Ever since the development of the movie camera in 1890, filmmakers have utilized technology to show women in various states of undress. By the turn of the century, Argentina had established itself as a centre for the production of adult movies, grinding out hard-core films to meet demand from wealthy collectors. Perhaps not surprisingly, the first hard-core films exhibited publicly were shown in brothels, where they were screened for the amusement of waiting customers. In the United States, not only were such films exhibited in most communities, but prosecutors were willing to look the other way provided they were shown discreetly, and two states, North Carolina and Illinois, even exempted stag movies from the state obscenity laws. Decades later, however, screenings of Deep Throat were raided by police officers, revealing the contrasting attitudes towards sex in American culture. Also seemingly contrary is the location of the world capital of porn in Californias San Fernando Valley, a few miles northwest of the Warner Bros lot. Or perhaps the location couldnt be more apt. After all, the Valley, like Hollywood, doesn't make films - it is selling a product, and the product it sells happens to be sex. Depending on who you believe, though, San Fernando generates more revenue than Tinseltown, and has done for years. Whatever the truth, there are plenty of stories to be told about the industry.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
