"The tree of life represents the roots of man. The branches are the different directions a man can take, live or exist. When you're dead, those that you leave behind will put you in a part of that tree. It represents what was, what is and what will be. It's eternal." -- John Holmes. Most people might, understandably, predict that the world's first porn star was a woman, but they would be wrong. John Curtis Holmes was just a simple country boy from Ohio when he moved to California in 1964. It was the infancy of hardcore, so in Holmes' wildest dreams, he could not have predicted the turbulent ride on which he had embarked by publicizing his private parts. With the fame he achieved by playing his most famous character - a gun toting detective named Johnny Wadd - came money. Holmes was pleased to spend it on his wife and mistresses, but soon was in over his head after he became addicted to cocaine. Unfortunately for Holmes, in the years that followed, his addiction led him into several desperate choices - including setting up a robbery at the home of Ed Nash, a powerful L.A. nightclub owner. The robbery resulted in one of the most gruesome, unsolved, multiple-murders in Hollywood history. Amazingly, before his untimely death in 1988, Holmes regained his momentum, remarried and rebuilt his life and career. However, the grave consequences of his addiction, his association with the Wonderland murders, and his AIDS-related death made him an infamous figure in pop culture. Digging past the stigmas, John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches - the first biography about John C. Holmes - unearths the human being behind the penis and proves that there was more to him than could be measured in inches. This biography includes material from the authors' new interviews with: Laurie Holmes, Bill Amerson, Bob Chinn, Julia St. Vincent, Detective Tom Lange, Detective Frank Tomlinson, Paul Thomas, Ron Jeremy, Seka, Marilyn Chambers, Candida Royalle, Rhonda Jo Petty, Dr. Sharon Mitchell, Bill Margold, and many others! Also included is additional source material containing extensive interviews with: Sharon Holmes, Dawn Schiller, Dr. Vonda Pelto, Ph.D., and L.A. Times film critic, Kenneth Turan. With 114 reviews of John's most notable feature films, 86 loops synopses, 3 photos sections including rare nudes, and a comprehensive 21 page filmography.
JOHN HOLMES: A LIFE MEASURED IN INCHES (NEW 2nd EDITION)
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Authors Jennifer Sugar and Jill C. Nelson separate legend from fact and piece together Holmes' strange and often tragic story. The result is an emotionally exhausting yet truly compelling real-life adventure." --Phil Hall, Film Threat
"Whether or not, you were a fan of Mr. Wadd, you won't be able to put down this fascinating biography by Jennifer Sugar and Jill C. Nelson." (March 2009 - Book of the Month) --Keith Valcourt, HUSTLER Magazine
"In addition, to some of the most detailed looks at more than 200 Holmes' video and loops, the two have written a remarkable piece of film history using oral histories of the participants to carry the narrative." --Bill Castanier, Lansing News
"Holmes' life is truly laid bare for the reader, with no details withheld about his marriages, his lovers, his movies, his involvement with the horrific so-called Wonderland Murders, his 1986 AIDS diagnosis and his death." --Marq, XX Factor
"Indeed Sugar and Nelson have taken a subject inherently problematic - the history and scholarship of the adult film - and rendered it lucidly accessible to all, whether fans of adult material or not and whether male or female." --Robert Cettl, widerscreenings.com
"Whether or not, you were a fan of Mr. Wadd, you won't be able to put down this fascinating biography by Jennifer Sugar and Jill C. Nelson." (March 2009 - Book of the Month) --Keith Valcourt, HUSTLER Magazine
"In addition, to some of the most detailed looks at more than 200 Holmes' video and loops, the two have written a remarkable piece of film history using oral histories of the participants to carry the narrative." --Bill Castanier, Lansing News
"Holmes' life is truly laid bare for the reader, with no details withheld about his marriages, his lovers, his movies, his involvement with the horrific so-called Wonderland Murders, his 1986 AIDS diagnosis and his death." --Marq, XX Factor
"Indeed Sugar and Nelson have taken a subject inherently problematic - the history and scholarship of the adult film - and rendered it lucidly accessible to all, whether fans of adult material or not and whether male or female." --Robert Cettl, widerscreenings.com
From the Author
The second expanded edition of this biography was published on October 31, 2011. It contains updated information and over 25 new photos, some never-before-seen. For those of you who are new to the book, we encourage you to journey through the life and times of the world's most legendary icon in the history of erotic cinema: John Curtis Holmes -- Jennifer Sugar & Jill C. Nelson - October 31, 2011
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By K. Dimmick
Format:Paperback
Well, I finished reading "Inches" yesterday and want to say that this is a VERY good, in depth,well researched biography of John Holmes that takes the reader from Holmes's child hood in Pataskala Ohio to his death from AIDS in California 43 years later .
The amount of detail in the stories told by various people who knew him over the course of his life was very extensive with a lot more additional information on Holmes in front of the camera and also his private life, than any of the video documentaries on his life that I have seen over the past few years.
My own main thrust of interest about Holmes since I was a young 18 year old in Southern California when the WONDERLAND killings happened in 1981, has been this crime and also the double life that Holmes had led in the years previous to this. I have read just about everything pertaining to the WONDERLAND murders, and seen every documentary made, but there were many things in "Inches" that have never been included in previous projects on his life....MANY things.
One of the things that really does stand out in the book in my own opinion are the stories that Sean Amerson told. This guy really loved John a lot growing up and I think that while everyone missed him when he passed,Sean may have been the one who missed him most of all.
Great book Jennifer and Jill! If this could have been any better, I don't know how.
