Adult Industry Walk of fame Opening Sept. 16 in Edison, New Jersey

Adult Industry Walk of fame Opening Sept. 16 in Edison, New Jersey

[Newark Star-Ledger] Edison, New Jersey- The adult film business has long been centered in Southern California, where the temperate climate and permissive legal atmosphere have made it a hotbed for X-rated productions.

So what is being billed as the first-ever "monument" to the adult film industry would naturally end up in California, right?

Well, not exactly.

Marilyn Chambers, say hello to Edison, New Jersey.

The former Ivory Snow cover girl and star of the 1972 X-rated classic "Behind the Green Door" is among 41 adult film performers who will be part of the Playtime Adult Star Path of Fame, about to be installed at Playtime, an adult store on Route 1.

"We wanted to honor those adult stars who helped blaze the path in the early days of the modern adult industry," said Deirdre Krasner, owner of Playtime, the state's oldest continuously operated adult store. "I saw a need to honor their accomplishments and memorialize them for future generations."

The Adult Star Path of Fame, which will be installed in the ground outside Playtime's entrance, consists of 41 gray bricks, each laser-etched with the performer's name and a star. Playtime originally wanted to name it the Adult Star Walk of Fame but reconsidered when the people behind the Hollywood Walk of Fame reminded the store they owned the rights to the phrase "Walk of Fame," according to Mike Drake, Playtime's merchandise manager.

The Adult Star Path of Fame may be the first of its kind, but it is not the only sidewalk or roadside tribute to the adult film industry. About a dozen adult film performers have left impressions of their hands or feet on the sidewalk outside the Hustler Hollywood store in West Hollywood, Calif., according to Mark Kernes, senior editor at Adult Video News magazine.

"That's cute," Kernes said when told of the Adult Star Path of Fame. "Considering how much pleasure these porn stars gave millions of Americans over the years, they certainly deserve a monument."

For many, Chambers will be the most recognizable name; "Behind the Green Door" was the first porn film widely distributed in this country. There are bricks for X-rated film legends Vanessa Del Rio, John Holmes, Harry Reems, Seka, Ron Jeremy, Annie Sprinkle and Georgina Spelvin, among others. The newer generation of performers is represented by the likes of Jenna Jameson, Paris Hilton and Tera Patrick.

Choosing the initial 41 inductees -- Playtime plans to add several stars every year -- wasn't easy.

"We spent months reviewing adult film history, gauging popularity and interviewing industry insiders," said Nick Smerecki, Playtime's general manager. "We've done our best to include actors and actresses who have made a difference in the industry. In the future, we may expand it to include directors, producers, publishers and others."

Concurrent with the Adult Star Path of Fame, Playtime is assembling an adult film time capsule that will be buried in two weeks and unearthed in 2042, the 69th anniversary of the store's opening.

This, as one would expect, is not your ordinary time capsule. Playtime sought, and received, donations of items from adult film studios and performers. Items collected so far include adult movies, videos and photographs; lingerie; the first issue of Puritan Magazine, an adult magazine published in the 1970s, and signed replicas of male and female genitalia.

"If someone sends something, we'll put it in there," Drake said. "We haven't run out of room."

The Playtime Capsule, and the Adult Star Path of Fame, will be formally dedicated Sept. 16. At least one of the honorees, Joanna Angel ("Joanna's Angels"), will attend. An invitation has been extended to Paris Hilton.

"All of us hope she is able to join us," said Playtimexxx.com webmaster John Charles, "but frankly, we're more excited about Joanna Angel visiting."

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