Powerful new Netflix documentary tells story of Jewish couple who secretly sold gay porn

Netflix's new documentary Circus Of Books follows the incredible story of 
a Jewish family who secretly ran a gay porn shop.

At the centre of the documentary are Karen and Barry Mason, a devoutly 
religious couple who had always maintained that they simply ran a store in 
Los Angeles.

What this seemingly normal middle-aged couple didn't mention was that they 
ran one of Los Angeles' largest gay porn shops.

The Circus Of Books porn shop was a legendary sanctuary for the gay 
community in the 80s and 90s.

The couple's double life and their support for their LGBT+ customers has 
now been immortalised by the new documentary available on Netflix.

At one point in the business' colourful history, Karen considered her 
store to be the biggest seller of hardcore gay porn in the United States.

Directed by their daughter Rachel Mason, Circus Of Books sheds light on 
the complex relationship the couple experienced in their Jewish community, 
and what it really meant to run a porn video institution in 80s America.

Karen and Barry's story, however, is about much more than just that of 
their secret business affairs.

As the Netflix synopsis described, the Circus of Books store in Los 
Angeles became an oasis for the LGBT+ community.

"For 35-plus years, the gay porn shop Circus of Books gave Los Angeles’ 
LGBT+ community a space to socialize and celebrate themselves without 
judgment."

One regular to the store added: “To see men naked and unafraid, that gave 
us a lot of pride.”

<https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/powerful-new-netflix-documentary-
tells-21911331>

A lot of AIDS and murders too.