Strip Club Owner Raises Ire With New Sign
By Associated Press
2 hours ago

LOS ANGELES - For years, Howard White has advertised
his strip club near Los Angeles International Airport
with a not too subtle marquee reading "Live Nude Nude
Nudes." But some tourists and nearby businesses say
White has gone too far with his latest pitch for the
Century Lounge: a freshly posted sign proclaiming
"Vaginas R' Us."

"We don't appreciate the signage and we're working
with the city to make sure this establishment is
adhering to all codes," said Laurie Hughes, executive
director of Gateway to L.A., an association that
promotes businesses along Century Boulevard just east
of the airport.

White, who posted the new sign Tuesday, says he's
simply advertising his business.

"In a sort of a naive way, I felt that there was
nothing terrible about it since the 'Vagina
Monologues' was on Broadway forever," White said. "I
didn't feel there was anything terrible about it."

Los Angeles city officials say White's sign doesn't
break the law.

"The word 'vagina' is not an obscene word and we're
not in a position to question the First Amendment,"
said City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district
includes the airport area.

But the business association is pursuing another
avenue of attack. It contacted the retailer Toys R Us,
which aggressively defends its trademark name.

Toys R Us spokeswoman Susan McLaughlin said the
company knows about White's sign and will be "looking
into it immediately."

In the meantime, White will have to take his sign down
temporarily.

The new sign, which is pasted over a portion of the
original marquee, is made of combustible plastic vinyl
that violates the municipal code. White was served
with a citation Thursday, and has until the close of
business Sunday to replace the sign, said David Keim,
the city's chief of code enforcement.