> 00:11:55,958
I go, "What do you want,
Dennis?"
294
00:11:56,083 --> 00:11:57,666
He says, "I want to be a
household name."
295
00:11:57,667 --> 00:12:01,291
And I said,
"I'll do my best."
296
00:12:01,292 --> 00:12:04,624
So, I show up at HBO's
Documentary Division,
297
00:12:04,625 --> 00:12:06,999
and Sheila Nevins
was in charge of that,
298
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,166
and Patti Kaplan does
all their directing.
299
00:12:09,167 --> 00:12:11,666
They had done Real Sex
together, that show,
300
00:12:11,667 --> 00:12:13,582
and other documentaries.
301
00:12:13,583 --> 00:12:15,499
And Sheila Nevins says,
302
00:12:15,500 --> 00:12:17,707
"We think it's a
wonderful idea."
303
00:12:17,708 --> 00:12:21,124
So, I turned the reins over
to the HBO folks,
304
00:12:21,125 --> 00:12:24,332
you know, Sheila and Patti,
and they did the rest.
305
00:12:24,333 --> 00:12:26,624
♪
306
00:12:26,625 --> 00:12:28,332
[Amy] So, the genesis
of Cathouse
307
00:12:28,333 --> 00:12:30,167
was it didn't seem
308
00:12:30,292 --> 00:12:33,000
very much different than
all the TV and media
309
00:12:33,167 --> 00:12:34,917
that we were
already doing.
310
00:12:35,208 --> 00:12:35,875
♪
311
00:12:36,208 --> 00:12:38,583
So, sex and entertainment
at that time
312
00:12:38,708 --> 00:12:40,332
covered two sides.
313
00:12:40,333 --> 00:12:43,666
One side was that all
porn denigrates women.
314
00:12:43,667 --> 00:12:45,499
And then there was
another side that said
315
00:12:45,500 --> 00:12:47,208
porn empowers women,
or-
316
00:12:47,333 --> 00:12:50,291
and can empower women
if it's done correctly.
317
00:12:50,292 --> 00:12:53,624
And in this kind of ferment,
this little show...
318
00:12:53,625 --> 00:12:56,875
[laughs]
came onto HBO.
319
00:12:57,167 --> 00:12:59,167
♪
320
00:12:59,292 --> 00:13:01,374
[Shelly] Dennis wanted me
to be a big part of
321
00:13:01,375 --> 00:13:02,791
the Cathouse show.
322
00:13:02,792 --> 00:13:05,332
But I didn't know
that young girls
323
00:13:05,333 --> 00:13:07,541
would come to work there
that probably would've
324
00:13:07,542 --> 00:13:10,000
never even thought of
working at the
325
00:13:10,125 --> 00:13:12,374
Bunny Ranch if they
hadn't seen the show.
326
00:13:12,375 --> 00:13:16,208
So, looking back, I should've
never agreed to do it.
327
00:13:21,417 --> 00:13:22,333
[Host] First, reality TV
took us inside the home
328
00:13:22,542 --> 00:13:23,666
of the Osbournes.
Then there was
329
00:13:23,667 --> 00:13:25,291
The Anna Nicole Show.
330
00:13:25,292 --> 00:13:27,333
Now, a provocative new
HBO documentary is
331
00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:30,374
showing viewers a very
different kind of house.
332
00:13:30,375 --> 00:13:34,541
Cathouse was supposed to
be the first time ever
333
00:13:34,542 --> 00:13:37,333
they filmed live negotiations
334
00:13:37,500 --> 00:13:39,166
from inside a brothel.
335
00:13:39,167 --> 00:13:42,666
A Pamper Party, we do,
um, lots of massage,
336
00:13:42,667 --> 00:13:44,749
sensual music,
sensual massage.
337
00:13:44,750 --> 00:13:46,916
Everything is totally
to pay attention to you.
338
00:13:46,917 --> 00:13:48,583
It's all about you.
339
00:13:48,708 --> 00:13:50,624
[Tom] I was the director
of photography.
340
00:13:50,625 --> 00:13:52,707
- The gaffer.
- The coordinating producer.
341
00:13:52,708 --> 00:13:55,332
One of the sound mixers
for HBO's Cathouse.
342
00:13:55,333 --> 00:13:57,292
♪
343
00:13:57,417 --> 00:13:59,666
I was contacted by
New York producers saying,
344
00:13:59,667 --> 00:14:01,541
"Can you do this job,
can you be there?
345
00:14:01,542 --> 00:14:05,166
It's going to be
very hands... on."
346
00:14:05,167 --> 00:14:06,957
I didn't know anything
other than
347
00:14:06,958 --> 00:14:09,791
there's going to be a lot of
sex workers in this shoot,
348
00:14:09,792 --> 00:14:12,582
and it's gonna be
odd and weird,
349
00:14:12,583 --> 00:14:15,416
but they're paying,
so I will go.
350
00:14:15,417 --> 00:14:17,333
[Tom] So, I was shooting
a lot of documentaries.
351
00:14:17,458 --> 00:14:20,457
I had an old friend by
the name of Patti Kaplan,
352
00:14:20,458 --> 00:14:22,832
who was the director,
producer of the show.
353
00:14:22,833 --> 00:14:25,582
So, Patti thought of me
354
00:14:25,583 --> 00:14:27,832
when she had to shoot
355
00:14:27,833 --> 00:14:29,457
in the Cathouse.
356
00:14:29,458 --> 00:14:30,832
[Host] Why did you want to
make this documentary?
357
00:14:30,833 --> 00:14:32,375
Was there some
sort of message
358
00:14:32,542 --> 00:14:33,249
that you were
going after?
359
00:14:33,250 --> 00:14:34,707
Was there some
sort of morality
360
00:14:34,708 --> 00:14:36,582
that you wanted
to explore?
361
00:14:36,583 --> 00:14:37,749
[Patti]
I think, actually,
362
00:14:37,750 --> 00:14:40,791
the approach was
extremely nonjudgmental.
363
00:14:40,792 --> 00:14:43,125
No, there wasn't a
morality to explore.
364
00:14:43,292 --> 00:14:45,957
It was more like,
this is an environment
365
00:14:45,958 --> 00:14:47,999
that people are
quite unfamiliar with.
366
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,999
So, let's get inside
and see how it works.
367
00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:52,791
Honestly, when they
came to me and said
368
00:14:52,792 --> 00:14:55,125
you're gonna be
spending months
369
00:14:55,292 --> 00:14:57,666
at a brothel,
I'm like, "Great!"
370
00:14:57,667 --> 00:14:59,417
And then,
I'm like, "What?"
371
00:14:59,542 --> 00:15:02,000
You just think you go into a
brothel and you have sex.
372
00:15:03,875 --> 00:15:05,417
[Client] Okay.
373
00:15:12,542 --> 00:15:15,041
[Jill] But it was mostly
about the way the girls
374
00:15:15,042 --> 00:15:16,999
worked with the men
and how they negotiate
375
00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,292
and they come up,
you know, with a price.
376
00:15:32,542 --> 00:15:34,458
On Cathouse,
we had a very
377
00:15:34,625 --> 00:15:37,666
particular kind of task.
378
00:15:37,667 --> 00:15:40,499
We wanted to make the
379
00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:41,832
environment look natural.
380
00:15:41,833 --> 00:15:44,332
We wanted it to feel like
381
00:15:44,333 --> 00:15:45,916
that was what
you would experience
382
00:15:45,917 --> 00:15:47,832
if you walked
into the room.
383
00:15:47,833 --> 00:15:50,749
We also want the
faces to look good.
