Source: Adult Industry News
By: Rich Moreland
Adult film will never lose its institutional memory as long as Bill Margold’s Legends of Erotica breathes life into the past. “I Know You” By Rich Moreland
The cement plaques that adorn the walls of Showgirl Video, Raymond Pistol’s adult bookstore north of the Strip, are reminders of an event that began in the mid-1990s and flourishes today. Emblazoned on the marquee were this year’s honorees: Karen Summer, Long Jean Silver, Evan Stone, Melissa Hill, John Seeman, and Paul Johnson with a special appearance by Christi Lake.
“I always had fun,” John Seeman told the audience, recalling the Porno Chic days when story based movies established a reason for the sex. Paul Johnson, the first director to shoot POV, declared “I live a fantasy life in a fantasy business.” A little humor was thrown in when Seeman remembered his first attempts to perform for a Mitchell Brothers’ shoot in San Francisco were miserable failures. Finding “wood” was not easy, but fortunately times got better, especially when Paul Johnson gave him another shot (pun intended) at fame.
Penthouse executive Kelly Holland inducted Melissa Hill who teared up during her acceptance speech. Holland said the actress “brought it all” to the screen, especially in her signature film “The Girl with the Heart-Shaped Tattoo.” It’s now on DVD and Holland, who directed Hill’s performance, gave her a copy. Hill recounted how she drove four hours from San Francisco to shoot for her first scene. I wanted to be the “regular girl next door,” she said, and prove that an “unagumented female can be sexy.” From this reporter’s point of view, the stunning redhead may think of herself as an everyday neighborhood lass, but her striking beauty and sparkling personality set her apart. Modest, she is. “Regular?” Everything but.
Countering Melissa Hill’s emotion was Evan Stone’s running gag. Also inducted by Holland, the still active Stone is noted for “keep[ing] everyone laughing on the set” during the long hours of shooting. He’s a “constant improv that can go on forever,” Holland said with smile. Apparently as a child, Stone entertained his pals with a flea circus though one suspects it was Stone, not the fleas, that amused his little compadres.
Evan Stone’s humor was appreciated comic relief because the next inductees were, like Melissa Hill, overcome by the moment. Characterizing Christie Lake’s “wildly enthusiastic performances on screen,” photographer John Allen told the audience Lake is remembered for starring in the “modern porn masterpiece,” Director’s Wet Dreams, and later creating her own production company.
Describing her time in the industry as a Golden Age compared with today’s Bronze, the statuesque blonde remembered her career as an accumulation of “incredible experiences.” “It was so much fun,” she said, then admitted she was”overwhelmed” with her induction.
A teary-eyed Long Jean Silver related that she took thirty years away from porn to raise her daughter. Then came the phone call, her daughter had found mom’s Wiki page and a hidden career was no longer. Instantly fearful, Silver hung up then redialed to learn her daughter thought the whole thing was cool!
The last inductee was the highpoint of the evening, a tactic Margold has perfected to bring the crowd its own climax. In a fleeing few seconds that brought out the true meaning of this event, a welling up Karen Summer looked around the room at the plaques and repeated, “I know you, I know you, I know you.” Remembering her friends from the 1980s – Amber Lynn, Ginger Lynn, and Nina Hartley – Summer was clearly moved. A simple “I don’t know what to say,” captured the room.
In closing, Bill Margold called the evening a “remarkably emotional time for the industry.” This writer agrees and would like to mention the audience was also noteworthy. As is my habit at this event, I also renewed some acquaintances . Veronica Hart gathered a crowd when she and Long Jean Silver exchanged memories; John Stagliano was present with current industry star and Evil Angel employee, Lea Lexis. UC Santa Barbara’s Professor Constance Penley sat with AVN’s Mark Kernes. Pacifica Radio’s Matthew Worley and I chatted a bit and, of course, Margold’s protégé, Chicago Joe Rubin was around for conversation.
Perhaps all in attendance could say, “I know you.”
