BijouBlog

By Will Seagers

Hi folks, Will here! Since a very early age, I have had some very hot sexual encounters... in the woods! It's the perfect place (weather permitting) when you don't have a cozy indoor retreat! And, there's also that element of danger - of getting caught - that looms over you, as well.

I remember way back to the tender age of six or seven playing naked in the bushes with boys and even an occasional girl. At that point I hadn't made up my mind as to what turned me on the most! But, the key excitements were body contact and and the naughtiness of doing it out of doors. This took place in one of several beautiful suburban towns in northern New Jersey where I grew up. How we didn't get caught I'll never know. But, I thank the powers that be for that not happening. LOL.

Puberty hits. And, with all my hormones coursing through me, building tree forts and dragging the neighborhood boys into them became my modus operandi! "Swish Family Robinson" of sorts. LOL. At this point, my family was living just off the Jersey Shore in a new development. Formerly a woodsy area and full of scrap lumber, it was a tree fort builder's paradise. And, I took advantage of that several times. Some were even elaborate, like the one that I built over a stream with a fireplace. I never wanted "it's too cold" to be a possibility. This was all before I had any inkling about coming out or even being gay. It seemed late grammar school and early high school guys were all game to try it out.

Then, by the end of high school, details and sexual definitions started to fall into place. I knew who I was and what side of the fence was my preference. By 18, I was running into guys while just being out and about... chance encounters. Not having my own place yet, we would always opt for a secluded and undeveloped stretch of wooded areas to get it on. Ha, I remember ticks being the greatest problem of that day!

While living with my Aunt (yes, the Finnish one), I used to do my weight lifting in her garage that faced the street. One day, a handsome dark haired and nicely built guy walked by our driveway, paused, smiled and then was on his way. It was peculiar... but, very arousing! This happened again soon after. This time, I walked to the edge of the driveway and struck up a conversation. Well, after about the third one of these encounters, he asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. I knew what was up and I agreed. He was married and couldn't use his own place. So, off to a local patch of woods for some fun! His name was John. And, he was hung like a horse... much to my delight. Nothing serious ever came of it. But, it was sure fun while it lasted. He was one of several guys with whom I carried on in this outdoor fashion. It was fun and quirky.

Fast forward to my years on Fire Island - working and playing. Although I could hardly consider it work, in the movie Fire Island Fever, I had a J/O scene that actually took place in a tree (as part of one of the other porn star's fantasies). I don't know what came over me. But, I really got into this fantasy and shot about 15 feet from my arboreal perch! Along with myself, most of the crew was amazed and pleased.

Being a naughty boy at heart, I loved to wander in the infamous "meat rack" section of Fire Island that straddled between The Pines and Cherry Grove. All sorts of mayhem could be found there and at all hours of the day and night. This stretch of thick shrubbery allowed for some privacy when needed. But, it was more known for being more of an outdoor gang bang. And if my memory serves me, I remember being the meat in several sandwiches when the opportunity presented itself.

San Francisco also had several fun outdoor wooded areas of note. One of them was literally up the street from where I lived on Buena Vista Terrace. It was Buena Vista Park - which I nicknamed "pants down park!" So close to my home and yet I never took advantage of it. I guess I was too busy with indoor activities! The other spot where I do remember having a few hot sessions was Lands End at the end of Golden Gate Park. It could be brisk and windy at times being right at the Golden Gate and the Pacific Ocean. I remember having my mouth pleasantly occupied while hearing a symphony of fog horns nearby! You did have to be on your toes as the police regularly patrolled the area!

All very pleasant recollections. So far in my past, yet still so vivid in my memories. Just a couple of months back during my family reunion week in Pennsylvania, we had an outing in a heavily wooded area. It was a hike on a trail in a state park. Although ambling along with my siblings on this 10 mile course, I could feel my mind drifting back decades to memories of sex in the woods!

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, recent photo

By Will Seagers

Hi Folks! Will here. Please let me start out by explaining this rather tongue-in-cheek blog title. In no way is there any regret or negative inference intended. The simple truth of the matter is that now as I am approaching my 73rd year on this planet, I still make my (almost) daily pilgrimages to my beloved gym! Considering this has been going on since age 18, it is rather like a self-imposed life sentence! LOL. Propelled by vanity and my personal history, it's just something that I am not able nor want to bring to an end.

First of all, it brings me great joy and satisfaction to be in (decent) shape and to have good health at this stage of my life. I really believe that regular exercise is part of the reason. Just a few years ago, when I was still gainfully employed and slightly lacking in the free time needed for routine exercise, I experienced setbacks in mobility, strength, cognizance and other signs of aging. A lot of those signs have lightened up or vanished with my health regime of the past five years... or should I say my return to the dedication I had when I was younger and in the spotlight.

