Buttman Cheek to Cheek
I grew up in the Chicago area, and in 1972 I moved to California to study Economics at UCLA, not knowing that Hollywood was in Los Angeles. I soon realized that I was more inclined toward the arts, especially dancing.After bouncing around Hollywood for years (I was in the first male strip show at Chippendale’s), I finally found a way to make a living creating porno. In 1983 I produced my first adult video; in 1989 I started Evil Angel, my manufacture/distribution company. Also in 1989 I made an experimental movie, "The Adventures of Buttman." This movie, with its first person POV, and the characters’ recognition of the presence of the camera, is credited with starting the Gonzo revolution in porn. In 2002 I made "The Fashionistas," a multi-award winning film. In 2004 I created a Las Vegas dance show version of this movie. It’s still playing to sparse crowds and great reviews. (Please come and see it so I can keep it going.)In 1997 I started Buttman Magazine as a sideline to my video productions. What started as a cheap hard-core magazine, done at a time when the Internet was putting long-established porno magazines out of business, became a labor of love. I realized I did not have the time or inclination to continue to produce many videos. But I was able through the magazine to continue to create porno "art." Somehow we survived those early years of losing money to become profitable. (Just like my dance show is going to some day, I hope.)— John Stagliano