BijouBlog

This is the follow up to our previous blog about Tom DeSimone, a major figure in the formation of the adult industry in the 1970s and one of the earliest directors of gay hardcore films during the establishment of the genre. He directed many well-produced and influential gay porn classics, many of which had an emphasis on narrative, character, and relationships, including Dust Unto Dust (1970), Catching Up (1975), The Idol (1979), and the 1974 documentary on gay porn history, Erotikus: History of the Gay Movie.

DeSimone's skillful filmmaking in porn led him into an extensive career working in mainstream film and television, which he elaborated upon in this continuation of our interview.

Please read part one for an interview with Tom about his filmmaking background and porn career! And see the bottom of this blog for Tom DeSimone's filmography and links to his movies.

Bijou: What was it like being one of the rare crossover filmmakers between hardcore gay films and mainstream fare?

DeSimone: I was a very well-known writer, producer, and director of gay porn at the same time that both Casey [Donovan] and Wakefield Poole [director and star of Boys in the Sand, 1971] were in the business. I was quite prolific, having made over 80 hardcore features. I wasn't what you would call “obscure” since my films were readily reviewed in all the gay newspapers and magazines and, in some cases, even in Variety, the Hollywood Bible. I was interviewed numerous times in gay periodicals, as well. You could definitely say I was “out there.” And yet I easily made the crossover into mainstream movies and television and, in most cases, my past was known, yet it didn't seem to matter. I worked with Linda Blair, Maude Adams, Jill St. John, Richard Roundtree, Dennis Christopher, Patty McCormick, Susan Oliver, and Barbara Luna, among others. The bottom line was the work, the ability to bring in a feature film that made the grade.

While I respect the work done by many of my peers in those heady porn years, there's a vast difference between stringing a series of erotic loops together under a unifying theme and turning out a traditional feature film. In some instances, the reviews of my films often compared them to Hollywood films. I was known for coaxing believable performances out of guys with no acting training whatsoever. I did all my own editing and made sure I scored the films with appropriate background music. In some cases, I also did the camerawork to be sure that I was putting up on the screen what I wanted my vision to be. I studied the Hollywood classics for years and I also had a Master's Degree from UCLA film school. My being gay had nothing to do with my work. It had always been my ambition to work in mainstream films and making porn was just a stepping stone for me, a chance to practice my art until the big break came.

Ironically, it was my porn films that opened that door. A producer, who just happened to be gay, rented a porno one night and he and his lover settled down to watch it. He was so impressed with the film that he tracked me down and then introduced me to two other producers – both straight, by the way – and it was those two who financed my first legit Hollywood film. When screening my film with them, I was curious if the sex scenes would be a turn off for them, but they weren't phased in the least. What they were looking for was to see if I had what it takes to bring in a feature or not. And that was the beginning of a long and exciting career. Six feature films and one-hundred-sixty television shows later, I'm retired now and take great pride in looking back at it all.

Hollywood was, and still is, filled with gay writers, producers, and directors... they recognize talent when they see it and they reward it accordingly. Sometimes people think we [porn makers] were all just amateurs with a brownie camera in a cheap motel room, grinding out trash. Today's audiences need to know that there were real artists working back then... myself, Jack Deveau, Peter de Rome, Jerry Douglas, Wakefield Poole, etc. We opened the doors... and some of us even stepped through to the other side.

I had always had my eye on working in the Hollywood system from the time I was about ten years old. Making porn was just a means to that end. It allowed me to practice my craft at my own pace and to learn on the job, so to speak. It actually helped me when I finally did get my break because I had learned, by then, to shoot fast and from the hip, as the saying goes. Producers always liked the fact that I didn't waste time on the set and 99% of the time my films and TV shows came in on time and on budget.

Bijou: Which was your first Hollywood film, the one that you got a deal to work on by way of a Hollywood producer being a fan of your porn films? What was that initial shift into working in Hollywood like?

