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In the first part of our interview with Susan Hart, we heard about Sue’s early years in 1970s Los Angeles, growing up in a strict Catholic family, running away from home when she was 15, and becoming involved in a bad relationship. She escaped – into the army of all places, before finding a different kind of home, of sorts, as a prolific performer in the early adult video industry.
But what is unusual and remarkable about her story is that Susan is willing to tell it at all. As you will hear in this concluding episode, Susan left Los Angeles in the late 1980s and pursued a professional career, living in constant fear of being confronted by her past. When we contacted her, we had no idea that it would bring out many of her worst fears.
This is Sue’s story.
You can hear the first part of our interview with Susan Hart here.
This podcast is 60 minutes long.
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Susan Hart: Adult Industry Photos
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I was hoping to see a recent pic of Susan…..it always intrigues me to see adult film stars of the 70’s & 80’s how they currently look…….in their everyday look as opposed to the makeup look from years ago.
Creep. Have you even listened to this second episode?!?!!? She is terrified of been “seen” nowadays. Jeeze… some people… FFS, get a life, Chris. You are exactly the type of man she referred to that she wanted to avoid.
Have to agree with Gerry.
Chris – listen to the podcast and then come back and withdraw your dumb comment
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Sue – enjoy your life. You deserve it!
I did not get a chance to listen to the full interview of part 2 & I posted it before I had an opportunity to finish it fully……. It was a mistake….. I understand now……that being said it was an oversight……thank you!!!!!!!
Thank you April and a special thank you to Susan for this great episode.
Thank you
My apologies….i posted the comment before I got to listen to the full interview on part 2……no need for hostility…..it was an oversight…..
Criticisms against your comment are too critical and, at least one, are reactionary. Dust it off. Just because any of us are curious (guilty!) doesn’t mean we feel they owe it to us. I took your comment as wishful not as expected or stalking. Easy ya’ll.
Well put, George.
Thank you.
Well……… I’ll admit it, I was genuinely moved at various point of this episode. Might even have shed a tear or two.
Susan is to be commended for telling her story in such a vivid and affecting manner.
Thank you Susan. This interview should be the start of your successful and happy second act.
A beautiful and incredibly story of Susan Hart! She had high and lows . I’m happy she found love and a purpose in helping herself and others. She is a beautiful woman, a beautiful soul! April this was your best interviewer story of Susan! Compelling and incredibly fascinating!
Thank you so much Alessandro!
I’ve been waiting for this second part from the second that I finished the first – and it doesn’t disappoint.
The story itself is a real insight into the post XXX life of a performer, and the final segment is very emotional.
Thanks Sue. Your honesty and human qualities are incredible.
Part 2 did not disappoint. To Susan I say go and live your best life and good luck to you.
Wow…beautiful . Thank you April and Thank you Sue , best of luck on the next chapter.
Ps. I hope one day we get the Rialto / Sheri St.Claire treatment 🤞🏼.
Thank you so much Isaac!
I hope telling her story helped Susan feel better about her past. With love and respect, Lucy.
myself for her as well too
Sue is so beautiful. The thumbnail is from a famous gallery with Ron Jeremy as a school yellow bus driver. Incredible rugs. Blake Palmer features too.
I’ve listened to every single episode of The Rialto Report podcast (some more than once) but I’ve never cried while listening to an episode until this one. The way that Sue comes to terms with her past at the end of the conversation is incredibly moving. Yet another reminder of what important work the Rialto Report is doing to eliminate the shame and stigma surrounding the adult film industry. Thanks for another excellent episode, April.
I really appreciate that Claudia!
I will be honest as a teenager in the 1980s Susan was one of my favourites, a super beauty, sensational.
Christy Ginger Herself … The other two oare still around, on podcasts written books etc and I ALWAYS wondered about Susan’s post porn story, I REALLY hoped it was happy and not washed up drugs / early death suicide etc
So thank you so so much for these. I am delighted to hear she is alive, loved and happy .
It has really made my day.
Send her my best, and send her my love
From an Englishman in Ireland, x
She’s an inspiration. She didn’t remain a victim of her own circumstances. She changed her life and found happiness. Amazing! I loved the end of this interview where she sounds so enlightened and confident. Also the vulnerability and empathy that April shares was very touching. This was a super amazing conversation!
Sue: THANK YOU for your early work, especially with all of the greats from that time. God bless you on your healing and life journey. I wish you and Ray all of the great things that life has to offer in your retirement.
