"CAMP"

“Camp” was the hangout for underage gay men from the 1960s through the 1980s. Large numbers of young gay men experienced their “coming out” at this location where you could be picked up by any of a number of men who cruised the block in their big, shiny cars. This was the reality of gay life in Portland before the establishment of Outside Inn, The City Nightclub, Evolution, and Mildred’s Palace (the Swerdlow nightclubs). During this time there were two locations.

The first location of Camp was across from the Pioneer Courthouse in downtown Portland between Morrison and Taylor on 5th Avenue. The Corbett Building with the popular Van Duyn’s Chocolate shop on the corner of 5th and Morrison.

Van Duyn’s Chocolates was a popular corner. Per comments on https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/  FEBRUARY 8, 2011 AT 9:48 AM I used to work in the Corbett building in 1976 and would sometimes go around the corner to Van Dynes candy for one of their white chocolate almond patties. YUMMY! This was when their candies were really good. The last few times I had one I was disappointed, I wonder if they are just not as good, or my tastes have risen? AND Kirk J. Poole AUGUST 3, 2012 AT 7:37 AM I miss that little corner near M & F. I liked going in for chocolate at Van Duyn’s (if I didn’t go raid the basement deli at M & F!) [photo left Corbett Building, photo right Van Duyn’s]

 

The buildings on the two blocks bounded by 4th and 5th avenue and between Morrison and Taylor were demolished in 1988 to make way for Pioneer Square and Saks Fifth Avenue [as of 2022 the Apple Store occupies that space].

One question that came up and printed in The Sunday Oregonian, November 29, 1954 (page 69” Curfews for our youngsters…ARE THEY REALLY NECESSARY? “To the trained eye of the police-woman, the lads appear clan and aboveboard. Their story sounds credible, and so they are sent on their way with a stern lecture on the dangers of the city at night. Grinning with relief, they scamper into their cars. Often in the hours of darkness, bus depots become bases of operation for homosexuals and prostitutes in need of companionship.”

An Oregonian article of September 11, 1977, page 105, SEX FOR SALE TEEN-AGE BOYS “HUSTLING” ON PORTLAND STREETS “It is thought to have started after the crackdown at the Lownsdale Square [SW 4th Ave & Main  St – not but 3 blocks away from the Camp location]

[continued from above] young men most were between the age of 14 to 21 began ‘hanging out’; smoking and talking and ‘chat with other men’ who then became friendly with them – driving most away to various areas of the city. Most, if not all were for sexual rendezvous. Because of the proximity to the bars these young men knew that gay men (clergymen, stockbrokers, truck drivers, and schoolteachers) would be driving by or even parking and walking by.  The precise date is unknown, but it is said to have been established in the mid-1960 and lasted until around 1982/83. Most of the activity was curtailed by early 1980 because of such places as Mildred’s Palace which moved and became The Metropolis and then eventually became The City Night Club.” 7.4

The first known “Camp” was located at SW 5th & Yamhill in downtown Portland.

Jeff [Jelineo] in an oral interview on 10/3/2021 “We were in high school so around 1969, 70, 71…it was across from the Pioneer Court House on SW 6th between SW Morrison and SW Yamhill in front of Van Duyn’s candy and the ever-important phone booth. Cars would drive by – then circle around the block.

It was right in front of Van Duyn’s Chocolates and there was a phone booth. A police officer, Officer Murphy would come by and harass us and if we saw him, we’d cross the street, stand by the bus stop and say, ‘We’re waiting for the bus.’ Jeff continued in an email on October 30, 2021,” As I recall, it was something of an event--certainly not something that happened every night we were there. When it did ring, people like Miss Terri [Kaye] [Pohrman], Miss Benny or Bill, or Jerry Marshall would answer it first. We associated more with those who were hustlers or those looking for them, but not exclusively for that purpose, so there was a certain danger to us innocents, especially if the cops saw you answer.  When they were not around, I think I mustered the nerve to answer it once or twice. Generally speaking, the guys calling were looking for someone in particular, though sometimes it was just creeps jerking off. I don't think it ever occurred to me to ever use it. That might not apply to those I mentioned, though. When it was someone "flogging their dolphin," we'd love to hear Miss Terri, et al. verbally "snap" them off.  (Oh, we never told you about "snapping people off!" Miss Terri became {an} expert at it, learning at the foot (or should I say "tongue" of Miss Benny). 

