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Circus of Books

Circus of Books

★ 7.12020Movie1 h 32 mUnited States

DocumentaryBiographyHistory

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.

5191 people rated

🔇

Circus of Books

2020

R

1 h 32 m

United States

Documentary

Biography

History

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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7.1 /10

5191 people rated

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Top Cast(18)

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

Polly Kim

Self

Ben Liefke

Self - Employee

Billy Miller

Self - Magazine Publisher

User Review

Tik๛لندن

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-1080P

Bikking

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-720P

𝙎𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙧♥️

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-480P

ʊsɛʀզʊɛɛռ B

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-1080P

Tamanda Tambala❤️‍🔥

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-720P

user7755760881469

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-480P

Ama Frenzy

28/04/2023 04:20

"Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans" John Lennon This is a fascinating documentary about a Jewish family "The Masons" and their business Circle of Books "Gay Adult Bookstore." The director (Rachel Mason) did a fine job in contrasting the evolution of her family with the world. What I love most about this documentary are the Masons, they are so sweet and kind. The director travels back to the eighties and explore the social political climate of that decade which permitted this business to thrive but also the challenges it faced during the Reagan presidentship. I would love to meet Rachel and her family to give them a hug and a huge thank you. The Masons are the very example of what people should strive to be, smart, open minded and kind. I was moved by them and it is not about gay * but rather about the freedom to be your own true self in a world that often forces individuals to conform to unhealthy beliefs and outdated self righteous morals.

Désir Moassa@yahoo.de

28/04/2023 04:20

This documentary is both a family history and a history of gay culture and society in the USA. The couple in this story are both looking for a break, when they answer an advertisement to distribute Hustler magazine. This leads to them taking over a bookstore, which they soon discover is also a gay and sexual aid store. Rather than be discouraged, they roll up their sleeves and dive into the business, running it successfully and soon becoming large players in gay movie distribution. There are moments both serious and humorous, including the mother's challenge to accept her own son's sexuality, which is a bit ironic considering what her business is. An easy going watch with a lot of heart.

Julie Bamba

28/04/2023 04:20

A documentary about a store. But not just any store of course. And to be frank, a store that with its special clientele might not be something that you'd go to. I know I probably would not have gone in there. Not with the intent to buy or rent that is. Nothing that would have been of interest to me. Yet the documentary about trials, tribulations and struggles is one that is more than "interesting" to watch. A very well made documentary, with in depth interviews. But as I said, if you are squeamish (quite explicit sexual pictures), you may want to stir away from this. And I would suggest not to cancel people who don't watch this. If someone does not want to watch and is not a mean individual about it, respect their decision. Same goes for when you watch this and didn't like it, not because of the quality of film, but your religious or other believes. Don't judge it based on that. Be respectful of it and the people involved. We have different tastes and that is a good thing. Not liking something is a given. How we work with that and how others perceive that, is what is important. And while that may sound like tip toeing, you can imagine how it is, to be gay and be judged by others then. That's why I was stressing that point. Live and let others live - maybe this will give you an idea what and how "others" are

user8467114259813

28/04/2023 04:20

The mother was in desperate need of therapy, not because of the son thing, but in general she is a control freak. Living with someone like that it's not easy.

User Review

Tik๛لندن

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-1080P

Bikking

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-720P

𝙎𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙧♥️

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-480P

ʊsɛʀզʊɛɛռ B

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-1080P

Tamanda Tambala❤️‍🔥

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-720P

user7755760881469

21/03/2025 07:16

Circus of Books-480P

Ama Frenzy

28/04/2023 04:20

"Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans" John Lennon This is a fascinating documentary about a Jewish family "The Masons" and their business Circle of Books "Gay Adult Bookstore." The director (Rachel Mason) did a fine job in contrasting the evolution of her family with the world. What I love most about this documentary are the Masons, they are so sweet and kind. The director travels back to the eighties and explore the social political climate of that decade which permitted this business to thrive but also the challenges it faced during the Reagan presidentship. I would love to meet Rachel and her family to give them a hug and a huge thank you. The Masons are the very example of what people should strive to be, smart, open minded and kind. I was moved by them and it is not about gay * but rather about the freedom to be your own true self in a world that often forces individuals to conform to unhealthy beliefs and outdated self righteous morals.

Désir Moassa@yahoo.de

28/04/2023 04:20

This documentary is both a family history and a history of gay culture and society in the USA. The couple in this story are both looking for a break, when they answer an advertisement to distribute Hustler magazine. This leads to them taking over a bookstore, which they soon discover is also a gay and sexual aid store. Rather than be discouraged, they roll up their sleeves and dive into the business, running it successfully and soon becoming large players in gay movie distribution. There are moments both serious and humorous, including the mother's challenge to accept her own son's sexuality, which is a bit ironic considering what her business is. An easy going watch with a lot of heart.

Julie Bamba

28/04/2023 04:20

A documentary about a store. But not just any store of course. And to be frank, a store that with its special clientele might not be something that you'd go to. I know I probably would not have gone in there. Not with the intent to buy or rent that is. Nothing that would have been of interest to me. Yet the documentary about trials, tribulations and struggles is one that is more than "interesting" to watch. A very well made documentary, with in depth interviews. But as I said, if you are squeamish (quite explicit sexual pictures), you may want to stir away from this. And I would suggest not to cancel people who don't watch this. If someone does not want to watch and is not a mean individual about it, respect their decision. Same goes for when you watch this and didn't like it, not because of the quality of film, but your religious or other believes. Don't judge it based on that. Be respectful of it and the people involved. We have different tastes and that is a good thing. Not liking something is a given. How we work with that and how others perceive that, is what is important. And while that may sound like tip toeing, you can imagine how it is, to be gay and be judged by others then. That's why I was stressing that point. Live and let others live - maybe this will give you an idea what and how "others" are

user8467114259813

28/04/2023 04:20

The mother was in desperate need of therapy, not because of the son thing, but in general she is a control freak. Living with someone like that it's not easy.