The world’s oldest profession ain’t what it used to be as these abandoned brothels, bordellos and bawdy houses so sleazily show.

Oh brothels, where art thou? Brothels can be found just about anywhere regardless of any local legal injunctions prohibiting their existence. Where they ARE permitted – the state of Nevada, for example – savvy owners often locate as close as possible to places that ban them. Flickr user Joel Childers (Vacant West) brings us these artfully (and eerily) lit images of Janie’s Ranch taken in early 2010.

Janie’s Ranch is situated on Nevada Highway 6 between Tonopah, Nevada and Bishop, California. Janie’s, which closed in the 1990s, used to advertise their sleazy services in California border towns including Bishop and Mammoth Lakes.

The Caged Bird Swings

Brothels were commonplace in the oft-lawless Old West. Precious few of these then-essential establishments have been preserved as well as the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona.

Operating from 1881 through 1889 (Wyatt Earp met his third wife there), the combination brothel, saloon and casino was shuttered until 1934 when new owners discovered a lost world frozen in time. Over 120 bullet holes (some with embedded slugs) can be found in the building’s walls, floors and ceilings. The place’s motto should’ve been “wham, BLAM, thank you ma’am.”

Ghosts Of Pleasures Past

The ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada exploded into being in 1905 when gold was discovered nearby. The mines quickly played out, however, causing the town’s population to plummet from a high of about 5,000 to just 1 in 1922. The small but solidly-built brothel above, captured in 2008 by Flickr user Jitze Couperus, boasted an innovative roof made from flattened kerosene cans. Now that’s hot!

It’s Curtains For Ya

Bobbie’s Buckeye Bar & Brothel had been closed and abandoned for quite some time when Flickr user Bradley Fulton (escapo) chanced upon its remains in 2006. The Tonopah, Nevada brothel appeared to be a rather large and well-organized business with “nicely” furnished quarters for the working girls.

The warm & fuzzy atmosphere infusing these photos was achieved through the photographer’s use of cross-processing on expired film – appropriate for an expired brothel. Of course, nothing can beat the cheesiness of those painted-on curtains!

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Oh Brothel 12 Abandoned Houses Of Ill Repute

Fleeting moments of pleasure, a lifetime of neglect: that pretty much sums up the Queen Chateau soapland, a now-abandoned “brothel with baths” in Mito, Japan.

The Queen of Clean

(image via: Michael John Grist)

The abandoned Queen Chateau in Mito, two-hours northeast of Tokyo, epitomizes the often gauche and over-the-top architecture commonly displayed by Japan’s legions of Love Hotels and Soaplands. The latter, for those unfamiliar with the term, are thinly-disguised brothels where male clients are “bathed” and ahem, catered to by female attendants. Feeling hung out to dry in Japan? You must be at a soapland!

(images via: Mike’s Blender, Seb and Redjunction)

Formerly known as toruko-buro (literally “Turkish Bath”), the popular descriptor for these establishments was changed to the more innocuous “Soapland” in 1984 following a successful campaign by offended Turkish scholar Nusret Sancakli. It was decided that a nationwide contest would be held to determine what new term should be used for such establishments and Soapland was the winner. Only in Japan, amiright? In any case, the semantic switch occurred right around the time of the Queen Chateau’s grand opening in April of 1984.

Let’s Get Carded

(images via: Michael John Grist and Totoro Times)

The Queen Chateau soapland is situated on a hill in Mito’s otherwise-thriving red light district, a location that accentuates its multistory castle-inspired layout. If “Dracula” was remade by Vivid Video, this would be the Count’s bachelor pad. A tile mosaic of a playing card Queen – probably the Queen of Hearts though no suit is indicated – extends three-quarters of the way up the front facade. Impressive from afar, up close the many missing tiles reveal the extent of the building’s decay since it was abandoned.

(images via: Mike’s Blender and Michael John Grist)

A ground-level view from intrepid Haikyo (modern ruins) explorer Michael John Grist is a surreal scene that simply screams “neglect”. Rampant weed overgrowth and an accumulation of detritus & debris shroud the blocked main entrance, forcing any curious urban explorers and/or local homeless types (one of whom is rumored to have died inside) to gain egress via the back entrance formerly used by the hired help.

Welcome to the Pleasure Doom

(images via: Totoro Times)

As is SOP with most semi-shady erotic operations of this nature, the actual service providers received few considerations from the shadowy operators. In the case of the Queen Chateau soapland, the “staff” of 10 had only a windowless, communal basement room to retreat to when not on duty. The room’s furniture consisted of 6 bunk-beds and just outside are the ruins of a small dining room and a tiny bathroom.

