Archives - Friday, July 2nd, 1999
Detective Fuller of the Van Nuys Police Department phoned Luke Friday afternoon to request a copy of an audio tape I have of Royal Shaft threatening Kid Vegas.
Rob Spallone today shot Tony, the black guy from Arizona with an 18 inch dick, and a 36 inch tall female dwarf having sex (for Gentlemen's Video). "She took every inch," said Rob.
X-RATED JOURNALIST GETS INSIDE HIS WORK
(Wireless Flash) -- A Los Angeles journalist whose beat is the X-rated film industry admits there are times when he gets inside his subjects -- literally.
Australian-born Luke F-rd has covered the porn industry since 1995 and is the author of the new book, "A History Of X" (Prometheus Books).
The 33-year-old says reporting on the adult film business isn't always a roll in the hay, but it does have its job perks: He admits to sleeping with at least three adult film actresses and has willingly accepted "favors" from several others.
Ford claims porn actresses are "more adept" in bed than the average American woman -- but he admits a downside occurs the next morning "...when you realize your sheets smell like you've been with a hooker."
He says the low point of his adult film journalism career occurred after he realized his grandmother was right -- the porn industry is indeed as sleazy as everybody thinks.
Hurt Me, Hurt Me
Loud screams of anguish from Vivid owner Steve Hirsch and AVN publisher Paul Fishbein regalvinized their employees this week to embarrass and shut down Luke F-rd.
When the evidence is overwhelming that AVN's leading figure on the editorial side, Gene Ross, has taken bribes from John Bowen in exchange for generous coverage, some wonder why Paul Fishbein has not fired Ross? Paul will shrug it off and tell people, 'well, I'm just too nice of a guy. I'm just too loyal to my friends.' The true reason is probably that Ross has the goods on Fishbein. In previous years, Gene has told several people about how Paul fixed various AVN awards.
I talked to a porner this week who said he's sat in on Fishbein's fixing of AVN awards (often in favor of Vivid).
Fishbein and Hirsch are particularly steamed over my breaking the news of the disintegration of their trade organization, the misnamed Free Speech Coalition. Steve Orenstein and Jim South are leaving the board, and Gloria Leonard will step down in December as President.
Rob Spallone phoned Thursday night to tell me to lay off Sin City. "They're good people. You made Chuck Martino and everybody looks like a--holes."
Meanwhile Sin City writes, about the possibility of losing production manager Chuck Martino, "Lukey, instead of breaking up, me and Chuckie should be making up... 'Cause breaking up is hard to do..."
Gambino crime family leader John Gotti writes Luke: "As you know, we have not communicated at all lately. This stems from the new direction you have taken on your web site. This is a personal choice and in no way do I challenge your choice of material, be it innuendo, fact, fiction, or satire. I am a firm believer in first amendment rights, thus, good luck with your new content change. However, this does not mean I agree with what you write.
"One of the main reasons many smart, media-experienced people, especially "pornographers", refuse to talk to reporters, is they usually get their asses handed to them. The articles are twisted, misquoted, and generally reflect the negative aspect of adult materials and the people involved with them. Most of these people have the courage and conviction of character to brave assaults from all corners of this country and attempt to make a living in a business fraught with dangers. They hardly need your help to nail the coffin shut. These are the righteous ones you hardly ever mention in your missives.
"Turn a rock over and what do you see? Look in to any business in the world and there is bound to be dirt. How about Microsoft, General Motors, and every insurance company there is. No corruption? No dirt? You are as much an opportunist as anyone in the adult business. You trade in the suffering of people in much the same way as you portray the people you write about and judge. People are fragile and sometimes do the wrong things. Who among us has not made a mistake they regretted? Even you admit to personal misgivings about how you live your life and how you perceive yourself. Satire, when used properly, can both enlighten and educate. I like satire. But when used in a continually skeptical and mean-spirited fashion, this so-called satire is simply inflammatory hogwash. Your ramblings are just an unveiled call for attention, as when playground taunts are issued, to get a response.