Snapping off. This was the action of snapping your finger out at someone with an exaggerated twist of the arm out and away from your body. It signified a disregard and dismissal of someone, usually executed with as much aplomb as could be mustered at the end of a conversation or disagreement. The drags and fem’s used it much more often than anyone else, but we all knew what it meant. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it originated with female and trans hookers, possibly the Black ones, as it was often done with shifting, or snapping the head simultaneously ("The Black Girl Head Snap"). I don't think it is something that the younger generations have continued and if you recognize it, you're "of a certain age," I'm afraid.  Beyonce, as Foxxy Cleopatra in "Austin Powers" did a "fierce" one.  We never covered our gay language much, did we?  Oh, Don what have you started?! “

Gary Haven in an email dated October 30, 2021, “How could we forget it?  That was “home” to us when we were young.  And YES, that is the famous phone booth.  I used to call there all the time looking for friends.  No cell phones at that time! The phone booth was our connection both in and out of Camp.  As I stated in another email, I used to call there regularly looking for friends. I would occasionally answer the phone when it rang because it might be someone looking for someone else or it might be a closeted guy wanting to “talk dirty” which was very exciting.”

Camp was one topic that ran in the early days of the first gay newspaper in Oregon, The Fountain. The newspaper began publication in March of 1971 as a newspaper for the ‘homosexual’ community published by the Second Foundation of Oregon. A blurb was mentioned on page 4 of the June 1971 issue which appears to relate to Camp under the heading Crime in the Streets.

NOTICE!!!!! TO THOSE WHO PAY

 Beware, several of the new and not so new Portland boys of the night are not living up to the high standards of their profession. Ripoffs, beatings, and extortion are no longer rare occurrences in our little town. Remember, if you cruise old Yamhilly you have been warned.

In the COMMUNITY RAP column [page 11] in the column, it stated, “Community Rap is being instituted by the Oregon Foundation to bring to the attention of the community some of the problems that plague the homosexual. (misspellings are left to honor the history of the piece) of the July 1971 issue of The Oregon Fountain.

The biggest problem that our under 21’s have in Portland, and across the U. S., is that they have no social outlets. By this, I mean that they have no place to “do their own thing”. The adult doesn’t have this problem as he can socialize all he wants in the gay bars, but the younger homosexual only has an occasional party or dance.

The young gay person has nothing else but to stand on camp hoping to meet someone. In my opinion, this is not the ideal place for him to be – as camp can often be a very cruel place.  Sex is the main motive for meeting anyone on camps not giving a damn for the person, just someone to trick with and nothing more. I feel that we need some sort of place set up that could bring the young gay people together in a social get-together so that he will have a place to go other than camp. Ron

In the May 1971 issue of the Fountain on page 10, there was an article about those UNDER 21!

By June 1971 on page 4 The Fountain was telling young people:

Then in the July 1971 issue of The Fountain under VIEWPOINT was this letter, “The biggest problem that our under 21s here in Portland, and across the US is that they have no social outlets.”

By August [1971], there was an article again in The Fountain, page 19 RUMBLE ON CAMP

CAMP DISTURBANCE PROVES “FAIRIES CAN FIGHT”

In the same issue [August 1971 – The Fountain] under Homophile News Fronts page 16: Dateline: Portland

One of the members of the gay community was beaten and robbed by a trick that picked him up near 5th and Camp. The assailant drove a light green Volkswagen and was described as white, 5’10”, with sandy blond hair and mustache.

September 1971 – The Fountain – Camp, The Annex, and other things.

In the December 1971 issue of The Fountain, an article appears: NEWS FROM CAMP, page 18

In the November 1972 issue of the Fountain, there are two articles:

And then this very interesting article about Denny’s:

The gay press after 1971 didn’t carry much press about Camp. It was focused more on the court system, V.D., and gays in prison to name a few. It did begin to be noticed by the largest newspaper in Oregon as well as The Camp or Camp did not escape the notice of the police or politicians.

“CAMP” # 2 or “THE WALL” - N.W. corner of SW Third and Yamhill.

Though in October 1976 an in-depth article appeared in the Northwest Gay Review by this time it seems that the shift from 5th and Morrison had been partially made and Camp II was now establishing itself at a parking lot between 2nd and 3rd Ave and Yamhill Street not far from several gay bars such as The Other Inn, Dahl & Penne, Half Moon Tavern/The Tavern and of course bridges that had underpasses and the Willamette River.

