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Ginger Lynn is an actress, artist, and radio show host.
And in the 1980s, she was an adult film star. One of the biggest. And in some ways, the modern adult film industry started with her.
She began as an actress when adult films were still films – appearing with many of the names that had helped create the industry in the first place – from John Holmes to Jamie Gillis, Harry Reems and John Leslie.
But then as film turned to video, and the lead actresses became contract girls and featured dancers, Ginger Lynn became a superstar and one of the most popular actresses in adult film history.
She marked a new type of performer – she was one of the first contract girls with Vivid Entertainment, and brought a mid 80s rock star glamor to the business.
Ginger was the girl next door… if you happened to live next door to a stunning sex goddess, who had her own line of videos, and dated mainstream figures like Billy Idol, George Clooney and… yes, Charlie Sheen.
Ginger is more modest about herself. When she started out she couldn’t act and she couldn’t dance, she says. She never found herself particularly attractive or even that sexual. She thought she’d only make a couple of films and nobody would notice her.
So how did Ginger Lynn become one of the most recognizable stars of adult film? What does she remember about her time in the business, and how does she remember her fellow stars – like Nina Hartley, Annette Haven or Traci Lords, on whose behalf she was called on to testify against the porn industry?
On this episode of The Rialto Report, Ginger Lynn joins April Hall to look back at a career that has spanned four decades, and shows no signs of slowing down.
This episode running time is 93 minutes.
With thanks to Suze Randall for the use of the first five pictures in this feature.
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Visit Ginger Lynn’s website here.
Listen to Ginger’s radio show here.
See Ginger Lynn auctions here.
See Ginger’s artwork here.
See more of Suze Randall’s photo’s of Ginger here.
Photos of Ginger Lynn:
Angel with Ginger Lynn
Ginger with Uncle Lou (for more of Lou’s Polaroids, see here)
Yesssss……! The big one – congratulations on securing this! I can’t wait and am sure it will be to your usual excellent standard…
I feel like I grew up with Ginger – and she’s still my all time favorite… in any kind of film. Thankyouthankyouthankyou for this.
So nice to see Ginger and the other 80’s porn powerhouse Amber Lynn still around the industry. Has it really been 30 years? Wow. It seemed like Ginger and Amber were on the cover of every VHS box back then. Ginger did a few hot scenes with brunette stunner Gina Valentino, anyone here from Gina. s she really living in Colorado like IMDB says?
Not only Is 80’s Powerhouse Amber Lynn around but shes on her own Rock-N-SeXXXy-Uncensored radio show thursday nights with Kristen Renton star of FX Tv series Son’s of Anarchy she has big hollywood stars , Rockstars and guests like Dennis Rodman on her show weekly Check It Out!-
Ahh, happy 80s teenage memories. I remember a French late night TV show interviewing her during their Porn Special Edition and she was so upbeat one of my friends went straight out and rented a couple of films, came back into school afterwards and tried to convey to me that special something she had so I would rent some too. When he became lost for words and just kind of smiled and nodded I knew then I had to see for myself. What a performer!
Great interview. So refreshingly honest. Ginger sounds just the same as she did when I interviewed her as Ariel Hart many years ago. And I empathize…I have a teenage boy too. She’s right, they’re fine till they turn 13!
What a fantastic interview of a fantastic woman.
Her candor and humor is so refreshing.
I wish her a brilliant future.
When you listen to an interview with someone as special as Ginger was to me, you half fear disappointment… will the reality live up to the icon? In all cases with The Riatlo Report, the subject emerges enhanced and more complete as a person.
This is the case with Ginger Lynn here – except more so. She seems to be a quite exceptionally gifted person, wise, intelligent, funny, humerous, witty, and down to earth.
Ginger -thanks for the difference you made in my life.
Spoken like a true fan boy. LOL!
There really is only ONE,
Ginger Lynn.
Magnificent!!!
Sorry but today’s porn stars don’t hold a candle next to Ginger Lynn, Angel, Alicia Monet, Crystal Breeze, Melissa Melendez and Nasty Nikki Randall. These woman were the first stars of the Video era 1984-1988 and they rocked!
PS. Would live to know what Nikki Randall is up to? One of the best natural bodies ever in porn
… and April Hall too?!?!!? YES!!!!!
Wow, the first left coast starlet. Has RR become bicoastal? Now onto the 2nd half of the story of X. Bravo!
Lovely, stellar interview, I love it how April reverts to her sweetest self, after that first misstep, and you can tell by the non Raymond Chandler voice. Love you April, I am your no. 1 fan. Great job guys.
Ginger’s the ultimate 80s fantasy girl, she defined an era and she’s an icon. Great photos from Suze Randal. Does Angel have the perfect ass or what? Well at least on par with that follows which is a blast from the past dreamscape.
RS song at the end, a longtime favourite of mine, and as per usual excellent choice.
S., I always enjoy April’s Chandleresque staccato; She definitely changed to a more conversational tone during the interview. Love it when April and Ashley team up for an interview!
