The Golden Age of Porn: How It Changed Adult Entertainment Forever

The Golden Age of Porn was more than just a boom period for porn producers— it marked a groundbreaking shift in cinema. Adult films graced the big screen during this era, toppling taboos and mingling with mainstream movies. It was all part of the Sexual Revolution.

Adult movie stars became iconic, boundaries were pushed, and porn’s influence grew immensely over a very short period. How did this happen? What triggered the Golden Age of Porn?

Let’s dive into this pivotal period and see exactly how it revolutionized adult entertainment.

What Was The Golden Age of Porn?

The Golden Age of Porn ran from 1969 to the mid-1980s and is a term that refers to a time when adult movies gained recognition in the mainstream film industry and popular culture. It was a time when porn became less seedy and started to be seen as something not-so-underworld.

There was less sniggering about porn movies and more acceptance. 

The Golden Age may have only lasted a few years. Still, it was enough to lead to a significant change in the adult entertainment industry and ultimately to the abundance of high-quality porn we have today.

This shift of image had its roots in the sexual revolution of the 1960s and ran through the 1970s, with a slight hangover into the early 80s.

There is a blurring of lines between the decades, but the 1970s are now considered the focus of porn’s golden era. The lessening of notoriety and increased acceptance came about because of various factors:

• Attitude changes of the 1960s and 1970s
• Changes in censorship and law
• Pop culture integration
• An increase in production values
• The advance of technology
• Broader distribution of content

Below, we take a closer look at what led to porn’s golden age…

What Led To Porn’s Golden Age?

Societal Changes of the 1960s and 1970s

The golden age of porn didn’t happen overnight; it grew from a change in society’s attitudes. 

From the 1950s to the 1980s, western society began to take a new view of sex and sexuality. However, it wasn’t as if the world woke up one day and said, ‘Let’s talk about sex without feeling embarrassed.’

Over time, several key factors caused this change in attitude:

• The End of World War 2
• The Sexual Revolution
• Feminism
• Contraception
• Media and pop culture
• Civil rights
• The counter-culture

Here’s a brief outline of each.

Post World War 2 Awakening

Due to the effects of the ‘total war’ that was WWII, the late 40s and 50s saw a shift in attitudes towards promiscuity and sex. Women had done the work of men, husbands had been away for extended periods (or never returned), and sexual needs still had to be met. 

From this came the then-radical notion that women enjoyed sex and had sexual needs.

The Sexual Revolution

From that came the Sexual Revolution, as people began challenging the norms of acceptable sexual behavior. This led to a more open, permissive attitude towards sex.

The revolution wasn’t a straightforward event but a gradual change in understanding with many contributing factors…

Feminism

You could say the feminist movement dates back to ancient times when women were tribal and national leaders, but feminism, as we think of it today, stems from the 19th century.

That era saw a rise in women’s rights, thanks to suffragettes’ hard-fought-for right to vote, the literature of notable authors such as Virginia Woolf, and vital legal cases where, for example, women won the right to own property.

‘Second-wave’ feminism came about during the 60s. In the USA, women ensured a broader discussion of sexuality, productive rights, and equality, particularly in the workplace. The movement argued against traditional gender roles and challenged the role of women as sex objects in adult movies.

Contraception

The development, widespread availability and use of the birth control pill played a significant part in the sexual revolution. At last, women had control over reproductivity, enabling them to have a career and have sex without fear of pregnancy.

Women could be more promiscuous and have more fun with less fear, leading to a more permissive attitude towards sex. This, in turn, led to the rise of ‘free love’ and the idea that sex was for everyone and could happen outside marriage.

Putting it bluntly, now women had control and a voice, and sex could become fun for everyone.

Civil Rights

These changes didn’t happen by accident, and changes in particular laws played a massive part in the sexual revolution. Contraception law was one, of course, but changes in abortion rights also led to more control for women.

The part or full decriminalization of homosexuality came about because of the gay and lesbian movement; there were changes in divorce law and others that addressed historical inequalities at work and in broader society. 

Many civil rights movements also shifted attitudes towards certain religions, which found they no longer monopolized moral law. 

Media and Pop Culture

All this is heading towards the rise of porn, but the sexual revolution didn’t manifest itself in pornography. Before it could get there, it needed to work its magic on the broader field, and thus, there was a shift in wider cultural norms.

Much of the shift occurred through TV, theatre, music, literature and art.

