A Night at Sardi’s: The 1984 Critics Adult Film Awards

A Night at Sardi’s: The 1984 Critics Adult Film Awards

The Critics Adult Film Association (CAFA) was a New York-based group of East Coast adult sex film critics that bestowed awards upon those working in pornographic film during the 1980s. The awards were first presented in 1981, honoring the movies of the previous year. The first winner of the best picture award was Talk Dirty to Me (1980), starring John Leslie, who also won Best Actor.

Erica Eaton, an adult film personality since the 1970s, was the CAFA chairperson for several years, and the group of writers and critics behind the association included Colette Connor, Jack Shugg, Steffani Martin, and Will H. Jarvis.

CAFA was keen to develop a more respectable, mainstream image for the industry, leading Cheri magazine to declare, “the Critics Adult Film Awards was a gentle reminder that porn films can be measured against standards other than the Peter Meter.”

Indeed the 1984 awards ceremony was held at Sardi’s in Manhattan, an historic restaurant located in the Theater District. Sardi’s opened in 1927 and is known for the hundreds of caricatures of show-business celebrities that adorn its walls.

After the seventh annual awards in 1987, CAFA faded away as did the New York-based adult film industry, overtaken by California, the new center of porn production.

The Rialto Report was recently given a collection of previously unpublished photographs from the 1984 event that we’re pleased to share.

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The Critics Adult Film Awards (1984)

The 1984 Critics Adult Film Awards went to:

Best Film:
Irresistible

Best Actor:
John LeslieTalk Dirty to Me 2

Best Actress:
Veronica HartRoommates

Best Supporting Actor:
Jamie GillisRoommates

Best Supporting Actress:
Tied between Lisa De LeeuwThe Blonde Next Door and Sharon MitchellBlue Jeans

Best Director:
Chuck VincentRoommates

Best Erotic Scene:
Tied between Roommates (Kelly Nichols and Ron Hudd) and Talk Dirty to Me 2 (John Leslie and Nicole Black)

 

Critics Adult Film AwardsJoyce Snyder

 

Al GoldsteinBobby Astyr and Al Goldstein

 

Tish AmbroseTish Ambrose

 

Ron Sullivan, Henri PachardErica Eaton (partially obscured), Ron Sullivan

 

Vanessa Del Rio, Dian HansonDian Hanson, Vanessa Del Rio

 

Dian HansonDian Hanson

 

Lisa CintriceLisa Cintrice

 

Sue NeroSue Nero

 

Dian Hanson, Sue NeroDian Hanson, Sue Nero

 

DanielleDanielle with Harvey Shapiro, editor of Harvey magazine

 

Tanya Lawson, Fred Lincoln, Tiffany ClarkTanya Lawson, Fred Lincoln, Tiffany Clark

 

Tiffany Clark, Fred Lincoln, Tany Lawson Harvey Shapiro (editor of Harvey magazine) Tanya Lawson, Fred Lincoln, Tiffany Clark

 

Gloria Leonard, Al GoldsteinGloria Leonard, Tiffany Clark, Samantha Fox, Al Goldstein

 

Gloria Leonard, Al GoldsteinAl Goldstein, Gloria Leonard

 

Samantha Fox, Jose DuvalSamantha Fox, Jose Duval

 

Annie SprinkleAnnie Sprinkle

 

Gerard Damiano, Tanya Lawson, Ron JeremyGerard Damiano, Tanya Lawson, Ron Jeremy

 

Sharon Kane, Dian HansonSharon Kane, Dian Hanson

 

David Davidson, Vanessa Del RioVanessa Del Rio, David Davidson

 

Anthony Spinelli, Gerard DamianoAnthony Spinelli, Gerard Damiano

 

Sam Weston, Gerard DamianoAnthony Spinelli, Gerard Damiano

 

Henri Pachard, Ron SullivanRon Sullivan (aka Henri Pachard)

 

Sharon MitchellSharon Mitchell

 

Jim Holliday, Anthony Spinelli, DanielleAnthony Spinelli, unknown, Jim Holliday, Danielle

 

Jack Wrangler, Erica Eaton, Candida RoyalleErica Eaton, Jack Wrangler, Richard Milner, Candida Royalle

