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On this episode of The Rialto Report, we take a look at the making of the film Deep Throat – and are joined by Gerard Damiano Jr, son of the director of Deep Throat, and Eric Danville, author of The Complete Linda Lovelace.
This episode running time is 80 minutes.
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It was once said that history is just a series of accumulated imaginative inventions.
And that certainly seems true in the case of the story behind the making of the film Deep Throat.
On the face of it, the basic facts are simple and well known: in June 1972, Deep Throat was released in New York and soon reached a level of mainstream attention unprecedented for a pornographic film.
Not that many hard core films were being made at that time, but this one featured a plot, a soundtrack, and a gimmick that for a while everyone seemed to be talking about.
The film launched the “porno chic” phenomenon, was seen by celebrities, was busted, banned, and became the subject of high profile obscenity trials.
One undeniable fact is that it made money. Lots of it. $600 million claimed some sources. Who knows the exact figure for sure?
And by then the back stories had emerged. The film was said to have been financed by organized crime, that the producer Lou Perry was actually a mobster called Louis Peraino, and the director Jerry Gerard was really Gerard Damiano, a hairdresser from Queens.
Most damaging of all were the eventual claims by the film’s star, Linda Lovelace, that she was forced to appear in the movie with a gun held to her head, and that she was beaten up during the film’s shoot by her husband, Chuck Traynor, as the rest of the cast and crew stood by and failed to intervene. The proof, she said, is there for all to see as evidenced by the bruises on her body that you can see in the film.
And so began the battle of Deep Throat, involving Women Against Pornography, pro-porn feminists, freedom of speech activists, adult filmmakers, and just everyone who thought they knew the truth and wanted to use it to their advantage.
And now in 2013, Hollywood cashes in. Lovelace the movie is released. And the same arguments and guesswork resurface all over again. What really happened back in 1972? What was the truth behind Linda’s relationship with Chuck? And what was the role of Gerry Damiano?
At the heart of the questions are two people, Gerard Damiano and Linda Lovelace, whose lives were never the same again.
To shed some light on Deep Throat and the lives of Gerard and Linda, we’re joined by two people who know more than most: Gerard Damiano Jr. and Eric Danville.
Gerard is the son of the director of Deep Throat and remembers being on the set of the film back in 1972. He was assisting his father write his autobiography when Gerry passed away in 2008.
Eric knew Linda and interviewed her extensively. He published a bio-bibliography of her called The Complete Linda Lovelace in 2001, a year before she died in a car accident.
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. It’s time to dig a little deeper.
For more information about Eric Danville’s book The Complete Linda Lovelace, visit his site.
To purchase the Deep Throat soundtrack, visit The Light in the Attic website.
To purchase the film Deep Throat, visit the Arrow Productions website.
Throughly informative interview. Another Rialto reality check, thanks for the factual documentation.
I’ve really enjoyed these podcasts. It’s a bit sad to see these pioneers, rebels and “sexual outlaws” having such a hard time making ends meet in their older years..
Perhaps one day Ashley or other folks can document the industry in the other “meccas” in the 60’s/70’s – L.A. and San Francisco. The Bob Chinn podcast of course was a great start.
Time’s running out though.. Lots of witnesses to those times are passing on.
I feel like I found heaven when I found your website and podcast. You ROCK. I am enjoying each and everyone of your shows (and the articles & pics on the site) and I am constantly agog at the stars of the era that you manage to find and interview. Please keep it UP. I just finished listening to the LOVELACE podcast and posted on the IMDB boards page for that film to spread the word about your awesome site/show.
Greetings from NYC!
The Rialto Report: The reason the internet was invented.
Awesome episode – and finally some truth about Linda Lovelace and Deep Throat.
When’s the next show out?
Another great show. I’ve loved all of the podcasts you’ve done so far.
I have a question if you could answer, would be great. Do you know what happened to Dolly Sharp, Lovelace’s co-star in Deep Throat?
Keep up the great work.
[…] Lovelace * Film * Rialto Report podcast episode […]
[…] the death of Linda Lovelace. A good conversation about Lovlace can be found several episodes ago on The Rialto Report podcast, which by total accident I heard for the first time on the actual anniversary day of her […]
[…] obvious reasons Lovelace would not acknowledge or speak about these films, and interviewers seemed to know not to ask. So the notion that Lovelace was only in the adult film industry for 14 months around the filming […]
What a fantastic interview! I myself saw the movie Lovelace and thought that it was one of the most underwhelming films I’ve ever seen. Except for Sharon Stone’s performance, the rest of the movie was pretty forgettable. I thought that the book Ordeal was a compelling read, but I have to say that this interview with these two gentlemen was one of the best I’ve heard and it cleared up so many misconception that I had about the story of Deep Throat throughout the years. I was touched by Eric Danville’s recollections of Linda, and I thought that Gerard Damiano Jr.’s portrait of his late father really helped me to get to know the man in a way that I never had before.
Good job, guys! The internet is usually either filled with scant information, questionable factoids or junk. Your website is one of the few places that I can get such high quality work. It is a crown jewel of the internet, and a model of what the internet was originally supposed to be and should be.
I agree with what Mr. Damiano said about your website. You do give porn performers much respect, and I think that it’s a respect that is due them. After all, didn’t porn open the door for shows like Game of Thrones to be able to show the amount of sex that it does?
Thank you for your work.
Wow!! Two extremely articulate interview subjects Eric Danville and Gerald Damiano, tag teaming to uncover the backstory of the Deep Throat film and the enigma of Linda Lovelace. So sympathetic and loving. Bravo again to the Rialto Report.
Great to hear on the subject
Have just come across the Rialto Report some real good info on here
Are there any plans to interview Carol Conners at some point?
You would think all the money being made by sales of the 70′ and early 80′ movies that they could help the stars today with something. I am 55 and seen some of these movies in theaters when they first come out. I just got the interest in where are they now when I found this wonderful site . My interest is Carter Shevens movies and Taylor and Brooke Young, Jamie Gillis , annie sprinkles and you have them all here . Thank you