The list of notable artists who contributed to the sexual revolution of the 60s and 70s would run for hundreds of pages, but a few prime examples will set the scene:

• In music, the Rolling Stones and Janice Joplin
• In film, movies like Midnight Cowboy and Last Tango in Paris
• In TV, shows like Maud and All in the Family
• In literature, books such as The Feminine Mystique.
• Art also played a considerable part; think of David Hockney or Carolee Schneemann and her work around gender and sexuality. 

The sexual revolution was also boosted in other less obvious areas of Western culture, namely, advertising and fashion.

Counterculture

The 1960s/70s saw a rise in ‘counterculture’ where (mainly) young people rejected the traditional values of their society.

If you want an all-encompassing example of what this movement stood for, take a look at the musical ‘Hair’ (1967), which addresses all kinds of counterculture ideas, including men growing long hair, interracial relationships, single mothers, drugs, gay love, ‘free love’, and all set among the backlash against the Vietnam War.

Feminist Porn & Directors

The above factors contributed to the rise of the sexual revolution, which, in turn, led to changes in porn. Perhaps the most significant shift was the emergence of feminist porn produced by female directors.

So far, porn had been shot by guys for guys, the women were the sex objects, and that was that.

Although the revolution may have helped women by allowing them to take a more active part in the porn process and thus earn an income while not worrying about pregnancy, it didn’t do much for the feminist image. Not until women began taking over the cameras and calling the shots.

Having been a porn actress for five years, Candida Royalle (1950 – 2015) retired from what she saw as a male-centric entertainment form.

Four years later, having seen the opportunities presented by home VCR, she founded Femme Productions and became the first feminist porn director offering porn by women, for women, and available to women and couples in their own homes.

In an interview, Royalle said, “I was also involved in the women’s movement at the time, and I could tell women were becoming very curious about erotic movies. But there was nothing out there for them to look at and really enjoy.”

This new genre of porn turned the focus away from the ‘goal-orientated’ approach of traditional porn (i.e., the guy’s cum shot). Instead, the focus was on the woman’s emotional and sexual needs.

Feminist or female-centric porn emerged during the golden age of porn, and since then, many women have followed suit, including prominent names like Erika Lust and Petra Joy.

The Evolution of Censorship Laws

Censorship has hampered the porn industry for several decades and, in some cases, still does today.

Whether it’s for men or women, it’s all very well making a porn flick, but then you’ve got to do something with it, and if your country or state won’t allow you to, what’s the point?

Whether it was the banning of works by seditious authors during Roman times, the Spanish Inquisition, or the licensing of books in 17th-century England, censorship has existed in many forms for thousands of years.

Censorship has also played a restrictive part in broader entertainment, particularly the theatre, from the days of Shakespeare into the 20th century. 

One of Britain’s more famous stories about censorship concerns Mrs. Henderson’s Windmill Revues staged at the Windmill Theatre, Soho, London, in the 1930s and 40s.

To avoid the Lord Chamberlain’s strict censorship laws that forbade nudity on stage, Mrs. Henderson and her director had her nude and semi-clad girls remain static during performances, thus making them motionless works of art (not banned) rather than naked people (banned).

The Windmill’s fight against censorship is the subject of ‘Mrs. Henderson Presents’, an excellent example of the crossover between the censorship of printed matter and that of porn movies.

The censorship of plays/performances in British theatre didn’t end until the Theatres Act of 1968 (about the time there was a partial decimalization of homosexuality in that country, also an effect of the sexual revolution). 

Over in the USA, it took longer as it was far more complicated, but government censorship of artistic endeavors began to lessen during the 1950s and 1960s.

The state legislature took longer, and regulations governing the porn industry were tight until the 1980s and beyond. They still play a part in porn productions today, but it’s now much easier for producers to make and distribute porn.

Obscenity laws are less cut and dried. They exist in many countries, but in the USA, for example, whether something is obscene or not is subject to a specific legal test rather than a set standard. In that sense, obscenity laws are flexible, and as long as porn has a literary, artistic, political or scientific value, it can (usually) bypass America’s obscenity laws.

Again, this is thanks in significant part to the sexual revolution of the 60s and 70s.

Note: For a fuller examination of the role of obscenity laws in USA porn production, see our guide to the evolution of the San Fernando ‘Porn Valley’.

