Baltimore's The Block is a stretch on the 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 s, the clubs became seedier, as burlesque was replaced by strip clubs and sex shops. 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, , heavily damaged four buildings, including the building that formerly housed the Gayety Theater.
The fire was believed to be an act of arson. 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. Brothel landlords were able to make a large income from the industry without being directly involved, which prevented their reputation from being ruined. It was known that madams had a hefty income, and brothel landlords used this as a way to exploit them. They charged madams more for rent because of the risk associated with renting to a madam and inflated monthly rents since madams had limited options and could afford a higher rent.
Hatters, sailors, and teachers were all found to be brothel landlords in East Baltimore in the mids. Another consistent source of income for brothels was alcohol sales. In Baltimore, the type of alcohol sold at brothels distinguished their social status. Low-class brothels sold beer and hard liquor, middle-class brothels sold wine, and high-class brothels sold champagne. Clients would sometimes come to brothels and hang out for a while before purchasing sex, and the sale of alcohol allowed brothels to still make money while clients did this.
