The Circus of Books documentary finally has a release date on Netflix. The streaming service provider will premier the story of a nice Jewish couple who ran Circus of Books, the porn shops in West Hollywood and Silverlake, on April 22nd.
The documentary is directed and produced by daughter Rachel Mason. Other producers include Kathryn Robson, Cynthia Childs, Camilla Hall and Adam Baron. Ryan Murphy, Josh Braun, John Battsek, Rhianon Jones and Gerald Herman executive produced. Bob Hawk is a consulting producer.
The Circus of Books Documentary follows the family life of Karen and Barry Mason, who n 1976, had fallen on hard times and were looking for a way to support their young family. They answered an ad in the Los Angeles Times, by controversial pornographer Larry Flynt, who was seeking distributors for his Hustler Magazine. What was supposed to be a brief sideline gig, led them to become fully immersed in the LGBT community as they took over the local Circus of Books adult store located at 8230 Santa Monica Blvd. A decade later, they became the biggest distributors of gay porn in the US.
The film focuses on the double life they led, trying to maintain the balance of being parents at a time when LGBT culture was not yet accepted. Their many challenges included facing prison time for a federal obscenity prosecution and enabling their store to be a place of refuge at the height of the AIDS crisis. The movie offers a rare glimpse into an untold chapter of queer history (the world famous adult bookstore once stood in front of a what was once a cruisy gay men’s spot known as Vaseline Alley). It explores the contradictions of growing up in an unconventional household where mom could be found volunteering at her synagogue or re-stocking issues of Hand Job Magazine. It’s an honest and engaging portrait of the legendary X-rated emporium and its unlikely proprietors. Stories are told through interviews conducted by the owners’ own daughter who is an artist, filmmaker and musician.
Buck Angel and Rachel Mason – Outfest 2019 – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
The space was taken over by Chi Chi LaRue’s to become Chi Chi LaRue’s Circus. It had its grand opening on January 11, 2020.
Don’t miss the Circus of Books Documentary premiering on Netflix, April 22.