Famous Golden Age of Porn Movies and Their Impact

We know how the sexual revolution came about and what it led to, but what did it do for porn? 

What was the first ‘mainstream’ hardcore movie? And what effect did it have on wider culture?

In the USA, erotic and explicit movies gained recognition between 1969 and 1980. The era started not long after Denmark legally accepted pornography (on July 1st, 1969), giving the world a kickstart towards broader acceptance of porn as a viable source of entertainment. 

Just before that landmark date, Andy Warhol’s ‘Blue Movie’ hit movie theatres (on June 12th, 1969), and the golden era of porn began. The following year, Bill Osco put ‘Mona’ on general release, and these two movies brought porn to the silver screen for the first time.

Nice, but they were not the kind of porn we’re used to seeing today.

For example, ‘Blue Movie’ depicts a couple in an apartment talking about the Vietnam War, doing odd jobs, and now and then, having sex. ‘Mona’ is more ‘porn’ with loads of BJs and minimal plot.

This raises the question:

What golden era, classic porn movies, impacted the wider cultural scene and helped push porn from the shadows into a less seedy limelight? 

“Deep Throat” and Mainstream Success

Making Linda Lovelace a household name more or less overnight, “Deep Throat” is probably the most famous porn movie of all time. Why? Because it introduced mainstream society to porn, made millions of dollars, and got itself banned in 23 US states under their obscenity laws.

This goes to prove there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Rather than being a one-off scene, or an all-sex, no-plot romp, “Deep Throat” has a classic storytelling four-act structure during which the heroine undertakes a journey, albeit a sexually gratuitous one.

• Act one: Linda is dissatisfied with her sex life, and visits a doctor who discovers her clitoris in her throat. He shows her she can enjoy sex orally. (Hence the title.)
• Act two: By having lots of oral sex, Linda begins her transformation, realizes her ‘talent,’ and her attitude towards sex begins to change.
• Act Three: Linda becomes well-known and popular for her special talent, further boosting her sexual confidence.
• Act Four: Linda has changed and found a new sense of self and sexual satisfaction.

By 2015, “Deep Throat” had grossed $600 million. The movie paved the way for others and was crucial to the development of the US porn industry. It was a spark that lit a flame and inspired other producers and movie companies to invest in porn.

Why? Because it affected mainstream culture.

How? For several reasons, namely:

• It put porn into a classic ‘hero’s journey’ structure/format; it told a story.
• It contained character development and humor.
• Being shown in mainstream theatres, it caused controversy, thus attracting a wider audience.
• It (and porn) became publicly talked about.
• It made lots of money, proving that porn could be profitable.
• The controversy sparked legal challenges, some of which changed obscenity laws, and created a buzz around the impact of porn on society.

“Deep Throat” was a groundbreaker, and whether some people found it hard to swallow, or not, it paved the way for others to follow.

“Behind the Green Door” and Experimental Eroticism

Experimental Eroticism is a term used to describe sex outside traditional views and practices.

In other words, it’s more than the missionary position and can include:

• Unconventional role-playing (Cosplay, master and servant, etc.)
• Fetish and kink (from femdom to CFNM)
• Spiritual or ritualistic sex (as depicted in sites like Missionary Boys, Missionary Girls)     
• Using technology in sex (teledildonics, user-controlled vibrators on live cam sites, VR) 

It could be said that “Deep Throat” was one of the first examples of experimental eroticism because Linda’s clitoris was in her throat. Another was “Behind the Green Door,” arguably the second most important movie in the shift from underworld porn to mainstream acceptance.

Released in 1972, “Behind the Green Door” is a classic from the early golden days of porn. Like “Deep Throat,” it’s a feature-length movie, but one that takes the idea of experimental erotism several stages further. Included in the film are acts such as:

• Masked participants
• Interracial coupling
• Sex on a Trapeze 
• An orgy
• A psychedelic cum-shot sequence (that lasts for seven minutes)

The general release of this full-length, mainly sex movie caused quite a stir. Again, the publicity and outcry led to success, and a movie that cost $60,000 to produce earned over $50 million. It was also shown at the Cannes Film Festival and inspired other producers to make ‘mainstream’ porn, which added to the rise of porn’s golden era.

The Devil In Miss Jones

“The Devil In Miss Jones” is a mockbuster of the 1941 comedy “The Devil and Miss Jones.” 

