Theaters closed in Rio

[mjd]

Urban renewal is taking its toll on the very cruisy theater scene in Rio. The Coral/Scala Theater in Botafogo has been torn down and the Rex/Alvim in Cinelandia is "closed for technical reasons", apparently permanently. It's a shame because these were great places to meet some very sexy guys. The Orly, around the corner from the Rex remains open and attendance seems to be up a bit from last year but certainly nothing like its heyday. Some of younger guys from the Rex now frequent the Sexy Rose adult video store which is in the same block. Sexy Rose has two floors of video booths and is frequently jammed, especially Monday afternoons, with cuties.

[trilingual]

I think I read in Globo a few weeks ago that the Rex is going to be recycled into something more presentable. Cinelandia, after years in the doldrums in coming back, and the seedy old spots in high-rent areas are probably doomed. However, unlike NY, this isn't being done for moralistic reasons, so the odds are high that the action will move on to one of the other theaters showing porno films. Brazilians are perpetually horny, it would seem, and they've gotta have some places to scratch those itches!!!