Aging, as a former porn star, is a very peculiar thing, indeed! The gifts of looks, body and all of the attention just seem to have vanished... or should I say morphed! And, since there is no handbook to guide one through this process, it's a day by day, one foot in front of the other kind of learning process. Attitude and reality are important concepts to keep in toe, as well. It's sort of funny when I catch myself admiring younger studs and not even getting a look back - like I'm invisible. That can weigh heavily if you live in the past!

So, in my 55 years of throwing the weights around, I have seen some major changes. It was my younger brother who alerted me to the ability of one to make a new and improved version of themselves with the use of these weights! He started in high school. The change was impressive. I followed suit as I entered my freshman year of college. I could not believe how much and how quickly I grew... So noticeable, as I was always a such a skinny kid growing up.

My first gym was my bedroom with a simple bench, barbell and plates. As my lifting routine and a new attention to nutrition set in, my persona out in the general public took a major turn to the positive. Formerly quiet and bashful, a new and more daring self-image was emerging. This was when the first bits and pieces of my newfound porn career were starting to take place.

But, back to how the gym world was starting to surface around the country and around the world. I guess I noticed it most in the early to mid 70s, when it seemed every neighborhood wasn't complete without one. Chains like the European Health Spas started to become part of every shopping mall. Prior to that, if you were visiting a city and needed exercise, it was off to the good old Y.M.C.A.! It was becoming very mainstream to be "fit." Of course, big cities around the country had always had their "weight lifting palaces," but now it was becoming a very profitable industry. So, gyms like Gold's became chains and sprang up around the country.

Gym change was in the air as privately owned gyms like the Pump Room and the Muscle system of San Francisco's golden past even made the bold move of catering to a gay clientele. The next move that swept the country was co-ed gyms. This started during the early 80s wave of the Women's Liberation movement and still is normal operating procedure today. The cursing, grunting and "caveman" behavior of the past was replaced with a new gym etiquette! (I miss the old ways! LOL.)

So, as fate would have it, it is now about 1:30PM. It's time for me to take my pre-workout drink, throw myself in the shower and get ready for my daily pilgrimage. Today is back and biceps day! Good Health to all in this self imposed life sentence!

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, recent photo

By Will Seagers

Hi folks! Will here. Once again, I'm having fun with the title. It's the very essence of a double entendre! However, in true cliffhanger tradition you will just have to wait until my New Year's Eve edition to see what's up!

Anyway, In the Beginning I started my affair with men and the camera at a very early age... Me and "Mr. Claus” at about age three or four. It's also a good liaison into wishing all of you great readers a very Happy Holiday season.

Zooming along in my life... I'm before the lens in a rather magical shot in my pre-porn days with a photographer that I met on the beach at the Jersey shore. As I remember correctly, there was a rather torrid post shoot "shoot" with him and his lover. After all, one does need an outlet after getting all worked up for that photography session!

In the next few shots, I am in my twenties before the whole porn thing began. Here at age twenty-one with my quintessential 70's hot combed coif. Also shown are some pictures of legit modeling for a hair mag, then a lovely pearl-clad lady in Viva Magazine in 1974. The latter two shots were byproducts of literally being discovered on the streets of N.Y.C.! This magic was repeated later in the decade.

Oh, the Southwest and the beauty of its deserts! While living in a Phoenix suburb, I developed a friendship with a budding amateur photographer who had me pose with his beautiful dog in a desert scene just outside of Tucson in 1975. Little did I know that I would be returning to the Southwest for more photography and ultimately to build a house and settle down!

Well, we're off! I entered the Dark Side of modeling (just kidding) in the latter part of 1975 right after moving back to the East Coast. Believe it or not, this was another case of being discovered right on the street - Christopher Street, Greenwich Village - by the folks of a newly formed studio, Man's Image.

In 1976, I seemed to become the pass around boy in the New York porn biz! From Man's Image, I was passed to my dear friend Lou Thomas (formerly a partner of Colt Studios), who formed his own Target Studio moniker. Having a knowledge of the Southwest, I suggested the site for the Ramrod "Cowboy" shoots pictured in this blog. Also, he partnered me with Bruno in a memorable and very sensual poolside escapade on Fire Island.

Then, I was passed on to Jack Deveau of Hand in Hand Films, where I was cast two more "sexs-travaganzas," Dune Buddies and Fire Island Fever - which, as you can surmise, took place on that same magical isle. This was all in the year 1976 - my first year working on Fire Island - after which I moved to San Francisco because of a work offer from Chuck Holmes (of Falcon Studios fame)!