Produced and directed by Gerard Damiano, who also directed and produced “Deep Throat,” the plot is loosely based on a play called “No Exit” by John-Paul Sartre.

To set it apart from a standard porn quickie, “The Devil in Miss Jones” is a feature film and explores some deep philosophy in its plot: Justine Jones is fed up with life, kills herself, can’t get into heaven, so has to prove she is worthy of hell by becoming an earth-bound model of pure lust; cue the hardcore.

Often shown as a double bill with “Deep Throat,” the movie made $15 million in its first year. It was one of the top ten grossing films of 1973, coming in just behind “Live and Let Die”, and spawned eight sequels, including a 2010 revamp featuring Evan Stone.

Other Notable Golden Age Movies

By now, these movies were being discussed on TV shows by celebrities such as Johnny Carson and Bob Hope.

The New York Times coined the expression ‘Porn Chic’ to describe this new era of porn on the big screen, and concerned that such big-budget porn movies might steal their crown, even Hollywood sat up and took notice.

Inspired by “Deep Throat” and similar successes, during the 60s, 70s and into the early 80s, many studios released bigger budget full-length porn movies with plots and characters, keeping the golden age ball rolling. 

Adding to the momentum were movies such as:

• The Opening of Misty Beethoven (1976)
  • Directed by Radley Metzger.
  • Noted for its retelling of the Pygmalion story.
  • Includes an appearance by Jamie Gillis.
• Debbie Does Dallas (1978)
  • It was the most successful video release of its time, with 50,000 videotape sales right off the bat.
  • Spawned many sequels of ‘Debbie Does…’ fame.
  • The title of this iconic porn movie is still in use in urban culture today.
• Taboo (1980)
  • Directed by Kirdy Stevens.
  • Noted for its narrative structure and mainstream story elements.
  • It is one of the first full-length feature films to focus on mother/son taboo.
  • It led to a series of 23 sequels.
• Café Flesh (1982)
  •  A post-apocalyptic sci-fi cult movie
  • Won the 1984 AVN Award for Best Art Direction

By the early 80s, the Golden Era of porn had taken off, flown, and was coming into land. The emergence of home VCR negated the need to visit a theatre to see big-budget movies, and more and more people were staying home to watch their porn.

Before we explore the age further, you might like to see what the fuss is about. Let’s pause to discover where you can see these movies and others from the Golden Age. 

Where Can I Relive the Golden Age of Porn?

There are various ways to learn more about and to see Golden Age porn movies.

If you are looking for some decade-specific recommendations, see our related guides:

• Porn in the 1960s
• Porn in the 1970s
• Porn in the 1980s

You can also explore the Golden Age through:

• Documentaries.
  • “Inside Deep Throat” and “After Porn Ends” are examples.
• Books.
  • “The Other Hollywood” by Legs McNeil and Jennifer Osborne.
  • “Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985” by Jill C. Nelson.
• Museums.
  • The Museum of Sex in New York, and other sex museums in other cities, notably Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
• Specialist cinemas.
• Specialist film festivals.

However, the most accessible way to relive the Golden Age is to view a movie and see for yourself. And the easiest way to do that is online.

Where to Watch Golden Age Porn Movies

Below is a list of suggestions for watching Golden Age porn online.

These are a mix of Pay Per View or Video on Demand (VOD) websites, although you can find ’60s and ’70s movies on free tube sites. 

Bear in mind that these movies were made between 60 and 40 years ago on celluloid and, later, videotape, and they do not always transfer well to digital media.

Although some have been remastered or touched up, the quality of what you see won’t be up to today’s standards. Also, some of these sites require a payment to access.

The Classic Porn

https://theclassicporn.com

The Classic Porn is a membership site offering over 8,300 movies from the 1920s to the present. There are over 11,000 related photo sets, and the content is searchable by year, language and various tags. Streaming trailers are free, and membership options start at $34.95 monthly.

Once a member, you can stream these classics online or download them, often with only one choice of resolution (576 x 432 is standard). 

All the classics are there, including Bambi Woods in the “Does Dallas” series and “Behind the Green Door.”

AEBN

https://www.aebn.com

This worldwide VOD site offers both straight and gay sections and a comprehensive search engine that will filter its massive database.

Its ‘classic’ filter leads to 2,288 full DVDs/videos and scenes, with a notice to tell you when a video has been ‘Transferred from archive print.’ That will indicate the playback quality, although it is unlikely it will be dazzling.