384
00:15:50,750 --> 00:15:52,832
There's a certain
amount of glamor.
385
00:15:52,833 --> 00:15:55,208
And, in order to
create that glamor,
386
00:15:55,375 --> 00:15:57,666
we need to actually
use lights.
387
00:15:57,667 --> 00:16:01,417
[Tom] Cathouse was a fascinating
little social experiment.
388
00:16:06,958 --> 00:16:08,999
[Tom] That dealt with the way
people's sexuality
389
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:10,957
was being expressed.
390
00:16:10,958 --> 00:16:13,582
[Client]
Ah. [laughing]
391
00:16:13,583 --> 00:16:16,041
[Host] Cathouse premieres
tomorrow night on HBO
392
00:16:16,042 --> 00:16:19,041
right after the season
finale of The Sopranos.
393
00:16:19,042 --> 00:16:21,749
I think that programming
Cathouse right after
394
00:16:21,750 --> 00:16:23,332
the season finale
of The Sopranos,
395
00:16:23,333 --> 00:16:26,416
and season 4 of The Sopranos
so it already has, like,
396
00:16:26,417 --> 00:16:29,333
this kind of robust,
built-in audience,
397
00:16:29,458 --> 00:16:32,374
it says something about
the network's desire
398
00:16:32,375 --> 00:16:36,166
to want this documentary
to do well.
399
00:16:36,167 --> 00:16:38,832
[DeAnne] I remember
watching The Sopranos.
400
00:16:38,833 --> 00:16:41,375
At the end of the show,
suddenly, like,
401
00:16:41,542 --> 00:16:44,124
I'm in a brothel in Nevada
and there's
402
00:16:44,125 --> 00:16:46,416
all this craziness
going on.
403
00:16:46,417 --> 00:16:48,583
There was a lot of nudity
and a lot of sex.
404
00:16:55,833 --> 00:16:56,957
[Client] Yeah, God damn!
405
00:16:56,958 --> 00:16:58,500
[Deanne] It was like a
traffic accident
406
00:16:58,625 --> 00:17:00,707
that you can't avert
your eyes from.
407
00:17:00,708 --> 00:17:03,458
[Racquel] It very much sort of
focuses on the women,
408
00:17:03,583 --> 00:17:06,041
but they're constantly
talking about how much
409
00:17:06,042 --> 00:17:07,417
they love working at
the Bunny Ranch,
410
00:17:07,625 --> 00:17:09,041
how much they love sex.
411
00:17:09,042 --> 00:17:11,207
I would do this until
I was 60 if I could.
412
00:17:11,208 --> 00:17:13,750
I really would.
It's just that fun.
413
00:17:13,875 --> 00:17:16,582
[Racquel] And you sort of come
away from it thinking, oh,
414
00:17:16,583 --> 00:17:19,124
what a lovely sort of place
for these young women
415
00:17:19,125 --> 00:17:21,666
to find, you know,
economic empowerment.
416
00:17:21,667 --> 00:17:23,333
[Host] What do you think people
will walk away from,
417
00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:24,999
at the end of this,
watching this documentary?
418
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,041
[Patti] Uh...
[Host] Disgusted, intrigued?
419
00:17:29,042 --> 00:17:30,750
Wanting to
sign up to be pros-
420
00:17:30,875 --> 00:17:32,000
[Patti] I think
much less disgusted
421
00:17:32,125 --> 00:17:33,832
than they may have been.
422
00:17:33,833 --> 00:17:35,416
There's a perspective,
you know, that,
423
00:17:35,417 --> 00:17:37,917
needless to say,
about selling sex
424
00:17:38,042 --> 00:17:39,582
that doesn't make a lot of
people comfortable,
425
00:17:39,583 --> 00:17:43,082
but I think the environment
is so pleasant.
426
00:17:43,083 --> 00:17:46,082
[Racquel] The tone of
this documentary is...
427
00:17:46,083 --> 00:17:48,916
it really just reads as,
like, a PR puff piece.
428
00:17:48,917 --> 00:17:50,166
[Dennis] This is
compelling television.
429
00:17:50,167 --> 00:17:52,124
Nobody's seen the
innerworkings of
430
00:17:52,125 --> 00:17:53,292
a working girl...
[Patti] It is compelling.
431
00:17:53,583 --> 00:17:55,999
[Dennis] ...and a client.
It's unbelievable television.
432
00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,791
[Ted] Both Patti,
the director, and Dennis,
433
00:17:58,792 --> 00:18:01,583
had a pretty clear idea of
what they wanted to do
434
00:18:01,708 --> 00:18:02,999
before it happened.
435
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,916
They would really
plan it out together.
436
00:18:05,917 --> 00:18:06,999
[Shelly] It wasn't
a documentary.
437
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,166
We were told what to do.
438
00:18:10,167 --> 00:18:12,874
The Cathouse show
was set up.
439
00:18:12,875 --> 00:18:16,999
♪
440
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:17,999
[Cathouse]
Who likes boobies?
441
00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,457
[laughs]
442
00:18:20,458 --> 00:18:22,082
[Shelly] This was
the first scene
443
00:18:22,083 --> 00:18:25,249
that I ever filmed
for Cathouse.
444
00:18:25,250 --> 00:18:27,750
[Cathouse] When it comes to
actual oral sex...
445
00:18:27,875 --> 00:18:30,542
We had to teach
a class about sex
446
00:18:30,750 --> 00:18:33,249
to a bunch
of men, and...
447
00:18:33,250 --> 00:18:36,041
I just remember
being very nervous.
448
00:18:36,042 --> 00:18:38,458
You know, sometimes
guys will just dig in,
449
00:18:38,667 --> 00:18:39,999
and it may be painful,
450
00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,667
the girl's not
worked up enough.
451
00:18:41,792 --> 00:18:43,458
You got to start out slow.
452
00:18:43,583 --> 00:18:46,333
[Shelly] That is not a client.
That is Jesse,
453
00:18:46,542 --> 00:18:48,874
and he was a driver
and a bartender
454
00:18:48,875 --> 00:18:50,082
at the Bunny Ranch.
455
00:18:50,083 --> 00:18:51,583
[Jesse] There I am.
456
00:18:51,750 --> 00:18:53,082
[Cathouse] Usually try
to get them to [beep]
457
00:18:53,083 --> 00:18:54,832
beforehand,
and uh...
458
00:18:54,833 --> 00:18:56,000
How?
459
00:18:56,333 --> 00:19:00,166
Uh, just by uh, [beep]
and rubbing and touching.
460
00:19:00,167 --> 00:19:02,249
Everyone in the scene that
was supposed to be customers
461
00:19:02,250 --> 00:19:04,167
were actually
friends of Dennis
462
00:19:04,292 --> 00:19:06,666
or people who worked at
the Bunny Ranch.
463
00:19:06,667 --> 00:19:07,875
[Cathouse] What do you
like about boobs?
464
00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:09,583
I like nibbling on them
a little bit.
465
00:19:09,708 --> 00:19:11,999
[Jesse] This was
something that they
466
00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,916
concocted for the show.
467
00:19:13,917 --> 00:19:19,000
♪
468
00:19:19,125 --> 00:19:20,916
[Ted] This was
definitely not
469
00:19:20,917 --> 00:19:23,375
what I thought
it was gonna be.
470
00:19:23,542 --> 00:19:25,750
The reason I wanted to work
471
00:19:25,875 --> 00:19:28,583
on this series
was because...
472
00:19:28,708 --> 00:19:32,374
of the people that
I was working with.
