Dirty Poole: The Autobiography of a Gay Porn Pioneer

by Wakefield Poole

From child prodigy to the most notorious director of gay adult films, Wakefield Poole wrote the rules for living on the edge with no safety line and no apologies. How a former singer and ballet dancer went from the Broadway stage to behind the camera as the world's most beautiful men bared all for him is just part of a story that takes us on a tour of the early days of the sexual revolution, when "anything goes" was more than a phrase - it was a religion.

While rubbing shoulders with the elite of the day, including the likes of Noel Coward, Marlene Dietrich, Andy Warhol, Tallulah Bankhead, Liza Minnelli, Bob Fosse, and Stephen Sondheim, Poole created Boys in the Sand, the film that would revolutionize the gay pornography industry and serve as the ruler by which adult entertainment is measured. Poole's memoir takes readers on a trip to an era when anything was possible and everything was celebrated as long as it had style.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to make of this book. The man lead an interesting life but there are parts of his background and his actions, along with some stuff in his films, that legit made me feel sick.

I guess I'm kind of glad I read it nonetheless, just to satisfy my curiosity if nothing else though.

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely engaging. Holds nothing back.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild read ! I read this as research on famous but little known folks from Jacksonville. WOW. What a ride. This man takes us through the 60-70's on a wild drug filled romp from the best of Broadway to the start of the AIDS epidemic. As a dancer then choreographer he worked with the best and brightest and a whim he makes a gay porno for his friends and it changes his world forever. The gift of a 16mm camera leads him on a new venture making films and then into the world of gay porn not realizing it would forever label him and change his life. The direct unapologetic style makes this at times a tough emotional read but worth the effort in the end. This book is hard to find but interlibrary loan to the rescue!

[Joey King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a Guilty Pleasure......Was Actually a Very Fascinating look into the life of one the GLBTQ's trailblazers. Just about everything in the book, I did not know..... so it was an education as well. Not as Explicit as I thought it would be but definitely for Adults

[Bidalia]

I worked with Wakefield Poole he is a great man. So fun and Quirky.
xo

[Ray]

(New edition, published 2011)