‘Chandleresque staccato’– love that.
Both Ashley and April really are fine interviewers by any standards.
Ginger – you are a real legend of Americana not just adult films. There is rarely more art than artifice in this world – but the Rialto Report’s interview with you is a rare thing. Your qualities shine through – and raise the nature of industry in which you shine.
Thanks to everyone for such nice comments! It was a pleasure to do the interview!!!
Thanks for making the films enjoyable for me as a teenage girl in Arkansas in 1985!
Ginger’s the best!
Thank you Ginger Lynn!!! back in 1985 while renting a film you were great in called Ginger’s Private Party, I first discovered the sexy Gina Valentino who had a scene with you! Thanks again!
Another great interview. She’s had more media coverage than most porn stars (E! True Hollywood Story and the like), but you still manage to get some great stuff. I always find it fascinating to hear what the old guard thinks of today’s stars…30 years from now, will we remember any of them like we remember Ginger and the multitude of others Rialto has profiled? With few exceptions, I doubt it.
Thanks for leaving your comments Ginger! Your presence has raised the bar in the film industry, and your modesty and intelligence has ensured that you have brought class to an industry that has sometimes lacked it.
When is your book coming out…!?!
As always April, your interview subject shines. What a distinct pleasure listening to Ms. Allen. I was struck by her candor, Suzanne Pleshette like sexy laugh, and fun sense of humor. Ginger you are refreshingly well adjusted in a business known for its many dysfunctional stars. Thanks for letting us listen to you, Ginger Allen, instead of your persona Ginger Lynn. Thanks RR, can hardly wait for next Sundays edition .
Loved the interview with Ginger Lynn! Ginger was funny and candid; great job by Ashley and April – this interview flowed smoothly from topic to topic, great questions and followups.
WE need three more of her!
Maturity….one of thy names
may indeed be Ginger.
Thank you, Ashley and April.
A great companion piece to
her radio show(required listening
for all RR listeners…), and lovely
to hear as well. Now, we crave
more, of course. Then and now,
This business needs advocates
as well as champions. RR on the
battlements against the repressive
forces of the thick headed and the
clamped shut minds.The road is
long and fraught with….fools.
Where are the black stars?
To answer your question, starting off from the Big Bang of porn pop culture, RR first covers an east coast porn pioneer milieu in which ebony performers were rare if not non existent even in loops. The only trivia standout who comes to mind is Shirley Peters who had a bit part cameo in Barbara Broadcast. But following the profile of Ginger Lynn and a shift to the west coast, black stars like Johnnie Keyes and Patricia Lee or Desiree West may loom ahead. The right coast has only told half of the story of X with the rest forthcoming. So stay tuned.
Please don’t forget King Paul, he was a black star for mostly Diamond Collection loops. Paul had sex with such 70’s stars as Sonya Sommers and Jesie St James. King Paul looked to be in his mid 40’s back then so I wonder if he is still alive?
No doubt there are a number of select part timers and worthy footnotes of any and all backgrounds. But how many are still around or have told their tale as part of the porn public record? If RR profiled them all, it would have to be renamed Wikipedia Erotica.
With no genuine challenger to her Carnal Cinema crown…the joyous Ginger Lynn is “most famous living adult entertainment performer.” And while some might think that using the word “living” is a bit morbid, I’ll be happy to replace that word with “all-time”… if enough ire is raised by those who are worthy of doing so. Listening to her conjures up visions of Xmas ornaments tinkling with carefree abandon that adorn a massive palm tree towering above The Hollywood Sign. And as Rialto Reports episodes go, what is captured here should be offered up to exemplify what the spectacular series so mesmerizingly delivers on a remarkably regular basis.
Agreed big Bill!!!…
Another black star that was forgotten was the beautiful Andrea Sutton, this New York based star only did 3 films around 1986-87. She could have been the next Sahara or Jennie Pepper if she stayed around
She looks like the poor man’s Lady Stephanie who was also a temp mid 80s vixen.
Holy Crap! Why am I just discovering this pod cast? Big ups to all you amazing people making this happen!!
The first porno scene I ever saw as a teenager was Ginger Lynn and Tom Byron.
It was like the first time you hear an excellent rock album and remember what you were doing the first time you heard it.
My older brother got married and he gave me the VHS tape with the smoldering hot beautiful Ginger on it.
What an epic legend of porn Ginger is. Her performances absolutely sizzle and you better turn off the smoke alarm when watching one of her scenes because there is about to be fire!
Ginger Lynn she was amazing actress had good relationship actor John Holmes unfortunately she left x-rated film in 1986 they did they do with Charlie Sheen little while the late 80s and early 90s
I was never big on video porn. It just looks kind of cheap. It also gave me nightmares, but Ginger did make a few film features and she looks magnificent in them. She was sweet and petite, but could be as naughty as any other. Most important was the lack of tattoos.
Her scene in Too Naught to Say No features her beautiful nubile body at many angles. She’s such a doll that she almost blocks out all the ugliness of her male partner in the film-so gross.