In the wake of Linda Lovelace's death, barely a ripple spread across this little scum pond I affectionately call Pornostine. (Porno-STEIN might be more appropriate, but I don't want the Mossad suddenly knocking on my door.)

Gene Ross ran an obit of sorts that he cut and pasted from who knows where. AVN will run an article in about three months; that's their lead-time for delivering the news, the reviews,and anything else they think you might be interested in. That's about it. In fairness, I haven't checked all the porn-news sites, I suppose some will run something about it. But it certainly doesn't feel to me like an event with any real meaning to the jizz bizz.

Personally, I never met Linda. Her and I were born not all that far apart, so we're both from that whacky 60s generation. I have met a few who knew her, Eric Edwards comes to mind, but

Linda and I never met. I'm sure she wouldn't have cared much for me anyway. I'm a pornographer. And in Linda's post-porno years, she had little use for pornographers. That's probably why her passing won't be lamented like Bobby Hollander's. Not that I think Bobby didn't deserve the lament. He was a great, fun guy! I just know how the people in this business are, and for the most part, they have little use for anyone who quit singing from the porno hymn book.

In AVN's recent "50 Top Porn Stars of All TIme," Linda Lovelace was proclaimed #5. Here's part of what AVN had to say about her:

"Thirty years after 'Deep Throat'made her the first female porn star, Linda Lovelace remains among the most well known names in adult film history. Her starring role in the Gerard Damiano classic made her an instant celebrity; she was the world's first porn star and an emblem of '70s porno chic.' Almost overnight, she went from the shady, illegal world of early New York underground loops to appearing on talk shows and making the scene at the Playboy Mansion; as documented in Eric Danville's recent book 'The Complete Linda Lovelace,' she became a part of the American pop culture lexicon."

Wow! Name one other sex performer, then or now, who has achieved that kind of recognition or status in American society? Think about it, "the first porn star!" and "an instant celebrity," and "an emblem of 70s porno chic," and "a part of the American pop culture lexicon." You really think Ron Jeremy (AVN's #1 pick) has achieved that kind of status? Ron and Metro would like to believe so. Jenna (AVN's #2 pick)? Not even close, although Howard Stern certainly took her for a nice recognition ride. John Holmes (AVN's #3 pick)? Maybe. "Boogie Nights" certainly tried it's best to make him so. Traci Lords (AVN's #4 pick)? Puh-leeze. All she did was dupe some guys into accidentally breaking child pornography laws.

No, I think that Linda Lovelace--or at least the name Linda Lovelace--is the most recognizable porn star of all time.

You want some further proof? Name one other film in the history of dirty movies that grossed as much money or was seen by as many people as "Deep Throat." Tod Hunter might be saying "Hey Jimmy! I think 'I Am Curious Yellow' grossed more." But was that movie really a porno? And if I'm not mistaken, "I am Curious..." held the box-office record for 30 some years for being the highest grossing foreign film of all time (until "Like Water for Chocoloate" came along--how's that for some film trivia Tod-O?), not the highest grossing fuck flick.

Not only did "Deep Throat" make Linda Lovelace a household word, (and I don't think the Hedgehog is mentioned in many houses in America, maybe except the Big House, Frat Houses, and possibly House of Pancakes where I hear he has a credit line), she and it made blowjobs a thing that even nice girls could get into--and I'm certainly thankful for that.

I hear a lot today about the 'mainstreaming' of porno. To all the Adellas and the rest of you PR people I say this: None of you, nor any of the stars that you hype, have individually or collectively done as much as Linda Lovelace and the movie she will always be known for, "Deep Throat" has done to gain mainstream acceptance for the adult business.

"Deep Throat" was the first porno ever to truly crossover to a mainstream audience. It was suddenly ok for people to go and see it and to talk about it. There hasn't been a performer since, or a movie since, that has equaled either Linda or "Deep Throat" for mainstream acceptance or popularity.

Rest in peace, Linda.

And shame on anyone who makes their livelihood in this business, and who doesn't take a moment or two to bow their head, close their eyes, and say a little prayer for Linda Boreman, who once upon a time was also known as Linda Lovelace.

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