I passed by this makeshift adult video store set-up on I35 a number of times - Big Rig Video. It was one of those places that had been on my list of things I wanted to "investigate". It eventually closed down because shady things (drug deals, prostitution, robberies) were happening due to the nature of the business. Put a porno store - housed inside of 18 wheelers, no less - on the side of one of the busiest highways in the nation and you're bound to get a cosmos of crossed live wires.

Well, I finally made it and how beautiful it was! I crept ...
around with a sense of excitement beating in my chest, knowing I probably shouldn't walk behind the trailers because someone could be lurking but what a weird set up. When Big Rig Video was in operation I remember seeing people go in & out of the trailers themselves, which I imagined to be the video store. I wonder if you could rent videos, like a peep show kind of thing or jack shack. (There was a small shack off to the side - would that have been too obvious? Maybe it really was an office.)

Behind the two main trailers in front is one of those tin storage-type facilities. It was really close to the big rigs and there wasn't really a proper entrance. It seemed like an afterthought so it didn't seem like people would have gone in there. Maybe they just needed a secret password or something.

The inside was dark and wet and there were empty video boxes scattered all over the floor - arms, legs, breasts, buns, backs, long blonde hair, strap-ons, open mouths, knees, gag balls, fishnets and high heels were strewn all over the dark ground. There were a few black display cases like we used to see at Blockbuster before DVDs were around. Maybe that was the actual store or maybe that's where they kept their inventory. There were six other rigs. They must have been doing some serious business.

Here are more photos.

It's a wonder that this porn graveyard is still there years later and that the video boxes are still in decent condition. I thought I took a picture of the inside of that back facility but it hasn't surfaced anywhere yet. Maybe it'll be on the next roll of film I develop.

Somebody honked at me as I walked back to my car. Because they applauded my curiosity? More likely that they too have an appreciation for seedy things and missed the good ol' Big Rig Video times. My appreciation is both about aesthetics and about the social and psychological aspect of the sex industry. I got in my car feeling satisfied with my adventure but kind of sad I missed it in its prime.

I like the quiet and the desolateness of these kinds of alternative places off-hours, however I want to do a live project sometime. For me, photographing them is more about providing a sort of visual manifestation of me thinking about certain off-kilter subject matter, rather than offering a still-life photographic documentary.