AEBN gives you various ways to view the classics and thousands of other modern porn flicks at a reasonable cost:

• Rental for 48 hours. Average cost $2.95
• Stream for life. Average cost $5.95
• Download, stream and own. Average cost $9.90

Prices will vary according to whether you’re looking at a scene or a full-length feature. For example, the prices for the most-watched movie, “Taboo II,” look like this:

• Rental $3.95
• Stream for life $7.90
• Download and keep $15.80

On the downside, more expensive doesn’t always mean better quality.

Still, registration is free, there is a decent number of classic movies, and you have over 124,000 porn movies to view, only paying for what you want when you want it.

Adult Empire

https://adultempire.com

Here, you can order hard-copy DVDs, use Adult Empire as a VOD service, and pay to stream when and what you want.

Out of over 110,000 movies and scenes, it holds more than 29,500 classic movies, including “Deep Throat” and others from the ’60s and ’70s Golden Era, and each one comes with a trailer and various viewing options.

Many of its older titles have been remastered up to 1080p HD, trailers and information are provided, it’s easy to filter and find what you want, and searching by year leads to:

• 4,267 movies from the 70s
• 4,452 movies from the 80s
• 7,776 movies from the 90s

As with AEBN, the cost of viewing and saving options vary according to the movie’s length and whether it’s a scene or a full feature. There are various options:

• Pay per minute — From $9.99 for 50 minutes with prices reducing according to packages, which include free bonus minutes.
• Two-day rental — $3.99
• Stream for life — $7.99
• Download and keep — $9.99 to $29.99 +

Adult Empire also contains a wealth of up-to-date porn DVDs from today’s top companies and often runs discount offers on rental and download prices.

Private Classics

https://www.privateclassics.com/

Based in Sweden and launched as a hardcore magazine in 1965 (the first of its kind), Private now has an online library of porn from the 60s to the present day. Offering 3,000 scenes from 448 + full DVDs, it also gives you magazines from the Golden Age of Porn. 

Private Classics is not the most accessible site to search.

Even though it holds content arranged by decade and has departments for movies and scenes, there is no way to search within those categories other than by upload order or title.

However, stick with it and browse; you will find Golden Age movies, galleries, models and magazines, making it an extensive depository of the adult industry’s glory years.

Iconic Figures of the Golden Porn Era

The Golden Era is responsible for some of the most legendary names in porn. To call them ‘Hall of Famers’ doesn’t do justice to the influence of these pioneering names.

Below, we look at some of the most recognizable names in adult entertainment history.

Linda Lovelace: From Stardom to Activism

Linda Lovelace (1949 to 2022) became a household name in the 1970s. During her early years in New York, she suffered an abusive childhood; later, she claimed an abusive marriage; her husband forced her into porn. 

Her fame began in 1972 with the release of “Deep Throat,” a full-length porn feature that cost $25,000 to make and has netted an estimated $600 million since. Lovelace has said she received nothing for her role in the movie, but her husband earned $1,250.

Following the movie’s release, controversy and success, Lovelace managed to leave her husband and tried to make it as a ‘straight’ actress. She made a sequel, “Deep Throat II,” an R-rated movie, and after that, “Linda Lovelace for President” (1975), which carried an X rating, but both flopped.

After marrying Larry Marchiano, she released a book, “Ordeal” in 1980, describing her former horrific marriage. She began a campaign against pornography, a cause she would support for the rest of her life. In 1986, a second book, “Out of Bondage,” delved deeper into her negative experiences. 

Linda worked with various feminist and anti-porn groups and became a spokesperson for the anti-porn movement during the 1980s. She also testified at the Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography in 1984, recounting her negative experiences.

However, she continued to defend people’s right to porn and sexual expression and presented herself as a champion of free speech and free love. After a period of heavy drug use, Lovelace separated from Marchiano in 1996, and suffered a car accident in 2002, dying from her injuries some days later.

“Lovelace”, a film of her life directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffry Friedman, was released in 2013, starring Amanda Seyfried as Linda, and thus, her memory lives on. 

The Rise of John Holmes

John Estes (1944 to 1988) was born in the rural town of Ashville, Ohio, and was given the surname Homes after his mother’s second husband. Twenty years later, he was to become known as Johhny Wadd, one of the most prolific male adult movie stars of the 60s and 70s.