1976 thru 1980 was non-stop and high gear for me in this business. Appearing with Al Parker in Weekend Lockup was one of the first of a cavalcade of films I made while living in San Francisco. My looks were still holding. So, I decided to dig in and take advantage of the many film and print offers. I worked side jobs to keep afloat between films. I ran a small and popular gay gym, The Pump Room, for several years. One had to stay in shape to keep the offers coming! LOL.

Then Lady Luck stepped in. Through a very dear friend (and great fuck buddy) I was recommended to the Gage Brothers to be cast in the last of their trilogy of films - L.A. Tool & Die! Wow... this was the big time. (And, I even got to use some acting skills!) It turned out to be a monster hit with a cult like following. It was after this film that I started to think about slowing down and slowly finish off my porn career. I thought it was better to go out with a bang... right?

Well, this was not in the cards for me. Luckily my genetics and slow aging process gave me the opportunity to make several more notable films leading up to my last films circa 1988. Although, I respect (and am turned on by sexy older guys), I didn't feel it was the right fit for me. So, this year marked my denouement in the film biz.

Life certainly wasn't over! And, much to my surprise and pleasure, I found myself in my 40s and 50s still being desirable and attractive to many. I was 45 when I was discovered on the dance floor of The Roxy (a rather famous NYC dance club) by my spouse of almost 29 years! I brought him to the Southwest where he fell in love with its charm and magical vistas, as well. We happily dwell together in the house we built to celebrate our love and commitment.

So this brings me to a partial end of my saga. It was a great era and a great run working with some of the best in the business. And, most of all, it has been a treat to perform and be enjoyed by all of you... the readers of this blog. To you I say Thank You!.. but, not quite farewell!

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, recent photo

By Will Seagers

The decision to leave San Francisco and return home to the East Coast in September of 1991 came from great fear and sadness. My "City by the Bay" had been home to me since 1976. But, life was closing in on me and I needed to reinvent myself (i.e save my life!).

In September of 1989, my partner Tom passed from complications of AIDS. We had been together for almost all of my time in SF. I watched the grim reaper take Tom from me over a torturous five year period. During this time, I coached myself on how I was going to make it through this and make a new life for myself after he passed. Although I remained strong for him and by his side, I crumbled like a sandcastle hit by a wave the day he passed.

To put it mildly, escapism took over. I used almost everything I could to stay high and away from reality. "Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll" isn't just a saying - it became a lifestyle! I couldn't come home to the little apartment that we had for thirteen years anymore. It haunted me... too many memories.

 

I went through several apartment changes in SF... none of which worked. I needed to be by myself... to collect myself.

The last place I stayed was a room rental. The house owner was a casual friend and a coke dealer. Although he was very kind and understood my dilemma, I wound up pushing his product towards the end. That's when I knew I had to leave.

I contacted my Aunt in New Jersey... a person who had always been an anchor in my life. I asked if I could stay with her 'til I got on my feet. I could sense an anxiety on her part. But, she relented and I drove cross country. I left on Labor Day weekend. I'll never forget my drive down Market St. as I silently said my goodbyes to the city that I had loved so dearly. So, onto the freeway entrance and onto my four day cross country excursion.

I remained in NJ for three years, where I entered the musical instrument business and sold and taught organ and piano. I have always loved music. And, when times were good, I always had a theater organ in my home.

Bored to death in NJ, I sold most of my belongings and started a new adventure in South Beach, Florida. It was quintessentially even more of a gay Mecca than SF. (The year was 1995.) Things have changed substantially. I had more sex than ever... even episodes right on the beach! Yes! Stuff like that really happened. But, that too became hollow and unreal after a while.

NYC beckoned. Along with it came some serendipity. I returned on the first weekend of April. I stayed with my brother in Brooklyn while apartment hunting. The serendipitous part - I met my current spouse the very first weekend I went to Manhattan on the dancefloor of the "Roxie" dance club. It was April 4th, 1995. That was the day that the Agony turned back to Ecstasy!

Thank you to Will Seagers for use of the photos.

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted career and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model and film performer. 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.