DeSimone: That film was Chatterbox [1977], which was actually a sex comedy. I was introduced to a producer at a New Year's Eve party by a friend who was a writer and successful. He was always a fan of my films and wanted to help me get my foot in the door. He introduced me, the producer and I chatted, he asked to see something, I arranged a screening of The Idol, he loved it, and that was the start. I had an old script lying around that I had intended to shoot, a straight porn movie called Lips about a girl with a talking vagina. He flipped for it but didn't want to do anything hardcore, naturally. So Lips became Chatterbox and my career out of porn was born.
 

Bijou: Tell us about working on porn sets versus mainstream Hollywood sets.

DeSimone: The transition was awkward at first, because making my porn films was a small affair. Me, the cameraman, and the sound man and one assistant who did what we needed on the set. On my first film, Chatterbox, I was astounded to show up on the set and have 100 or more people all busy working and depending ON ME to get things moving and get things done. I knew how to make a film, but had to learn how to relegate duties to others. I was used to moving equipment around and wrapping cables, etc. It was a big surprise (and a lovely one) at the end of the first day of shooting – the assistant director came up to me and said, “Your car is ready.” I had no idea what he meant. I was picking up cables and wrapping them and he said, “What are you doing?” I said, “Finishing up.” He just looked at me and said, “NO... You're the director. You don't do that. The driver is here to take you home.” After that, it was all a joy!

Bijou: Onto a couple of specific mainstream titles, what was it like working with punk musician Wendy O. Williams in your 1986 women in prison genre satire, Reform School Girls?

DeSimone: Wendy was unique and a mystery. She was very quiet, kept mostly to herself, ate in her trailer most of the time, and didn't socialize or mingle on the set with others, not even me until she had to. She had very strong opinions of what HER FANS would want to see her do, so many times we had to hash things out before doing a scene. She had a manager/Svengali sort of man, who was also her life partner. His name was Rod. He actually created WENDY O.WILLIAMS. That wasn't her real name and he fashioned her entire persona, her look, and her style and she looked to him for everything. Many times while shooting, I had to confer with him about what she would or wouldn't do in the film. Eventually we became friendlier and I was even invited by them to visit in New York, where they lived and worked in a huge loft. It was quite an experience seeing them in their own world. Unfortunately, he eventually took a position in upstate New York to teach at some university and took her along. It was my understanding that they had married. Sadly, being a faculty wife in a small academic community didn't make it for her and one morning she went out into the woods with a rifle and shot herself. Sad ending to a tumultuous life.

(Read more about Tom's work on Reform School Girls in this interview.)
 

Bijou: What was it like working with The Exorcist's Linda Blair in your 1981 cult horror film, Hell Night?

DeSimone: Linda was a gem. We hit it off immediately and remained friends for several years after the film wrapped. She was hesitant at first about doing another horror film after doing a couple of Exorcist films, but we convinced her that her character wouldn't end up being a victim but, instead, would be the one who saves the day. She was always professional and has a great sense of humor, which made the work a lot easier. The entire film was shot at night, so working was difficult and, at times, really a struggle in the cold nights outdoors. We shot over the Thanksgiving holiday and even Christmas. When we took a break from shooting for Christmas, she arranged a big party for the entire company, actors and crew, and had it catered and everyone was invited to her home. I thought that was pretty special of her, since most actors would have wanted to take the time away from everything and just relax. We stayed in touch for several years after the shoot, but now only on occasion do we cross paths.

(Read an interview with Tom about the making of Hell Night here.)
 

Thank you again to Tom DeSimone for generously discussing his career!

