Comments on: A Visual History Of Boston’s Combat Zone

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:42:00 +0000

Hi Violet— I’m writing about striptease and the CZ and would be interested in knowing more about your experiences– if you get this email me at jessicaberson@yahoo.com. Thanks!

By: Zoner32

Zoner32 — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Lost my car once there lol, went bar hopping, and walked 3 hrs until I found it, not to mention getting my wallet stolen and chasing the hooker into an dark alley where It was me, her, and her 6″5″ pimp who looked at me like I was nuts and said what you doin here? I said Hey just want my wallet back, stunned , he gave it back (less cash) but gave me all my papers , license etc….told me to turn around and leave and dont come back….Geez I always remember wondering if he was gonna shoot my sorry drunk ass , but I guess he though i either had huge cojones or just plain stupid and felt sorry for me , lol

By: jim

jim — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:37:00 +0000

I am 51 years old and grew up with the mystique of The Zone in my house everyday. Throught most of the 60s and early70s my dad worked there.

I was wondering if anyone out there might remember him.

In the 60s he worked at The Sugar Shack and then later went on to run some of the bookstores.

His name was Carlo. If anyone knows anything of him or has any memories, I would like to hear them.

Please, email me at Sonny21043@aol.com.
@aol:disqus�
Please, put Carlo in the subject box. Thank you.

By: Violet

Violet — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:49:00 +0000

I worked at several places in the Combat Zone in 1967-68, including the Pussy Cat lounge (see last pic above). I had more trouble with the owners than I ever did with customers!

I can’t speak for the other clubs, but the clubs I worked at had pretty girls—VERY pretty girls. We had to audition to show we could dance, we had to have nice figures and pretty faces, or we’d be told to go elsewhere. This was before topless, so we had to have pretty faces, be friendly, and be creative with our costumes and our dancing ability since we didn’t have nudity to capture the customers’ attention.

I have no regrets about my time in the CZ. It was far from a degrading experience: quite the contrary, it was very empowering! I was coming out of a bad marriage, had no work skills, and two little kids. Dancing in the Zone gave me money enough to live on and to eventually get out of Boston and back to the West Coast (my home) where I continued working as a dancer for another 4 years.

No troubles, no hassles, no regrets.

(Oh, and for those of you who think we were all druggies, consider this: the person who gave me my first joint was a “straight” guy–he worked as a junior high school teacher!–not someone in one of the clubs! Maybe I was naive, but when I worked the clubs there, I didn’t see dope. If we needed something, we hit up the bartender for a freebie!)

By: Dawn Govender

Dawn Govender — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:42:00 +0000

I can remember it years ago—it really wasn’t that bad. There were beat cops everywhere, the streets were brightly lit, and the clubs had big bouncers who took their jobs seriously. The clubs were great for a night out dancing…live bands, lots of people, drinks weren’t that expensive. At least that is how it was in the late 60s.

By: Acapete

Acapete — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:42:00 +0000

I was on board the wasp the same years as you.
What division were you in?Pete

By: Acapete

Acapete — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:42:00 +0000

I was on board the wasp the same years as you.
What division were you in?Pete

By: Partinlawtontanya

Partinlawtontanya — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:52:00 +0000

What are you talking about? There were white guys everywhere.

By: Therevv

Therevv — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:47:00 +0000

I used to hang around the Zone back in the 60′s. Me and a couple of guys were walking down the street one night when we saw someone lying in the street. When we asked a guy in a doorway what happened, he said, “a smart man would keep on walkin’”, which we did.

By: LesleeAlln

LesleeAlln — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:24:00 +0000

Julie,
I have read a few of your posts and I feel the same way you do about that time. My name was Amber and I danced at the Teddybear until it closed. We all left pictures there for the workers who were going to tear down the place. I loved working there and I loved the bartenders and Bucky. Yes, they did help us all through all the delightful drama!!

By: LesleeAlln

LesleeAlln — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:29:00 +0000

You were probably the one who said “She’s ok if you like to see a woman chewing bubble gum”. I was pretty and was amazed at the amount of beauty that surrounded me. I thought the audiences were fabulous!! I was Amber. I will always miss the fun of that long bar as a stage. Loved it, and the friends I made and all the bar tenders (ERNIE RIP) and Teddy Venus treated me like a queen. I loved the band also!! Love You 2′OClock Club!! China Town After Also!!!

By: Tanya Partin Lawton

Tanya Partin Lawton — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:10:00 +0000

God knows those days are way over for me. I am studying to be a minister full-time in the ministry. I would to help anyone that use to do this and one’s that are in it presently to be saved. These are the ‘Last Days and the places that still remain are ‘Sodom and Gomorah’.

By: David

David — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:55:00 +0000

I had a business in the “Zone” for 20 years legal as well as Boston Police supported,” illegal” dispite the opinions that it was a bad area in those days, people from every walk of life visited our streets after dark, after the freedom trail visits, after the Boston Common visits with those family swan boat rides, everybody made there way to the “Zone” to look, get involved, take in a show, buy some adult supplies, along with the fulfillment of some good old fashion american red blooded tax paying, church going , sexual freedoms so keep in mind the “Zone” would have never been what it was had it not had the blessings of the local law inforcement, as long as they got there cut!!…..

By: David

David — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:35:00 +0000

been there done that !

By: Julie Lawson

Julie Lawson — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:51:00 +0000

Johnny can you tell me the cross streets of The Mousetrap? – write me at julie713@cox.net

By: Partinlawtontanya

Partinlawtontanya — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:47:00 +0000

This is good for knowledge of such places. I have a history there myself.

By: Julie713

Julie713 — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:22:00 +0000

You are right Carolyn , it had all the elements you mention. Some of us were burdened by our conscience. A real spiritual dilemma. and still it was a fascinating experience – and Carolyn in case you hadn’t noticed life outside the Combat Zone.. ya know, in the real world including middle class and upper middle class mom & dads and kids and adults, teachers, priests, lawyers, Boy Scout leaders also struggle with addiction, violence, objectification of women, drugs, alcohol etc.. at least the Zone gave struggling women enough money to put themselves through college, give their children what they needed, have some fun being theatrical and choose whether or not they would do drugs, alcohol, prostitution and feel belittled.. or empowered.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:11:00 +0000

Too bad you never saw the women I saw. Some real beauties and I was one of them!

By: Can of Worms « Back Bay Baby

Can of Worms « Back Bay Baby — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:48:36 +0000

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By: Rawart90

Rawart90 — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:10:00 +0000

“if only to sit in King of Pizza and people watch” ( sounds like me! lol ) I did that all the time and I walked those streets @ all hours ( had to if I wanted to return the Coast Guard Base! ) I never was afraid or had a bad incident there. circa 1969-71 alumni, lol, Glenn