"This ranting is the result of reading the salacious fiction you spew about many of my friends who do not and will never deserve the brunt of this bullying. You will never change the world this way. By shining the light on this industry, you will only see your own reflection."
Jim Gunn writes: "Luke: "John Gotti" is a very insightful man. Ha ha. I figure that's either you in reality writing about yourself in a rare moment of candor and lucidity or maybe Rodger J. putting his $.02 in. Either way, I think I just got 'the joke' a few months too late. I'm starting to think the whole thing about your religious background is a fiction, you aren't even a converted Jew- it's all just an elaborate schtick in poor taste for maximum attention. A ingenius ploy on your part I admit, although something I would never personally approve of. Anyway, if you would drop the schtick at some point and get back to reporting I wouldn't have to grimmace and wonder when I read your site. It's starting to become a bit much of a chore to figure out what is true on your site and what yarns you are spinning."
Sin City owner David Sturman writes GeneRoss.com: "Gene, After being a supporter of first, Luke F-rd's adult gossip site and then later, your site, I must tell you that I now am totally disappointed with Luke's new direction. What has happened is by posting totally fictitious stories, which he loosely calls satire, any real stories now have no credibility. Too bad, because every industry needs exposure to the truth. The letter [posted on Ford's site] was written to Luke and instead of attributing it to its rightful author, me, he turns it into a stupid diatribe attributed to John Gotti. What a sense of humor, as much fun as cancer."
Gene [Ross] sez: "By the way, Shay Sweet's comment was that a lot of the info posted about her in the last couple of days on another site was b.s."
From a source deep within the bowels of Sin City: "Chuck has decided to again operate his business as an independent contractor to allow him more flexibility and freedom. His work is and has always been exemplary. Indeed, Shay is the Sin City girl friday, answering the phones and performing other mundane tasks as needed. This is her preference and is in no way coerced into doing anything she does not want to. As far as her career in porno is concerned, she is the master of her own destiny. She has full control of any production she decides to undertake. Scripts will be offered to her with the understanding that she can take them or leave them. Their personal lives, as with the personal lives of other business associates and employees, is none of our concern unless it becomes a business related problem."
Source: "Word has it that Chuck Martino has been busy faxing a letter all over the industry. In it, he spends a line or two basically with his nose up David Sturman's ass, and then announces that he is available for work. Perhaps a bidding war will ensue for this "unappreciated" man who single-handedly "turned Sin City around.""
Email: "Inside scoop. Gina Ryder and Shay Sweet are best of friends. Gina is having problems with Kevin Beecham and her not being allowed to do boy/girl scenes. She has lost a lot of gigs because of Kevin and he isn't compensating her as promised. Shay and Gina were both seen with TT Boy down the hall from my apartment not too long ago. Apparently there is no loyalty to Kevin. Gina enjoys black men and is motivated even more with her best friend's latest move. Michael Raven always shoots great scenes..look for Gina to be back to boy/girls and with her NOW finally doing some hard anals with guys. POOR KEVIN AND CHUCK."
Rum: "Luke...We love you in Houston. Keep up the good work. We (my buds and I) are especially looking forward to more expose' on Darren Starr. By the way do you know what happened to Mai Lin? I used to get a cramp in my right hand whacking my carrot to that gal. They don't make em like that etc."
LT: "Hi Luke, you were missed in chat Monday night. I hope you have a note from your rabbi :-) The discussion was that now that your book is out, you will discard us, throw us aside just like the porn biz does with the girls when they are through with them. I hope not..."
Lynne Lopatin Writes
"You would not believe what has happened in my life for the past ten days. The movie itself got away from me sometime on Monday, actually. I asked "Shall I stop this movie?" and no one but me seemed to feel a need, so I said, "Just try to keep a hand on the throttle..." The biggest problem in the movie turned out to be the P.A., who was new in the job and hadn't realized what a stern taskmaster I am when it comes to making smut as if it were real product. He caused us hours of delay...