473
00:19:32,375 --> 00:19:35,208
I knew that they were
serious documentarians,
474
00:19:35,333 --> 00:19:38,916
and did, you know,
really quality work
475
00:19:38,917 --> 00:19:40,916
and I could learn
a lot from them.
476
00:19:40,917 --> 00:19:43,499
But here we had
documentary people
477
00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:45,791
controlling who appears
on camera
478
00:19:45,792 --> 00:19:48,041
and what's going to
happen when, and...
479
00:19:48,042 --> 00:19:49,957
it was a constructed reality
480
00:19:49,958 --> 00:19:52,707
that was for
entertainment purposes.
481
00:19:52,708 --> 00:19:54,041
[Air Force Amy]
They want their scene.
482
00:19:54,042 --> 00:19:55,125
They want
what they want.
483
00:19:55,375 --> 00:19:57,791
They've got it in their head
what they want it to be,
484
00:19:57,792 --> 00:20:00,166
and they're gonna
manipulate you to get it,
485
00:20:00,167 --> 00:20:02,208
whether it's good
or bad for you.
486
00:20:05,750 --> 00:20:08,916
[laughing]
487
00:20:08,917 --> 00:20:11,999
[Amy] Regardless of
what it does to your image.
488
00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:13,542
I'm madly in love
with Cathouse.
489
00:20:13,667 --> 00:20:15,582
I'm just madly in love
with whores.
490
00:20:15,583 --> 00:20:17,957
This is an interview
with Sheila Nevins,
491
00:20:17,958 --> 00:20:20,166
head of the
documentary unit at HBO.
492
00:20:20,167 --> 00:20:21,917
I love them,
they're honest.
493
00:20:22,042 --> 00:20:23,250
They're great actresses.
494
00:20:23,375 --> 00:20:25,124
The greatest actresses
in the business
495
00:20:25,125 --> 00:20:26,707
are in this expensive
whorehouse.
496
00:20:26,708 --> 00:20:29,666
I mean, to act like
this guy matters to you?
497
00:20:29,667 --> 00:20:31,791
[beep], you got to
be really an actress,
498
00:20:31,792 --> 00:20:33,332
studio actress to do that.
499
00:20:33,333 --> 00:20:35,166
[Shelly]
Patti liked my look.
500
00:20:35,167 --> 00:20:36,666
[Cathouse]
Hi, I'm Shelly Dushell.
501
00:20:36,667 --> 00:20:40,166
[Shelly] She liked the fact that
I was tall, and thin,
502
00:20:40,167 --> 00:20:43,833
and large-breasted,
and long blonde hair,
503
00:20:43,958 --> 00:20:46,124
and she didn't
like my eyes.
504
00:20:46,125 --> 00:20:47,999
At one point,
Patti Kaplan told me
505
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,041
I needed to have
my eyes done,
506
00:20:50,042 --> 00:20:52,583
and the cameraman
got mad at her,
507
00:20:52,708 --> 00:20:54,082
and pulled her out in
the hallway, and said,
508
00:20:54,083 --> 00:20:56,207
"Don't you dare talk
to her that way."
509
00:20:56,208 --> 00:20:58,207
"Don't you tell her she
needs plastic surgery."
510
00:20:58,208 --> 00:21:00,374
[Cathouse] Alright, boys,
well, our time is up,
511
00:21:00,375 --> 00:21:02,832
and we have to go [beep]
now because we're all horny.
512
00:21:02,833 --> 00:21:06,082
[Jesse] Cathouse was basically
just promotional video
513
00:21:06,083 --> 00:21:07,874
for the Bunny Ranch.
514
00:21:07,875 --> 00:21:11,082
[Shelly] The fact that I was
a softcore porn actress
515
00:21:11,083 --> 00:21:13,124
is humiliating.
516
00:21:13,125 --> 00:21:15,875
But Dennis told me
I was gonna be a star,
517
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,749
that I...
518
00:21:17,750 --> 00:21:20,916
needed to be on the show,
I'd make tons of money.
519
00:21:20,917 --> 00:21:22,875
I would be famous.
520
00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,249
It would make
everyone rich.
521
00:21:25,250 --> 00:21:26,917
It didn't make me rich.
522
00:21:28,125 --> 00:21:29,708
I was victimised...
523
00:21:29,833 --> 00:21:33,375
and Dennis Hof was
the main victimiser.
524
00:21:39,042 --> 00:21:42,291
I was very scared the
first time I was in a lineup.
525
00:21:42,292 --> 00:21:44,999
I didn't know
what to expect.
526
00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,833
[bell chiming]
527
00:21:46,958 --> 00:21:48,833
This bell gets rung.
528
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,166
So, the bell would ring
529
00:21:50,167 --> 00:21:52,083
when a person would
come to the door
530
00:21:52,208 --> 00:21:54,667
and they'd run
down the hallway.
531
00:21:54,792 --> 00:21:56,499
[Tom] The women would
come running down these
532
00:21:56,500 --> 00:22:00,291
two long hallways in
their four-inch heels,
533
00:22:00,292 --> 00:22:02,832
and they came in and
stood in this thing
534
00:22:02,833 --> 00:22:05,499
called the "lineup,"
where they tried to
535
00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:09,750
attract the attention of
the guy who came in.
536
00:22:09,875 --> 00:22:13,041
[Shelly] I both felt pick me
and don't pick me,
537
00:22:13,042 --> 00:22:15,166
because I was nervous.
538
00:22:15,167 --> 00:22:16,208
[Robin] One of the
first things we did was
539
00:22:16,542 --> 00:22:19,042
shoot the lineup that Dennis
wanted women to do
540
00:22:19,167 --> 00:22:20,542
when a new client
comes in.
541
00:22:20,792 --> 00:22:22,332
And it's a
demeaning process.
542
00:22:22,333 --> 00:22:23,999
You know,
pick your Barbie.
543
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,541
Do you want Disco Barbie?
544
00:22:25,542 --> 00:22:27,832
Do you want this Barbie?
Do you want Sexy Barbie?
545
00:22:27,833 --> 00:22:31,082
But Patti immediately said,
"Well, it's a stage.
546
00:22:31,083 --> 00:22:34,167
Give them a spotlight and let
them show themselves off."
547
00:22:34,292 --> 00:22:36,375
And what Tom
and I saw was,
548
00:22:36,542 --> 00:22:39,166
no, this is not
showing off. This is...
549
00:22:39,167 --> 00:22:41,082
human beings on sale.
550
00:22:41,083 --> 00:22:43,999
[Tom] But if they did too much
to attract the attention,
551
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,083
that is if they talked...
552
00:22:46,208 --> 00:22:48,332
beyond,
"Hello, my name is,"
553
00:22:48,333 --> 00:22:50,582
or if they revealed
too much or they did
554
00:22:50,583 --> 00:22:53,332
a little too much action,
it was dirty hustling.
555
00:22:53,333 --> 00:22:55,166
[Crew] Marker.
556
00:22:55,167 --> 00:22:57,166
[Amy] I remember one
episode of Cathouse,
557
00:22:57,167 --> 00:22:59,041
it said there's no
moving in lineup.
558
00:22:59,042 --> 00:23:01,124
And then they cut away to
a shot of me just moving,
559
00:23:01,125 --> 00:23:02,291
doing all this stuff.
560
00:23:02,292 --> 00:23:03,958
[Dennis] We don't
want them to do things
561
00:23:04,083 --> 00:23:05,291
to give an unfair advantage.
562
00:23:05,292 --> 00:23:07,417
You know, grind or
anything. [laughs]
563
00:23:07,542 --> 00:23:10,291
[Amy] I could be the
brunt of a joke. It's okay.
