The Story behind Los Angeles' most beloved Porn Store

The iconic store originally opened as Book Circus in 1960. Not only did Book Circus specialize in hardcore porn that catered to both straight and mostly gay smut consumers, but it was also located in front of the notoriously cruisy gay spot known to this day as Vaseline Alley. Famous for not only hook-ups, car dates and quickies but also prostitution and drug dealing. At the time Karen and Barry Mason were distributing Larry Flynt publications to stores. Book Circus became a major magazine distribution point for the Masons. Book Circus was their biggest customer from the very start.

“Book Circus and Universal News on Las Palmas and Hollywood Boulevard each took 600 copies of the gay Blueboy magazine when it first came out,” said Mr Mason. “I would load my truck for these two stops. Guys would be waiting for us at the door. They’d come out and help me bring them in. They’d rip open the box and buy them fresh out of the box. I wouldn’t even be done unloading them and they were already sold. Blueboy was the first mainstream gay magazine. The guys loved it.”

Then the owner of Book Circus stopped paying his bills and his rent. Mr Mason learned from the manager of the store that the owner was deep in his coke addiction, was stiffing everybody and had Mafia debts. Mason spoke to the manager of the building who informed him that the owner was about to be evicted. “The next day I got what I thought was a brilliant idea,” Barry Mason explained. “I called the building manager back and I told her, “If I give you half of his rent until you evict him, will you sign over the lease to me for the same deal you’re giving him? She said ok. So I paid half of his rent for two months and then one day she told me he was out and she gave me keys to the store.” The owner of Book Circus filed for bankruptcy and the courts tried to come for the Masons’ assets. So Book Circus became Circus of Books.