One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Netflix's 'Circus Of Books': How This Straight Couple Nurtured A Gay Meeting Place For More Than 30 Years
Karen and Barry Mason at Circus of Books. Courtesy Netflix
Netflix's latest effort to distract you from your reality by telling you surprising stories about other people's realities is Circus of Books.
The documentary tells the story of the somewhat square couple that ran the West Hollywood store — known for selling hardcore gay porn and being a meeting place for gay men — for more than 30 years.
The film was made by Barry and Karen Mason's daughter, Rachel. All three of them talked with LAist about the film, the store's storied place in L.A. gay history, and how their shop would have fared in the current coronavirus epidemic.
READ THE FULL STORY:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