564
00:23:10,292 --> 00:23:12,917
But it became
more difficult for me
565
00:23:13,042 --> 00:23:14,374
as I became more famous
566
00:23:14,375 --> 00:23:16,499
because people
would think that, oh,
567
00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:18,875
she's too famous,
she's gonna cost too much.
568
00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:20,375
[laughing]
569
00:23:23,958 --> 00:23:25,167
[Amy] Because when
we all say our names,
570
00:23:25,333 --> 00:23:26,957
and they go,
"Air Force Amy!"
571
00:23:26,958 --> 00:23:28,416
And I think I'm getting
picked, but I'm not.
572
00:23:28,417 --> 00:23:30,667
They just recognize me.
573
00:23:30,833 --> 00:23:33,042
So, not only do they
know who I am,
574
00:23:33,167 --> 00:23:35,207
they didn't pick me.
575
00:23:35,208 --> 00:23:36,791
[Shelly]
When I was picked,
576
00:23:36,792 --> 00:23:40,124
I went to the horrible
little room I had.
577
00:23:40,125 --> 00:23:42,207
I was new there,
so I just got
578
00:23:42,208 --> 00:23:44,166
the worst room there was.
579
00:23:44,167 --> 00:23:46,332
And, uh, negotiated.
580
00:23:46,333 --> 00:23:48,291
When I had sex,
581
00:23:48,292 --> 00:23:50,499
I didn't know if
I would be able to...
582
00:23:50,500 --> 00:23:54,166
do what was expected
of me for the money.
583
00:23:54,167 --> 00:23:56,124
I had just got there.
584
00:23:56,125 --> 00:23:58,291
I had no idea
what I was doing.
585
00:23:58,292 --> 00:24:00,499
♪
586
00:24:00,500 --> 00:24:03,374
I had men that
did not want sex.
587
00:24:03,375 --> 00:24:06,375
I had one that hired me
just to watch me smoke.
588
00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:08,499
He had a smoking fetish.
589
00:24:08,500 --> 00:24:11,708
And he wanted me to lay on
the bed in a seductive pose
590
00:24:11,875 --> 00:24:15,374
in my lingerie and
just smoke cigarettes.
591
00:24:15,375 --> 00:24:17,166
That's all he wanted to see.
592
00:24:17,167 --> 00:24:18,499
But most of the time,
593
00:24:18,500 --> 00:24:21,750
just regular clients
come in wanting sex.
594
00:24:21,958 --> 00:24:26,082
And, there are repercussions
that came from that.
595
00:24:26,083 --> 00:24:27,457
There are people
that judged me
596
00:24:27,458 --> 00:24:29,375
for working there, and...
597
00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:32,832
there were things that went
on that I would not
598
00:24:32,833 --> 00:24:34,917
want a young girl
experiencing.
599
00:24:35,042 --> 00:24:37,375
There are some really
sick guys out there that
600
00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:41,333
really want some really
gross, disgusting things.
601
00:24:41,458 --> 00:24:44,250
Men that want
to be peed on,
602
00:24:44,375 --> 00:24:45,875
and pooped on,
603
00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,541
and to be hurt,
and to be humiliated,
604
00:24:48,542 --> 00:24:51,833
or they want to hurt
and humiliate you.
605
00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,707
There were young girls that
were coming to work there
606
00:24:53,708 --> 00:24:56,541
that probably would've
never even thought of
607
00:24:56,542 --> 00:24:58,500
working there if they
hadn't seen the show.
608
00:24:58,625 --> 00:25:00,332
I was 30 when
I worked there.
609
00:25:00,333 --> 00:25:02,374
I had already been
married and divorced,
610
00:25:02,375 --> 00:25:04,833
and had experienced
life and sex,
611
00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,541
and it's just horrifying
to think that
612
00:25:07,542 --> 00:25:11,917
girls so young would
want to do that.
613
00:25:12,042 --> 00:25:14,457
[Tom] Over the weeks
that I worked there,
614
00:25:14,458 --> 00:25:17,249
I realized that HBO
615
00:25:17,250 --> 00:25:20,457
really never wanted
to dip further
616
00:25:20,458 --> 00:25:24,250
than just below this first
public relations level.
617
00:25:24,375 --> 00:25:26,208
♪
618
00:25:26,333 --> 00:25:27,957
Dennis groping people.
619
00:25:27,958 --> 00:25:30,416
I mean, that was a
daily occurrence.
620
00:25:30,417 --> 00:25:32,166
And they were
supposed to like it.
621
00:25:32,167 --> 00:25:34,541
And they pretended
to like it.
622
00:25:34,542 --> 00:25:36,291
[Dennis]
I own the candy store.
623
00:25:36,292 --> 00:25:38,166
I'm eating all the candy.
I love it.
624
00:25:38,167 --> 00:25:40,999
[Tom] Nobody asked,
"Do you ever not want Dennis
625
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,582
to touch you?"
when he's touching people.
626
00:25:43,583 --> 00:25:46,875
That was not part of the
agreement of Cathouse.
627
00:25:47,125 --> 00:25:48,374
[cheering]
628
00:25:48,375 --> 00:25:50,541
[Shelly] They wanted to
sell a show.
629
00:25:50,542 --> 00:25:53,833
They wanted to make
money off of that show,
630
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:55,500
and they wanted to
make money off of the,
631
00:25:55,667 --> 00:25:58,666
the girls having
a great time.
632
00:25:58,667 --> 00:26:01,457
They just didn't want to
show the ugly side of it.
633
00:26:01,458 --> 00:26:03,207
♪
634
00:26:03,208 --> 00:26:06,707
Patti would tell us ahead of
time what we were going to do.
635
00:26:06,708 --> 00:26:08,417
"Okay, there's going
to be a clown."
636
00:26:08,542 --> 00:26:10,292
"He's gonna come
in the door."
637
00:26:10,417 --> 00:26:12,166
"He's gonna
have balloons."
638
00:26:12,167 --> 00:26:13,541
"He's going to pick Shelly."
639
00:26:13,542 --> 00:26:15,374
"They're going to
sit at the bar."
640
00:26:15,375 --> 00:26:17,833
"Talk to him for about
5 or 10 minutes,
641
00:26:18,042 --> 00:26:19,499
and then take him
to the room."
642
00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:25,000
♪
643
00:26:25,167 --> 00:26:28,374
I was expected to
sleep with the clown.
644
00:26:28,375 --> 00:26:30,416
They thought that
it would be
645
00:26:30,417 --> 00:26:31,499
interesting for the show.
646
00:26:31,500 --> 00:26:33,500
[laughing]
647
00:26:34,042 --> 00:26:35,707
What you see is
what you get. I mean,
648
00:26:35,708 --> 00:26:37,749
we don't show-
[clapping]-
649
00:26:37,750 --> 00:26:40,291
exactly, but we get
pretty close.
650
00:26:40,292 --> 00:26:43,124
We're very tasteful even
when we're in a whorehouse.
651
00:26:43,125 --> 00:26:48,791
♪
652
00:26:48,792 --> 00:26:51,207
When I think about working
on the show, Cathouse,
653
00:26:51,208 --> 00:26:55,208
I think of it as a job
that's not my favorite,
654
00:26:55,333 --> 00:26:58,166
but I'm not ashamed of any
of the work that I did on it.
655
00:26:58,167 --> 00:26:59,707
The show...
656
00:26:59,708 --> 00:27:02,499
tried to replicate
657
00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:04,999
that sort of sense
of silliness,
658
00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,457
if you will, because
it's a fantasy world.
