How Our Story Began
Harry Mohney’s rise from a small-town projectionist to the founder of Déjà Vu—a global adult entertainment empire—is a story of calculated risk, legal battles, and relentless expansion.
The Drive-In Hustle
In the early 1960s, a young Harry Mohney was just another projectionist in small-town Michigan, threading reels and watching the world change one frame at a time. But he wasn’t just watching movies—he was studying the business. By the mid-’60s, Mohney saw an opportunity where others saw failure. He purchased a struggling drive-in theater near Durand, Michigan, and made a bold decision: he began screening adult films. The locals dubbed them the “Durand Dirties,” and while scandalous to some, they quickly drew crowds.
By the end of the decade, Mohney had transformed from projectionist to theater owner, operating multiple adult cinemas and skillfully navigating the murky waters of obscenity law. What began as a risky experiment was fast becoming a viable, if controversial, business model.
Expansion Through Adult Film Distribution
As the 1970s unfolded, Mohney doubled down. He built one of the largest adult film distribution networks in the country, supplying theaters coast to coast. With each new venue, his empire grew—not just in number, but in sophistication. Dozens of adult cinemas opened under his management, creating a tightly knit network that was hard to ignore.
The success came with heat. Legal scrutiny increased, and Mohney found himself repeatedly in court, facing charges over obscenity and zoning violations. Yet he proved adept at staying one step ahead, avoiding lasting damage while gaining invaluable experience—and a reputation as a master of the adult entertainment industry.
Birth of Déjà Vu Showgirls
The next phase of Mohney’s journey began in 1985. Partnering with industry heavyweights Roger Forbes and Larry Flynt, he opened the first Déjà Vu Showgirls in Lake City, Washington. The club’s topless format struck a chord with audiences, and by 1987, Déjà Vu had expanded into several U.S. cities.
Behind the scenes, Mohney continued running adult video stores, peep shows, and theaters under various names, including Hustler Clubs and Little Darlings. But Déjà Vu quickly became the flagship—an icon of adult nightlife, where neon lights and velvet booths marked the boundary between fantasy and business.
Legal Firestorm & Operational Dominance
The ’90s brought Mohney’s most intense legal challenges. He faced over 100 federal indictments, mostly related to tax evasion and obscenity charges. In the early part of the decade, the law finally caught up with him—he served a three-year sentence for tax-related offenses, his first and only conviction that stuck.
But prison didn’t stop the empire. During and after his sentence, Mohney’s team kept expanding the Déjà Vu brand. By the end of the decade, he had not only survived the legal storm but emerged more dominant than ever, acquiring and franchising clubs nationwide. The brand began reaching overseas, experimenting with international locations and high-profile partnerships—including clubs co-branded with Hustler.
Consolidation & Influence
By the 2000s, Déjà Vu had grown into a juggernaut. Nearly 100 clubs operated under Mohney’s leadership, ranging from upscale venues to gritty, no-frills joints. He was no longer just a businessman—he had become a powerful figure in the ongoing national conversation about adult entertainment and free speech.
In 2005, the adult industry acknowledged his influence when Mohney received the Reuben Sturman Lifetime Achievement Award at the AVN Awards. He’d gone from rogue operator to respected mogul, shaping not just businesses but policy, perception, and culture.
Legacy Cemented
In 2008, Mohney unveiled a deeply personal project: the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas. Equal parts archive and advocacy, the museum celebrated the history of erotic art, free speech, and sexual expression. It was his legacy project—an institution meant to outlive the clubs and legal battles.
Meanwhile, Déjà Vu’s footprint expanded to nearly 200 club locations worldwide. The empire diversified into adult retail with Love Boutiques, novelty stores, and ventures blending entertainment with hospitality. Even as the business scaled, Mohney kept tight control over branding, management training, and club operations—ensuring Déjà Vu’s identity remained sharp and consistent across borders.
Modernization & Succession
The new decade brought new challenges—and new opportunities. With COVID-19 threatening live entertainment, many clubs shuttered, but Déjà Vu weathered the storm better than most. Its scale, brand loyalty, and operational experience helped it survive, and even thrive, when others faltered.
The business began evolving from within. Mohney, now focused more on legacy and the museum, handed over more responsibility to trusted executives and family members. A new generation stepped up, bringing with them a focus on technology, data-driven management, and modern branding.
By the mid-2020s, Déjà Vu had refreshed its image, leaning into mobile-first reservations, sleek social media strategies, and strategic crossover with nightlife, retail, and digital entertainment. Expansion continued in Mexico, Las Vegas, and beyond.
What started as a single screen showing risqué reels in rural Michigan had become a global icon of adult nightlife—and a symbol of one man’s relentless vision for the intersection of pleasure, business, and freedom.
