Congrats to the XRCO Hall of Famers!

This Thursday, April 12, the X-Rated Critics Organizationwill induct 9 industry folk into their Hall of Fame.

On the performer side, the honorees are: Rhonda Jo Petty, Vince Vouyer, Julia Ann, Jenna Haze, and Jesse Jane

On the production side: Miles Long and Luc Wylder

Lastly, representing the Fifth Estate: Tristan Taormino and Den

I’m happy to be personal friends with two of the honorees and wanted to take a moment to congratulate them…

Luc Wylder was one of the first industry people I ever met, back in the mid-90s at the East Coast Video Show in Atlantic City.  He has been a big supporter of ours from way back in the RAME days, and we’re very excited to see him back in the director’s chair and now, in the Hall of Fame. Luc pioneered the pro-am genre with his Dirty Dancers series, did some great MTV Cribs style work with Adult Stars at Home series and fun travelogues in the Sex Across America series, and this is to say nothing of his B&D work epitomized by his Master’s Choice series. I always worry that Hall of Fame status comes at the end of a career, but I think with his new entries in the Amateur Angels series, he’s put those fears to rest.

Almost 4 years ago to the day (where has the time gone!?) Luc was the first of our IAFD Interviews.

 And I also need to take a moment to say a word or two about my friend and colleague, Den, who is being honored posthumously.  He’s my second friend (the first being IAFD’s co-founder, Peter van Aarle who was honored in 2011) to be accorded such an honor, and if I had a choice, I’d prefer he stay out of the Hall if it meant one more phone call or review…

In the mid-80s, Den produced his own mail-order adult content, being one of the first amateur producers (if not THE first) to shoot on S-VHS.  For his troubles, he got into a legal battle for free speech rights and spent some time in jail for his role in producing adult material.  In 1996, Den founded his site, Cyberspace Adult Video Reviews or CAVR.com.  Every day he diligently watched almost every type of porn imaginable, noting down his observations and publishing them on the web.  He posted more than twenty seven thousand adult movie reviews until he retired from reviewing in April 2011.  Den was easily the most prolific writer of on-line adult film reviews we have seen. A pioneer whose career spanned more than two decades, Den influenced a generation of reviewers and ushered in the era of independent, on-line critics. He was a tireless voice for the industry he loved right up until his passing last year.

Not only was Den a reviewing machine, but he was a giant fan of the industry, and we miss walking around AEE with him; he was like a kid in a candy store.  In an industry where its possble to become jaded very quickly, Den had an enthusiasm for the girls that was unmatched.  If there ever was a reviewer who deserved to be in the Hall of Fame, it’s Den.

As caretaker of his website, I was hoping to accept Den’s award on his behalf, but scheduling conflicts will keep me on the east coast this week.

Congrats to all the honorees.