The Rialto Report
The Rialto Report is a podcast and article series documenting the Golden Age of Porn. It consists of oral history, audio, photo, and documentary archives. It is hosted by Ashley West and April Hall as well as guest contributors such as academics and writers with insight into the subjects covered. The series has interviewed notable golden age participants such as Ginger Lynn, Sharon Mitchell, Kay Parker, Jeff Stryker and Jennifer Welles. Starting in 2013, The Rialto Report podcast was initially released weekly but in 2015 shifted to a roughly monthly schedule.
Hosts West and Hall served as consultants to the HBO show The Deuce.
Format
The Rialto Report delivers content in three main formats:- Podcasts are typically long-form interviews with performers, directors and distributors from the golden age of adult film. Interviews focus on the subjects' personal lives and candid memories of their experiences within the early adult industry.
- Investigative articles unearth information about the early adult industry, and the social and cultural context in which it operated.
- Photo essays of previously unpublished, rare photographs offer behind-the-scenes looks into the golden age industry and the people who were part of it.
Podcasts
| # | Podcast | Participants | Running time | Release date |
| 1 | "John Amero and 'Body of a Female'" John Amero discusses the making of his first film, Body of a Female, which he co-directed with Michael Findlay. |
| 65 minutes | March 4, 2013 |
| 2 | "George Payne: Wild Man of Porn"George Payne, star of films such as The Taming of Rebecca, The Story of Prunella and The Back Row, talks about his life and career in adult film. |
| 57 minutes | March 10, 2013 |
| 3 | "Jennifer Welles: The Lady Vanishes"Jennifer Welles breaks a 35–year silence to speak publicly about her life and career in film. |
| 51 minutes | March 17, 2013 |
| 4 | "Jeffrey Hurst: The Reluctant Porn Star"Jeffrey Hurst speaks about his career in adult films in the 1970s. |
| 60 minutes | March 30, 2013 |
| 5 | "Annie Sprinkle: The Early Years"Annie Sprinkle remembers her early life and the start of her career in adult films in the 1970s. |
| 48 minutes | April 7, 2013 |
| 6 | "Barbara Nitke: Porn's On Set Photographer"Barbara Nitke, the on-set photographer for many New York adult films in the 1980s, talks about her memories of the industry. |
| 48 minutes | April 14, 2013 |
| 7 | "Carter Stevens: A Porn Renaissance Man"Carter Stevens, actor, director, and producer, talks about the highs and lows of his life and career. |
| 68 minutes | April 21, 2013 |
| 8 | "Jeanne Silver: Real Wild Child"Jeanne Silver, adult film actress and stripper from the 1970s and 1980s, talks about her life and memories. |
| 68 minutes | April 28, 2013 |
| 9 | "The Naughty Victorians "A detailed look back at the making of The Naughty Victorians: An Erotic Tale of a Maiden's Revenge |
| 76 minutes | May 5, 2013 |
| 10 | "Larry Revene: Loops and Organized Crime"Larry Revene, director and cinematographer in the adult film industry in the 1970s and 1980s, talks about his start in the business: making 8mm loops with Bob Wolfe in New York. |
| 76 minutes | May 5, 2013 |
| 11 | "Georgina Spelvin: The Devil, Miss Jones and the New York Years"Georgina Spelvin, the star of The Devil in Miss Jones, talks about her upbringing in Texas, her Broadway career, her political activism, and her adult film work in New York. |
| 74 minutes | May 19, 2013 |
| 12 | "R. Bolla: Adult Film's Method Actor"Robert Kerman, star of Debbie Does Dallas and scores of porn films in the 1970s and 1980s, talks about his life as a struggling actor in New York, his move into adult film work in New York, and how he nearly broke into the mainstream. |
| 55 minutes | June 2, 2013 |
| 13 | "Captain Lust: The Truth Behind the Myth"We speak to scriptwriter Steven Barry, production manager Carter Stevens, and director Beau Buchanan, about the events of August 1976 and the shooting of Captain Lust. |
| 64 minutes | June 9, 2013 |
| 14 | "Wakefield Poole: Theater, Dance and Porn"Wakefield Poole talks about his life as an independent filmmaker and pioneer of gay rights, and Jim Tushinski talks about his new documentary, I Always Said Yes: The Many Lives of Wakefield Poole. |
| 97 minutes | June 16, 2013 |