April: thank you for always being caring and respectful in your interviews. Well done, RR!
Thanks so much Pantsman!
No surprise when she said in pt.1 that she is only 5′ 2″, I always feel like I’m looking at a little pixie or a little cartoon mouse when I see photos of Susan! 😉
Great interview, and I hope her epiphany at the end can also be bolstered by the fact that the adult film industry has become very much de-stigmatised since the 80s, meaning the prejudices she was afraid of after leaving the business largely aren’t there any more.
Actresses like Ginger Lynn have been accepted by the pop culture outwith the industry, as a lot of the actors and actresses have been, and the success of OnlyFans has also done a hell of a lot to de-stigmatise the adult industry.
It sounds like she’s accepted that she wouldn’t be who and where she is now without ALL of the experiences of her life, and I hope whatever she does next brings her much success and happiness. Thanks, Susan. x
Did Susan pick Little Suzy by Tesla for this episode? Either way, great choice!
100%… great opening tune TRR ! 🎼🎶🎵🎸
She absolutely did! Sue selected most of the music in the episode.
Thank you,RR! This was a lovely conversation that openly displayed the humanity of two remarkable women.
Susan, kudos to you for coming out the other side if what were some harrowing times. Your openness and the fact you left the listener on such a positive note are very much appreciated.
April, your tenderness and lack of judgment allow people to lower their defences. As others stated before me, this was one of, if not the most, emotional interview I’ve heard. It wasn’t sensational, just two people allowing themselves to share their feelings, views, and experiences. Well done!!
We’re really grateful for your feedback KBS!
Copying over from Part 1 (apologies for the double post, but I wonder if Susan feels Hal Freeman was being disingenuous when he told her not to do hardcore. If he truly felt that way, he wouldn’t have been the one to hire her. So once she made her decision, the businessman in Freeman took over? Perceptive comments on Ginger Lynn and Jim South. Extraordinarily intelligent and insightful woman. Superb, April!
Thank you Ledhed!
Susan Hart Iconic Pop Culture With Peter North Chessy Smooth Jazz Grover Washington Jr Winelight Awesome Article Keep Up Good Work
Thanks Jeff!
Yes this was one of the better interviews of this series. I’m thinking that her story will go a long way in encouraging more performers come forth. Sue comes across here as genuine and demure. Her naivete as she gets in the business is excusable considering the era. I wish her all the best going forward.
Life is one long film and Susans is a marvelous epic
The Rialto Report –
Sensational , superb & tender & healing to hear about Susan coming out the other end… i can literally hear and see her smile thru the audio…as well as yours , ms. April . what an entertaining and mending show.
Thank you so very much Christopher!
Great interview, and I wish Susan well in her future endeavors.
As much as performers want to leave the adult film industry into the dustbin of history, I’m always remined by the final lyrics of a classic rock song we’ve all heard before.
“You can check out any time you like…but you can never leave.”
Excellent, thoughtful, insightful, and very genuine. April, you are so perfect in these conversations. Such strength shown by Sue to navigate through all of this and reinvent herself. Mad respect.
Thanks for your kind words Kirk!
Wonderful 2-part interview. I’m always amazed at the uniqueness of every subject’s experiences and insights. And I certainly now have a more multi-faceted viewpoint on Jim South than I had before.
Bonus props for ending the episode on one of my favorite deep cut John Prine songs.
Covered by Nanci Griffith nonetheless (with John Prine in the background)!
A moving conclusion to a fascinating interview – and subject. Good on ya, RR!
Thanks so much as always JWP!
I like happy endings… Sue seems to have a measure of closure from her past….
Esp. with all the recent porn suicides, it’s enlightening to see someone survive their worst enemy… *Thy Self!*
The Internet has “Too Pretty For Porn” Sites… Susan esp. belongs on that list!
What a wonderful episode – both part 1 and 2 of Susan Hart, to listen to. I was a young gay guy who was discovering my sexuality in the early 90’s, and one of the many adult movies I’ve watched, was one with Susan Hart as the Native girl – HOTT!
I very much thank her for this interview. People like me, remember the movies and the stars of these movies and often wonder – what is she/he doing now/what has happened to them? So, THANK YOU!
Please interviews, such as this, coming. Great job!
Thanks David!
Great interview with one of my top three of the 1980s era! Anna Ventura (RIP) Christy Canyon and Susan Hart! I bet she’s still beautiful!
