The tabloids: The appearance of all - but -
nude body - painted babes in sanitized Times Square —
once home to strictly family friendly characters like anti-Semitic Elmos and cop - punching Spider - Men — gave editors of the city's scandal sheets the opportunity to plaster their pages with sexy
pics and indignant headlines, engaging in what one Observer contributor described as the unbeatable paper - selling combo of «simultaneous shaming and titillating.»