Watch Circus of Books online free on WeStream

In1976, Karen and Barry Mason were looking for a method to support their young family when they responded to an ad that was published in the Los Angeles Times. The Masons had fallen on hard times and were looking for a way to support their young children. In order to broaden Hustler Magazine's reach, publisher Larry Flynt was looking for new distributors. What was supposed to be a short diversion turned into a full-fledged involvement with the LGBT community when they took over a local bookstore known as Circus of Books. After ten years, they had become the most prominent distributors of gay porn in the United States. The film focuses on the double life that they lead, attempting to strike a balance between their roles as parents and their identities as members of the LGBT culture during a time when such identities were not yet widely accepted. Their many difficulties included the possibility of serving jail time as a result of a federal prosecution for obscenity and the necessity of turning their shop into a safe haven during the height of the AIDS crisis. Rachel Mason, an artist, filmmaker, and singer, is the owner's daughter. Through the prism of her work, Circus of Books provides a unique look into a previously unexplored period of gay history.