659
00:27:07,458 --> 00:27:09,500
And I bought
into the fantasy,
660
00:27:09,625 --> 00:27:12,000
but then so did Sheila
and so did Patti.
661
00:27:12,125 --> 00:27:13,624
[Dennis] Enjoy yourself.
I know you will.
662
00:27:13,625 --> 00:27:15,332
It's us projecting an image.
663
00:27:15,333 --> 00:27:17,707
It's us promoting the girls.
664
00:27:17,708 --> 00:27:20,499
It's us doing things like
we're doing right now
665
00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:21,999
to let the world know
that the Bunny Ranch
666
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,833
is the party place
of America.
667
00:27:24,042 --> 00:27:25,666
[Phillip] It's his business
to keep it
668
00:27:25,667 --> 00:27:28,500
as attractive as possible.
669
00:27:28,625 --> 00:27:31,750
But sometimes,
it was painful to watch.
670
00:27:37,292 --> 00:27:41,083
Patti told me that I would
only get paid for sex scenes.
671
00:27:41,333 --> 00:27:43,374
That I would not
get paid for
672
00:27:43,375 --> 00:27:45,249
all the other scenes.
673
00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:48,499
One of the reasons
that reality television
674
00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:51,708
can be so successful is...
675
00:27:51,833 --> 00:27:55,499
because you're dealing
with a lot of unpaid labor.
676
00:27:55,500 --> 00:27:57,374
And yet, they make
tons of money
677
00:27:57,375 --> 00:27:59,791
for the networks
that they air on.
678
00:27:59,792 --> 00:28:02,499
And knowing that the
women in Cathouse
679
00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:05,332
were not
compensated for...
680
00:28:05,333 --> 00:28:08,832
really being the
heart of the show,
681
00:28:08,833 --> 00:28:11,874
it's just another
form of exploitation.
682
00:28:11,875 --> 00:28:14,582
[Shelly] HBO wasn't much
different than a pimp
683
00:28:14,583 --> 00:28:17,082
because I was barely
paid anything.
684
00:28:17,083 --> 00:28:19,332
I was recognised
everywhere I went
685
00:28:19,333 --> 00:28:20,791
after the
show came out.
686
00:28:20,792 --> 00:28:23,499
It would've been nice to
have a little bit of money
687
00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:24,874
to show for it.
688
00:28:24,875 --> 00:28:27,582
I was actually losing money
being on HBO
689
00:28:27,583 --> 00:28:29,374
because I wasn't working
690
00:28:29,375 --> 00:28:32,457
when I was doing
the filming for the show.
691
00:28:32,458 --> 00:28:35,833
[Robin] Cathouse dealt with
an interesting set of specifics
692
00:28:35,958 --> 00:28:38,582
in dealing with human beings,
and the fact that
693
00:28:38,583 --> 00:28:41,332
you are selling a
human connection.
694
00:28:41,333 --> 00:28:43,582
The working girl
is doing that.
695
00:28:43,583 --> 00:28:45,207
But that is
between two people.
696
00:28:45,208 --> 00:28:47,832
The fact that HBO is
monetizing that sexual
697
00:28:47,833 --> 00:28:50,999
transaction in a way
that exploited the women,
698
00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,582
it was making me regret my
involvement in Cathouse.
699
00:28:54,583 --> 00:28:56,874
♪
700
00:28:56,875 --> 00:28:59,582
As we were following
the action that happens,
701
00:28:59,583 --> 00:29:01,791
we would end up
sometimes in the room.
702
00:29:01,792 --> 00:29:03,749
And at one point,
we were with
703
00:29:03,750 --> 00:29:06,707
Isabella Soprano
and her client at the time,
704
00:29:06,708 --> 00:29:07,833
and we ended up
being in the room
705
00:29:07,958 --> 00:29:10,624
while she was having sex
with the client.
706
00:29:10,625 --> 00:29:16,916
♪
707
00:29:16,917 --> 00:29:20,582
This is the first time
I'm watching this.
708
00:29:20,583 --> 00:29:22,582
This should have been
the point where we
709
00:29:22,583 --> 00:29:24,291
scooted out of that room.
710
00:29:24,292 --> 00:29:25,582
♪
711
00:29:25,583 --> 00:29:28,542
I was like, "I did not
sign up for this."
712
00:29:28,667 --> 00:29:30,916
"I'm not here to shoot porn."
713
00:29:30,917 --> 00:29:32,916
"I'm here to shoot
a documentary."
714
00:29:32,917 --> 00:29:34,499
This is not what I would
normally be doing
715
00:29:34,500 --> 00:29:36,707
at work, like...
716
00:29:36,708 --> 00:29:40,416
I was expecting
softcore photo stuff.
717
00:29:40,417 --> 00:29:43,041
Not full-on pornography.
718
00:29:43,042 --> 00:29:46,374
This is when you're like,
"Why did I take this job?"
719
00:29:46,375 --> 00:29:49,624
♪
720
00:29:49,625 --> 00:29:51,666
That first scene of me
cracking the whip
721
00:29:51,667 --> 00:29:53,832
that opens every episode,
that was something
722
00:29:53,833 --> 00:29:56,666
I did not want to do,
because I felt that
723
00:29:56,667 --> 00:29:58,291
men were already
intimidated by me,
724
00:29:58,292 --> 00:30:00,541
that I was too strong
of a personality.
725
00:30:00,542 --> 00:30:02,624
That was the last thing
I wanted to do.
726
00:30:02,625 --> 00:30:04,667
And it opened
every episode.
727
00:30:04,792 --> 00:30:06,874
♪
728
00:30:06,875 --> 00:30:09,083
[Shelly]
When the girls and I were
729
00:30:09,250 --> 00:30:10,916
touching each other
in the parlor
730
00:30:10,917 --> 00:30:14,916
or making out,
those were Dennis' ideas.
731
00:30:14,917 --> 00:30:17,666
Dennis wanted to make it
look like we were all just
732
00:30:17,667 --> 00:30:20,374
waiting to have sex
and we were nymphos.
733
00:30:20,375 --> 00:30:23,874
So, Dennis somewhat became
the director because
734
00:30:23,875 --> 00:30:26,666
he was coordinating
what he wanted to see
735
00:30:26,667 --> 00:30:28,499
in the scenes.
736
00:30:28,500 --> 00:30:29,916
And...
737
00:30:29,917 --> 00:30:32,832
I didn't always see
Patti Kaplan around.
738
00:30:32,833 --> 00:30:35,874
[laughing and chatter]
739
00:30:35,875 --> 00:30:37,999
It's kind of hard to say
it was a documentary
740
00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,292
when you have a pimp
directing scenes
741
00:30:40,458 --> 00:30:42,666
in his own brothel.
742
00:30:42,667 --> 00:30:45,582
Watching the show,
HBO definitely wanted it
743
00:30:45,583 --> 00:30:48,708
to look like a
fun place to be,
744
00:30:48,833 --> 00:30:50,791
and so I can see
where it would be
745
00:30:50,792 --> 00:30:53,833
tempting for a young girl
to watch the Cathouse show
746
00:30:53,958 --> 00:30:56,333
and think it would be
something fun,
747
00:30:56,458 --> 00:30:58,832
but they don't understand
the reality of it.
748
00:30:58,833 --> 00:31:01,957
They aren't seeing
what it really is like
749
00:31:01,958 --> 00:31:04,582
behind closed doors
with Dennis.
750
00:31:04,583 --> 00:31:06,832
♪
751
00:31:06,833 --> 00:31:08,832
[Tom] In a brothel,
you don't have
752
00:31:08,833 --> 00:31:11,791
HR lines to respect.