Tom DeSimone's Partial Directorial Filmography:
(From IMDb and Gay Erotic Video Index)
Links to movies available through Bijou Video

The Collection (as Lancer Brooks) – 1969
One - 1970
Dust Unto Dust (as Lancer Brooks) – 1970
Peter the Peeker – 1971
Lust in the Afternoon - 1971
Gay Tarzan – 1971
Confessions of a Male Groupie – 1971
Black and Blue - 1971
The Gypsy's Ball - 1972
Prison Girls – 1972
Chained (as Lancer Brooks) – 1973
Swap Meat (as Lancer Brooks) – 1973
Sons of Satan (as Lancer Brooks) – 1973
Black Heat (as Lancer Brooks) – 1973
Games Without Rules (as L. Brooks) – 1974
Erotikus: A History of the Gay Movie (as L. Brooks) – 1974
Station to Station (as L. Brooks) – 1974
Everything Goes (aka Anything Goes) (as L. Brooks) – 1974
Duffy's Tavern (as Lancer Brooks) – 1974
Blue Movie Auditions (aka How to Make a Homo Movie) - 1974
Assault (as Lancer Brooks) – 1975
Sur - 1975
Good Hot Stuff – 1975
Aphrodisiacs in the Male Animal (1975)
Catching Up – 1975
Chatterbox! - 1977
Hot Truckin' (as Lancer Brooks) – 1978
The Harder They Fall (aka The Frenchman and the Lovers) – 1977
Gettin' Down (as Lancer Brooks) – 1978
The Idol – 1979
Bad, Bad Boys (aka Bad Boys) (as Lancer Brooks) – 1979
Hawaiian Eyes (aka Gay Guide to Hawaii) – 1979
Private Collection – 1980
Heavy Equipment (as Lancer Brooks) – 1980
Wet Shorts – 1980
The Dirty Picture Show (as De Simone) – 1980
Flesh and Fantasy 1 – 1980
Dirty Books - 1981
Hell Night – 1981
The Concrete Jungle – 1982
Skin Deep (as Lancer Brooks) – 1982
Bi-Coastal (as Lancer Brooks) – 1985
Bi-bi Love (as Lancer Brooks) – 11986
Nightcrawler: A Leathersex Fantasy - 1986
Reform School Girls – 1986
Angel III: The Final Chapter – 1988
Freddy's Nightmares (TV Series, 4 episodes) – 1988/1989
Super Force (TV Series, 6 episodes) – 1991/1992
Dark Justice (TV Series, 18 episodes) – 1991 - 1993
Swamp Thing (TV Series, 3 episodes) – 1992/1993
Acapulco Bay (TV series) – 1995
The Big Easy (TV Series, 4 episodes) – 1996/1997
Coming Distractions (as Lancer Brooks) – 1997
Pensacola: Wings of Gold (TV Series, 1 episode) – 1998
She Spies (TV Series, 1 episode) – 2002

Hi folks! Will here. It seems that I am always having to explain my tongue-in-cheek titles right as I start off. This one is going to take a little time to become evident. (Hope it's worth your wait!)

Just as I left off, Alan and I were uprooting ourselves from Santa Fe to make a new home for ourselves (and our growing bird family) in the southern Arizona city of Tucson for purposes of Alan's job relocation. Truth be told, his job was in Tucson but our lovely home was in a suburb called Oro Valley.

Our expanding bird family!

 

Santa Fe to Tucson.

Our trip down from Santa Fe was by car and van...the latter to accommodate the birds, their cages and a few cherished items that we didn't want to chance with the movers. I wish it was a bigger van because we would have been able to fit my second Conn 651 theatre organ and its model 580 counterpart, the Theatrette. We left that to the movers and they bollixed the pedalboard contacts in the move down to Tucson! This was an organ that I had purchased while in N.M. and really should have sold before trying to make the interstate move. That was not the case. So, one of the first things I had to do upon arrival was to find an organ repair service.

Tucson is senior/retirement territory...so organs, their sales and repairs were readily available. Finding a tech wasn't a challenge. Next was a job hunt...for me. Musical instrument sales was a very logical venue, given the Tuscon area environment. Having had a good history in this field from back in N.J. made it easy to land that job. The company I applied to was one of the largest in the country with many stores in both Florida and Arizona...once again, senior territory!