Holmes’s career in the adult industry began at a urinal in Gardina, LA. A photographer beside him noted what he had on offer and gave him his card. John took up nude modeling soon after that (1969) and appeared in a couple of ‘stag movies’ (underground porn flicks).

Johnny Wadd came about in the early 70s and was the name of Holmes’ character in a Bob Chinn series of movies, starting with “Johnny Wadd.” From there, he secured large parts in adult movies thanks to his own ‘large part’ and appeared in over 30 films between 1971 and 1986. 

Along the way, he was arrested for pimping, became a police informant, got into drugs, was allegedly present at a gangland murder, volunteered for Greenpeace and other environmental activism groups, and married twice. 

As for his porn work, Homes claimed to have slept with over 14,000 women, a claim that has never been substantiated. What is known, however, is that he made both stag movies and studio-released films, and he made at least one gay movie, “The Private Pleasures of John C Holmes.” Some stag movies also included anal sex with guys, but Holmes was primarily a lady’s man.

Let’s not beat about the bush here. Holmes is best known for having a big dick. However, no one thought to measure it, although many a female porn actress has attested to its size. In his posthumously released biography, “Porn King,” Holmes wrote, “‘How big is it?’ My fans would scream. ‘Bigger than a payphone, smaller than a Cadillac’ was my reply.“

Holmes died of AIDS-related complications in March 1988 at the age of 43.

Notable Names and Stars

Other iconic stars from the Golden Age of Porn include:

• Marilyn Chambers: “Behind the Green Door” (1972). 
• Seka: A major star in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• Harry Reems: Best known for his role opposite Linda Lovelace in “Deep Throat.”
• Ron Jeremy: Started in the late 1970s and was one of the industry’s most recognizable figures.
• Annette Haven: “Desiree, Cousteau” (1978).
• Georgina Spelvin: “The Devil in Miss Jones” (1973).
• Jamie Gillis: A versatile actor/director famed for pioneering gonzo porn.
• Nina Hartley: An iconic actress from the tail end of the Golden Age (mid-1980s) and a bridge to the era that followed. 

Golden Age Porn Directors and Producers

Many Golden Age directors also produced their own movies. After all, not everyone takes a pioneer seriously, and there’s a lot to be said for ‘if you want something doing, do it yourself.’ 

The following directors/producers are considered the most influential of the Golden Age of Porn, and their work spans the 1960s through to the early 1980s and beyond.

Gerard Damiano (1928 to 2008) was the man responsible for “Deep Throat” (1972) and “The Devil in Miss Jones” (1973). As we’ve seen, these were two of the original and most commercially successful feature-length porn films of the time, leading to a change in attitudes towards pornography. For some reason, when he died, his wig was buried separately.

Radley Metzger (1929 to 2017) began making softcore movies in the 1960s and moved to hardcore in the early 70s, going by the name of Henry Paris. He was the director/producer of “The Opening of Misty Beethoven” (1976) and became known for his artistic style. Metzger also embraced the technology of the time, leading to higher, more cinematographic production values.

Kirdy Stevens (1920 to 2012) was the director of “Taboo” (1980), which, as we’ve seen, led to a significant series of adult industry sequels. Stevens was not one to shy away from controversial themes. His directing career spanned 13 years, and he entered the XRCO Hall of Fame in 2001. 

Bob Chinn (1943) pioneered the West Coast adult film industry and is famed for creating the “Johnny Wadd” series of nine porn movies starring John Holmes, all made between 1971 and 1978. Chinn is a member of the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame and made movies until 1999. His main legacy has to be the work of John Holmes.

Alex de Renzy (1935 to 2001) is noted for directing/producing the 1978 classic, “Pretty Peaches” (1978). Having made documentaries, he attended the world’s first porn trade show in Denmark in 1969, and his porn directing career evolved from there. He was also a screenplay writer and cinematographer and discovered Desireé Cousteau. He died during the shooting of his last porn movie.

Joe Sarno (1921 to 2010). Before moving into hardcore porn, Sarno was active in the sub-genre of ‘sexploitation.’ These were movies of the 60s and 70s known for their erotic but softcore content. 

His films often focused on complex female characters and psychological narratives, and his first hardcore movie, “Sleepyhead” was released in 1973. It seems Sarno was reluctant to be known for his hardcore and either worked under pseudonyms or took no directorial credit. 

Despite this, he still gained tribute from the British Film Institute and Lund University in Sweden, highlighting how the golden age of porn came to be accepted within mainstream culture.

