The Block is a group of buildings on the 400 block of East Baltimore Street in Baltimore, Maryland, containing several strip clubs, sex shops, and other adult entertainment merchants. During the 19th century, Baltimore was filled with brothels, and in the first half of the 20th century, it was famous for its burlesque houses. It was a noted starting point and stop-over for many noted burlesque dancers, including the likes of Blaze Starr.
By the 1950s, the clubs became seedier, as burlesque was replaced by strip clubs and sex shops. The Block of that era is featured prominently in several films, notably Barry Levinson's Liberty Heights and Diner, as well as Steve Yeager's independent feature drama On The Block, with Howard Rollins.
The decades to follow would bring a marked increase in general crime, sex work, and drug dealing, an unusual situation considering the location of Baltimore's Police Headquarters and Central Police District House at the east end of the block. It has been suggested that the police, whose headquarters are located right next to The Block, chose to contain the prostitution and drug dealing in that small section of Baltimore rather than combat it.
The passing decades would see a shrinking of the area. Once several blocks long, stretching almost to Charles Street in the central part of downtown Baltimore, today The Block only stretches about two blocks long from South Street to Gay Street.
A five alarm fire on December 6, 2010, heavily damaged four buildings, including the building that formerly housed the Gayety Theater. The fire was believed to be an act of arson.
History
Development of brothels
At the beginning of the 19th century, the growing population, low wages, and political corruption in Baltimore led to an environment that allowed sex work to flourish. As the sex industry began to grow, many other businesses and individuals benefited from the proceeds of the industry. Madams and sex workers were "easy targets" due to their low social status, so it was common for them to be extorted by businesses and individuals.
In 1913, the Maryland Vice Commission was established.
From the report, the Maryland Vice Commissions formed several recommendations. They recommended that sex work be suppressed for health reasons, claiming that sex wasn't a necessity for men, and that promiscuous sex would lead to mental health issues. The report also discussed that brothels were unsanitary places that led to alcohol abuse and gambling. The Block was still standing and consisted of penny arcades and vaudevilles.
Sex work after brothels
Federal prohibition was repealed in 1933, and shortly after, the Block was filled with strip bars that were occupied by many sex workers. and it is defined as the "performance of a sexual act, sexual contact, or vaginal intercourse for hire". The act of prostitution is a misdemeanor and is subject to up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both. Lastly, receiving money from prostitutes is illegal as well, such as being a pimp, and anyone convicted to doing so is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Although the penalties for sex work may seem small in comparison to other crimes, having these specific penalties on one's record are typically extremely harmful. It is a permanent criminal record that can cause someone to lose their job or have difficulties securing houses or a spot at a university or graduate school.