The showroom was located in the biggest mall in town. I got the feeling that my old organ store chain had patterned themselves after this company. The layout of the instruments was pretty much the same...cheapest in the front to the most expensive in the rear of the studio. And, like its Jersey counterpart, we all had to take turns "pumping the front!" A very small single keyboard organ sans pedals was placed at the very front of the showroom, aimed outwards into the mall, where the sales crew played familiar tunes and showed off how easy it was to make music. I hated that part of the job, as I grew up on console organs with their multiple keyboards and pedalboards! Nonetheless, we all had our turns luring the unsuspecting public into the store and then using high pressure tactics to try and land a sale. My method was to play, smile and not say anything at first...but then ask what their favorite tune was. It worked pretty well. Then, it was their turn. I would turn the tables by asking them to sit on the little bench while I pointed out which keys to play for their first song! (I know...very Pied Piper! LOL.)

My Conn 651 and Conn 580, mother and daughter theatre organs.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the job. I was hired by the regional manager. But then...there was the store manager. I really felt he didn't like me. Maybe I was a threat. He was prone to outbursts and yelling at the staff...that didn't work for me. After one such shouting match, I calmly turned to him and told him to shut up. From that point on, I was not invited to participate in any of the promotional parties or regular Saturday morning store meetings. In only three months, the handwriting was on the wall. It was time for me to reach into my bag of tricks and pull out another resume!

Another redux for me was to go back to furniture sales at the same company as my Alan. That worked! Very quickly, I fit into the fabric of that sales team and did pretty well dollar-wise, to boot! After all, women made up the greater portion of our furniture buying clientele and they seemed to feel safe in the hands of a good looking gay salesman! LOL.

Meanwhile, Alan was reveling in his new position as Visual Director for the state of Arizona. Unfortunately, the times and politics of the early 2000s caused economic instability. That showed up in a drastic drop in new home sales...and, guess what is directly tied to new home sales? You guessed it...furniture sales! Within the first few months of 2004, all of the new stores opened in Arizona were forced to shut...one by one. Towards the end of that year, with literally no stores to oversee, Alan's position evaporated and he was asked to return to N.M. The change that resulted turned out to be a great one!

Although a bit shell-shocked by all of these changes, Alan was still high on the company ladder...albeit a smaller company. Albuquerque was his new outpost, and with it was the whole state of New Mexico. I was thrilled to go back for take two in N.M. And, this time in its biggest city! So, after some brief hunting, we found a charming house to rent pro tem. Then, falling in love with the community, we finally built a house for ourselves a little over a year later. This 2009 purchase became the anchor that we were both dreaming about. Who knew that "Home Sweet Home" was at the end of a boomerang! Please stay tuned to see how we landed!

Many happy returns!

Addendum: Although not related to the blog above, I did want to commemorate the 50th anniversary of my October 1976 "landing" in San Francisco. My life was forever changed and enriched. I will always consider San Francisco to be my other home! .

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Finding Love on a Dance Floor? | My First Week Back in the Big Apple | A Long Honeymoon! | "Go West Young Man!" | "The Other San Francisco" | Star Gazer! | Further South...Further West!

By Josh Eliot

In early 1984, while working as an insurance claims adjuster in the Financial District of San Francisco, I hung around with my co-workers Fred, Fritz, Peter and Richard. I was 21 and they were all in their early 30s. We all partied together in clubs, bars like the Stud and even at work during our shifts! Lunch break consisted of sandwiches and joints, sometimes with a Quaalude chaser. I wrote about Fred and Fritz in my previous blog, “Everybody’s FREE to FEEL GOOD.” Richard was more straight than bi and Peter was partnered, so neither of them were included in that story about my sexcapades. Three of the four of them had one thing in common with countless other men in San Francisco, including the couple who lived in the downstairs flat of our 629 Castro Street Victorian—they all looked like Daniel Holt!