753
00:31:11,792 --> 00:31:15,291
So, every interaction
with women was paternal.
754
00:31:15,292 --> 00:31:19,499
It placed him in a
superior position to her.
755
00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:22,624
He was her boss
and her "Daddy."
756
00:31:22,625 --> 00:31:23,999
- Daddy.
- Daddy...
757
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,874
- Come and play with us!
- Alright, girls! Let's go.
758
00:31:26,875 --> 00:31:28,624
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
759
00:31:28,625 --> 00:31:29,917
Daddy!
760
00:31:30,208 --> 00:31:32,457
[Shelly] It made me
uncomfortable to call him Daddy.
761
00:31:32,458 --> 00:31:35,707
And it was weird to see the
other girls call him Daddy.
762
00:31:35,708 --> 00:31:36,916
You're the coolest Daddy
I've ever had!
763
00:31:36,917 --> 00:31:38,624
[laughing]
764
00:31:38,625 --> 00:31:40,332
[Host] Why do your girls
765
00:31:40,333 --> 00:31:41,749
have to call you Daddy,
for example?
766
00:31:41,750 --> 00:31:42,916
[Dennis] They don't have
to call me Daddy.
767
00:31:42,917 --> 00:31:44,125
My girlfriend
calls me that.
768
00:31:44,500 --> 00:31:45,999
[Host] What, it's just a weird
coincidence that they all do?
769
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:47,000
[Dennis] My girlfriend
does that.
770
00:31:47,333 --> 00:31:48,707
[Host] Well, the thing is,
you do treat women
771
00:31:48,708 --> 00:31:49,833
like objects to an extent.
772
00:31:50,125 --> 00:31:51,582
[Dennis] Not true.
[Host] They're commodities.
773
00:31:51,583 --> 00:31:52,832
[Dennis]
The demand is there.
774
00:31:52,833 --> 00:31:54,707
They want to
fulfill the demand.
775
00:31:54,708 --> 00:31:56,832
[Phillip] Dennis always
used to say that
776
00:31:56,833 --> 00:31:59,457
just like anybody
selling a product,
777
00:31:59,458 --> 00:32:01,333
he has to know...
778
00:32:01,542 --> 00:32:03,332
the value of the product.
779
00:32:03,333 --> 00:32:05,666
But I don't recall
Patti ever asking
780
00:32:05,667 --> 00:32:08,041
any of the women
who worked at
781
00:32:08,042 --> 00:32:10,666
the Moonlite Bunny Ranch
how they felt about
782
00:32:10,667 --> 00:32:13,041
sleeping with Dennis,
their boss.
783
00:32:13,042 --> 00:32:15,957
[Shelly] I thought it was
absolutely revolting
784
00:32:15,958 --> 00:32:18,874
that I was expected
to sleep with the boss,
785
00:32:18,875 --> 00:32:21,041
and that the boss could
go around and just
786
00:32:21,042 --> 00:32:24,957
sleep with anyone and it
was considered normal.
787
00:32:24,958 --> 00:32:28,791
But I was afraid
to tell him no.
788
00:32:28,792 --> 00:32:30,500
I was scared.
789
00:32:34,750 --> 00:32:36,041
[rumbling thunder]
790
00:32:36,042 --> 00:32:38,874
Dennis would promote you
if you slept with him.
791
00:32:38,875 --> 00:32:41,082
He would brag about you.
792
00:32:41,083 --> 00:32:44,082
♪
793
00:32:44,083 --> 00:32:46,500
Dennis had a very
active sex life
794
00:32:46,667 --> 00:32:48,332
with the
working girls.
795
00:32:48,333 --> 00:32:50,417
And, a lot of the
working girls
796
00:32:50,542 --> 00:32:52,832
would offer themselves
up to him.
797
00:32:52,833 --> 00:32:54,374
There were girls
that slept with him that
798
00:32:54,375 --> 00:32:58,207
didn't want to sleep with him,
but thatt they had to.
799
00:32:58,208 --> 00:33:00,624
[Shelly] Dennis preyed
upon the women
800
00:33:00,625 --> 00:33:04,750
that were most
easily victimised.
801
00:33:04,875 --> 00:33:06,874
I was afraid to not
802
00:33:06,875 --> 00:33:08,999
go along with
what he wanted.
803
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,957
I learned a long time ago
to not fight back...
804
00:33:12,958 --> 00:33:14,916
because I, myself,
805
00:33:14,917 --> 00:33:17,791
was sexually abused
as a child.
806
00:33:17,792 --> 00:33:19,875
So, I learned to...
807
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,417
build a wall and
not think about it.
808
00:33:22,542 --> 00:33:26,291
I literally visualised
putting brick by brick up.
809
00:33:26,292 --> 00:33:28,249
I remember doing that
when I was around
810
00:33:28,250 --> 00:33:31,707
12, 13 years old.
It shaped me.
811
00:33:31,708 --> 00:33:34,874
I probably would have never
thought about working
812
00:33:34,875 --> 00:33:38,166
at the Bunny Ranch if
I hadn't had an old man
813
00:33:38,167 --> 00:33:42,207
touching me when
I was a little bitty kid.
814
00:33:42,208 --> 00:33:45,458
And so, whenever
I was in a situation
815
00:33:45,583 --> 00:33:50,000
where I was having sex
and didn't want to,
816
00:33:50,125 --> 00:33:52,041
I was doing it for money,
817
00:33:52,042 --> 00:33:56,208
I was able to disassociate
from the situation and
818
00:33:56,333 --> 00:34:01,082
build that wall up
and pretend that I...
819
00:34:01,083 --> 00:34:04,791
I wasn't doing that.
820
00:34:04,792 --> 00:34:06,708
So, that's what
I did with Dennis.
821
00:34:06,833 --> 00:34:09,624
I didn't know
what else to do.
822
00:34:09,625 --> 00:34:12,667
[Shonda] He had a
great presence on TV,
823
00:34:12,792 --> 00:34:14,166
but behind closed doors,
824
00:34:14,167 --> 00:34:17,207
Dennis was
a rattlesnake.
825
00:34:17,208 --> 00:34:19,166
[Tom] After a while,
having shot there
826
00:34:19,167 --> 00:34:21,957
for one ten-day period
and then
827
00:34:21,958 --> 00:34:24,166
coming back again,
I realised that
828
00:34:24,167 --> 00:34:26,166
I was becoming
more and more
829
00:34:26,167 --> 00:34:28,916
repulsed by Dennis Hof.
830
00:34:28,917 --> 00:34:30,541
[Robin] Dennis found it
very easy
831
00:34:30,542 --> 00:34:32,999
to treat every woman
he came across
832
00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:36,417
in that same demeaning
and sexualised way.
833
00:34:36,625 --> 00:34:39,707
[Tom] I began to see
below the surface,
834
00:34:39,708 --> 00:34:42,500
into the other layers of
what was going on there.
835
00:34:42,708 --> 00:34:44,874
The darker side.
836
00:34:44,875 --> 00:34:46,500
But as a documentarian,
837
00:34:46,667 --> 00:34:48,291
if somebody is
in front of my camera,
838
00:34:48,292 --> 00:34:50,374
my job is to find the
human being in the person
839
00:34:50,375 --> 00:34:53,666
even though I may detest
what that person does.
840
00:34:53,667 --> 00:34:55,957
He felt like he was
improving a girl's career.
841
00:34:55,958 --> 00:34:57,832
And he actually used
that as a come on.
842
00:34:57,833 --> 00:34:59,082
You know, "You need to
sleep with me
843
00:34:59,083 --> 00:35:00,957
because it'll
help your career."