This interview represents the greatest good the Rialto Report can provide. It is clear that Sue has been suffering for nearly 40 years after her last appearance in an adult film. She had been living in constant fear of being recognized and the deficits to her career and social standing that may cause. It’s as though The Rialto Report and April’s interview unlocked the prison within which Susan Hart was confined. What higher deed could April have performed?
I also want to commend you, April, for not asking the one question you wanted to ask more than any other. When Sue cryptically ended the interview claiming she want’s to be seen, known, not hiding in the back; a less restrained journalist would ask, “Does this mean you may return to porn?”. But you didn’t sacrifice your integrity and the good will you cultivated with your subject. It was extremely sensitive and professional of you to leave the question unasked. I am often mesmerized by the depth of topics you and Ashley delve into with your subjects, but this time I was awed by your discretion to leave something on the table.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback Josh – we really appreciate it!
How great to hear from Sue; a really wholehearted and convincing adult star in those mid 80s early videos, with a proper story narrative. Sue, you were superb! 5ft 2ins of oozing appeal…. 3ins of which were the best 80s hair in the Biz!!
I quite understand Sue’s reticence about public exposure but thankfully attitudes have changed vastly in recent decades and most people don’t really give two hoots from behaviors from 40 years ago.
Everyone has secrets that seldom turn out to be a big deal anyway. There can’t be many people outside of the odd convent who haven’t been somewhat ‘interested’ in XXX films. The likes of Christy Canyon, Traci Lords, Sue’s namesake Veronica and Mr Jeremy became almost mainstream.
Good luck for the future Sue and thanks to RR for shining more of a light on this era.
PS : Sue speaks so well…. no ‘yeh’ or ‘yup’, just beautifully crisp ‘yes’. Perfect diction!
Thanks so much Jennifer!
First off I want to commend Susan for her bravery in coming out to tell her story. I think it’s a testament to the care and respect the Rialto report shows with these interviews and print articles that she could feel safe in doing so. These are real people with real lives that matter.
We’re really grateful for your thoughts BDR!
Fascinating podcast. Thank you.
Thanks Art!
Once again April you knocked it out of the park! What a story! I was rooting for Sue all the way and got emotional hearing her get emotional. I hope she is living her best life!
Thank you so much MISTYK!
Sue, it’s amazing how much power you just took from your detractors by coming out. Good luck to you.
Is April the best podcaster/ interviewer out there? Absolutley.
Yet another great interview. Well done.
That is so kind Mike – thank you!
Such an enlightening conversation. Thank you for sharing, Sue. Thank you for doing the work, April. The Rialto Report. My favorite webpage on the internet.
Just curious. As reporter’s, does The Rialto Report do any vetting of the folks you have interviewed over the years? Some people tend to exaggerate or lie when being confronted about their past. I wish nothing but the best for all these ex-performers but with a jaundiced eye. It strains credulity sometimes when you hear of these folks becoming doctors etc. after leaving the industry. You also hear/read of the sad reality of being homeless or the myriad suicides of many of these same folks, which I imagine is probably more likely than a professional career outcome.
In this interview, I do believe the lady but also realize we are dealing with an actress.
So…back to my initial question. How much and how vigorous is the vetting of these interviewees?
Thanks
Sloinker – I don’t know how familiar you are with interview-based podcasts, but maybe I can help with your question.
Among the most successful and popular podcasts are interview shows with people of different stripes: Marc Maron’s WTF podcast started by interviewing stand-ups, Smartless interviews fellow actors, Fresh Air interviews cultural figures, Pod Save America interviews politicos, Joe Rogan interviews (largely) assholes, and so on.
And The Rialto Report interviews former adult film stars and directors.
These are all examples of conversations designed to find out what’s on another person’s mind and their version of their lives.
They are not court cases, designed to hold people’s feet to the fire, and establish an absolute version of the truth.
Oh, and one final point: “It strains credulity when you hear of these folks becoming doctors etc.” is the most patronizing, rude comment that I’ve read on this site. The Rialto Report has humanized and given a voice to a group of marginalized people. You are doing the opposite.
”The Rialto Report has humanized and given a voice to a group of marginalized people. You are doing the opposite.”
Well put.
Frankly, whatever jobs a performer ended up doing after leaving porn is probably the least important part of an interview. Most of us only care whether or not the ex-performer is reasonably healthy and happy today; other details don’t matter so much. Don’t confuse factual detail with overall truth.
Resembles Stephanie Powers a bit.