 

By Josh Eliot

The first time I met Steve Rambo was in 1992, when our general manager Mike sent him over to the set of Nutt Crackers to fill in for a model who never showed up to work. Steve knew Mike from Drake's Bookstore, which Mike also managed. I think he worked there briefly as a cashier, but I’m not entirely sure. He showed up to the set, a complete porn virgin, with no experience in front of the camera at all. He was personable, friendly and cock-hungry as hell. What started off as a bummer of a day due to the no-show ended up turning for the better once Rambo’s hungry hole(s) started doing their thing. Little did any of us realize that on that day Catalina’s new exclusive was born, and he would end up shooting 67 movies for our company. He won Best Actor at the Grabby Awards in 1999 for his amazing performance in CatalinaVille. The last time I worked with Steve Rambo was around 2006, when his contract ended and he retired from the business.

The first time I saw Will Seagers in a movie was when my roommate Brian brought home the Joe Gage classic L.A. Tool & Die on VHS from a video rental store in the Castro. I think it might have been a double bill that night as I believe we also watched, re-watched, re-wound and watched again The Biggest One I Ever Saw starring Dave Connors, Lee Ryder and Rick Donovan. As I’m sure most of you are aware, Will Seagers had an amazing career, with a couple of his earliest films being 1978's Dune Buddies (Hand in Hand) and Champs (Falcon). 1979 was a very good year for Will with headlining roles in both Fire Island Fever (also Hand in Hand) and L.A .Tool & Die, two instant gay classics. In 1980, he was in Steve Scott's Wanted (Mustang) with Al Parker. I was invited to watch the filming of the jailhouse scene, at age 18, but my nerves got the best of me and I didn’t accept the invitation from producer Frank Ross, who was my boss at the time when I sold tickets at San Francisco's Screening Room Theatre. You can read all about that and the great Frank Ross in my previous blog, “Frank Ross: The Boss.” Will brought his hotness to the screen in many more movies until he retired in 1994, according to IAFD. Will, If I’m wrong about any of this forgive me!! It wasn’t until some point in 2022, when Steven and Jules at Bijou asked me to be a contributor to their blog page, that I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to meet Will Seagers face to face.

Being out of the industry since 2009, I kind of left “all of it behind” and focused on re-imagining my future. I worked as a manager at an incredible spa for the JW Marriott and the Westin Mission Hills in the Palm Springs area and was very happy. It was tough at first, as I had worked in the gay adult industry for 22 years and didn’t really know anything else. But slowly I adjusted, not missing the stress of production one bit! But for me it was always the creative part of developing and making movies that gave me the most joy. Being so far removed from it all, you can imagine how delighted I was when in 2023, within three weeks of each other, I sat down with both Steve Rambo and Will Seagers for breakfast, separately.

After his contract was up, Steve Rambo moved back to Rochester, NY where he was born November 25, 1956. I hadn’t heard a peep from him or about him until Covid-19 when I discovered The Catalina Collection channel on YouTube. It seemed that the movies CatalinaVille and Boy Band had gone viral, with thousands of straight and gay fans around the world watching and commenting on the camp dialogue in the PG versions posted on the channel. There were also dozens of memes created from a Boy Band scene between Rambo and Brad McGuire, one even created with AI showing them singing in Russian. Around the same time, I discovered Instagram, during those long days of staying home due to the virus. I discovered @Jeffreymixed, whose Instagram was featuring Steve Rambo Saturdays, with clips from his movies. Somehow, @Jeffreymixed was the go-between with Rambo and myself and arranged a breakfast at Palm Springs Elmer’s Restaurant for a reunion a few weeks ago, while Rambo was in town on vacation. Seeing Rambo again after 17 years was incredible, it was like we were never apart. Rambo has this intoxicating laugh that hits you like a freight train and trust me, the heads were turning at Elmer’s every few seconds. I think it's gotten much louder now that we are older! We reminisced and had such a great time; after all those years working on the set together, we really became family.

I started communicating with Will Seagers through Jules at Bijou when they got together over the holidays. After that, Will and I worked together on a few joint ventures for Bijou Blogs like our Deep Inside the Castro series and Diving Into SOMA/Folsom series. When my partner Tony and I planned a trip to Santa Fe to see our friends and go to the Pride event there, I contacted Will to see about meeting up for breakfast when we passed through his city. I was thrilled when he agreed, and we met up at a little restaurant joint named Weck’s. I recognized him immediately as he was walking through the parking lot; I have to say, he is very statuesque in height and still features his leading man good looks. We had a great time getting to know each other, sharing stories and learning about each other's interests. I was thrilled to see his blog with all of his plants, which I wish we had time to see in person, as well as his bird collection. Breakfast was yummy, of course, and it was a little surreal being surrounded by so many families who hadn’t a clue about our past histories or what we were discussing. There was definitely an alignment of the stars this summer for me to be able to catch up with both Steve Rambo and Will Seagers in the same month. I’m happy to say they both look great and are in a good and happy place!

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.