LOS ANGELES — Netflix has set an April 22 premiere for the acclaimed documentary "Circus of Books." The film tells the story of Karen and Barry Mason and their legendary West Hollywood retail outlet, which holds a seminal position in the history of adult entertainment in Los Angeles.
Netflix acquired worldwide rights to "Circus of Books" last spring with Ryan Murphy boarding as executive producer. The Mason's daughter, Rachel Mason, directed the film, which was among the 2020 Dorian Awards nominees for Best LGBTQ Documentary of the Year.
A Netflix U.K. release is pending.
In 1960, the Masons opened their original brick-and-mortar retail outlet, famously perched at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Jolla Avenue in West Hollywood, and doggedly kept the location open throughout five decades of rapid economic and social change, particularly as West Hollywood became a mecca for the LGBT community, as well as during the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic, and into the 21st-Century as adult industry print media faded in favor of tube sites and hookup apps.
Circus of Books became an unlikely battleground for First Amendment rights under President George H.W. Bush when an employee shipped a box of straight and gay porn tapes to rural Pennsylvania. The sale was a sting. The Masons were eventually indicted on federal charges of transporting obscene materials across state lines.
The Masons elected to close Circus of Books and retire in early 2019. Rachel Mason revived its legacy with the doc, which has toured the festival circuit, and an art exhibition at the Fierman Gallery in New York.
The original West Hollywood location was purchased and transformed into Chi Chi LaRue's Circus; the name pays tribute to the site's former owners. The retail outlet celebrated its grand opening in January.
For the latest updates, follow "Circus of Books" on Twitter.
But now for some GOOD NEWS!! Our @netflix release date is official!! pic.twitter.com/uMCH39YRbO
— CircusOfBooksMovie (@CircusBooksDoc) March 14, 2020
Circus of Books Documentary. An iconic shop! An important part of our gay history. April 22 on @netflix My lovers film @RachelMasonArt @CircusBooksDoc pic.twitter.com/xy2RAMAGtW
— Buck Angel® (@BuckAngel) March 15, 2020
