retro porn in the valley

brie242from the los angeles times reprint of the los angeles mirror (no longer exists) from 50 years ago:
Oct. 24, 1957
Los Angeles
 The Times account of the pornography raid shows that by the 1950s the adult film industry had a heavy presence in the San Fernando Valley and that the ring operated much like a regular studio.George W. Richter, 63, 9721 Lemona Ave., a North Hills man with a long history in the porn industry, provided the film processing lab while his sons George F., 13019 Bracken St., Pacoima, and Robert C. Richter, Northridge, operated the cameras, The Times said.Distribution was handled by Jack Rappaport, 51, through his luggage store at 1734 S. Vermont Ave., and Lee La Beau, 42, of 5651 Melrose Ave. (an address belonging to Aldik Artificial Flower Co., according to city directories and newspaper ads), The Times said. And then there was the on-screen talent: Donald Harvey, 10660 E. Dorado Ave., Pacoima, and Barbara Jean Elliott, a.k.a. Kathryn Douglas.Similar arrests five years earlier seemed to have little effect. In August 1952, vice detectives raided George W. Richter’s lab at 1715 N. Mariposa and seized 100 16-millimeter reels of pornography, The Times said.  “My headquarters has always been in Hollywood, Calif. I used girls who came to Hollywood to be in the movies but failed.”

 “I had a post office box in Beverly Hills to get my C.O.D. returns from my express shipments. All my business was done over the telephone or by Western Union. I never used the mails in my business.”

“In my time, I produced about 40 films and had another 60 duplicate negatives of other films. I should say I sold about 100 prints of each one.”

“I furnished films for Tijuana, Mexico; also for Havana, Cuba, for burlesque.”

“From 1931 to 1945 I had a photographic studio at 1605 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. This was merely a blind. I made contacts with girls who came to me to be models. I later used them in my movies.”

“In 1928 I made my first picture at 1154 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. I used a prostitute and a studio truck driver for my cast. I made the picture for [blank] of San Francisco, who is dead now. I had the 35-millimeter negative of this picture. From this I had a 16-millimeter reduction negative made. I started to sell prints to friends of mine.”

“I met a Chinese merchant in Chinatown. I sold him about 60 prints of this picture. Some of them went to China, so I was told. Then a Mr. [blank] came out to the coast from New York. He brought with him some new pictures. We traded back and forth. Then I sent two men to tour the country to make contacts for me. They were [blank] and [blank].”

“They made connections and would telephone me the orders. I would send them by express or Greyhound bus. They would always collect in advance for the orders. This is how I got my connections all over the country.”

“During my time, I guess I made about $50,000 a year. I spent it as fast as I made it, on women and liquor.”

2 thoughts on “retro porn in the valley”

Comments are closed.