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On this special extended holiday edition of The Rialto Report, we’re joined by Richard Pacheco as well as his son Bobby and daughter Polly, to celebrate the publication of his autobiography Hindsight – True Love and Mischief in the Golden Age of Porn.
With perspectives on everything from free love, the sexual revolution, marriage, fatherhood, performance issues, penis size, John Leslie, Joey Silvera, Annette Haven, Shauna Grant, Anthony Spinelli, Svetlana, Jamie Gillis, Candy Stripers, being Playgirl Man of the Year, AIDS, Talk Dirty to Me, Reel People…and losing his virginity three times.
This episode running time is 114 minutes.
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In 1977 whilst working as a handyman, Howie Gordon faced a choice. He’d applied to study history at the Episcopal Theological Seminary at Harvard as well as applying to study to be a rabbi at the Hebrew Union Seminary.
It was a tough choice between two such respected institutions, so perhaps it was fortunate that before he could make up his mind, he was also offered an audition to appear in Candy Stripers, an adult film being shot by Bob Chinn.
And lo, God created Richard Pacheco.
There followed a lengthy career in porn that included appearing in films like Talk Dirty To Me, Insatiable and Nothing To Hide, as well as being Playgirl’s Man of the Year in 1979.
He was known for the quality of his acting, his romantic side, and also for being one of the adult industry’s nice guys.
But what makes his story more unique is that Howie was married to his wife Carly before he made his first porn film and has been married to her ever since, raising three children along the way.
Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes – but what was the truth with Howie and Carly, and how did Richard Pacheco affect their relationship?
Howie recently published his autobiography that he’s been working on for almost 30 years – its called Hindsight – True Love and Mischief in the Golden Age of Porn – and its an honest, funny, and revealing look at himself and the West Coast adult film industry of the 70s and 80s.
On this episode we hear from the ghost of Richard Pacheco as he looks back at his life and loves, and we also hear from Polly and Bobby, two of his children. What do they think of his career, their mother’s reaction, and what it was like to grow up in the shadow of Richard Pacheco?
Richard Pacheco photos:
Howie and Carly’s wedding day
Another outstanding podcast, funny and insightful.
Just listened to it and I am eager for at least a couple of more listens.
I expected you guys would upload the new episode after the new year, so it was a very nice surprise too.
Happy New Year to Everyone!
Thanks S! You manage to get the first review in each time!
Pleased you like the show – and we wish you a very happy 2014!
What a wonderful interview – so great to hear Howie/Richard’s story. Can the next Rialto Report be with Carly please??!!
Thanks April – you’re not alone in requesting this! Carly’s role in Howie’s story is pivotal and touching.
That is a great shot of Howie as Chuck Bare Ass banging the beautiful Carol Conner’s in Candy goes to Hollywood. Carols own daughter had some mainstream acting success. Howie was a very good character actor, one of my favorite films is Vista Valley PTA. Howie must have cracked up when he read the script and found out he would be playing a high school kid. But that is porn for you, they will cast a guy in his 30’s as a high school kid and not think twice about it
Thanks Howie for your intelligence and openness.
Thanks Bobby and Polly for your humor and honesty.
Thanks to the Rialto team for another brilliant dissection of the golden age of adult films. No regurgitation of tired old fan sites, just original research.
Great job as usual by The Rialto Report Team on this wonderful interview with ‘Richard Pacheco’ (Howie Gordon). And my appreciation and gratitude to Howie for his sensitive, realistic portrayal of a mentally challenged man falling in love with a woman, who is also mentally challenged (beautifully played by Tigr) in “Nothing to Hide”.
Mainstream Hollywood had tried a similar plot line a year or so earlier – twice! – with Richard Thomas and Shaun Cassidy in the starring role. Mr. Gordon’s performance was leagues better than either mainstream actor, both respectable performers.
Listened last night and tried to post, but the wifi wasn’t cooperating.
Is 109 minutes a record? It was time very well spent, since it confirmed why I’ve been a fan of Howie/Richard since first seeing him in “Insatiable” in 1981. He’s porn’s everyman and while it could be said that Jamie Gillis and John Leslie were equals in acting talent, they often played the same sort of role over and over again. Howie was much more versatile and an identifiable quality that still comes through in interviews like this and in “Hindsight.”
Polly and Bobby’s participation and perspective were fascinating, as were how Howie and Carly navigated the complexities of their relationship. They clearly did something very, very right with their children.
Best show next from the most authoritative team in golden age XXX.
Can this damn show get any better?!
Greetings from Sweden!
I wasn’t expecting much from this interview, but I’ll be damned if it turned out to be one of the top two from my perspective.
Right now I don’t think I can listen to it again.. It was so emotional. Overwhelming in its own bittersweet way.
Excellent work Ash.. Wow..
Time and time again, The Rialto Report manages to bring truth, pathos, and history. I’ve waited years for this.. don’t miss it!
Unprecedented, original, and essential.
What was the deal with the film Richard did with Seka and Jessie St James called Sunny Days? Seka was even on the Alan Thicke show showing a clip of her and Richard in a scene. Club magazine also had a photo article about the film. Why was this movie never released, does Richard or Seka know what happened?
King Paul Fan
In my memoir, HINDSIGHT, Chapters 37 thru 39 of Part 5 are devoted to the story of
SUNNY DAYS (which I called “The Greatest X-Rated Movie Never made.” It’s far too
long a story to go into any great detail here — so, you have two choices: One, you can buy
a copy of HINDSIGHT (Amazon.com), a decision which I’m certain you would not regret —
or two, you could contact me further at the posted e mail above and given time, I would
try to do justice to your query.
Pacheco
Dear Howie. Totally loved listening to your interview. Loved that the music is A Family Affair, for this interview surely was. Polly and Bobby’s contributions are so individual, clear and honest. You are so generous, funny, smart, and your integrity is sexy. Congratulations to you and to Carly for making it through, and to you for finally completing your book, which I’ve just downloaded to my kindle and have just begun to read. Here’s hoping we get to meet again. We’ll certainly have a lot more to talk about, thanks to the Rialto Report.
Sending love to a great American family, Veronica.
I look forward to our crossing paths again amidst all the shared love ones and all the wonderful memories.
xoxxoo, Howie (and Carly)
If the podcast was that good I can not wait to read book, I laughed out load many times.
Phenomenal!
Rialto Report has hit another home run, Howie is an open book to be cherised. A follow up podcast needs to be done!
We agree Alexander – Howie is fantastic!