Declining attendance and an apparent drop in local tourism is forcing the Erotic Museum to close for good on Saturday.
“We never received any public money and we never asked for it,” said Boris Smorodinsky, the privately owned museum’s chief executive.
“We had to count on the tourists and visitors who came into the museum, but it was always insufficient. It never covered the costs.”
So when attendance dropped this year, the museum’s days were numbered. Despite attempts to find investors and even a buyer for the fledgling venue, it all came for naught Wednesday when a final attempt to secure a buyer fell through.
“We tried to work something out, but it didn’t work,” Smorodinsky said.
A museum that housed classic original photos of Marilyn Monroe, a set of 7-foot tall Russian dolls made up in bondage gear along with a display outlining the San Fernando Valley porn industry and other items, will officially close its doors Saturday night at 9.
Not so much a result of economics, but because of a lack of cultural acceptance, Smorodinsky said.
“I don’t think people were comfortable with a museum that dealt with sexuality,” he said.
“They either didn’t get our message or we just couldn’t deliver the message that this place is educational.”
The museum, 6741 Hollywood Blvd. will remain open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday and from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, giving Smorodinsky a chance to sell its artifacts and displays before the museum is gone forever.
“Now, I’m just trying to find these things a home,” he said.
Those interested in purchasing artifacts and other museum assets may contact Smorodinsky at (323) 228-6730 or e-mail him at [email protected] by Monday.
Looking back on the museum’s inception, Smorodinsky felt there was reason to believe the venture would be successful at first.
“In our preliminary market research, we found many survey respondents open to such a unique, intellectual and stimulating experience as the museum currently offers,” he said.
“However, given a real opportunity to explore their sexuality in an open and educational forum, people tended to be much shyer than we anticipated. Very often we saw couples linger at the door, unsure if they wanted to come in.”
Museum owner Mark Volper blamed the saturation of sex in the media along with current events that led to the drop in attendance.
“Sex is everywhere these days,” he said.
“There is a change in the way people are consuming sex as a product these days. That combined with the recent natural disaster, the war, a drop in tourism. It’s been a tough time for a controversial entertainment institution.”
Opened in 2004 with much fanfare, the museum hosted a number of major artists such as Andres Serrano Tom and Mel Roberts, along with such personalities as Playboy founder Hugh M. Hefner, AVN Hall of Famer Ron Jeremy and others attracted to special events and functions such as a celebration of Hefner’s Birthday, remembrances of Marilyn Monroe and late artist Andy Warhol and other programs.
Among its permanent exhibits are nude etchings by Pablo Picasso which were only revealed years after his death. Other exhibits included a series of nude color photographs of Marilyn Monroe taken by Tom Kelley, one of which graced the cover of Playboy’s first issue.
The museum also owns a 1948 porn movie said to be of Marilyn Monroe by some experts, but Monroe’s estate has repeatedly denied this. The museum itself touts the film to be that of a woman who may be the late actress.
But one of its more famous exhibits is on the late porn actor John Holmes, born John Curtis Estes in 1948. Holmes was known for his legendary foot-long penis as well as his performing abilities before his death in 1988.
But even as its exhibits continued to attract modest crowds, the museum could never catch up to its growing costs.
“It’s a troubled time for L.A. County for the museum business in general,” said curator Eric Singley.
“We understand other museums dedicated to sexuality in the United States have not been meeting their expectations either.”
The museum is online at www.theeroticmuseum.com.