844
00:35:00,958 --> 00:35:03,708
[Shelly]
And you got privileges.
845
00:35:03,833 --> 00:35:05,832
He would take you
out to dinner.
846
00:35:05,833 --> 00:35:08,291
He took me to the
Billboard Awards.
847
00:35:08,292 --> 00:35:11,083
[Sonja] He gave 'em everything
he could possibly give 'em.
848
00:35:11,208 --> 00:35:14,332
And the other girls were
envious of that.
849
00:35:14,333 --> 00:35:16,207
Whoever was his
girlfriend at the time,
850
00:35:16,208 --> 00:35:17,999
she'd be the one
going on the junket
851
00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:19,332
and hitting all the shows.
852
00:35:19,333 --> 00:35:23,082
So, for all the
advertising that I did get,
853
00:35:23,083 --> 00:35:24,999
it wasn't handed to me.
854
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,667
Not by any means.
855
00:35:26,792 --> 00:35:29,999
I worked, worked, worked,
worked, worked, and...
856
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,291
tried to make the most money
to get this spot,
857
00:35:32,292 --> 00:35:34,207
this thing, this thing,
this thing.
858
00:35:34,208 --> 00:35:37,292
But then his girlfriend
would get the same thing.
859
00:35:40,792 --> 00:35:42,917
Did Dennis and I
ever date? No...
860
00:35:43,042 --> 00:35:45,332
No.
861
00:35:45,333 --> 00:35:47,207
[Shelly] It was kind of a sick,
twisted relationship
862
00:35:47,208 --> 00:35:50,041
that I had with Dennis
863
00:35:50,042 --> 00:35:51,332
because I wanted him
to like me,
864
00:35:51,333 --> 00:35:54,207
but I did not want
to have sex with him.
865
00:35:54,208 --> 00:35:56,832
[Robin] I don't think
that he had any idea
866
00:35:56,833 --> 00:35:58,457
what these women
go through,
867
00:35:58,458 --> 00:36:01,875
or how or why they
ended up working for him.
868
00:36:02,042 --> 00:36:04,250
♪
869
00:36:04,375 --> 00:36:06,166
[Shelly] Some days I feel a
little bit shaky, and I think,
870
00:36:06,167 --> 00:36:07,916
"Oh my gosh,
what if he picks me?"
871
00:36:07,917 --> 00:36:09,000
And since I've been here,
872
00:36:09,208 --> 00:36:11,291
I found that just
having a couple of drinks...
873
00:36:11,292 --> 00:36:16,249
relaxes me and lets me...
874
00:36:16,250 --> 00:36:19,750
not be quite as,
uh, shaky.
875
00:36:19,875 --> 00:36:24,249
♪
876
00:36:24,250 --> 00:36:26,999
I didn't have the power
in the first few years
877
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,916
to say no to Dennis.
878
00:36:28,917 --> 00:36:31,166
♪
879
00:36:31,167 --> 00:36:34,250
I tried my best
to avoid him.
880
00:36:34,375 --> 00:36:36,750
I would try to be busy.
881
00:36:36,875 --> 00:36:40,041
I was glad when I was booked
and I was making money
882
00:36:40,042 --> 00:36:41,583
rather than being
available for him,
883
00:36:41,708 --> 00:36:43,042
and then he would
just grab another girl
884
00:36:43,167 --> 00:36:44,832
and go out back.
885
00:36:44,833 --> 00:36:47,166
♪
886
00:36:47,167 --> 00:36:51,291
He liked that power,
that he had that control.
887
00:36:51,292 --> 00:36:54,082
And Dennis was
very violent
888
00:36:54,083 --> 00:36:57,957
when he had sex,
liking to slap and choke.
889
00:36:57,958 --> 00:37:00,124
It was hard to
get him to stop.
890
00:37:00,125 --> 00:37:01,917
[thudding impact]
891
00:37:02,042 --> 00:37:04,874
♪
892
00:37:04,875 --> 00:37:09,082
Once I finally quit going
along with what he wanted,
893
00:37:09,083 --> 00:37:11,916
I was no longer in
his good graces.
894
00:37:11,917 --> 00:37:13,916
He was no longer
895
00:37:13,917 --> 00:37:16,332
referring me to
the big clients,
896
00:37:16,333 --> 00:37:18,916
and he started to
talk bad about me.
897
00:37:18,917 --> 00:37:21,207
He said I had an
alcohol problem.
898
00:37:21,208 --> 00:37:26,207
He would turn against girls
that said no to him.
899
00:37:26,208 --> 00:37:29,583
And after a few years,
I decided it was time
900
00:37:29,708 --> 00:37:31,917
to leave the
Moonlite Bunny Ranch.
901
00:37:32,042 --> 00:37:34,208
♪
902
00:37:40,042 --> 00:37:41,917
I really had no idea
of the reach of
903
00:37:42,042 --> 00:37:44,250
the Cathouse series
on HBO.
904
00:37:44,375 --> 00:37:46,083
I mean,
it did really well.
905
00:37:46,208 --> 00:37:48,166
And people were
being drawn in
906
00:37:48,167 --> 00:37:50,082
by the show, itself.
907
00:37:50,083 --> 00:37:52,374
[Dennis] Chrissie is the
reason why you use
908
00:37:52,375 --> 00:37:54,874
parental controls on your
TV because at 15,
909
00:37:54,875 --> 00:37:58,292
she was watching Cathouse,
and here we are.
910
00:37:58,417 --> 00:38:02,124
If I could talk to my
11-year-old me
911
00:38:02,125 --> 00:38:04,332
watching Cathouse,
912
00:38:04,333 --> 00:38:07,332
I would definitely
tell little me that...
913
00:38:07,333 --> 00:38:09,874
not everything you see
on TV is a reality.
914
00:38:09,875 --> 00:38:12,875
[Robin] The idea that an 11 or
12-year-old would decide,
915
00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:14,291
"Oh, that looks
like fun,"
916
00:38:14,292 --> 00:38:15,750
that's...
[sighing]
917
00:38:15,875 --> 00:38:18,749
...disturbing that
young girls would do that.
918
00:38:18,750 --> 00:38:21,374
But I also think that that
is the way society works,
919
00:38:21,375 --> 00:38:22,999
is we emulate something
and we see something,
920
00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:25,124
and then
we end up doing it.
921
00:38:25,125 --> 00:38:26,124
[Host] How did you
find each other?
922
00:38:26,125 --> 00:38:27,417
HBO.
923
00:38:27,667 --> 00:38:31,458
The first HBO special
that aired, I watched it.
924
00:38:31,583 --> 00:38:34,082
[Tom] The illusion
was always there.
925
00:38:34,083 --> 00:38:36,207
Dennis kept the place
926
00:38:36,208 --> 00:38:38,750
on a cheerful, glitzy,
happy level.
927
00:38:38,875 --> 00:38:40,249
[Dennis] This is our family.
We are a family.
928
00:38:40,250 --> 00:38:41,957
This is the best family a
person could have.
929
00:38:41,958 --> 00:38:43,416
I love you all.
930
00:38:43,417 --> 00:38:46,332
[Tom] So the darker side
was kept very private
931
00:38:46,333 --> 00:38:48,582
and very much away
from the cameras.
932
00:38:48,583 --> 00:38:50,541
[cheering]
933
00:38:50,542 --> 00:38:52,374
[Tom] And that
became an image
934
00:38:52,375 --> 00:38:55,374
that was then bought
and sold on television.