Daniel Holt’s image on screen and in print exemplified how an entire generation of gay men looked and dressed. San Francisco is where I saw seven out of every ten guys featuring that look. In the late 1970’s and well into the 1980’s, the “Castro Clone” look became one of the first most widely recognizable gay male images. It is documented on hunkytops.com that the look was devised as a way to remove the stereotype of gay men being feminine. It was all about showing strength, masculinity and sexual independence. There was a very specific look and dress code involved with being a Castro Clone, which included: tight Levi 501 jeans, a plaid flannel or white t-shirt, a leather belt and black boots. The addition of a bushy mustache, gym built body, aviator sunglasses and a bandana in the back pocket completed the image. The look was not limited to San Francisco, as it quickly spread throughout the world. My spouse, Tony, was living in Australia at the time, and if you held up a picture of him in the same year as Daniel Holt you would see that there was virtually no difference—as is true with thousands of other men who joined in. I’m certain that Daniel Holt's quick rise to fame in early 1980’s adult films inspired many, many men to also emulate him.

Swiss-born porn star Daniel Holt was born Daniel Vladimir Niedorf on August 18th, 1958 in Geneva, Switzerland. His father was American and his mother was British. According to the captivating interview with him in the Bijou release Men & Films (1987), he was bullied as a seventh grader after he unexpectedly got an erection in the gym class showers. His bratty classmates nicknamed him “Beat Off Dan.” The bullying got so bad that his family moved to a different district and, with a doctor’s note, he was excused from attending gym class. He mentions that he knew he was gay at age 12 when he experimented sexually with others his age at summer camp. The family eventually moved to Los Angeles and Daniel attended Fairfax High, where he started the Gay Student Union program. In his early 20s, while studying music (both classical and opera), he learned to play the flute, took singing lessons and also started posing naked for some straight erotic photo shoots. While in New York City, he visited the Show Palace and spontaneously jumped on stage, joining the nude performers. The club executives liked his energy and big fat piece so much that they hired him for a month-long gig. At one point, he auditioned for Joe Gage’s off-Broadway show, Naked Highway, but was not offered the role. During his time as a dancer at the Show Palace, Daniel was introduced to Christopher Rage, who offered him his first movie role in Sleaze (1982).

Daniel's first year in films also included roles in The Subway, Le Voyeur and Alister Armando’s 501, directed by Joe Gage and available from Bijou Video. In 1983, Holt worked in a remarkable 14 movies, including In The Name of Leather, The Rock Creek Gang, Red Ball Express and Giants 2. In 1984, he worked in a total of 12 films, including Non-Stop, H.E.A.T., Chain Reactions, Closed Set 2 and Daddy Dearest. Among other releases, in 1985 he was featured in one of Nova Video’s first “talkie” features, Hunk, along with New Wave Hustlers, Steve Scott's 2x10 (as a "stunt dick") and Surge Studio's Therapy.

His career in films became less frequent, due to a fading reputation on the set, but continued until 1988 with roles in Dynastud (1986), Nightcrawler (1986) and A Night Alone with Al Parker (1988), which was his final release. Compilations of his work were released well into the 2020s, and in 2025 one of his films (Daddy Dearest) was restored from a 2K print scan and featured in Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum for a week long run March 20-30th, 2025.

Daddy Dearest is a 1984 film by Arthur J. Bressan Jr., which starred Richard Locke, Daniel Holt and Johnny Dawes. It was chosen by the Seattle-based forum to celebrate its 40th Anniversary, and was screened as part of a double feature alongside Juice. Juice was another Arthur J. Bressan Jr. Film, also celebrating its 40th, and starring Michael Christopher and Eric Ryan. When Daddy Dearest was made, both Locke and Holt were considered two of the biggest names in the gay adult industry. Holt appealed to the Castro Clone crowd, while Locke was able to use his mature blue collar image to his advantage with a wider audience. Daddy Dearest also stands out as the last film Richard Locke made, pre-condom. After his positive HIV diagnosis, Locke became a pioneer for HIV/AIDS and toured the country promoting safer sex awareness. At the Northwest Forum, the double feature screened a total of 10 times, which included matinees and evening showings. I was able to find a trailer for the restored print and the quality looks amazing. It’s wonderful that the Forum embraced the amazing work of Bressan Jr. and the outstanding cast. Since no one from the cast or crew was available to attend the screenings, a Seattle-based OnlyFans star, SeattleDad, was invited to be part of the post screening discussions.

