• [ network ]
  • goatmatrix.net
  • gvid.tv
  • img.gvid.tv
  • games.gvid.tv
  • apps.gvid.tv
HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

The Brothel King: Dennis Hof on Prostitution, Wild West Libertarianism, and "Pimpin' for Paul"

Views:2354
@ReasonVids

"Nevada's the last of the live and let live states," says Dennis Hof, the self-described "Brothel King" and owner and proprieter of Nevada's Moonlite Bunny Ranch, made famous as the setting for the HBO documentary series, Cathouse (2005-2008). "I don't care if you smoke weed. Don't bother me because I have a safe full of guns and I'm in the sex business."

Reason TV's Zach Weissmueller sat down with Hof in his brothel for a wide-ranging interview about sex, prostitution, black markets, politics, and more.

Hof acquired the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in 1992 and systematically pushed it into the public eye through a blend of showmanship, attention-seeking, and media outreach he calls the "PT Barnum/Andy Kaufman" school of marketing and publicity. In fact, he claims that Andy Kaufman gave him the initial idea to buy the Bunny Ranch when they partied there together in the late '70s.

"In about '78, Kaufman said, 'Dennis, let's buy this place and make it our den,'" says Hof (1:30).

Since then, Hof has gone on to acquire six more brothels, giving him a huge share of a national market that only includes 17 total brothels. This is because Nevada is the only state in the U.S. that has legalized prostitution, and only in counties with populations of less than 400,000. This, of course, rules out Clark County, where Las Vegas is located.

"It's illegal in Las Vegas, and look what you've got," says Hof. "You've got 2,000 girls a month being arrested. Lots of guys being arrested, lives being ruined... Las Vegas is the sexual cesspool of America." (24:20)

He also points to the remarkably high rate of HIV infection among prostitutes in Las Vegas. By contrast, he says, under the state's regime of mandatory STD testing, there has never been a documented case of HIV among licensed workers in Nevada's brothels.

Watch the whole interview above to hear Hof talk more about what it's like to run some of the country's only legal brothels, as well as stories about his run-ins with Sen. Harry Reid (7:10), his advice for Anthony Weiner and Elliot Spitzer (17:45), and why he started the group "Pimpin' for Ron Paul" (18:17).

Scroll down for downloadable versions.

Produced by Zach Weissmueller. Shot by Sharif Matar and Will Neff. Approximately 27 minutes.

Subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

dennis hof (tv actor)
,
brothel (industry)
,
prostitution (character occupation)
,
sex work
,
andy kaufman
,
bob zmuda
,
ron paul
,
elliot spitzer
,
anthony weiner
,
moonlite bunny ranch
,
cathouse
,
hbo cathouse
,
libertarian
,
reason tv
    Thumbnail for Cuddle Crackdown! Police Think Snugglers are Actually Hookers: Don't cops have better things to do?2:01
    Cuddle Crackdown! Police Think Snugglers are Actually Hookers: Don't cops have better things to do?
    ReasonVids
    998 views
    Thumbnail for Redevelopment: A Tale Of Two Cities10:09
    Redevelopment: A Tale Of Two Cities
    ReasonVids
    873 views
    Thumbnail for Red Cop / Blue Cop2:10
    Red Cop / Blue Cop
    ReasonVids
    1014 views
    Thumbnail for Stossel: Fear vs. Risk (Why We Worry About the Wrong Things)4:00
    Stossel: Fear vs. Risk (Why We Worry About the Wrong Things)
    ReasonVids
    824 views
    Thumbnail for Why We Should Privatize the Postal Service4:07
    Why We Should Privatize the Postal Service
    ReasonVids
    957 views
    Thumbnail for 'Deep Web'  Director Alex Winter on Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, and Online Privacy32:28
    'Deep Web' Director Alex Winter on Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, and Online Privacy
    ReasonVids
    1007 views
    Thumbnail for Is Abortion a Constitutional Right? Josh Blackman on Alito's Draft54:23
    Is Abortion a Constitutional Right? Josh Blackman on Alito's Draft
    ReasonVids
    910 views
    Thumbnail for Rick Santorum on the Freedom to Impose Your Values2:32
    Rick Santorum on the Freedom to Impose Your Values
    ReasonVids
    1012 views
    Thumbnail for Black (Face) Comedy in Richmond8:27
    Black (Face) Comedy in Richmond
    AmericanRenaissance
    1548 views
    Thumbnail for Pizza sausage dammit! @itsQCP @ #cooking #food #recipe #chefrush #bbq #explore #youtuber #share | Chef Rush0:50
    Pizza sausage dammit! @itsQCP @ #cooking #food #recipe #chefrush #bbq #explore #youtuber #share | Chef Rush
    invidious
    181 views
    Thumbnail for showing-off0:34
    showing-off
    bestofupgoat
    172 views
    Thumbnail for Remy: People are Outraged!1:41
    Remy: People are Outraged!
    ReasonVids
    987 views
    Thumbnail for The Cruel Fate of Kekistan16:10
    The Cruel Fate of Kekistan
    murdochmurdoch
    1675 views
    Thumbnail for A Drug Raid Goes Viral: Radley Balko on the Missouri SWAT Raid9:43
    A Drug Raid Goes Viral: Radley Balko on the Missouri SWAT Raid
    ReasonVids
    902 views
    Thumbnail for We Shut Down State Mental Hospitals. Some Want to Bring Them Back.17:42
    We Shut Down State Mental Hospitals. Some Want to Bring Them Back.
    ReasonVids
    912 views
    Thumbnail for Bitcoin's Regulatory Nightmare Is About to Get More Frightening3:24
    Bitcoin's Regulatory Nightmare Is About to Get More Frightening
    ReasonVids
    1060 views
    Thumbnail for "Restore the Fourth Rally" Against NSA Surveillance2:34
    "Restore the Fourth Rally" Against NSA Surveillance
    ReasonVids
    1034 views
    Thumbnail for Pentagon Has 'Everything Must Go' Sale1:37
    Pentagon Has 'Everything Must Go' Sale
    ReasonVids
    872 views
    Thumbnail for Can FBI Cut Internet, Pose as Repairmen to Enter Your House? Don’t Cops Have Better Things to Do?!2:15
    Can FBI Cut Internet, Pose as Repairmen to Enter Your House? Don’t Cops Have Better Things to Do?!
    ReasonVids
    912 views
    Thumbnail for Stossel: Supreme Court Ruling May Crush Unions4:36
    Stossel: Supreme Court Ruling May Crush Unions
    ReasonVids
    1009 views
    Thumbnail for The Pilgrims and Property Rights: How our ancestors got fat & happy2:30
    The Pilgrims and Property Rights: How our ancestors got fat & happy
    ReasonVids
    968 views
    Thumbnail for A Tipping Point for School Choice: Lisa Snell on The Education Revolution25:00
    A Tipping Point for School Choice: Lisa Snell on The Education Revolution
    ReasonVids
    1006 views
    Thumbnail for Ken Burns: Prohibition, Drug Laws, & Unintended Consequences13:12
    Ken Burns: Prohibition, Drug Laws, & Unintended Consequences
    ReasonVids
    1041 views
    Thumbnail for Remy: Fake News1:58
    Remy: Fake News
    ReasonVids
    1014 views
    Thumbnail for 5 Things Libertarians Should Be Nervous About in 20173:00
    5 Things Libertarians Should Be Nervous About in 2017
    ReasonVids
    993 views

points

Permalink
Reply
dennis hof (tv actor)
,
brothel (industry)
,
prostitution (character occupation)
,
sex work
,
andy kaufman
,
bob zmuda
,
ron paul
,
elliot spitzer
,
anthony weiner
,
moonlite bunny ranch
,
cathouse
,
hbo cathouse
,
libertarian
,
reason tv
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle