A Boomtown for Pornography

Houston belatedly tries to combat an unwanted growth industry

In the every-man-for-himself tradition that has made the Texas brand of individualism legendary, Houston has always shied away from the idea of zoning. It refused to govern growth even during the years when the town was lunging and sprawling its way to becoming the nation's fourth-largest city (pop. 1,726,000). Now Houstonians are beginning to notice that big corporations and the builders of futuristic skyscrapers have not been the only beneficiaries of the unregulated boom. Their town has become a leading contender for a little coveted title: America's Pornography Capital.

Houston sports a pornucopia of nude encounter parlors, nude dancing clubs, hard-core...

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