The amount of detail in the stories told by various people who knew him over the course of his life was very extensive with a lot more additional information on Holmes in front of the camera and also his private life, than any of the video documentaries on his life that I have seen over the past few years.
My own main thrust of interest about Holmes since I was a young 18 year old in Southern California when the WONDERLAND killings happened in 1981, has been this crime and also the double life that Holmes had led in the years previous to this. I have read just about everything pertaining to the WONDERLAND murders, and seen every documentary made, but there were many things in "Inches" that have never been included in previous projects on his life....MANY things.
One of the things that really does stand out in the book in my own opinion are the stories that Sean Amerson told. This guy really loved John a lot growing up and I think that while everyone missed him when he passed,Sean may have been the one who missed him most of all.
Great book Jennifer and Jill! If this could have been any better, I don't know how.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By J. Scull
Format:Paperback
After having watched Boogie Nights and Wonderland I really wanted to read a biography about John Holmes and was disappointed that there wasn't one available. Then low and behold one appears on Amazon.com! I immediately picked it up and was extremely impressed.
It is written as an oral history so the authors weaved John's life story around long quotes from the people who actually knew John. I prefer that over those biographers who just make up all kinds of stuff about their subject and never say where they got the information from.
This book gives you John's complete story starting with his childhood and ending with his death of AIDS. It presents John in a fair light never descending into tabloid territory with its coverage of his many negative deeds but also not shying away from talking about them. After reading this bio I got the impression that John was a deeply flawed man but also had a very big heart. It gave me a much better idea of who John was than either movie.
The book also includes lots of rare photos of John along with some of the essential classics. It also has a very in-depth movie review section in case you feel like checking out some of his work after you read the book.
This book is perfect for any Holmes fan as it includes lots of new stories and is also the perfect (and only) place to start if you are just getting into the Holmes scene and want to find out the true story of The King.
It is written as an oral history so the authors weaved John's life story around long quotes from the people who actually knew John. I prefer that over those biographers who just make up all kinds of stuff about their subject and never say where they got the information from.
This book gives you John's complete story starting with his childhood and ending with his death of AIDS. It presents John in a fair light never descending into tabloid territory with its coverage of his many negative deeds but also not shying away from talking about them. After reading this bio I got the impression that John was a deeply flawed man but also had a very big heart. It gave me a much better idea of who John was than either movie.
The book also includes lots of rare photos of John along with some of the essential classics. It also has a very in-depth movie review section in case you feel like checking out some of his work after you read the book.
This book is perfect for any Holmes fan as it includes lots of new stories and is also the perfect (and only) place to start if you are just getting into the Holmes scene and want to find out the true story of The King.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
First its a good read and i do recommend you buy it.The lessons are many including what drugs and bad friends can do to you.There were many likable qualities to him as a person but you also learn the details of how his involvement in wonderland led to the beating deaths of two women.One other one managed to survive.The guys killed lived by the sword and had it coming-sure,but him leaving the door open both at the gangster Nash place and at the wonderland place showed a careless and ruthless side to Holmes that all the "He was a great guy" does not change.He got his underage girlfriend into prostitution and stole from his friends to feed his drug habit.All of his money went down the drain and perhaps that can get through to some peaple and help them choose a better course.one of the guys killed at wonderland ave was suspected of many murders by the LAPD so his death was no loss to society but to understand that one was completely innocent shows the real tragic consequences of holmes choices.The chapters on holmes films were a bit too long-some are not even available and lets face it the short film loops could have been explained in one page but overall i must say they have put togeather the definitive work on the tradgedy that is the person of John Holmes
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Be careful for what you wish for
As a middle aged man, I think I speak for most men my age, we've all heard of John Holmes. We all know--and maybe envied--him. His tragic life was nothing of envy. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Zacharyman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good Read
John Holmes was my idol as a youngster, yeah I was into porn when I shouldn't have been. You get to know him outside of the bedroom, living room or wherever he is performing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by E. Delaney
1.0 out of 5 stars
Confusing
Written in a confusing and distracting way. Instead of telling a story, it bounces from person to person and quote to quote. I had to put it down because I could not follow along.
Published 1 month ago by Barnzey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gave me some "inside" info...I guess.
Strangely I purchased the book so that I could gain some type of inside information into the porno movie business. Read more
Published 2 months ago by kurt peterson
1.0 out of 5 stars
John Holmes:Killed by porn
Mr.Holmes is just another example of the evils that porn can cause.It literally killed this man.Mr.Holmes caught AIDS and died,because of the vile lifestyle that he lived. Read more
Published 4 months ago by SideshowBob
5.0 out of 5 stars
Get ready to stay up late.
Just a very fascinating look into an adult entertainers personal and private life. Other books have been written but this one hands down kept you wondering if one personcould... Read more
Published 5 months ago by cathy griffith
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is the book for you if interested in his career life.
This was a good book. It's a mix of his personal and professional life. I was hoping for more personal but it didn't take away from a good read. Read more
Published 6 months ago by CHROME
2.0 out of 5 stars
Please wipe my tears away
Could this book be any more boring. Give me a tissue please, I'm bored to tears. I got half way maybe 3/4s of the way before I finally gave up. I kept reading to help me sleep. Read more
Published 6 months ago by reviewer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Long Winded
Informational and heartfelt empathetic view if the life and times of a complex character. Could have been about 1/2 as long though. There is a lot of redundancy here.
Published 6 months ago by Scott Richman
2.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle version was horrible!
I am very picky about the books I choose to buy. I expect to read a book I've purchased more than one time. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Amanda
