The Changing Face of Adult Film Stars: Ed Geller’s Photographs (1979-2001)

The adult film industry has constantly changed – as film-making techniques, aesthetics, and fashions have evolved, and were subsequently adopted and reflected in explicit sex films.

One of the more interesting changes was the way that adult film performers presented themselves in public.

In the early 1980s, the stars were more unfamiliar with the spotlight and fame bestowed upon them. As a result, they sometimes came across as self-conscious, even awkward, at industry events. At times, their comfort with performing sex acts in front of the camera gave way to tentative insecurity off set, when they were confronted with press photographers.

By the 1990s, just a decade later, the stars had changed – and by now were more assured and confident with the public role they played. They understood the rules of the game, and were more willing to play along.

One man who saw this change first hand was photographer Ed Geller. Ed was a Los Angeles news photographer who specialized in celebrity paparazzo shots. But when he wasn’t taking pictures of Joan Collins attending an awards ceremony or Brooke Shields leaving a swanky restaurant, he liked to attend adult film industry events. He started in the late 1970s, and was still taking pictures in the 2000s.

We recently acquired a large selection of Ed Geller’s pictures, and enjoyed noticing the contrast in the adult film business between the early 1980s and the mid 1990s.

We juxtaposed pictures from these two contrasting eras next to each other – sometimes humorously, sometimes provocatively  – so that we could compare and contrast the different time periods.

One industry. One photographer. Two eras: Side by side.

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Samantha Fox, in 1978

Taylor Hayes, in 1996

Georgina Spelvin, in July 1979

Shay Fox

Gail Palmer, in 1979

Sunset Thomas, in 1995

Vanessa del Rio, in April 1979

Tabitha Stevens, in 1996

Candida Royalle, in July 1979

Mila, in 1997

Johnnie Keyes, in July 1979

Leslie Glass, in 1997

Samantha Fox, in September 1979

Jacklyn Lick, in 1997

Vanessa del Rio, in November 1979

Heather Hunter, in 1995

Candida Royalle, in November 1979

Christi Lake, in 1997

Candida Royalle, in November 1979

Shane, in 1996

Denise and Diana Sloan, in December 1979

Marilyn Star, Shayla LaVeaux, in 1998

Vanessa del Rio, in December 1979

Jasmin St. Claire, in 1997

Samantha Fox, in December 1979

Felecia, in 1998

Bambi Woods, in March 1980

Stacy Valentine, in 1997

Jill Munroe (right), in May 1981

Serenity, Felecia, in 1997

Vanessa del Rio, in May 1981

Stephanie Swift, in 1996

Annette Haven, in May 1981

Sunset Thomas, in 1996

Vanessa del Rio, in May 1981

Heather Hunter, in 1998

David Davidson, Jill Munroe, in October 1981

Jeanna Fine, A.N Other, in 1997

Annette Heinz, Lisa Cintrice, in October 1983

Ginger Lynn, Kylie Ireland, in 1999

Candida Royalle, in October 1981

Nikki Andersson, in 1998

Veronica Hart, in November 1981

Raquel Darrian, in 1997

Sharon Mitchell, in May 1982

Heather Hunter, in 1998

Marc Stevens and friend, in October 1982

Pauly Shore and Savannah, in July 1991

Anna Ventura, in October 1982

Jasmin St. Claire, in 1997

Veronica Hart, in October 1982

Sunset Thomas, in 1997

Velvet Summers, in October 1982

Shayla LaVeaux, in 1998

Velvet Summers, in October 1982

Taylor Wayne, in 1995

C.J. Laing, in October 1982

Felecia, in 1998

Veronica Vera, in October 1982

Houston, in 1996

Veronica Vera, in October 1982

Shane, in 1998

Sharon Mitchell, in October 1982

Serenity, in 1997

Sharon Mitchell, in October 1982

Tiffany Mynx, in 1993

Candida Royalle, in October 1982

Sunset Thomas, in 1997

Candida Royalle, in October 1982

Jasmin St. Claire, in 1997

Candida Royalle, in October 1982

Rebecca Lord, in 1997

Sharon Mitchell, in October 1982

Tiffany Mynx, in 1994

Candida Royalle, in October 1982

Adult Convention, Las Vegas, in 2001

Candida Royalle in July 1979

Janine Lindemulder, in 1996

Annette Heinz, Lisa Cintrice, in October 1983

Shane, Yvonne, in 1995

Sharon Mitchell in October 1982

1998

Vanessa del Rio, in May 1983

Heather Hunter, in 1998

Constance Money, in September 1983

Taylor Hayes, in 1996

Hyapatia Lee, in October 1983

Raquel Darrian, in 1997

Hyapatia Lee, in October 1983

Adult Film Convention, 1996

Hyapatia and Bud Lee, in October 1983

Drew Carey, Penn Jillette, and adult film actresses

Gloria Leonard, in April 1984

Tiffany Mynx, in 1994

Samantha Fox, in April 1984

Jenteal, in 1995

Samantha Fox, Fred Lincoln, Tiffany Clark, David Davidson, in October 1984

Pauly Shore and Savannah, in September 1991