| 15 | "Barbara Broadcast: A Podcast in Four Courses"A discussion of Barbara Broadcast, one of the most revered New York adult films of the 1970s. |
| 80 minutes | June 30, 2013 |
| 16 | "Gloria Leonard: The New York Years"A discussion with Gloria Leonard, the grand dame of the 1970s New York adult film scene. |
| 60 minutes | July 14, 2013 |
| 17 | "Susan McBain: A Personal Odyssey"A conversation with Susan McBain, star of the 1970s New York adult film scene. |
| 42 minutes | July 28, 2013 |
| 18 | "Bob Chinn: West Coast Pioneer"Interview with Bob Chinn—director of the Johnny Wadd series of films starring John Holmes, as well as the man behind films such as Candy Stripers, Little Orphan Dusty, and Hot & Saucy Pizza Girls. |
| 98 minutes | August 4, 2013 |
| 19 | "Uschi Digard: SuperSoul"A conversation with Uschi Digard—legendary star of 1970s sexploitation films and magazine spreads, and frequent collaborator of Russ Meyer. |
| 67 minutes | August 25, 2013 |
| 20 | "Deep Throat: Damiano, Lovelace.. and 'Lovelace'"A look at the making of the film Deep Throat—with Gerard Damiano Jr., son of the director of Deep Throat, and Eric Danville, author of The Complete Linda Lovelace. |
| 80 minutes | September 8, 2013 |
| 21 | "Helga Sven: Her Mystery. And Her Fan."A profile of Helga Sven, star of 1980s adult films and magazine layouts, and also a fan of hers who tracked her down and has his own unique story to tell. |
| 78 minutes | September 22, 2013 |
| 22 | "Eric Edwards: Twilight of a Shy Porn Star"An interview with Eric Edwards—adult film actor and director from the 1970s through to the 1990s. |
| 92 minutes | October 6, 2013 |
| 23 | "Seka: The Platinum Princess speaks"A discussion with Seka—the last star of the golden age of adult film and the first star of the video era. |
| 71 minutes | October 20, 2013 |
| 24 | "Herschel Savage: The Evergreen Porn Star"A conversation with Herschel Savage, the veteran adult film actor who entered the business in New York in 1976. |
| 93 minutes | November 3, 2013 |
| 25 | "Jamie Gillis: New York Beginnings"A previously unheard interview with the late Jamie Gillis, the adult film actor whose career started in 1971 and spanned the next 35 plus years. |
| 61 minutes | November 17, 2013 |
| 26 | "Jeff Stryker: Porn's Enigmatic Star"An interview with the reclusive and elusive 1980s porn star Jeff Stryker. |
| 70 minutes | December 1, 2013 |
| 27 | "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain"A discussion with Ray Horsch, director of The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig. |
| 101 minutes | December 15, 2013 |
| 28 | "Richard Pacheco: A Family Affair"Richard Pacheco, his son Bobby and his daughter Polly discuss the publication of his autobiography Hindsight—True Love and Mischief in the Golden Age of Porn. |
| 114 minutes | December 29, 2013 |
| 29 | "Jonas Middleton: God, Church, and 'Through the Looking Glass'"A conversation with Jonas Middleton, director of Through the Looking Glass. |
| 62 minutes | January 12, 2014 |
| 30 | "Veronica Vera: A Consenting Adult"Veronica Vera talks about her life in the New York sex scene in the 1980s. |
| 116 minutes | January 26, 2014 |
| 31 | "Al Goldstein: Screw, Midnight Blue, and F*@k You"A look back at Al Goldstein's life and legacy—with Al himself in one of his last interviews. |
| 118 minutes | February 23, 2014 |
| 32 | "Kay Parker: Many Lives"Kay Parker talks about her beginnings in war time Birmingham in England to becoming a star in the California adult film industry. |
| 100 minutes | March 9, 2014 |
| 33 | "Rick Savage: New York's Last Porn Star"Rick Savage talks about his life and career from being a dancer to a sex show performer to becoming a star in the California and New York adult film industries. |
| 96 minutes | March 23, 2014 |
| 34 | "Sharon Mitchell: Punk Rock Porn Star"Sharon Mitchell look backs on her life and career and the legacy of AIM Medical. |
| 107 minutes | April 6, 2014 |
| 35 | "Candida Royalle: 'Femme', Feminism, and a Female Icon"Candida Royalle talks about her life and influential career as a pioneer in the adult film industry. |
| 106 minutes | April 20, 2014 |
| 36 | "Sharon Kane: 'History Should Be Remembered For As Long As It's Needed'"Sharon Kane talks about growing up in Ohio, stripping in San Francisco, acting in adult films and more. |
| 99 minutes | May 25, 2014 |
