When Sex Was Dirty [Paperback]

Josh Alan Friedman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

"Sardonic Ribald."-Penthouse

From the author of the revered Tales of Times Square, here's reporting from licentious New York City of the 1980s-a compelling assortment of pimp laureates, porn starlets, evangelical starlets, bizarre 42nd Street inhabitants, "the Strikeout King," and his stud-like counterpart, "God's Gift to Women."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1986, Friedman published Tales of Times Square, the grittiest, most perceptive look yet at the Deuce when it was run by desperadoes, not Disney. This grab bag of essays, some reprinted (from Hustler, Screw, etc.), some new, shares much with Friedman's earlier book, notably an emphasis on sleaze (and on the humanity of those who traffic in it), but it lacks the earlier book's cohesion and shock value. Four of the older entries, grouped as "Times Square Sketches," read like outtakes from Tales; best is Friedman's brief, haunting portrait of stripper Maria Krupa, daughter of jazz drummer Gene, who died of a heroin overdose. Some of the other older entries, though written with pizzazz, are dated, for instance "An Iceberg Slim Appreciation," written 10 years ago but about an author who's been celebrated for decades. Two new pieces stand out. "The Strikeout King" brings readers vividly back to the oversexed Manhattan nightclubs of the mid-'80s and pits an editor who can't get a date against a lothario who sleeps with almost every woman he meets. And "The Rise and Fall of Al Goldstein" - the collection's most memorable entry - traces with empathy and amazement the arc of the infamous pornographer, for whom Friedman once worked. The book closes with three Texas-set pieces - unnecessary filler in a volume that, while no career capstone, will interest Friedman's (and the old Times Square's) admirers. (Feb.)
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About the Author

Josh Alan Friedman left New York City years before his favorite beat, Times Square, was irrevocably Disneyfied. Josh is the subject of a feature length film also called "Tales of Times Square." Its completion date is this Fall. Josh also contributed to Feral House's celebrated "It's a Man's World: Men's Adventure Magazines, the Postwar Pulps."

Product Details

• Paperback: 133 pages
• Publisher: Feral House (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932595074
• ISBN-13: 978-1932595079
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In 1987, writer-guitarist Josh Alan Friedman sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads (the Crossroads of the World--Broadway & 42nd Street) and moved to Texas. He'd just written TALES OF TIMES SQUARE (Feral House), a cult classic. An Expanded Edition with new chapters was recently released, while the still-unfinished movie of TALES has played 35 film festivals.

Josh's latest book is BLACK CRACKER (Wyatt Doyle Books), the story of his tumultuous childhood as the only white boy at Long Island's last segregated school.

In 2008, Josh released TELL THE TRUTH UNTIL THEY BLEED: COMING CLEAN IN THE DIRTY WORLD OF BLUES AND ROCK 'N' ROLL (Backbeat Books). Before that: WHEN SEX WAS DIRTY (Feral House); I, GOLDSTEIN: MY SCREWED LIFE (with Al Goldstein); and NOW DIG THIS: THE UNSPEAKABLE WRITINGS OF TERRY SOUTHERN (co-editor).

Josh also set off satirical fires and lawsuits as writer-half of the Friedman Bros, the most feared cartooning duo of the late '70s and '80s. Two anthologies remain in print, featuring the art of Josh's brother, Drew Friedman: WARTS AND ALL (Fantagraphics), and ANY SIMILARITY TO PERSONS LIVING OR DEAD IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL (Fantagraphics).

On the music front, as "Josh Alan," he barnstormed the state of Texas for 20 years, rocking whole arenas with his Guild D-40. Copping three Dallas Observer Music Awards for Best Acoustic Act, he released four albums: FAMOUS & POOR, THE WORST!, BLACKS 'N' JEWS (the title of which became a documentary on Josh's life) and JOSH ALAN BAND.

Josh shares new work and selections from his archives - articles, photos, music and video - on his website, www.BlackCrackerOnline.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Loving Look Back at the Apex of Sleaze, March 6, 2006

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Sex Was Dirty (Paperback)

As with the previous "Tales of Times Square," this book visits the glory that was Forty-Deuce back in the heyday of its vileness: the late 70s and early 80s. AIDS hadn't yet reared its head, Plato's Retreat and other sex clubs and bath-houses were still going strong, X-rated shops and theatres were all over the place, and prostitutes owned the streets.

Ah, the good old days.

Friedman approaches everything with an honest and open-eyed wonder-- he was at the center of things as a very youthful contributer to Al Goldstein's SCREW, and he meets some memorably loathesome people, as well as some endearing ones. His writing is mostly crisp and entertaining, but be warned: if you find sex icky, you might want to stick to the romance section of the bookstore. Sex here is a commodity, and porno is a business. Along the way we learn how Josh lost his virginity and his favorite starlets to whack off to-- it's that kind of a book.

Nice to know that the son of one of my favorite authors, Bruce Jay Friedman, is carrying on the tradition of mordant humor and jaundiced commentary on the less respectable side of things...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting 42nd st history, June 19, 2006

By 

D. Breczinski "dan paul books" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Sex Was Dirty (Paperback)

This is an interesting and funny little book portraying some of the seedier aspects of NYC history in the 80's. Interesting characters and portrait of the time and place. Some stories almost unbelievable. Certainly nowhere close to being politically correct but at least honest in its portrayal. Fun and easy read but drags a little in a couple chapters.