The naughtiest and perhaps most renowned tourist attraction in this, an All-American City of , operates across the street from the Federal Courthouse and has business offices down the hall from the Internal Revenue Service.
Its employees work the phones for the annual Easter Seals Telethon. It advertises locally and nationally and puts out a newsletter. And, in a show of social responsibility, its drink menu offers a specialty called Safe Sex on the Beach which includes Malibu rum, raspberry schnapps and pineapple juice, with a condom garnish.
In some cities, such places are not part of the community, but here it is one more tourist attraction. Jim Maloof, the normally gregarious Mayor of Peoria asked for a moment of silence to gather his thoughts when presented with the topic at hand.
Then the Mayor spoke. Of course, not everybody is interested in it, just as not all are interested in our art museum or our Wildlife Prairie Park. It is there for your free choice and if someone is interested, fine. It is a nice facility. It is well kept. I think people go there for entertainment rather than prurience.
We just wanted to see what terrible stuff was going on. I guess you could say we are a perfectly well-rounded community. Something for everybody. Ray had purchased the joint from the original owner in He even shook up the brass at Penthouse magazine when he requested, and eventually succeeded, in buying a full-page ad for his club in an annual issue. The touring dancers, such as current feature performer Melissa Wolff, a Penthouse Pet, are paid.