During his career, Daniel Holt, in addition to working in movies, started his own modeling and escort agency. In addition, his love for photography led him to many jobs, including shooting the stills for Steve Scott’s Screenplay. He worked on photographing hardcore photo essays with males from his agency or models he interviewed with the idea of publishing a hardcover book. Because of his ongoing obsession with drugs, his reputation on set and as an escort/model agent disintegrated quickly, which contributed to ending his career and ultimately his life. It is written that on November 20th, 1993, Daniel Holt passed away from an overdose, which was complicated by a heart attack.

When I watch Daniel Holt on screen, I immediately flash back to the 1980s era which gave us our sexual freedoms, but at the same time took away our hope for the future. For me, watching him in a movie makes me happy to remember all the good of the decade, like how three out of four of my closest friends had the Daniel Holt (Castro Clone) look. But then again, I also ache over how each and every one of those friends was taken from us way too soon.

Bio of Josh Eliot:

At the age of 25 in 1987, Josh Eliot was hired by Catalina Video by John Travis (Brentwood Video) and Scott Masters (Nova Video). Travis trained Eliot on his style of videography and mentored him on the art of directing. Josh directed his first movie, Runaways, in 1987. By 2009 when Josh parted ways with Catalina Video, he'd produced and directed hundreds of features and won numerous awards for Best Screenplay, Videography, Editing, and Directing. He was entered into the GayVN Hall of fame in 2002.

Hi folks—Will here! I hope all of you are enjoying a pleasant respite from this past summer's intense heat...I know I am!

As this title indicates, there's some movement at hand. But, first some highlights and crowning touches on the Santa Fe chapter of our lives. I only say the town and not the state because New Mexico was still in our hearts as well as on our horizons.

As I mentioned towards the end of the last blog, I left my position at the Candyman to work for the same furniture company as my Alan, literally right next door. My departure was probably the most violent and negative in my working career. While I was in the middle of closing a rather large whole-home electronics purchase, without notice or introduction, the store owner swooped in and decided to take over (obviously thinking he was a better salesman than I.) How I kept my cool in front of the customer and acquiesced my presentation still eludes me! But, with my natural love of theater, I went to my office, grabbed my coat and headed out of the building. When questioned by the owner, "Where are you going?" I blurted out, "You obviously don't need me!" My delivery scorched the owner and he followed me out to the parking lot where we had an extremely heated argument. My rage was actually the result of a lot of pent up frustrations over the past year and a half dealing with his micro-management style. I was asked to resign two days later...which I did. But, I was pleased to learn that the client bought all of the gear that I had presented! (My happy ending!)

I chilled for a month or so before submitting my resume and being interviewed by the furniture company's Director of Stores. I wanted some time to pass so as not to jump out of one frying pan and into another fire! I interviewed for the job of warehouse manager, which I got. (This happened to be one of the "hats" that I wore at the Candyman along with hiring, firing, selling, training and designing systems.)

In my new job I walked into a political firestorm, as two long-time employees thought they were more deserving of the position than me. So, except for one very handsome young man in the department who was cooperative and showed me what he could of "the ropes," I was pretty much on my own in terms of self-training. The disrespect was rife from these two people, and it made working there pretty miserable. But, help was to arrive in the most unexpected way.

My Alan was in charge of the staging and set up of this store by this point. He was happy and doing well. A former salesman from that store had moved on to selling mattresses at a leading dedicated retailer in town. He called Alan and asked if he might be interested in coming onboard to earn what he described as a rather healthy living. Alan said no. But, he knew that I was unhappy with my current status and told me about the opportunity.