| 37 | "Jerry Butler: Young, Wild and Wonderful"On the 25th anniversary of the publication of his autobiography Raw Talent, Jerry Butler looks back on his career, his book and his life. |
| 111 minutes | June 8, 2014 |
| 38 | "Marty Hodas: King of the Peeps"An interview with Marty Hodas, the man who introduced peep show machines into Times Square. |
| 52 minutes | June 8, 2014 |
| 39 | "Serena: Hippie, Kinky, Teenage Cruiser"Serena talks about her life in adult film and her autobiography Bright Lights Lonely Nights. With an introduction by Johnny Legend. |
| 109 minutes | July 20, 2014 |
| 40 | "Shanna McCullough: Like Ginger Exploding"Shanna McCullough looks back at her 30-year career working with many of the greats from the adult industry. |
| 78 minutes | August 31, 2014 |
| 41 | "Suze Randall. And Humphry. And Holly."Suze Randall, husband Humphry Knipe and daughter Holly Randall discuss what it is like being a family in the adult film business. |
| 67 minutes | September 21, 2014 |
| 42 | "Marlene Willoughby: New York's Archetypal Porn Star"Marlene Willoughby speaks publicly for the first time in decades about her acting, modeling, and adult film career. |
| 67 minutes | October 12, 2014 |
| 43 | "Ginger Lynn: The Girl Next Door"Ginger Lynn talks about her career that has spanned four decades, including acting, modeling, art and radio. |
| 93 minutes | November 2, 2014 |
| 44 | "Hyapatia Lee: Secrets and Lives"Hyapatia Lee discusses her family, her career, her husband Bud Lee, her work with High Times, her autobiography and how she manages mental illness. |
| 114 minutes | November 23, 2014 |
| 45 | "Fred Lincoln: The Early Years"Fred Lincoln remembers his career in adult film, his wives Tiffany Clark and Patti Rhodes, managing Plato's Retreat, starting the Hellfire Club and starring in The Last House on the Left. |
| 46 minutes | December 14, 2014 |
| 46 | "Constance Money: The Re-opening of Misty Beethoven. And her father."Constance Money speaks about her life, in and out of films. Constance's father provides his view of her career as well. |
| 81 minutes | January 25, 2015 |
| 47 | "Nina Hartley: The Importance Of Being Earnest"Nina Hartley talks about starting out in the film business and how she's seen it change since she began in 1984. |
| 101 minutes | February 22, 2015 |
| 48 | "Howard Ziehm: Mona… "Howard Ziehm discusses his groundbreaking film Mona: The Virgin Nymph and his role in the adult industry up until Flesh Gordon. |
| 99 minutes | March 15, 2015 |
| 49 | "Jim South: The Last Agent"Jim South discusses World Modeling, the talent agency he started to supply talent to the adult film industry. |
| 72 minutes | April 19, 2015 |
| 50 | "Michelle Maren: A Reluctant Star"Michelle Maren talks about her years in New York, her time making adult films, and making her recent documentary An Autobiography of Michelle Maren. |
| 90 minutes | May 10, 2015 |
| 51 | "Sharon Kelly / Colleen Brennan: From Soft to Hard"Sharon Kelly remembers her career in film, her dancing years, and living the fast life. |
| 72 minutes | May 30, 2015 |
| 52 | "'Deep Sleep' : Deep, Deep Trouble"A profile of the making of 1972 adult film Deep Sleep and the aftermath of its release. |
| 69 minutes | July 25, 2015 |
| 53 | "Roberta Findlay: A Respectable Woman"Roberta Findlay discusses her years making films both on her own and with her husband Michael Findlay and partner Walter Sear. |
| 83 minutes | August 16, 2015 |
| 54 | "George McDonald: The First Adult Film Star"George McDonald talks about his start in the era of short, silent 8mm films and the transition to full-length pornographic features within a couple of years. |
| 97 minutes | September 6, 2015 |
| 55 | "Whatever Happened to Candy Samples?"A profile of and interview with Candy Samples, early cheesecake model, exotic dancer, adult film actress and male magazine contributor. |
| 45 minutes | October 18, 2015 |
| 56 | "Billy Dee: Porn Again Christian"Billy Dee talks about growing up, his start in adult film, his time in the military, a short stint in prison and finding his way in life. |
| 134 minutes | November 15, 2015 |
| 57 | "João Fernandes: The Artist Formerly Known as Harry Flecks"João Fernandes discusses shooting 1960s black and white soft-core sexploitation films, graduating groundbreaking hardcore features like Deep Throat, and transitioning to mainstream work like Walker, Texas Ranger. |
| 118 minutes | January 24, 2016 |