935
00:38:55,375 --> 00:38:57,250
[Racquel] When I
watched Cathouse,
936
00:38:57,375 --> 00:39:00,291
I wanted to believe
that there could be
937
00:39:00,292 --> 00:39:03,291
such a thing as a happy,
938
00:39:03,292 --> 00:39:05,249
well-adjusted sex worker.
939
00:39:05,250 --> 00:39:08,000
And, rewatching it,
940
00:39:08,125 --> 00:39:10,207
it's so clear
that's not the case.
941
00:39:10,208 --> 00:39:12,332
But at the time,
I was willing to buy
942
00:39:12,333 --> 00:39:16,833
whatever narrative
HBO was selling.
943
00:39:17,042 --> 00:39:18,832
If someone had told me
944
00:39:18,833 --> 00:39:21,332
that what you're
going to do is basically
945
00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:25,082
create a narrative
television production
946
00:39:25,083 --> 00:39:27,874
in the style of a
documentary
947
00:39:27,875 --> 00:39:32,166
and try to sell people
on its reality,
948
00:39:32,167 --> 00:39:33,457
even though
we're making it
949
00:39:33,458 --> 00:39:35,416
as glamorous as possible,
950
00:39:35,417 --> 00:39:38,041
I would've said no.
951
00:39:38,042 --> 00:39:41,667
[Tom] It is important that
I feel my responsibility.
952
00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:44,457
That if I denied
my responsibility,
953
00:39:44,458 --> 00:39:46,332
it would still be there,
954
00:39:46,333 --> 00:39:48,291
but I would be
lying about it.
955
00:39:48,292 --> 00:39:50,750
So, the fact that
I feel guilty about is...
956
00:39:51,042 --> 00:39:52,042
is there. I, I-
957
00:39:52,208 --> 00:39:54,249
there's nothing
I can do about that.
958
00:39:54,250 --> 00:39:57,499
When HBO first
aired the series,
959
00:39:57,500 --> 00:40:00,499
I really
felt used
960
00:40:00,500 --> 00:40:03,041
because I knew
Dennis was
961
00:40:03,042 --> 00:40:06,166
making money off of it,
and I didn't realise
962
00:40:06,167 --> 00:40:08,667
it would be so
focused on just sex.
963
00:40:08,875 --> 00:40:10,541
I knew we worked
in a brothel,
964
00:40:10,542 --> 00:40:12,375
but I was hoping it
would have more of the
965
00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:15,166
relationships of
the girls and
966
00:40:15,167 --> 00:40:18,000
how our lives were.
967
00:40:18,125 --> 00:40:20,416
So, I did feel bothered by
968
00:40:20,417 --> 00:40:23,291
the fact that Dennis
and the HBO show
969
00:40:23,292 --> 00:40:26,457
used women as property
to make money.
970
00:40:26,458 --> 00:40:28,374
[Promo] Tune into
the Bunny Ranch...
971
00:40:28,375 --> 00:40:30,291
[Dennis]
Cathouse on HB-hoe!
972
00:40:30,292 --> 00:40:44,917
♪
973
00:40:45,042 --> 00:40:48,582
♪
974
00:40:48,583 --> 00:40:50,041
[Tom]
The Cathouse series,
975
00:40:50,042 --> 00:40:53,457
over the next season
or two began to attract
976
00:40:53,458 --> 00:40:57,000
younger women
to the Bunny Ranch.
977
00:40:57,125 --> 00:40:58,249
[Dolly] Around the time
that I
978
00:40:58,250 --> 00:40:59,833
caught a glimpse
of Cathouse,
979
00:41:00,042 --> 00:41:02,541
I'd say I was probably,
like, 11, 12.
980
00:41:02,542 --> 00:41:06,917
I think I was probably,
maybe 11 or 12 maybe.
981
00:41:07,042 --> 00:41:09,499
And I would watch with the
volume turned down low.
982
00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:13,249
And I was like, if it's
that easy, then, you know...
983
00:41:13,250 --> 00:41:15,499
I really want to think
I want to try it.
984
00:41:15,500 --> 00:41:17,542
[DeAnne]
He loved young girls.
985
00:41:17,667 --> 00:41:20,083
These girls did not
see what was coming.
986
00:41:20,208 --> 00:41:22,499
HBO was
glamorizing this life.
987
00:41:22,500 --> 00:41:24,832
Who's pimping
who here?
988
00:41:24,833 --> 00:41:28,250
[Dolly] It isn't
this big sorority.
989
00:41:28,375 --> 00:41:29,583
I didn't feel safe.
990
00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:37,541
I've never, ever seen
anything like this before.
991
00:41:37,542 --> 00:41:39,416
[Jennifer] There are people
that have died.
992
00:41:39,417 --> 00:41:41,957
[DeAnne] She's dead.
She's been dead for hours.
993
00:41:41,958 --> 00:41:44,332
[Jennifer] There are people
that have been murdered.
994
00:41:44,333 --> 00:41:46,000
[News]
4 people found dead.
995
00:41:46,167 --> 00:41:47,792
One of them was
a prostitute
996
00:41:47,958 --> 00:41:50,332
and one of the stars of
HBO's Cathouse.
997
00:41:50,333 --> 00:41:51,624
[Sonja] Dennis told me
998
00:41:51,625 --> 00:41:53,666
that she was pregnant
with his child.
999
00:41:53,667 --> 00:41:57,207
It just blew up
like an atomic bomb.
1000
00:41:57,208 --> 00:41:59,250
I'm going to tell you
the real story
1001
00:41:59,375 --> 00:42:01,624
about the
Lamar Odom party.
1002
00:42:01,625 --> 00:42:03,457
He should've known
that stuff is not good,
1003
00:42:03,458 --> 00:42:05,166
but he wanted more.
1004
00:42:05,167 --> 00:42:06,624
I was like, "Lamar!"
1005
00:42:06,625 --> 00:42:09,499
And I tried to shake him
and he didn't do anything.
1006
00:42:09,500 --> 00:42:12,457
Lamar Odom overdosed,
1007
00:42:12,458 --> 00:42:15,417
and I didn't know
what to do.
1008
00:42:15,542 --> 00:42:17,624
[Jennifer] Prostitution,
it's not a job.
1009
00:42:17,625 --> 00:42:19,332
It is a nightmare.
1010
00:42:19,333 --> 00:42:21,333
[Rebekah]
I was literally having sex
1011
00:42:21,458 --> 00:42:23,999
with strangers,
for nothing.
1012
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:25,457
[Jennifer] I was molested,
and beaten,
1013
00:42:25,458 --> 00:42:28,083
and raped by Dennis Hof.
1014
00:42:28,208 --> 00:42:31,082
And some girls
are still there.
1015
00:42:31,083 --> 00:42:32,541
♪
1016
00:42:32,542 --> 00:42:35,457
Dennis was in this
for Dennis.
1017
00:42:35,458 --> 00:42:37,499
Dennis was a
rat bastard pimp.
1018
00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:39,041
[DeAnne]
He had no empathy.
1019
00:42:39,042 --> 00:42:41,041
[Dolly] He could be a real
piece of [beep].
1020
00:42:41,042 --> 00:42:43,875
Yeah, I believe
there was foul play. 100%.
1021
00:42:44,083 --> 00:42:46,124
Police!
Search warrant!
1022
00:42:46,125 --> 00:42:48,457
[Sonja] Dennis Hof was
running for office.
1023
00:42:48,458 --> 00:42:51,166
It was a powerplay.
1024
00:42:51,167 --> 00:42:52,582
[Jennifer]
I honestly feel
1025
00:42:52,583 --> 00:42:55,166
that Dennis Hof
was murdered.
1026
00:42:55,167 --> 00:42:57,083
But I got no justice.