Bill Amerson
Encyclopedia
William Gordon Amerson was an adult film industry mogul, producer and actor in the late-1960s to the late-1980s.
Born in Los Angeles, California
, Bill Amerson was an early adult film producer in the United States to produce so-called "hard core
" entertainment. As reported in the award-winning documentary Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes
, produced by filmmaker Cass Paley, "In these films we showed insertion. The sexual penetration and oral copulation. We actually showed it. People could not turn their money over fast enough [to see it]." . To Amerson's surprise the market for this product was vastly larger than he had expected.
Amerson was also one of the early pioneers in the establishment of adult film industry to be able to ply its wares in accordance with the First Amendment
to the United States Constitution
. In the early days of hard core, Amerson and his colleagues were subject to arrest for any number of charges which could include pimping, pandering, and an obscure felony
called "conspiracy
to commit oral copulation". Ultimately courts established the legality of adult film production.
While Amerson's name may seem unfamiliar, his friend, John Curtis Holmes
(known to many by his screen character, Johnny Wadd), was the premiere hard core
film star from 1973 until 1988. Amerson was John Homles business manager throughout his career.
area. They were taking still Polaroid
shots for some hard core
adult magazines. One day in 1969, John Holmes auditioned for the photo shoot, and when he displayed his inimitable physical endowment, a business relationship which lasted for 20 years was born.
Holmes and Amerson were business partners on various ventures and shared a brotherly and profitable relationship.
In 1971, Holmes was cast in a Bob Chinn
film entitled Johnny Wadd. The role made Holmes unbelievably famous, and as his career manager, made Amerson (and Holmes) quite wealthy. From that time in 1971 a roller coaster
ride was started, which did not end until 1988 upon Holmes' death from AIDS
.
), Amerson and Holmes formed a business called Penquin Productions, which was involved in adult film production. Of concern to the new proprietors was the growing threat of AIDS
.
In 1985, Amerson was the first name-brand hard core
producer who demanded that actors be tested for HIV
. And to back up his talk, both he and Holmes were tested and came out negative. Sadly, a follow-up test over six months later showed that Holmes was infected and from that point on it was all downhill.
Upon Holmes' death in March 1988, Amerson felt that he no longer wanted to be in the business given the loss of his dear friend and the godfather
to his son (Sean Amerson) and daughter (Denise Amerson). In a 1987 interview, before Holmes' death but before Holmes' AIDS was public knowledge, Amerson complained "that the porn
trade is "no longer fun," in large part because of the AIDS
crisis. Despite accumulating a fortune of several million dollars" .
, along with others such as Bob Chinn
.
Born in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Bill Amerson was an early adult film producer in the United States to produce so-called "hard core
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
" entertainment. As reported in the award-winning documentary Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes
Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes
Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes is a 1998 documentary directed by Cass Paley, written and produced by Rodger Jacobs and starring John C. Holmes, Ron Jeremy, Larry Flynt, Misty Dawn, Aunt Peg, Rodger Jacobs and Paul Thomas Anderson.- Overview :...
, produced by filmmaker Cass Paley, "In these films we showed insertion. The sexual penetration and oral copulation. We actually showed it. People could not turn their money over fast enough [to see it]." . To Amerson's surprise the market for this product was vastly larger than he had expected.
Amerson was also one of the early pioneers in the establishment of adult film industry to be able to ply its wares in accordance with the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
to the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. In the early days of hard core, Amerson and his colleagues were subject to arrest for any number of charges which could include pimping, pandering, and an obscure felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
called "conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to commit oral copulation". Ultimately courts established the legality of adult film production.
While Amerson's name may seem unfamiliar, his friend, John Curtis Holmes
John Holmes (actor)
John Curtis Holmes better known as John C. Holmes or Johnny Wadd , was one of the most prolific male porn stars of all time, appearing in about 2,500 adult loops, stag films, and pornographic feature movies in the 1970s and 1980s...
(known to many by his screen character, Johnny Wadd), was the premiere hard core
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
film star from 1973 until 1988. Amerson was John Homles business manager throughout his career.
The early years
In the late-1960s, Amerson and a partner were running an office in Hollywood, just behind the Crossroads of the WorldCrossroads of the World
Crossroads of the World has been called America's first outdoor shopping mall. Located on Sunset Boulevard and Las Palmas in Los Angeles, the mall features a central building designed to resemble an ocean liner surrounded by a small village of cottage-style bungalows. It was designed by Robert V...
area. They were taking still Polaroid
Instant film
Instant film is a type of photographic film first introduced by Polaroid that is designed to be used in an instant camera...
shots for some hard core
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
adult magazines. One day in 1969, John Holmes auditioned for the photo shoot, and when he displayed his inimitable physical endowment, a business relationship which lasted for 20 years was born.
Holmes and Amerson were business partners on various ventures and shared a brotherly and profitable relationship.
In 1971, Holmes was cast in a Bob Chinn
Bob Chinn
Bob Chinn is an American pornographic film director. He is a member the AVN Hall of Fame and the XRCO Hall of Fame.Chinn started his career circa 1970. He directed the Johnny Wadd series of films featuring actor John C. Holmes...
film entitled Johnny Wadd. The role made Holmes unbelievably famous, and as his career manager, made Amerson (and Holmes) quite wealthy. From that time in 1971 a roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
ride was started, which did not end until 1988 upon Holmes' death from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
HIV testing pioneer
In November 1982, after Holmes was released from the LA County Jail (after having been fully acquitted of the 1981 quadruple murder of the Wonderland GangWonderland Gang
The Wonderland Gang was a group of drug dealers involved in the Los Angeles cocaine trade during the late 1970s and early 1980s; their homebase was located on Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon area. On July 1, 1981 four members of the gang died in the Wonderland murders...
), Amerson and Holmes formed a business called Penquin Productions, which was involved in adult film production. Of concern to the new proprietors was the growing threat of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
In 1985, Amerson was the first name-brand hard core
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
producer who demanded that actors be tested for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
. And to back up his talk, both he and Holmes were tested and came out negative. Sadly, a follow-up test over six months later showed that Holmes was infected and from that point on it was all downhill.
Upon Holmes' death in March 1988, Amerson felt that he no longer wanted to be in the business given the loss of his dear friend and the godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to his son (Sean Amerson) and daughter (Denise Amerson). In a 1987 interview, before Holmes' death but before Holmes' AIDS was public knowledge, Amerson complained "that the porn
PORN
Porn is a common short form for pornography. It may also refer to:* Progressive outer retinal necrosis, a disease of the retina* PORN, a French industrial rock band...
trade is "no longer fun," in large part because of the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
crisis. Despite accumulating a fortune of several million dollars" .
Acting experience
In addition to managing and producing John Holmes, Amerson also had a thriving career in front of the camera, as he acted in movies as diverse as Girls on Fire and The Divorcee. Often he is credited by his pseudonym, Bill Williams.Legacy
Amerson is thought to be a possible inspiration for the role of "The Colonel" in the movie Boogie NightsBoogie Nights
Boogie Nights is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, the script focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films, and chronicles his rise and fall from the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s...
, along with others such as Bob Chinn
Bob Chinn
Bob Chinn is an American pornographic film director. He is a member the AVN Hall of Fame and the XRCO Hall of Fame.Chinn started his career circa 1970. He directed the Johnny Wadd series of films featuring actor John C. Holmes...
.
External links
- Interview with Cass Paley at gettingit.com