Glory holes. You may or may not have heard the term. Often featured in straight porn, it involves two people and two rooms that are connected by a small hole. The hole is for exactly what you think it’s for, to put your dick through. The main appeal of a glory hole is not knowing who is on the other side, but usually, it’s a mouth, and sometimes it’s another hole. Some people never even meet the person on the other side, but that is part of the kink.
Now, there are glory holes that are featured in made-up porn movies, and then there is the reality of them. In most adult films that feature them, there is often a beautiful young woman who is eager to service whatever is given to them without complaints or hesitation. Usually, on the other side is a moderately attractive man with an unrealistic-sized member. They do the dirty, and the deed is done, and they part ways with nary a regret. That is how glory holes are primarily viewed by those who don’t know better. I’m going to break a lot of hearts by lifting the curtain to show the reality of every man’s fantasy.
Generally, glory holes exist in the most unusual locations—truck stops, gym locker rooms, public parks, bathhouses, and even mall bathrooms. That’s right...while shopping for that perfect top, some guy is getting his freak on not too far away. One of my customers told me about a glory hole he found in a port-o-potty. But the most common place to find them is where they are openly featured—adult arcades. Arcades are an addition to many adult stores that sell sex toys, X-rated DVDs, and lingerie. Usually, if there is an arcade, up to half of them are glory holes. Adult arcades are individual booths intended for one person (although in the state of Oregon, you can have multiple people in one booth). Each booth has a machine that you put dollars or tokens into (depending on the place), and it plays porn. Usually, there are channels that feature categories you can choose from, such as interracial, lesbian, gay, fetish, MILF or mature woman, BDSM, trans, etc.
Sex laws are different in every state and county. In Washington and California, the arcades don’t have full doors. They have half doors, and you aren’t allowed to touch yourself. Even in adult-themed theaters, it is still illegal to touch yourself, and you can be arrested and charged as a sex offender.
I started working in an adult store two years ago. I’ve worked in two stores in different locations with the same company. Both stores feature arcades. In fact, arcades were, at one point, its main appeal. However, arcade sales have declined in recent years. Websites such as Pornhub or XVideos have free movies at your fingertips, and the cruising community now primarily uses hook-up apps to meet each other. With such technology still rapidly growing and becoming so accessible, arcades are being used less and less. While I don’t believe they’ll ever become obsolete, I do think that such an old-school concept will have to adjust in this ever-evolving world of technology. Some of my customers have been frequenting these stores for longer than I’ve been alive, and they have witnessed firsthand the rise and fall of the sex industry. It’s a fascinating history that is not for the faint of heart.
Contrary to popular belief, there is not just one type of person that frequents adult stores. Often, the media portrays a single type of clientele that you’d expect. They are often older men, unwashed, ugly, creepy, and perverted (not in a good way). And while those types do exist, they make up a smaller percentage than expected.
My customers come in all shapes and sizes, ages, and backgrounds. I’ve met healthcare workers, pilots, flight attendants, teachers, paramedics, welders, chiropractors, journalists, photographers, mail carriers, construction workers, marines, zookeepers, artists, and the list goes on. In fact, chances are that you have probably met some and never would have known it. I am often asked if I have ever used "the back rooms," and some people work in these stores while also frequenting them. I, however, am not one of them. In fact, the company I work for specifically will not hire customers for obvious reasons. It’s been a problem in the past. It’s not that I feel superior to any of my customers or that I think the act is below me. I simply had no idea they existed before I started working in them! I literally found out the truth as I was being interviewed. You can probably imagine what that felt like. However, now that I have decided on a career in the sex industry, specifically being the keeper of the porn and managing arcades, it’s important to me that I keep it separated from my personal life. At least if I want to keep my job (which I do).
The arcades in the store I run are divided into two rows. On one side are the infamous glory holes, and on the other are private rooms. Each booth is an individual room that is about the size of an average bathroom in an apartment complex. Each booth has a machine that takes bills up to $20 and cards in five-dollar increments. You get about three minutes per dollar, but if you use a bigger bill, you get more time. The booths also have a lock for privacy, but the staff has keys, and managers have their own set as well. Sometimes, staff will need to get a non-payer out by forcing their way in. The same is true for those who may have done too many drugs, passed out, and need medical attention.
You may be wondering what the point of the lock is. Arcades attract a variety of people with different sexual preferences. The cruising community can be aggressive and too forward at times. I’ve had gay men grope straight men who have already denied their advances. Stores try hard to eliminate this behavior when they can. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen often. A lock on a door, whether it’s useful or not, provides a feeling of security when people have their pants down. I think everyone can relate to that.
Generally, every store has a different clientele. It all depends on the location. At the first store I worked at, we had more variety. Being a colossal-sized store, they have a theater or "Sinema," in addition to the arcades. So, in addition to the cruisers, we would get swinger couples (open relationships that sleep with other couples), straight and bisexual men and women, couples with the intent of trying something new and branching out with sexual experiences, and the occasional prostitute. Entry to the Sinema requires the purchase of a ticket. Prices vary from store to store or company to company. At my store, women and couples could get in for free. With that bit of information, you can probably guess who uses the Sinema the most.
All theaters are different. Some, like the recently closed Oregon Theater in Portland, Oregon, was set up like an actual theater. They all have comfortable chairs and sofas (a whole new meaning to "love seat") for people wearing very little clothing. Some theaters have one screen showing one movie at a time, while others have multiple screens in different sections of one big room.
Since men are the primary patrons of the theater at the store I worked in, it’s not very often we get a single woman who is by herself and just wants to have fun. In those rare moments, I will warn newcomers about what to expect when entering the room. Many horny men will lose sight of common decency in that kind of setting. Too many times, I’ve watched a curious lone woman go into the theater and run back out in less than a minute. The reason being the army of penises that will charge this poor girl just looking to satisfy a curiosity streak. Therefore, I always advise a newcomer to bring a friend, or what we sometimes call a "spotter." Someone who can be an onlooker to provide a feeling of security. After all, the whole point of these establishments is to have fun.
There are women who have experience and no problem going by themselves. These ladies know what to expect; they generally end up having a good time because they feel safe and secure. I should add that all stores’ number one priority is safety and legality. For any business in the sex industry, this must be the most important. It takes a great deal of effort to make sure we don’t cater to any illegal activity such as prostitution and drug distribution, as well as making sure every patron is over 18 and has valid documentation to prove it. As I learned early on, trouble never carries ID. When you’ve submerged yourself in this environment for an extended period, you develop a very good inner instinct that can spot trouble immediately. Too often, I have overruled my gut feeling instead of acting upon it in a particular situation and ended up regretting it. It’s all a learning process.
Working in the sex industry isn’t for the average person. I don’t think anyone ever intends to make a career in it; sex work, no matter what position, is very happenstance—it’s never planned. I guess there are rare exceptions that I don’t know about, but I’ve never heard of one. Answering the common question of what’s your line of work always comes with a long-winded explanation. Unlike being able to say, "oh, I’m a lawyer," usually there is at least one question when I tell someone I work in a porn store. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You never truly know where you belong until you find it, and when you do, nothing can replace that feeling. I don’t know if this is the career I’ll be at for the rest of my working life, but maybe it is. But it sure is a hell of a lot of fun and more interesting than any other job I’ve had in the past. Besides, I’ve always been terminally unconventional.
Atticus Rexx is a Portland native, wanna-be graphic artist, and a gutter punk at heart who never left the 90s. When she isn’t writing, she can be found bouncing from one unfinished project to another or running a porn store. Find Atticus Rexx on Instagram @quinzelaple.