After a quick visit to this mattress store, where I observed a young man all by himself and selling with ease, I decided to give the furniture store two weeks notice and move back to selling. This young man provided me with the basics that I needed. I was rather astonished with the speed with which I took to this new job. It was not all "roses," however. He was rather bossy and was prone to fly off the handle if I questioned any of his methods. I found out I was not the only one who was dismayed with this. One Saturday afternoon, he actually took on the owner of the franchise in a heated debate on the phone...after which he was immediately dismissed! Oh no! Here I was only one month on the job and running the store solo. I took a deep breath and plowed through the rest of that day, making frequent calls to other stores for help. But, I made it through and the franchise manager took notice. With only one month there, I was made the store manager. The recently departed young man's tale of good earnings was really coming true. AND, for the first time in my life, I got to work by myself. I think that was the key to my success—no one looking over my shoulder.

A sea of mattresses!

A quick throwback to my Santa Fe "Star Gazing" happened when Lynne Anderson (of "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" fame) happened into my store one evening. I recognized her right away and cordially welcomed her in. One of the luxury brands of mattresses we carried was Stearns & Foster. That year all of their models all had the word Rose in them as well as having roses embroidered into their quilting. Secretly and deliberately, I steered her over to a model that I wanted her to try. She got on it, got comfortable for a few moments and then asked me when could it be delivered. She asked me why I had such a big grin on my face. I replied, "This model is called, 'The Rose Garden!'" We all had a big chuckle. I told her I was guided by the Stars!

"I never promised you a rose garden."

Just as my adventures at the mattress store were taking off, my Alan was given a substantial promotion as visual director of stores for the state of Arizona. I was neither happy with the prospect of giving up my new found success nor did I want to impede Alan's growing success. My regional manager and the franchise owner were both dismayed with the prospect of my leaving. But, I could see that Alan was on a steady and upward trajectory with his company. In no way did I want to impede his success. Nor did I even entertain the thought of us splitting up over this.

I knew I had made the right decision when the furniture company invited me on their private plane to be ferried to Tucson to have a look at the lay of the land and choose a new residence for us. From the first mention of this move, I was brought back to pleasant memories of my 1975 stay in the Phoenix area where I played chaperone to my former roommate in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Back then, we frequently made weekend trips south to Tucson where we met with friends and reveled in the desert's beauty. Secretly hoping to recapture some of that youthful bliss, I surrendered to the move "Further South...Further West!" So stay tuned for a compendium on that next year and a half! Happy trails!

Cactus garden.

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Finding Love on a Dance Floor? | My First Week Back in the Big Apple | A Long Honeymoon! | "Go West Young Man!" | "The Other San Francisco" | Star Gazer!

Hi folks! Will here.  A very Happy Autumn to all!  

I want to backpedal to my last blog about Santa Fe being the highest state capital in altitude to help explain the title. With that altitude come some amazingly clear night skies for appreciating the stars above.  And, as usual with my sense of humor, there is a second underlying reason to mention this.

As many of you might know, a lot of Hollywood luminaries have made their homes in Santa Fe and its environs.  Most of them are rather palatial even though they are referred to as ranches.  And, to keep their occupants comfy and up to date with the latest in electronica, they usually relied upon the wares and services we provided at The Candyman.

The original store and the monument that followed.

Inside the monument!

 

As I mentioned a few episodes ago, I had the pleasure of encountering my first luminary, Catherine Deneuve, at Bloomingdales...even though it was only a distant smile and recognition from her.  In my new Santa Fe position, more "close encounters" were on their way.

Ali MacGraw and Jane Fonda...true luminaries!

 

 

Although my first two stellar encounters were rather brief with little conversation, to have the likes of Ali MacGraw or Jane Fonda standing within feet of you asking for assistance can still have you on your toes!  With Miss MacGraw it was similar to my Bloomingdale's experience...from a bit of a distance.  From my vantage point in the Audio/Video Department, I caught the unmistakable profile of Miss MacGraw.  I stared intently from about 30 feet away hoping to make eye contact.  I don't know...maybe it was the vibe I was launching...but, sure enough she looked up my way. I beamed over a wide smile and was thrilled by the one that was returned to me.  It was incredible!  With no exaggeration, she lit up the whole room!

