Lost place
Circus of Books
1960 – 2019
Circus of Books, also known as Chi Chi LaRue's Circus, is a bookstore and gay pornography shop in West Hollywood, California. It was established in the 1960s as "Book Circus", and in the past also had branches in the Silver Lake and Sherman Oaks neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
As notable Los Angeles gay cruising spots of the late 20th Century, both the West Hollywood and Silver Lake locations are now considered important sites of Los Angeles' gay history.
Why it's on the map
The Silver Lake branch closed on August 8, 2016.
(A marijuana dispensary occupies the former space, although the original sign remains.) The West Hollywood location closed on February 9, 2019, with the owners' daughter Rachel Mason, an artist, musician, and filmmaker, stating that the easy accessibility of gay pornography and cruising apps like Grindr replaced the need for a spot like Circus of Books.
Source: Wikipedia / Wikidata
Nearby
Here Before Us