| 58 | "Barbara Dare: A Curious Woman"Barbara Dare breaks decades of silence to share how she got into the adult film business, what she thought of her time in it, and why she got out. |
| 100 minutes | February 21, 2016 |
| 59 | "Johnnie Keyes: The Man Behind The Green Door"Johnnie Keyes discusses what led him to the leading male role in the renowned 1972 adult film Behind the Green Door and his career in movies and music since then. |
| 74 minutes | March 13, 2016 |
| 60 | "Veronica Hart: Hart to Heart"Veronica Hart talks about her time in glam rock England, working as a stripper and live sex show performer in Times Square, becoming one of the top adult film actors and directors and making mainstream cameos in films like Boogie Nights. |
| 111 minutes | April 10, 2016 |
| 61 | "1987: Lisa DeLeeuw, Jamie Gillis, John Seeman"Adult performer Richard Pacheco shares early interviews he conducted with porn stars Lisa De Leeuw, Jamie Gillis and John Seeman. |
| 60 minutes | June 19, 2016 |
| 62 | "Tina Russell: Searching for the Lost Girl of Porn"A collection of family, friends and performers remember adult actress Tina Russell, discussing her life, marriage, career and early death. |
| 107 minutes | August 21, 2016 |
| 63 | "Tiffany Clark: No Simple Yes or No"Tiffany Clark talks about her turbulent upbringing, her experiences in the adult film industry, her marriage to actor and producer Fred Lincoln, her descent into and recovery from drug abuse and life after the adult business. |
| 121 minutes | September 11, 2016 |
| 64 | "Raven Touchstone : A writer's Tale"Raven Touchstone looks back at her life and her career as one of the adult film industry's most prolific scriptwriter. With an introduction by adult film actor and director Paul Thomas. |
| 83 minutes | October 16, 2016 |
| 65 | "Donald Trump by Al Goldstein: An Edifice Complex"Al Goldstein shares his view of Donald Trump in this 1970s segment from Midnight Blue. |
| 5 minutes | October 30, 2016 |
| 66 | "Henri Pachard: When He Was Ron Sullivan"Ron Sullivan - better known by many as Henri Pachard - shares his memories of early filmmaking in 1960s New York City. |
| 38 minutes | November 20, 2016 |
| 67 | "Tom Byron – A Life Choice"Tom Byron looks back at his three decades in the adult film industry. |
| 109 minutes | March 12, 2017 |
| 68 | "Rhonda Jo Petty: Happiness is the Truth"Rhonda Jo Petty discusses her life and career in the adult film industry. |
| 92 minutes | April 16, 2017 |
| 69 | "'More, More, More': The Search for Andrea True, and the Creation of a Disco Sensation"Host Ashley West profiles Andrea True including her time in adult film as well as her music success with disco hits like More, More, More. |
| 78 minutes | May 21, 2017 |
| 70 | "Andrea True: Her Last Interview"Andrea True discusses her adult film years, her disco career and what she's been doing since she retired from the entertainment industry. |
| 46 minutes | June 11, 2017 |
| 71 | "Greg Dark: 'Porn Is Dead. Long Live The Dark Bros.'"Greg Dark talks about his artistic influences, his unique approach to pornography, and his move into the mainstream entertainment industry. |
| 97 minutes | August 13, 2017 |
| 72 | "The Deuce: Behind the Scenes"The Rialto Report, consultants on HBO's The Deuce, speaks with a show producer, writer and director about the making of the series. |
| 56 minutes | September 3, 2017 |
| 73 | "Radley Metzger – 1971"Two contemporary interviews with director Radley Metzger from 1971. |
| 53 minutes | September 24, 2017 |
| 74 | "Keisha: The Innocence of an Adult Film Star"Keisha discusses her long career in adult film and her work as a sexual healer. |
| 103 minutes | December 3, 2017 |
| 75 | "Supporting Characters"Rialto Report host Ashley West is interviewed by Bill Ackerman from the Supporting Characters podcast. |
| 119 minutes | December 24, 2017 |
| 76 | "The Story of 'Midnight Blue': Sex, Lies, and Videotape"Host April Hall profiles the rise and fall of Al Goldstein's public access television show Midnight Blue. |
| 79 minutes | January 7, 2018 |
| 77 | "How Jimi Hendrix's Roadie became a Porn Producer"Neville Chesters discusses how he went from 1960s roadie with The Who and Jimi Hendrix in London to porn producer in the 1990s in New York. |
| 109 minutes | February 18, 2018 |
