The so-called “King” of porn would have turned 60 on Sunday, Aug. 8, which is the date of the tribute and party.
The Erotic Museum’s Marketing Assistant Lisa Strouss told XBiz that the party will include adult notables who worked with Holmes. There will also be vintage films, posters, photos, and the like that are connected to the legendary porn star.
Films will be projected on a loop throughout the museum on small screens. Recently remastered Holmes films from the museum’s collection will be screened in the projection room.
Strouss said that the first 100 visitors to the party will receive a free DVD of the new documentary “The Man, The Myth, The Legend” by Red Luci Pictures. The birthday party will also have a cash bar.
Veteran adult performer Bill Margold will be a guest speaker at the event. In the late 1970s, Margold co-starred with Holmes in “Dracula Sucks” and “Marathon,” and directed him in “Valley Girls Takin’ It to the Max.”
Margold takes credit for dubbing Holmes the "King.”
“He was the Babe Ruth of the X-rated industry,” Margold told XBiz.
Laurie Holmes, who Margold said was John’s second wife, is also expected to attend the party. When Holmes passed away in 1988 from AIDs-related complications in Sepulveda, Calif., Laurie was by his side. Her screen name is Misty Dawn.
Margold told XBiz that Rhonda Jo Petty, who co-starred with Holmes in the late 1980s, is also expected to be at the Erotic Museum event. Petty currently operates Classic Erotic Stars, which arranges personal appearances for adult entertainment veterans.
Holmes began appearing in porn movies in the late 1960s. His legendary endowment of 13 inches thrust him into the adult limelight. Holmes once estimated that he had had sex with 10,000 women. He was probably best known for the Johnny Wad series, wherein Holmes played a detective.
At least two mainstream films were inspired by the real-life Holmes. Mark Wahlberg portrayed a character suggested by Holmes in the 1997 Hollywood feature “Boogie Nights.” Val Kilmer starred as Holmes in 2003’s “Wonderland,” about the so-called “Laurel Canyon murders” that Holmes was implicated in. According to the Internet Movie Data Base, Holmes was acquitted of the crimes in 1981.
The IMDB site states that Holmes was named John Curtis Estes when he was born on Aug. 8, 1944 in Pickaway County, Ohio. He was a bible student and served in the army.
Margold told XBiz, “He was an over-aged juvenile delinquent with a pot of gold at the end of his zipper. He was shy and never comfortable” with his notoriety.
The Erotic Museum is located at 6741 Hollywood Blvd., and is dedicated to educating the public about human sexuality in an entertaining way. Its exhibits include erotic etchings by Picasso and nude photos of Marilyn Monroe from the first issue of Playboy Magazine.
The John Holmes posthumous 60th birthday party takes place from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. on Aug. 8. Admission to the party is $13, the same price as general admission to the Erotic Museum. The ticket includes access to the entire museum.