HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

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

Views:2270
@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
    925 views
    Thumbnail for IJ Launches the Center for Judicial Engagement3:33
    IJ Launches the Center for Judicial Engagement
    IJvids
    904 views
    Thumbnail for Legalize Prostitution to Fight Sex Trafficking? Sex Workers Say "Yes"7:49
    Legalize Prostitution to Fight Sex Trafficking? Sex Workers Say "Yes"
    ReasonVids
    1008 views
    Thumbnail for Dating While Feminist | Grunt Speak Live1:53:04
    Dating While Feminist | Grunt Speak Live
    Terrence Popp
    1162 views
    Thumbnail for Are We Really Less Free Today? Sheldon Richman on the State of Liberty6:37
    Are We Really Less Free Today? Sheldon Richman on the State of Liberty
    ReasonVids
    943 views
    Thumbnail for Running a Food Truck Shouldn’t be this Hard1:41
    Running a Food Truck Shouldn’t be this Hard
    IJvids
    885 views
    Thumbnail for I Was Recommended For Nikke #vtuber #shorts | Pipkin Pippa Ch.【Phase Connect】0:27
    I Was Recommended For Nikke #vtuber #shorts | Pipkin Pippa Ch.【Phase Connect】
    invidious
    347 views
    Thumbnail for The Secret Website That Revealed Halo 2 (I Love Bees Mystery) | Rocket Sloth56:42
    The Secret Website That Revealed Halo 2 (I Love Bees Mystery) | Rocket Sloth
    invidious
    227 views
    Thumbnail for "Do You Have It Up Your Ass?": Drug Warriors in New Mexico Go Too Far4:30
    "Do You Have It Up Your Ass?": Drug Warriors in New Mexico Go Too Far
    ReasonVids
    3618 views
    Thumbnail for Author David Brin on Dogmatic Libertarians, Transparency, and Uplifting Dolphins10:08
    Author David Brin on Dogmatic Libertarians, Transparency, and Uplifting Dolphins
    ReasonVids
    923 views
    Thumbnail for Police Take $53k from Christian Orphanage & Refugees3:51
    Police Take $53k from Christian Orphanage & Refugees
    IJvids
    905 views
    Thumbnail for YOU CAN'T PARK THERE!!!2:17
    YOU CAN'T PARK THERE!!!
    bestofupgoat
    89 views
    Thumbnail for Minority Rule:  The rise of political correctness (Byron Jost)57:34
    Minority Rule: The rise of political correctness (Byron Jost)
    bestofupgoat
    458 views
    Thumbnail for Should Women Be Allowed to Rent Their Wombs?6:38
    Should Women Be Allowed to Rent Their Wombs?
    ReasonVids
    904 views
    Thumbnail for Whoops0:09
    Whoops
    bestofupgoat
    58 views
    Thumbnail for Peter Thiel on Facebook, Technology, and the Higher Education Bubble9:41
    Peter Thiel on Facebook, Technology, and the Higher Education Bubble
    ReasonVids
    862 views
    Thumbnail for IJ's Chip Mellor Discusses Government Mandated Licensing With John Stossel (1 of 3)9:58
    IJ's Chip Mellor Discusses Government Mandated Licensing With John Stossel (1 of 3)
    IJvids
    933 views
    Thumbnail for Bull Pops original content1:10
    Bull Pops original content
    bestofupgoat
    182 views
    Thumbnail for Libertarians Should Be More Optimistic About the Future: The Freeman's Max Borders6:48
    Libertarians Should Be More Optimistic About the Future: The Freeman's Max Borders
    ReasonVids
    1056 views
    Thumbnail for she want some chicken!2:15
    she want some chicken!
    bestofupgoat
    284 views
    Thumbnail for Cops Shutdown Jerry Seinfeld; What's Up with Lemonade Stands? (Nanny of the Month, Aug ‘15)1:25
    Cops Shutdown Jerry Seinfeld; What's Up with Lemonade Stands? (Nanny of the Month, Aug ‘15)
    ReasonVids
    857 views
    Thumbnail for Culture Jamming with Extinction Rebellion - #PropagandaWatch12:40
    Culture Jamming with Extinction Rebellion - #PropagandaWatch
    corbettreport_uo
    2006 views
    Thumbnail for remember when Hillary said "we're all gonna hang"?2:49
    remember when Hillary said "we're all gonna hang"?
    bestofupgoat
    466 views
    Thumbnail for MUST WATCH:  Citizens United Debate Trailer1:17
    MUST WATCH: Citizens United Debate Trailer
    IJvids
    947 views
    Thumbnail for Can I eat it? | Jehtt0:20
    Can I eat it? | Jehtt
    invidious
    433 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