(image via: Totoro Times)

A narrow concrete corridor leads from the staff area to the first floor lobby, where the main focal point is a disturbingly defaced mural of three charming bath companions. Can you say “sleazy”? I knew you could! A semicircular front desk did double duty as the building’s communications hub while off to one side, a sweeping stairway with an ornate wrought iron bannister beckoned clients to the nirvana awaiting them on the upper floors.

Please Don’t Stair

(images via: Michael John Grist and Seb)

Nowadays a different sort of reward is promised to those contemplating higher pursuits: the Japanese graffiti at the foot of the stairs reads “If you go upstairs you will die.” Since philosophically speaking (and to paraphrase a quote from the film Heavy Metal) “I die, you die, we all die” eventually, ignoring the warning and making the fateful climb won’t really change things in the long run. Luckily for you and I, brave urban explorers Michael John Grist, Jordy Meow and the jolly gang from 28 Days Later among others have photo-documented their experiences on our behalf.

(image via: Totoro Times)

The road to Hell might be paved with good intentions but this stairway to heaven – sorry, Page & Plant – is carpeted with vermilion and gold shag… that last word is in no way coincidental.

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Royal Blush Japans Abandoned Queen Chateau Soapland

Viagra was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for ED (erectile dysfunction) on this date in 1998, and the world of interpersonal relationships would never be the same again. To celebrate Pfizer’s wunderkind officially entering its teenage years, let’s review in words and pictures the titillating tale of the “Little Blue Pill”.

Hard Times Are Here Again!

(images via: Covertress and Jack’s Blog)

You won’t ever hear the tag line “I was a teenaged treatment for impotence,” but on March 27, 2011, that’s exactly what Viagra became. That Pfizer’s massively successful male libido (among other things) booster is now officially an all-sexed-up-and-no-place-to-go adolescent is mildly amusing at best, somewhat ironic to say the least. Has it really been 13 whole years since the FDA officially gave new hope to ED sufferers who’ve tried everything from eye of newt to penile implants in a never-ending effort to make a stand?

(images via: eCampus, Doctor Healthy and Change.org)

Viagra, or Sildenafil Citrate if we use the chemical name for the compound, was first synthesized in the early 1990s by a team of pharmaceutical chemists working for Pfizer Incorporated at a facility in Sandwich, Kent, UK. Though the team was testing a variety of different formulations intended to relieve Hypertension and ease symptoms of Angina Pectoris, early clinical trials soon revealed an unintended side effect: male participants were subject to pronounced, long-lasting erections.

(image via: Viagra FAQ)

Pfizer immediately grasped the possibilities Sildenafil offered and switched the focus of the compound from high blood pressure to the relief of ED (erectile dysfunction). Subsequent events proceeded with great speed: a patent was granted in 1996 and the FDA approved Viagra’s use in the treatment of ED on March 27 of 1998.

Sex Sells

(images via: Flow TV, Stuff God Hates and Fun Foll)

Within months, Viagra became available in the United States. Marketing of the so-called “miracle drug” was both novel and unusual: Viagra was (and still is) only available via a doctor’s prescription but Pfizer publicized it through a memorable TV ad campaign featuring notable celebrities such as Brazilian soccer legend Pele and former U.S. Senator Bob Dole. Doctors were writing prescriptions seemingly by request; it was even possible to order the drug over the internet simply by filling out a short online consultation.

(images via: Bizaims, Buzzle, Accessrx and Paper Chipmunk)

Between Pfizer’s ad campaign, frank discussions in the media, jokes aplenty from late night talk show hosts and grassroots word-of-mouth, Viagra’s sales zoomed skywards like, er, the private parts of its growing legion of users. After just three years in the marketplace, Pfizer had raked in over $1 billion worth of sales. Indeed, the “Little Blue Pill” arrived with a bang and the banging just goes on and on – with no signs of it petering out.

(images via: NRC Handelsblad, Stuff God Hates and Planet Lynx)

Viagra has even been employed to stiffen our resolve in the War On Terror. It seems that in December of 2008, rumors began making the rounds to the effect that the CIA had been supplying Viagra to older Afghan tribal chieftains. What they received in exchange was “a bonanza of information about Taliban movements and supply routes.” Harem scarem indeed!

Singin’ The Blues

(image via: William Rabbe)

Yet not all was bright and rosy in the new, non-dysfunctional world Viagra has given us. In fact, there are several parties worried about the ways society has changed due to the Little Blue Pill. Criticism began as soon as ads for Viagra began flashing across our TV screens. Bob Dole, for example, was criticized for lending his name and reputation to topics that made some folks squeamish.

Here’s a commercial featuring Bob Dole in which he credits “my faithful little blue friend” for restoring his enjoyment of life… it’s not quite what you were thinking:

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Dole aside, just the fact that commercials mentioning ED, erections and associated issues were playing in prime time sparked a backlash among pro-family organizations and advertising watchdog groups.

(images via: OddJack, How Stuff Works, PharmaGossip and One Man’s Blog)

Of course, television commercials aren’t the only way sponsors can get their message onto your TV screen. Next time you watch a sports event, don’t be too surprised if six blue letters beginning with V appear on a baseball backstop, the boards at an NHL hockey game or splashed across the side of a NASCAR racer. Even though MLB ended their sponsorship with Viagra in 2007 due to changes in pharma TV guidelines, stadium and arena owners presumably are free to accept paid advertising from anyone who’s willing to pay for it.

(image via: Asia Blog)

Associating one’s product with sports is one way to impart a sense of power and virility. Another way is to simply whip up the most powerful ad EVAR (above), as ad agency Dentsu did for Viagra in China. Yes, China, an overpopulated country of over a billion people that has instituted a one-child policy to put a lid on new kids. Go figure.

(images via: Automopedia and Cheezburger.com)

Complaints about marketing are one thing, problems with Viagra itself are another and it didn’t take long before the mainstream media was playing quite a different tune: the blues, to be exact. A few high-profile cases highlighted side effects and contraindications noted by Pfizer in Viagra’s clinical trials. One of the oddest of these was Cyanopsia – a medical term that describes seeing everything tinged with a blue tint. Other vision issues include photophobia (excessive sensitivity to light), impaired vision, blurred vision and loss of peripheral vision. Viagra and its competitors, including Cialis and Levitra, may induce the expression of other unwanted effects that may include headaches, sudden hearing loss and a range of heart-related problems.

Thrill Pills For Bills… and Jills

(images via: Drugstore 1st, Buy Viagra and Answers.com)

Viagra’s superlative success and cheeky ads have been admired by competitors both legitimate and otherwise – if one follows the old maxim “imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” Consider that sales of Viagra accounted for a whopping 92 percent share of the total market for prescribed erectile dysfunction pills. All good things must come to an end, however, and by 2007 Viagra’s global share of the ED-treatment market had deflated to around 50 percent. Still, that’s still a hefty slice of a huge “pie”.

(image via: Natural Viagra)

Viagra has dominated the ED-treatment market to the point where its brand name is becoming a descriptive term: generic Viagra, herbal Viagra, natural Viagra and more. Email spammers found Vitamin V to be a lucrative lure for lovelorn ‘net lurkers who just can’t help clicking that link.

(images via: Andelino’s Weblog, Zelda Lily and TIME)

Huge market notwithstanding, Pfizer’s finest finds its foremost friends in just 50 percent of the population. Could there be a counterpart to Viagra that fans the fires of the fairer sex? A “Female Viagra”, as it were? A quick Google search turns up abundant references to Little Pink Pills, many of them sporting the same rounded diamond shape as its original inspiration though a few go for the more obvious heart shape.

(images via: Wiley Online Library, The Front Loader, DiBo Bio Health and The Inspiration Room)

Pfizer itself hasn’t been asleep at the switch when it comes to Female Viagra. A study published in the April 13, 2010 issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology describes “UK-414,495, a selective inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase, potentiates pelvic nerve-stimulated increases in female genital blood flow in the anaesthetized rabbit.” Yes, rabbit – being a Pfizer pharmacologist isn’t as much fun as one might think. Is an actual Female Viagra on the horizon? Pfizer isn’t saying… and neither are those rabbits.

Birthday Blowout

(images via: Ads of the World and Cake Central)

Pfizer has always taken Viagra’s humorous aspects in stride, which is perhaps easy to do since the revenues keep pouring into the company’s coffers. The item above makes a great way to close our look at the pill that brings America’s sweethearts back together: it’s a Viagra-themed party blower. Pfizer commissioned Canadian advertising agency Taxi to design the blowers, which were given out to internal sales teams in honor of Viagra’s 11th birthday. Why a party blower? Well, you blow into it, it unrolls… and you get the picture. Happy Birthday, Viagra, and here’s hoping all your good times will be hard times!