Circus of Books (2019)

In 1976, Karen and Barry Mason had fallen on hard times and were looking for a way to support their young family when they answered an ad in the Los Angeles Times. Larry Flynt was seeking ... See full summary »

Director:

Rachel Mason

Writers:

Rachel Mason (screenplay by), Kathryn Robson (screenplay by)

Stars:

Karen Mason, Barry Mason, Micah Mason

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karen Mason	...	Self
Barry Mason	...	Self
Micah Mason	...	Self - Karen and Barry's Son
Rachel Mason	...	Self - Karen and Barry's Daughter
Josh Mason	...	Self - Karen and Barry's Son
Fernando Aguilar	...	Self - Former Employee
Freddie Bercovitz	...	Self - Former Employee
Gisella Colindres	...	Self
Ellen Friedman	...	Self
Larry Flynt	...	Self - Publisher of Hustler Magazine
David Gregory	...	Self - Former Employee
Joseph Hawkins	...	Self
Alexandr Jonah Ivolgin	...	Self
Harold Kameya	...	Self
Ellen Kameya	...	Self

Storyline

In 1976, Karen and Barry Mason had fallen on hard times and were looking for a way to support their young family when they answered an ad in the Los Angeles Times. Larry Flynt was seeking distributors for Hustler Magazine. What was expected to be a brief sideline led to their becoming fully immersed in the LGBT community as they took over a local store, Circus of Books. A decade later, they had become 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 jail time for a federal obscenity prosecution and enabling their store to be a place of refuge at the height of the AIDS crisis. Circus of Books offers a rare glimpse into an untold chapter of queer history, and it is told through the lens of the owners' own daughter, Rachel Mason, an artist, filmmaker and musician.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | gay interest | gay history | pornography | aids | 

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Taglines:

Neighborhood entrepreneurs. Local heroes.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

Karen Mason: Don't drop the soap. Let me see what it says about that one.
Self - Karen and Barry's Daughter: What are you looking for?
Karen Mason: I'm just trying to find something that..uh... isn't quite as explicit.
Self - Karen and Barry's Daughter: What does he want?
Karen Mason: He wants white men and no penetration, he said.
[pauses a beat]
Karen Mason: Do these guys look white to you, Jorge?

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Connections

Features Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)

User Reviews

A slice of LGBTQ culture and history definitely worth to watch

'Circus of Books' tells the unconventional story of a straight Jewish couple who just happened to run the most legendary gay porn bookstore in Los Angeles, United States. It often loses its focus midway through, but the charming and quirky documentary is a slice of LGBTQ culture and history definitely worth to watch.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Circus of Books

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Future Clown, Passion Pictures, Neon Heart Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage) (archive photographs)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1 / (high definition)