 

Vanessa Del RioVanessa Del Rio

 

Vanessa Del RioVanessa Del Rio

 

Critics Adult Film AwardsPat Reshen (right)

 

Fred Lincoln, Al GoldsteinFred Lincoln, Al Goldstein, Erica Eaton

 

Fred LincolnFred Lincoln

 

Al GoldesteinAl Goldstein

 

  • Posted On: 6th March 2016
  • By: The Rialto Report
  • Under: Photos

37 Comments

  1. Art Smith · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Cracking set of pics… aaah Suzy Nero – wherefore art thou?
    (And please do an interview with The Rialto Report….!?)

    • Michael lawrence · March 6, 2016 Reply

      She’s in NYC in a committed relationship and out of the business. Her significant other likes it that way and from I have heard she is happy

  2. SR · March 6, 2016 Reply

    So good to see all the old crew looking so young, healthy and vital again.

    This would have been one of the last of the New York gatherings of the porn industry, and there is no sign here of the impending end of the east biz…

    Looks like yesterday.

  3. M.Heggeman · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Great pictures of Al, and Ron sporting a healthy tan!

  4. Liam · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Damn – I wanted to be the first to comment this week!

    Great picture of Damiano and Spinelli – two of the all time greats together!

  5. hec ramsey · March 6, 2016 Reply

    fred’s roots are showing.

    • Colleen Brennan · May 3, 2023 Reply

      Yeah, but he’s sporting a luxurious headfull of silver locks.

  6. Adam Brown · March 6, 2016 Reply

    I agree these pictures look like they were taken yesterday, and so they have a poignancy to them…. especially as many of those featured have passed on.

    Good to see the lesser known Tanya Lawson there too. Beautiful person.

  7. annie sprinkle · March 6, 2016 Reply

    That was a stellar night! Nice Rialto Report to share these. In the photo of me, you can see, I was behind the camera. I was working as much as a photographer as a porn star at that time. Taking photos for many magazines. One day I’d love you to mine my photos and put some up on Rialto report. Looking at these photos, I wish I had been in my porn star personae that night! But they don’t call me the “Renaissance woman of porn” for nothing. I did it all!

    • Big Al · March 7, 2016 Reply

      Yes Annie…please share your pics too!

    • Xavier · March 15, 2016 Reply

      Annie, I went with my ex-boyfriend to see you more than 20-years ago to an art space in Manhattan where you enacted a breathing orgasm on the floor of the venue. Talk about a Show-Stopper! Please do share your photos with us. Along with what The Rialto Report is doing, this is history that HAS to be seen!

    • Sean Elliot · July 10, 2016 Reply

      Yes you did Annie! And thanks for reaching out to me and saying we are all as one once we got in this business. I retired early but they were some of the best 4 years in my life. Real good people with heart, talent and a je ne sais qua about life. God bless you, Annie and a toast to all of the golden age!

  8. Richard · March 6, 2016 Reply

    R.I.P. Gloria & Jack. Never seen Sharon Kane with dark hair before. Nice. Looks like tons o’ fun.

  9. JB · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Annie Sprinkle—Thanks for your tremendous work and contribution to the Adult Industry.
    Back in that era, my mother always asked why my tube socks vanished. You were
    the cause of the disappearance but I always blamed it on the washing machine.

  10. TM · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Vanessa Del Rio had to have worked out regularly back then!
    Talk about statuesque!

  11. Skirm · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Love seeing photos of the industry from the early 1980s. Everyone looks professional and happy, like a big family. Especially love these photos of Samantha Fox and Ron Sullivan. By the looks of it, Sharon Kane embraced the 80s well.

  12. Cathy Gigante-Brown · March 6, 2016 Reply

    Thank you for the wonderful stroll down memory lane. So many of the people are no longer with us–Candida, Gloria, Ron, Spinelli, Al, Fred…And thankfully, most are still here, like Annie, Jose, Sue, Samantha, etc…looks like everyone had a blast!

    • Ayca Mollaogou · March 8, 2016 Reply

      Er..I think Ron (Jeremy) is still alive.