The article on page 7, of The Northwest Gay Review October 1976 issue declares, “CAMPING OUT” and it talks about 3rd and Yamhill. [here is a portion of the article, notice Dahl and Penne bar left sideof the building south of the parking area and The Other Inn is to the far west side of the photo]

A large article appeared in the ‘straight press on September 11, 1977, in The Oregonian with the heading SEX FOR SALE – Teen-age boys “hustling Portland Streets.

Officer Aaron Harvey stated that it often patrolled the area making an arrest on occasion for vagrancy, loitering, J-walking, and/or disturbing the peace. It said that there were boys between the ages of 14 and 21 and the customers were often some paying from $10 to $50 for ‘tricks”.  And businesses around Camp weren’t too pleased about the activity either. Some of the young people found their way to Denny’s located at 4th and Lincoln – drinking loads of coffee and smoking just as much in cigarettes and buying too little food [per document written by William Hicks aka Rosebud II – Betty Bomber Genesis of Rosebud and Thorn].

One restaurant near the camp on SW 5th was Fogelman’s Burger and Omlette Emporium.  In the same Oregonian article, Robert Fogelman said that male hustlers have turned his restaurant into a “toilet”. “They loiter and won’t leave when you ask them. They use vulgarity and they drive any decent people out…they’re really obnoxious.” The article continues, ‘Fogelman said a man who looks interested can stand around his restaurant and within an hour’s time be propositioned by male hustlers “at least a half a dozen times. Just make a few eyes at them.” The activity he said occurred between 5 and 11 p.m. “rain or shine – and I’m right next door to the Chamber of Commerce.”

Camp moved from 5th and Yamhill down to 3rd and Yamhill, somewhere around 1975-78 and lasted until approximately 1982 when both Dahl & Penne and The Other Inn bars closed which were two bars close by Dahl & Penne [604 SW 2nd], Half Moon Tavern/The Tavern [122 SW Yamhill], The Other Side [242 SW Alder Street]. “The Wall” was a cinder block wall on the northwest corner of SW Third and Yamhill between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. This was the ‘hang out’ spot for many young males.

As seen in the photo above, the Morrison Bridge came down into the city. The street next to the river was 99W/Harbor Drive or Front Street which has since been converted to Waterfront Park. At the base of bridge the left portion of the ‘clover’ was the gay bar Dahl & Penne and across the street was a parking area called The Camp or The Wall. 

citations & references:

  • Camp was listed in Damron Address Book along with bars, restaurants, bookstores, and parks. It appears as Yamhill (Camp Street)

  • Camp first listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1972 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill St. Between 4th & 6th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1973 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 4th & 6th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1974 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 4th & 6th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1975 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 4th  & 6th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1976 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 4th  & 6th”

    By 1977, the location changed:

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1977 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 3rd  & 4th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1978 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 3rd  & 4th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1979 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 3rd  & 4th”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1980 under Cruising Areas with connotation Cruising Area and address “Yamhill (Camp Street) bet 3rd  & 4th”

  • After the 1980 issue, Yamhill (Camp Street) is no longer mentioned in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide).

  • Photo provided by Kenneth Jones via a Facebook Post and his explanation via Facebook in April 2020, ‘[I]Hung out there till I was 21 then The Riptide was my first bar. If I remember right they took something done across the street and used the bricks to make a low wall nice to sit on. We called it "The Wall”.

    “Camp” was referred to in a paper released on August-20-1984 entitled, “Report on Adult Prostitution in Portland” by the City Club of Portland (Portland, Or.)

    City Club of Portland (Portland, Or.), "Report on Adult Prostitution in Portland" (1984). City Club of Portland. 385. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/oscdl_cityclub/385

    There were two sections one for Female Prostitution and one for Male. The one for “Camp” is centering on the Male Prostitute.

