Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985 Paperback – 31 Oct 2012

This book poignantly addresses what many of us lay people have always wanted to know about the Adult industry. Jill
seems to have really taken the time and great care in giving us an in depth look at these performers not only as performers but more as humans. I equate this book to the writings of some classic "behind the scenes" looks at the music industry and even writings about Genres such as Professional Wrestling. I have often wondered who they were only to at that time be able to read the Cassette or film box "liner notes." Now you can finally get to know them and understand from their perspective what path they chose, why and where they are now. Added bonus are some classic pics. Don't miss this one. NO BS here.

Fascinating read. Crisp details. The true story behind these icons of the 70's that made sexual history. Jill Nelson has penned a masterpiece you will find impossible to put down!

Darcy M

When Jill Nelson's Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985 was dropped off in my mail box, I have to confess that I was curious to learn more about these women who were employed in the adult film industry as actors, directors and producers during an era when it was illegal to make these films yet not illegal to watch them.

And although I am not a supporter of pornographic films and neither do I condone the proclivities of these women, I wanted to have, as Nelson states in her introduction, " a clearer understanding of the beautiful and intrepid females who favored an alternative profession in adult cinema that was cultivated at the apex of the 1960s sexual revolution." According to Nelson, these are eccentric, imperfect, yet, intelligent and ethical people anyone who ever want to meet." After all, whom am I to prejudge the behavior of these actresses?

It should be pointed out that in 1988 the erotic film industry was legalized as result of a landmark California court case involving porn film director and producer Harold Freeman. To quote the words of Nelson: "it was sheer hypocrisy to deem the craft illegal because those who condemned it also watched it."

Nelson's comprehensive book of mini-biographies drawn from interviews and other sources spans nine hundred and forty-six pages that provides her readers with a chronological history of the lives and times of twenty-five women who today range in age between forty-six and seventy-six. Unless you are familiar with the porn scene of the era that Nelson explores in her book, the following names will be meaningless such as: This Mess, Ann Perry, Barbara Mills, Georgina Spelvn, Marilyn Chambers, Roberta Findlay, Jody Maxwell, Candida Royalle, Gloria Leonard, Rhonda Jo Petty, Serena, Annie Sprinkle, Sex "Kitten" Natividad, Sharon Mitchell, Kay Parker, Juliet Anderson, Seka, Kelly Nichols, Veronic Hart, Julia St. Vincent, Laurie Holmes, Ginger Lynn, Amber Lynn, Christy Canyon, Raven Touchstone, and Nina Hartley. In addition to these women, Nelson also adds in brief summaries of fifteen other women whom she believes are worthy of honorable mentions.

It is these women who played pivotal roles in the adult film industry during its so-called golden era and either directly or indirectly they candidly share their stories with Nelson which she documents in the book. In addition, Nelson also includes one hundred and twenty-five reviews of some of the films these women acted in, as well as three hundred photos. Apparently, Nelson devoted three and half years to researching and interviewing these women.

Who exactly are these women? Are they exhibitionists? Where did they grow up and what motivated them to participate in the porn industry in one way or another? Were they abused as children? Were they bimbos and uneducated? Were they prostitutes? Were they drug addicts or alcoholics? Have they ever contacted a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Were they ever subject to degradation and abuse? Was it opportunity to escape poverty? What happened to them after they left the industry? Were they proud of what they were doing? Do they have any regrets? These are only some of the questions that Nelson explores with a great deal of compassion and an eye for detail, and frankly, you will be quite surprised at what you will discover!

Scattered throughout the book are quotes aplenty from these unusual women as for example Annie Sprinkle who claims she didn't understand why some people couldn't believe she had a good time. She further mentions that her sex work built her self-esteem as she is a creative kind of a person and being a sex worker is a very creative job when done with creativity. Veronica Hart states: "one of my goals when I got in the business was that I would be able to come out of this business and still enjoy my sexuality and making love."

There are very few books around, if any, concerning first hand oral accounts of women who played important roles in the adult entertainment industry during its golden era. Nelson, who is an engaging narrator, has painstakingly researched her subject matter and has managed to place her audience smack in the middle of some unusual female lives. To her credit is that these women were quite eager to share their experiences and set the record straight in a forthright and generous manner. The only gripe I have about this book is it is far too long and there were several instances of repetition which could have been avoided with better content editing. Perhaps, a book half its length would have been preferable.

Golden Goddesses; 25 Legendary Women of Classic Erotic Cinema 1968-1985 by Jill C. Nelson with Forward by Jennifer Sugar is a comprehensive, documentary/interview-style work about 25 (plus 15 honorable mentions) women who pioneered the explosion of pornography in the United Stated in the early days when it was still illegal to film, show, or sell it.

I was approached by the author to consider reading and reviewing it and I agreed. I only give blatantly honest reviews. A free book will not buy my praises and Jill understood this. It took me nearly a year and a half to work my way slowly through it's nearly 1,000 pages. It's not that I wasn't interested in the topic, because I am, but it took me so long because I wasn't interested enough to read for so long straight through on a single topic. So I read a chapter here and there interspersed with all of my other life activities and that's how long it took me.

How would you answer the question "What kind of woman has a long-term career in pornographic cinema?" I had plenty of my own answers to that question. But, while reading the book, my stereotypes were challenged over and over again.

This book is more academic, researched-based and informative than it is titillating erotica. Yes there are over 300 photographs (some are nude and erotic but none are pornographic in nature), and the topic is often graphic and raw because that's the life and the topic and the interviews are in the words of the women who lived the experiences. I kept thinking that this book would make an excellent text book for a college level course...perhaps in gender studies, human sexuality or a class based solely on the topic of pornography from a historical, sociological or psychological perspective. Think for a moment that this is a multi-billion dollar industry, that millions of people partake in the viewing of, but the "stars" are often marginalized and demonized. That's a fascinating double-standard don't you think? If people view it and buy it and like it...why, then, would the people providing the entertainment be demonized? Hard to wrap my head around that but that's what we do in American culture.

I have a very mixed reaction to the topic of pornography and this book had me thinking about it. The 25th woman in the book, Nina Hartley truly challenged my thinking. Certainly, you may find hints in some of these women that will support your hunches about "what kind of woman does this?", but by and large, you will find exceptions. You will find a depth of interest, and talent and realness which is part of the diversity that makes up the human race. If you have strong negative feelings about pornography, it will grate on your beliefs and preconceptions and challenge you to think more fully.

Jill Nelson created a comprehensive, historically significant work. I can't even begin to imagine what an undertaking the researching and writing of this book was. She is detail-oriented and weaves historical facts and film data in with the interviews she conducted. We've had the opportunity to have some back and forth email exchanges and I can tell you, she doesn't meet any stereotype of "what kind of woman would research and write this?".

Now to be perfectly honest, because this topic isn't of huge interest to me, in terms of this much detail, I slogged through this book at times. The sheer number of pages put me off and overwhelmed me. I had this "I'll never finish this book" feeling. But each and every chapter, taken in small bits was interesting for informational sake as well as for the internal dialogue I had while challenging my own feelings and preconceptions about the topic.

Certainly not for everyone, but amazing for what it is: comprehensive, relevant, culturally significant and challenging.

I am a 56 year old woman and highly enjoyed the "golden Godesses" book as it was interesting, stimulating, and entertaining. My husband read when I was done and enjoyed it fully as well. I highly recommend if you are looking for a book that holds your attention all though the pages and have a hard time putting down.