Cecil Howard (1932 to 2016) made movies with high production values, such as “Neon Nights” (1981) and “Firestorm” (1984). His films were well thought of during the Golden Age, and as a director, he has been initiated into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame and twice won the AVN Award for Best Director. (For “Scoundrels” in 1984, and “Star Angel” in 1987.) 

Chuck Vincent (1940 to 1991). Having worked backstage in theatre, Vincent moved into making erotic and then hardcore movies noted for their humor and sophistication. His 1981 movie, “Roommates” gained him industry and mainstream acclaim, but as the Golden Age passed, he moved on to making B Movies. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Free Speech Coalition in 1993.

Cultural and Societal Reactions

Thanks to the Golden Age of Porn, pornography gained so much attention from mainstream media during the 1970s to mid-1980s, a phenomenon emerged known as ‘Porn Chic.’

The transition of porn, from stag movies to feature films, raised awareness of sexuality and influenced fashion, music, body styling and even plastic surgery. 

However, there was more to this porn era than big hair, dodgy dialogue and repetitive music.

Mainstream Media and the Porn Chic Phenomenon

The “porn chic” movement refers to a period in the 1970s when pornographic films began to be widely discussed in mainstream media and were viewed by a broader, more middle-class audience.

Thanks to the sexual revolution, the liberalization of social attitudes, and the rise of the feminist movement, it became possible (even trendy) to talk about porn.

The mainstream media outlets, once reluctant to broach the subject, found it could no longer be ignored. Not when porn flicks were being shown as full-length features in movie theatres. 

Newspapers, magazines and TV shows also picked up on the financial success of porn, lifting it from an underworld enterprise to big business. They soon began covering the lives, successes and failures of porn stars, as well as the rise and fall of major porn companies.

Even the New York Times and Time Magazine began to carry reviews of the bigger porn productions.

The line between adult movies and mainstream entertainment was further blurred when celebrities discussed porn in TV chat shows and newspaper columns.

If your favorite celebrity can talk about it, so can you.

It was one of the attitudes that made porn more ‘chic’ and, thus, more acceptable.

Changes in outdated obscenity laws increased this new, but not always positive attention, and the general cultural shift, led to more studios producing more porn without fear of retribution or legal repercussions. 

Porn was now being discussed in terms of freedom of speech, women’s rights (and gay rights), art versus obscenity, and under other important socio-economic headings. Porn, it seemed, had arrived and could do no wrong.

It wasn’t to last…

Backlash and Controversies

The Porn Chic era did not run as smoothly as it might sound. It suffered from controversy, criticism and a backlash from various quarters, all leading to its decline.

There were allegations of exploitation (some by porn actresses) and complaints about consent.

Linda Lovelace, for example, claimed she was coerced into her role in “Deep Throat,” not by a movie director but by her husband. However, the principle was the same: women were expected to act on the commands of men.

The moral and religious groups rose in arms and cried about the degradation of the family unit, Christian moral values (and those of other religions), and soap-boxed their crusades against porn in the press and on TV.

There was a rise in anti-pornography feminism, which clashed with the pro-porn side of the argument. Anti-porn feminist groups claimed it was degrading for women to participate in porn, while the other side claimed it was empowering.

Each side had a voice to fuel the fire further, so the debate grew and became more public.

The Adult industry also came under attack in other debates which rumble on to this day. The accusations, allegations and complaints made about porn then and now include the following:

• How porn impacts personal and sexual relationships and behavior. Some say it can help sexual relationships; others say it is detrimental.
• Business matters. From how much performers are paid and treated to how the industry is financed (with accusations ranging from Mafia involvement to tax havens) and on to the sexual health of performers. 
• Legal battles and censorship debates, particularly in the USA around First Amendment rights.
• Changes in the political landscape from the liberal 70s to the Reagan-era conservative USA caused much debate about the presence and role of porn in society.
• There were concerns about the increased availability of porn thanks to the invention and use of home videos and DVDs. This also led to a broader discussion of distribution laws and regulations.
• More recently, there has been a widening debate about people trafficking for prostitution and porn.

The Decline of Porn’s Golden Era

By the mid-80s, the Golden Age of Porn was over.

Two significant factors came into play during the 1980s, and both would radically change how porn was consumed by the masses.

The Advent of Home Video

Technology played a large part in the decline of the Golden Age.

