Queen of the Deuce

From a small pre-WWII Greek Jewish community to her meteoric rise through the Times Square porn circuit in the 1970s, Queen of the Deuce tells the fascinating story of Chelly Wilson, trailblazing entrepreneur and unconventional matriarch, who built an empire based on desire.

For two decades Chelly reigned over 42nd Street in Manhattan, then referred to as the “Deuce,” as the charismatic matriarch of an adult film business. Through audio recordings, Chelly recounts her pre-war escape from Greece, her unlikely story of motherhood, and rise to wealth as a shrewd businesswoman. Her tumultuous life story—full of family secrets, survival, and shattered conventions—is revealed by her descendants and friends, as well as in her own voice, and accompanied by animations that vividly capture her unparalleled charisma. Screened at DOC NYC and DOCAVIV.