My second close encounter was with Jane Fonda.  I saw her coming from afar.  She was trying to keep anonymity with a huge brimmed hat and large dark glasses amid a few other customers on the electronics mezzanine.  With somewhat of a tone of impatience, she called out for someone to help her...her disguise and anonymity were instantly blown!  Everyone on the floor immediately recognized her voice and turned towards her. I apologized for the delay of instantaneous service and went about asking her needs for that day's visit.  If I remember correctly, she needed to be connected with our custom installation department for work out at her ranch. That was it...short, sweet but memorable!

Gene Hackman meets Sony headphones!

 

 

My next two experiences were more lengthy.  First, was with Mr. Gene Hackman.  Although he was a regular at the shop, I never had the pleasure of either meeting nor working with him.  Very casual in dress and in demeanor, he never willingly drew attention to himself.  With his unpretentious old red Nissan pick-up truck parked out front, he usually made his way through the store in jeans, a flannel shirt and a cap of sorts. This morning, he walked straight up to me at the counter, said hello and told me he need a new pair of headphones.  With a rather encyclopedic knowledge of my department and its wares, I knew what to offer.   At this point I looked up at him and said, "Good morning, Mr. Hackman, what kind of music would you like to sample?"  He returned with, "Popular or classical will do fine."  Although a little flushed in the face by the experience, my mind was reeling along steadily!  In an instant, I thought to make his testing experience a special one, I connected an upper line Sony headphone to a new (at that time) Sony hard drive player.  The device allowed you to download hundreds of CDs into files.  (Keep in mind this was cutting edge technology right around the millennium!)  After a brief audition, Mr. Hackman said he was pleased with the headphones.  My thrill was that he asked to purchase the Sony hard drive unit, as well. I have to confess that as a seasoned salesman, this was my intention all along!  LOL.  When the owner found out about my "double play," he invited me into his office for a quick Johnny Walker Red...neat!

Shirley MacLaine meets Sony cassette!

 

This next experience really rocked my world in a couple of ways.  Not only was it the stature of this luminary, but in the length of this visit and of visits to come.  I am speaking of Miss Shirley MacLaine!  Just returning from lunch, I noticed a rather bewildered look on the faces of my two salesmen at the counter.  I asked, "What's up?"  They both pointed to the sound room behind the counter and said, "Shirley MacLaine."  I asked why was she was in the sound room all alone.  They told me they tried to help her with a question about a cassette deck that she had purchased.  But, neither of the two could get to the gist of her needs...they were waiting for me.   

Knowing who I was going to meet, I immediately immersed myself into "chill mode!"  Masking a pounding heart and a slight feeling of dizziness, I calmly walked across the sound room.  Then, with the best acting skills I could muster, I said, "Hi...I'm Will, and how can I help you today?"—pretending not to know who she was.  She totally knocked me off my mark with a huge and glamorous smile.  To this I responded with, "Miss MacLaine?"  We both chuckled and I began to ask some questions about her visit. The long and short of it was that she only really wanted to have a cassette tape duplicated.  She had purchased the machine from us, but never learned how to operate it.  I asked if she had eaten lunch. She replied, “No.” I said, “Splendid!  You have a nice lunch for about an hour or so and I will have the recording completed when you come back.” So, about an hour later she returned and came to my counter where the tape was waiting.  Before leaving, she looked me right in the eye and thanked me by name.  Wow! Had I left an impression on her?  I was thrilled and always looked back at that as my "closest encounter" with Hollywood Royalty!   

After my tenure at The Candyman, I moved to a new job just next door, to the furniture store where my better half worked.  One afternoon, while unfurling some new rugs, I looked up when I heard, "Hi, Will!"  It was Miss MacLaine...I guess I must have made some kind of impression!   

So, at Santa Fe's 7,200 foot altitude, we really were closer to the heavens. Being a Star Gazer came naturally...and really paid off!!  Please stay tuned to see what else streaks across the skies!

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Finding Love on a Dance Floor? | My First Week Back in the Big Apple | A Long Honeymoon! | "Go West Young Man!" | "The Other San Francisco"