    The Male Prostitute Portland has a nickname on the streets because of a high number of male teenage street prostitutes: "Boys Town." These male sellers are 90 percent runaways and "throwaways," according to representatives of the Salvation Army's Greenhouse project for street youth ages 10-20. They stated that a high incidence of physical and sexual abuse at home causes minors (18 and under) to run away. Outside In, an agency dealing with prostitution and other problems, reported that the majority of male prostitutes counseled by them can be described as "throwaways," rather than runaways. A counselor at the North-Northeast Mental Health Clinic said he sees three types of male juvenile sellers - street youth who sell sex to survive economically, young homosexuals, and what he calls "weekend warriors," who leave adequate homes temporarily for the money and "glamour" of the streets. Contrary to some common misconceptions about male prostitutes, agencies interviewed said: 1) they are not all gay - there are both gays and straights; and 2) the juveniles are not necessarily promiscuous - they are on the streets to survive. Greenhouse may see 70-100 minors per evening, with a ratio of five to one males over females. Outside In estimates that 60 percent of the male prostitutes counseled are minors (40 percent legally are adults). 40 CITY CLUB OF PORTLAND BULLETIN Greenhouse says the average age for a male prostitute is 14. The youngest boy at Greenhouse has been 10 years of age. Outside In could not provide an exact figure for male prostitutes who come to that agency but estimated the average age at older than 14. None of the youth organizations take anyone over 20, so there are no real statistics for male sellers over 20 years of age. However, young boys are much more marketable, and a male seller may be "tired" (too old to be marketable) by the time he is 17 or 18 so the incidence of older male sellers is low on the streets and it is difficult for older boys to compete with the younger. The younger the boy, the more marketable he is. However, the younger ones don't realize their value and nay charge as little as $5 or $10 when they could command much more. Older boys frequently cite a $30 price (and the price increases depending on the act) for a "date," although it is difficult to determine exact prices. Outside In reports that it appears that males tend to enter prostitution slightly younger and to exit earlier. One reason cited is that "as boys get older, they are able to work in bars and bookstores, or to become established callboys, so the apparent number (as measured by street prostitution) decreases" (33).

    A worker with Project LUCK, a group formed to deal with juvenile prostitution, said, "Once boys reach 18 years, they have options other than street soliciting. They frequent adult bookstores, pornographic movie arcades, and bars to make their contacts. The typical adult male prostitute is white, under 25 years, and heavily involved in the street scene. He is not regularly employed nor in school. He lives when he can afford it, in one of the inexpensive downtown hotels" (34). According to Greenhouse, boy prostitutes are frequently found in the SW Third and Yamhill area, "The Camp." But they also can be found in other parts of Portland, including NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 82nd Avenue. Boys may stay in Portland for a couple of years or become transient, traveling to Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, making it difficult to estimate numbers at any given time. Portland has a floating population with some out-of-towners. The mortality rate of male sellers is high due to drug overdoses and violence resulting in murders. Other juveniles may bring new juveniles into street prostitution, affecting a kind of pimp relationship. They can be either male or female.

    Information derived from our ride-a-longs and individual observations indicates that male sellers, located primarily in Southwest Portland, may represent a sizeable proportion of the total prostitution population. We have not been able to analyze that population, however, since arrest data inadequately reflect the situation due to the lack of enforcement of the laws against these sellers.

    The male sellers' customer in downtown Portland is generally described as a middle-aged businessman, mostly white, educated, fairly affluent, and married with children. Because of the nature of the male and female sellers' business, they do not release the names of their customers. There were no references to female customers, and it was stated this would be a highly unusual situation for street sellers. One expert reported a reference to a female customer but attributed this to embellishment by a male seller embarrassed by his low position on the street. CITY CLUB OF PORTLAND BULLETIN _41 In October 1983, new laws became effective that allow juveniles to be held by police for only three hours unless they have committed a violent crime. Then they must be released. Without the power to hold juveniles, the police may be less likely to arrest them.

    E. Enforcement It no longer is Portland Police Bureau policy to give a citation (35) for prostitution. Instead, prostitutes are arrested and taken to the Downtown Detention Center where they undergo a "booking" (36) process, including fingerprinting and photographs. Because of lack of jail space, the person is usually released after booking. Females are generally back on the street within twelve hours; Johns do not generally reappear in the area of arrest, in 1983-84, 483 women were arrested one or more times (193 of them 2 or more times); 194 men were arrested (nine of them twice or more). For the period January 1, 1983, through March 1984, the City Auditor's Special Report on "Compilation of Prostitution Statistics” provided the following arrest statistics:

* Men are rarely arrested except in short-lived periodic sweeps to "crackdown" on Johns. Male sellers remain virtually immune from arrest.

More to be found miscellaneous places young people hung out