The iconic store originally opened as Book Circus in 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. Book Circus became a major magazine distribution point for the Masons. Book Circus was their biggest customer from the very start. Guys would be waiting for us at the door. Blueboy was the first mainstream gay magazine.
The guys loved it. Then the owner of Book Circus stopped paying his bills and his rent. 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. 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. So Book Circus became Circus of Books.
Business grew steadily throughout the s. Then the Masons got swept up in a federal effort to shut down L. Postal Service to intercept packages from adult distributors.
In , a trio of California producers and distributors were indicted on charges of interstate transportation of obscene material after getting caught shipping VHS tapes. The U. He defended the freedoms of adult industries in front of the Supreme Court multiple times in his career; some cases were more successful than others. Barry Mason Enterprises Inc. USA took two years to battle in court. In the end, neither of the Masons served any time. Instead, Barry agreed to a pre-trial diversionβessentially probation without a convictionβand the charges were dropped.