To see a ‘blue movie’ in the 60s and 70s required the audience to attend a theatre or rent or buy a home movie. These home movies, however, came on reel-to-reel tapes that needed projectors.

Meanwhile, cinemas for sex films were relegated to the seedier locations of major cities, and porn was very much underground.

Then, in the 70s and 80s, we saw the arrival of Video Home System (VHS) and Video Cassette Recorders.

Suddenly, you didn’t have to put on a disguise and shuffle into a tacky theatre with a sticky carpet to get off to porn. For a relatively cheap investment in technology, audiences could enjoy porn at home.

The invention of VHS led to the decline of big-budget, silver-screen porn and shifted the industry away from feature-length movies towards scene-based collections.

VHS offered many benefits to the individuals, including the privacy of home viewing and access to more porn. This created more demand for pornography, which led to more and shorter scenes, rather than the feature-length cinema movies of the Golden Age. It also enabled studios to create cheaper porn.

As VHS porn production became prolific, the cinema-style movies of the 60s and 70s declined.

Playback quality improved, and the tapes were replaceable, reusable, and easier to pirate— more bad news for the big business side of the industry.

The AIDS Crisis and Industry Impact

The second most influential cause of the decline of the Golden Era of porn was the AIDS crisis of the 1980s (and beyond). 

AIDS impacted the performers, the studios and their financiers, productions, and public perception of the industry. Just when porn was at the zenith of its acceptability, the Golden Age came crashing down.

It wasn’t simply a case of performers not wanting to take risks; several factors influenced the decline of porn during the worst of the AIDS crisis.

• Health. Yes, the health and HIV status of the models was the primary concern for porn producers, at least for the reputable ones, mainly as condoms were rarely used in porn then.
  • Over time, testing procedures were introduced covering HIV and other STDs. This somewhat improved the industry’s reputation, despite continuing debate about sexual health and porn.
• Condoms. Often disliked by the viewer and sometimes not much liked by the models, condoms became the norm, thus lessening the imagined feel of the action. The for/against condom debate continues, but better testing has led to less condom use.
  • A backlash against condom use can be seen in the bareback niche, where whole sites, particularly gay ones, prided themselves on showing condom-free porn.
• Economic downturn. Fear of AIDS led to a downturn in industry output. Some performers gave up the idea of a quick buck for a quick fuck, and left the industry. Viewers turned away from porn, some even fearing they were in danger of contracting the disease just by viewing. (We are talking about the early days of the epidemic here!)
• Stigmatization. The general public came to see adult movie performers in the same light as promiscuous gay men. This assisted with the general snubbing of porn and those associated with it.
• Deaths. A long and tragic list of adult movie performers died from AIDS or AIDS-related complications. Understandably, many of these deaths occurred before the diagnosis, treatment and understanding of the disease were as advanced as they are now. This list includes:
  • John Holmes, 1988
  • Marc Stevens, 1989
  • Al Parker, 1992
  • Joey Stefano, 1994
  • Casey Donovan, 1987
  • Wade Nichols, 1985

The Golden Age’s Influence on Modern Pornography

From the Golden Age of Porn came many industry practices and traits that exist today. The porn industry learned and adapted, and ultimately moved on.

Feature-style porn movies in general-release movie theatres brought porn into the public eye more than before.

Porn films went from gratuitous sex romps to character-driven, story-led entertainment with lots of sex.

Directors took to their work with heightened production and artistic values, setting new standards that continue to improve with each passing decade.

Blue movie performers became stars from the fame generated by pioneers such as John Holmes and Linda Lovelace. To a certain extent, porn became an acceptable career for actors, directors and even writers.

Today, pornstar celebrities are everywhere, making their fortunes on the likes of OnlyFans or even their own social media pages. The money doesn’t just come from studio work.

Meanwhile, the rise of porn in the 60s and 70s led to a broader debate of censorship laws and distribution regulations and set precedents for obscenity laws that continue today. Along with this came improvements in the industry’s production standards, cast treatment, presentation and overall operation.

Finally, the Golden Age of Porn showed that adult movies could be big business, and today, the industry is worth an estimated $100 billion per year. 

As you read these words, porn is being watched by around 2.5 million people this very second.

And it is all thanks to the Golden Age of Porn.

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Who are your favorite performers from the Golden Age of Porn? Are there any other classic movies or smash-hits that deserve a mention?