'Circus of Books': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about the new Netflix documentary
Netflix is bringing acclaimed documentary Circus of Books, the story of Karen and Barry Mason's legendary West Hollywood retail outlet of the same name to the fore. The gay porn shop holds a critical position in the history of adult entertainment in Los Angeles.
Open through five decades of rapid economic and social change, Circus of Books stood its ground through the LGBTQ crowd that thronged its passage, through the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, until it finally shut down as the 21st-century rolled in with hookup apps.
'Circus of Books' was first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2019. The Mason's daughter, Rachel Mason, directed the film, which was among the 2020 Dorian Awards nominees for Best LGBTQ Documentary of the Year.
Here is everything you need to know about the documentary coming to Netflix.
Release date
'Circus of Books' premieres on Netflix on April 22, 2020.
Plot
According to the official synopsis of the series, "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. Unbeknownst to many customers, the store was cultivated by owners Karen and Barry Mason, a straight, mainstream couple with three children who went to religious school and were unaware of their parent's business. The Masons long refused to disclose the nature of their business to friends or family. While maintaining the secret, they witnessed the dawn of the HIV/AIDS epidemic firsthand, losing a generation of treasured employees. Still, during that time, they never identified as activists — just everyday entrepreneurs catering to a market, until the internet destroyed it.
Creators
Executively produced by Ryan Murphy, 'Circus of Books' is the debut documentary from artist Rachel Mason, where she finally asks the least radical people she knows - her parents - how they became America’s biggest distributors of gay porn, and why Karen reacted so negatively when her own son came out of the closet.
The American artist's work includes performance art, music, films and multimedia projects such as 'The Lives of Hamilton Fish'.
Trailers
There is no trailer for the documentary, but you can catch a sneak peek here.
Where to watch
'Circus of Books' will be available to stream on Netflix on April 22, 2020.
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