| 78 | "Jamie Gillis in 1976: "No one knows what happens to old porn stars" "A 1976 interview with adult film star Jamie Gillis that covers both the mechanics and personal impact of working in the industry. |
| 63 minutes | March 18, 2018 |
| 79 | "Leslie Winston: Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Milkmaids" "Golden Age adult film actress Leslie Winston discusses her life in and out of the industry. |
| 80 minutes | April 8, 2018 |
| 80 | "'Centurians of Rome' – The Behind-The-Scenes Story" "The story of the funding and making of the 1981 adult film Centurians of Rome. |
| 57 minutes | May 13, 2018 |
| 81 | "Lynn LeMay – Her Own Woman, Her Own Story" "Adult film actress Lynn LeMay shares details of her life and career. |
| 75 minutes | June 3, 2018 |
| 82 | "The Stripper and the Congressman: Fanne Foxe's Story" "The Rialto Report profiles the 1970s U.S. political scandal involving politician Wilbur Mills and stripper Fanne Foxe. |
| 55 minutes | July 15, 2018 |
| 83 | "Working for Mr. X: California 1988" "The Rialto Report profiles a rarely heard documentary on the adult film industry exploring the impact of video on the sex film business, as well as issues such as race, legal decisions, AIDS, and drugs. |
| 58 minutes | September 23, 2018 |
| 84 | "Keli Richards: Coming Out Of The Shadows" "Host Ashley West speaks with Golden Age film actress Keli Richards about her movies, her life and why she's looking to get back into the adult business in her early 50s. |
| 74 minutes | October 14, 2018 |
| 85 | "'Taboo American Style' : An Outsider's Story" "Douglas McMullen shares his experience working on the Taboo American Style series by director Henri Pachard. |
| 36 minutes | November 4, 2018 |
| 86 | "Avon Films: Journeys into the Dark Heart of XXX – Part 1, The Boss" "The story of Avon theaters and film founder Murray Offen. |
| 62 minutes | December 2, 2018 |
| 87 | "Avon Films: Phil Prince's Story" "A profile of Avon film director Phil Prince. |
| 72 minutes | December 23, 2018 |
| 88 | "Paul Thomas: The 10 Provocations of PT, Part 1"First installment of a two-part interview with golden age adult film star and director Paul Thomas. |
| 86 minutes | February 17, 2019 |
| 89 | "Paul Thomas: The 10 Provocations of PT, Part 2"Second installment of a two-part interview with golden age adult film star and director Paul Thomas. |
| 81 minutes | February 24, 2019 |
| 90 | "Christy Canyon: A Twelve O’Clock Girl in a Nine O’Clock Town"Christy Canyon discusses her life in and out of the adult film industry. |
| 132 minutes | April 28, 2019 |
| 91 | "Mike Horner: Porn's Late Bloomer"Mike Horner shares his thoughts on his life and decades-long adult film career. |
| 57 minutes | September 1, 2019 |
| 92 | "John Stagliano: Truth and Reality"John Stagliano discusses his path to the adult film industry, the creation of Evil Angel and Buttman, living with HIV and his life today. |
| 89 minutes | November 10, 2019 |
| 93 | "Kelly Nichols: At Last"Kelly Nichols shares her thoughts on her adult film career, both in front of and behind the camera. |
| 81 minutes | January 5, 2020 |
| 94 | "The Search for Pat Barrington: A Tale of Murder, Sex, and Dance"Host Ashley West tells the story of actress, model and stripper Pat Barrington and his search to find her. |
| 71 minutes | January 19, 2020 |
| 95 | "When Jamie Gillis Was Accused Of Murder… Twice: The Price of Porn Notoriety"The Rialto Report'' profiles the story of when adult firm actor Jamie Gillis was accused of murder. |
| 45 minutes | February 23, 2020 |
| 96 | "Randy Spears: Hear My Prayer"Randy Spears talks about his multi-decade adult career before he became a devout Christian. |
| 101 minutes | March 8, 2020 |
| 97 | "Whatever Happened to Mary Stuart?"The story of actress Mary Stuart's eventful life, in and out of film. |
| 37 minutes | April 5, 2020 |
| 98 | "Amber Lynn: Rebel Yell!"Amber Lynn talks about her unconventional upbringing, her impact on adult film, dancing across North America, and her active life today. |
| 104 minutes | May 31, 2020 |
| 99 | "Angel Kelly: Giving You the Best That I Got"Angel Kelly discusses her midwest upbringing, her time nude dancing, and her experiences in the adult film industry. |
| 87 minutes | June 28, 2020 |
| 100 | "The Rialto Report Turns 100!"Hosts West and Hall choose some of their most memorable clips from the previous 99 podcasts. |
| 141 minutes | July 26, 2020 |