George McDonald: The First Adult Film Star – Podcast 54

George McDonald was an adult film star at a time when there were no adult film stars.

He started in the era of short, silent 8mm films and saw first hand the progression to full-length pornographic features within a couple of years.

This was an era of shame and secrecy when no one used their real name – except for George.  And for a time his name was everywhere – he once counted nine theaters showing his films in San Francisco at the same time.

He was in the industry so early that one of his last films was the Mitchell Brothers‘ Behind The Green Door – often cited as one of the first adult films.

So what kind of person ends up being the original porn star?

Maybe not the kind of person you’d think. George McDonald was an all-American boy, high school athlete, good-looking, good grades, good future. He signed up to the Air Force when the Vietnam war was going on. And he had political aspirations too. He was sure he’d be mayor one day.

But along the way he ended up working in porn films, headlining a live sex show in Hawaii where he competed with John Holmes, and living the life no one had ever really lived before.

And then he retired from the industry, and opted for the quiet life. Which in George’s case meant joining filmmaker Alex de Renzy on a drug-smuggling round the world boat trip.

Another time. Another life. Another Rialto Report.

This episode running time is 97 minutes.

The musical playlist for this episode can be found on Spotify.

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George McDonald

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News article about the Marysville ship, that George and Alex de Renzy sailed in

 

Despite the police search, nothing was found – this time…

 

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