      • Sean Elliot · July 10, 2016 Reply

        Yes, Ron Jeremy is very much alive. Saw him a few years ago in my hometown Ayca. I believe Cathy is referring to Ron Sullivan a.k.a. Henri Pacard.
        A fantastic guy, great director. Had the pleasure of working with Ron in a few projects. Mascara , Lydia Lace are two that come to mind. A real pro director

  13. Jose Verschaffel AKA Josey Duvall · March 7, 2016 Reply

    It was my first year in the industry, had a great time at Sardi when Vanessa told me we were going to work together.
    Nice to see all those old friends .Thanks

    • Sean Elliot · July 10, 2016 Reply

      I think we crossed paths at Bernards once Jose. I was going to audition for Damiano/ Annie for Alpha Bleu. Had lunch with Taija Rae and I believe it was you who she introduced me too. Damn, some things you remember like yesterday.. Others not so much 🙂
      You had a long career. Congrats on staying with it! Are you still involved? I may make a geriatric comeback for shits and giggles! Who knows? The Rialto Report is flooding thoughts of a comeback. Old fart sex. Yeppers. What do you all say? Lisa DeLeeuew? Sue Nero? Stash Fox? I bet all the fans would come onboard:-)
      Ron, Annie, Jim South if you’re still alive. Give a call. Ashley knows how to reach me. I’m half serious ( or delirious )
      #neversaynever

  14. T, 1000 · March 7, 2016 Reply

    Wow, it’s almost like Night of a 100 dead stars, so many of these legends are no longer with us. Vanessa looks stunning here

  15. Charles Tatum · March 7, 2016 Reply

    Miss Sprinkle, any contribution to this site would be amazing! I hope everyone could get together and make it happen! Big fan!

  16. John · March 7, 2016 Reply

    LOVE the picture of Sharon Kane. Hoping and praying Sharon is well and will be featured in an upcoming RIALTO REPORT!

  17. Mark · March 9, 2016 Reply

    thanks for these. that’s the year one of my favorite films won best film (roommates)

  18. S. · March 10, 2016 Reply

    Roommates was a great film. Lovely to see healthy and vital and happy most people who’ve passed away Freddie, Al, Jack, Ron, Damiano. Fred looks remarkable with the long hair and remarkably sober as far as I can tell. Thanks guys at rialto.

    • S. · March 10, 2016 Reply

      Of course Candice and Gloria too, both of them looking stunning. I focused on the guys.

  19. Ralph Crum · March 11, 2016 Reply

    Awesome report. Some of mine and Trudie’s favorite porn stars.

  20. John A. Mozzer a.k.a. Alan Adrian · March 12, 2016 Reply

    Nice photos. By the way, CAFA was still around in 1988, meeting at Manhattan Video, to organize opposition to the forthcoming Record Keeping Act.

  21. murft p · March 13, 2016 Reply

    wow! isnt that Rocky DeLorenzo with Trish Ambrose?

  22. Sean Elliot · July 10, 2016 Reply

    Her husband Dave Ambrose is on the right I believe. Seem to remember him with a ” fro”

  23. JL Hayseed · June 24, 2017 Reply

    Any chance of a Samantha Fox interview?

  24. Cathy Gigante-Brown · August 7, 2022 Reply

    Such great pics. Bittersweet seeing those who no longer walk among us but so nice to see the gang.

  25. Jamey DuVall · February 25, 2023 Reply

    There are several photos of David Davidson throughout your site. Does anyone know if he’s still alive?

    • Ashley West · February 25, 2023 Reply

      David died many years ago from AIDS. We knew his partner and business associate, who gave us a comprehensive interview about him, and confirmed the details about his death.

      • Jamey DuVall · February 27, 2023 Reply

        Thank you for responding, Ashley! David was also close to Christa Helm. They were both part of Oddities modeling agency (I have a poster that displays the two of them together). He factored pretty prominently in Christa’s life in NYC just two years before her murder (around 1971-75). Pretty scandalizing stuff. In researching my book on her, I’ve found a lot of info about him. But I wasn’t sure if he was still around. Thank you for the info! If you’d like an image of the poster, just shoot me an email at moviegeeksunited@yahoo.com.

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