Circus of Books
Karen and Barry Mason answered a Los Angeles Times ad in 1976 to support their small family. Larry Flynt sought distributors for Hustler. What was supposed to be a side gig turned into a full-time job when they took over Circus of Books. A decade later, they became the top US gay porn distributors. The film focuses on the double life they led as parents when LGBT culture wasn't acknowledged. They faced jail time for an obscenity prosecution and made their store a sanctuary during the AIDS crisis. Circus of Books offers a rare view into unwritten queer history via the lens of the proprietors' daughter, Rachel Mason, an artist, filmmaker, and musician.
Released: 2019-04-26
Genre:
Documentary