"With the movie making itself in stops and starts, and the technicians having no problems keeping up with it, the performers, crew and even the producer had a good time. Regan Senter proved a real hero when he saved our collective asses by introducing us to Eve Eden, a splendid looking young woman, when Kendra couldn't make it. A tennis court and pool made Thursday's waiting much more bearable.
"I've been informed that the Spice and Critics Choice catalogs will both feature the soft version of my Indigo Moods, available explicitly only through Adam & Eve. I need to prepare packaging. Starting next week, I am going to do lunches with people who are interested in my approach toward ethnic erotica. Even my incidental movies are not so incidentally interracial in some way. Can't help it. I forget to de-include people who aren't just like me."
Whatever Became of Long Dong Silver?
Email: Luke, I wonder if you might be able to give me more information on Long Dong Silver. Obviously, I'm refering to the black performer who appeared in the 1970's in a series of softcore videos (one with Seka) and magazine shoots. There have been many video performers since him who used prosthetic devices to simulate an unusually large endowment, i.e. Long Dan Silver, etc. However, legend has it that Long Dong's was real. What can you tell me? Do you know someone who had "first hand" knowledge of him? I heard reports that he performed in live sex shows in clubs in Australia and Hawaii. Do you know whatever became of him?
Brad from Danger Boy Video writes: Hey Luke- Just draggin my ass in late but I thought I'd post some stuff here before starting on the phones. We have officially made a deal with Gigi Appleton of Avalon Ent. to do our wholesale distribution. We are a one -stop distributor, so we basically deal with stores and a bunch of web site owners..... not much with distributors, so we thought it best to let a professional handle the goods. The buzz is good, the movie rocks, and we hope to make alot of guys happy with Mila's directorial debut ( do they use that term in porn?). Anyway, Mila will be signing at the GVA booth at Adult Expo with Gigi, and I'm sure she will be seen and heard dragging men down the aisles by their cocks at the show. We've all quit drinking and doing drugs in order to save money for Milas bail bond, just in case.( Yes, I'm joking). Anyway dude, keep slingin' the slander and pissing on pant legs...
Kendra Jade Thursday took part in a music video by the rock group Everlast along with Vivid girl Raylene.
BOWERY BAR BABBLE-ON: A User’s Manual by Krash
No doubt many of you out there in lukeland are wondering why all the hooplah regarding a dead blond in Darren Star’s hotel room. What has any of this got to do with porn? After all, only the most erotically challenged shut-in could possibly regard Darren Star’s HBO series Sex and the City as anything other than the most formulaic excuse to show Type-A Jewish women in designer fetish-wear since Streisand in Yentl.
However, what might otherwise have been a snarky vehicle for second-tier Hebraic screen personality Sara Jessica Parker approaches--via the fatally narcotized shiksa in Darren Star’s hotel room--the perversity of de Sade. Thus when we conflate the winks and giggles of Sex and The City with the presence of Leigh Zerhmuhlen, 19, dead of a speedball behind a “Do Not Disturb” card in the Central Park West hotel room of Sex and The City’s creator, Darren Star--also known for another high-concept TV series aptly entitled “Central Park West”--we enter much the same drug-fueled, sexually exploitative terrain familiar to you, the lukeford.com reader.
And as we reveal, in the days and weeks to come, the facts about how some of Gotham’s best known newspaper writers buried this story beneath a manure heap of lies and prevarications--you, too, will agree that the tale of Leigh Zermuhlen’s overdose is as pornographic as a dwarf-bukkake spuzz-a-thon. The day they found Leigh Zermuhlen dead in Darren Star’s Mayflower Hotel room was the day the music died--and the dawning of a syntho-truth as pornocentrically offensive as ten-gallon breast implants.
Star-smitten drama student Leigh Zermuhlen’s lifeline sputtered out in a tangle of urine-stained Pratesi sheets at the posh Mayflower Hotel--a junked-out, coked-up, whiskey-drenched American Pie. So stop on by for another slice of “Bowery Bar Babble-On” tomorrow....exclusively at lukeford.com.