Jamie Gillis: His Private Scrapbooks

Jamie Gillis: His Private Scrapbooks

When Jamie Gillis passed away in 2010, he left a collection of meticulously organized files.

In amongst personal documents, carefully preserved museum brochures, long-forgotten college essays, and many letters of polite complaints (his correspondence to Dunkin’ Donuts, lamenting their quality of service, is a particular highlight), are many scrapbooks of photographs.

The hundreds of photos come in all formats – black and white Polaroids, color Instamatic snapshots, photo booth strips.

They are nearly all taken by Jamie himself, are mostly of lovers – male and female, and many are sexual in nature. 

They capture intimate and off-guard moments with partners, show casual sexual encounters with anonymous hookers and transsexuals, and document relationships with girlfriends such as actresses Serena, Juliet Graham, and Lysa Thatcher. Often Jamie annotated individual photos with dates and names.

The Rialto Report is pleased to present a selection of these pictures, many of which feature adult film performers of the 1970s.

It is a fascinating, candid, and voyeuristic record of a unique life.

 

Note: Where the photos were captioned by Jamie, his narrative has been added below the relevant photo.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Serena…

Serena

 

Serena

 

Serena

 

Serena

 

Serena

 

Serena

 

Carter Stevens…

Carter Stevens

 

Carter Stevens

 

Lesllie Bovee…

Lesllie Bovee

 

Valerie Marron…

Valerie Marron

 

Ming Toy…

Ming ToyJanuary 9, 1976

 

Helen Madigan…

Helen MadiganJoe Middleton shoot – March 6, 1973

 

Jamie Gillis, Self-Portraits…

RR-Jamie-10-6-69October 6, 1969

 

 

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie Gillis

 

Lorraine Alraune…

Lorraine Alraune

 

Jean Jennings…

Jean JenningsJanuary 1976

 

Joey Silvera…

Joey Silvera

 

Vanessa del Rio…

Vanessa del Rio

 

Unknowns…

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie GillisAugust 25, 1973

 

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie GillisSgt Toni, early 1975

 

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie GillisJuly 1973

 

More Jamie Gillis Self-Portraits…

Jamie GillisJanuary 13, 1972

 

Jamie GillisSeptember 1975

 

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie GillisSeptember 1976

 

Juliet Graham (aka Bonnie Schiffer)…

Chris MacLeod / Juliet GrahamJanuary 1975

 

Chris MacLeod / Juliet GrahamMay 1975

 

Chris MacLeod / Juliet GrahamMarch 5, 1976

 

The Photographer…

Jamie Gillis

 

Jamie GillisOctober 1975

 

*

  • Posted On: 5th April 2015
  • By: The Rialto Report
  • Under: Photos

34 Comments

  1. Harry Dodd · April 5, 2015 Reply

    There’s a poignancy to these pictures that has always struck me as being inherent to Jamie as well. A love for life as well as a certain sadness for the passing of life.
    Love these photo blogs that we are treated to via Rialto… how about a Part 2?

  2. James Bradshaw · April 5, 2015 Reply

    I know that Carter has left comments here – so if you read this Carter, who is the person in the picture with you? I’ve seen her (?) before but can’t name her. Thanks!

  3. Allison M. · April 5, 2015 Reply

    Wonderful pictures, very affecting.

    Lisa Thatcher looks like a sweet, innocent teenager – which I guess she was. I’d love to hear the Rialto Report interview her if you can find her.

  4. Carter Stevens · April 5, 2015 Reply

    James: The lady in the picture with me is Renee my Girlfriend at the time. She was also my Script Girl and went on to be a major Union Script girl on such Oscar winning films as Tootsie, Moon Struck and many others.

    • chris · April 8, 2015 Reply

      Leslie Bovee was so smoking Hot !!!

      • Pamela · December 12, 2021 Reply

        Met him in israel in 64 – searched for him before using his birth name – found him today dec 11 2021 – spent months with him – he owes me 75$ – somehow – he was important to me

  5. Susie bright · April 5, 2015 Reply

    These are so touching. Bringing a lump to my throat. Jamie, you are so missed. I would like to read all the writing, too.

  6. Cathy Gigante-Brown · April 5, 2015 Reply

    So moving. I especially love the off-guarded, personal quality. Outstanding are the shots of Serena. And also of Jamie in drag! He looks so happy–and pretty. Once more, you succeed on bringing an unseen side of adult performers to light.

  7. Kevin Heffernan · April 5, 2015 Reply

    Such a lovely look back through the eyes of a very complex man. Am I the only one who wishes we could see the books on the shelves in his apartment? I imagine his reading was wide, circuitous, and idiosyncratic. Also, Serena, if you are reading this, the candid shots of you were very sweet and charming. Again, many many thanks to Ashley and the Rialto Report for your great work in preservation and your generosity in sharing with us.

    • Steve · April 6, 2015 Reply

      I second your wish to see Jamie’s books. The only title I can make out is “Van Gogh “.

      Thanks Rialto!

  8. Georg Domkamp · April 5, 2015 Reply

    What can I say – another treasure in the history of film. Lifted from the Rialto Report – Thank you very much for sharing with us!

  9. Andre C. · April 5, 2015 Reply

    Beautiful and sad at the same time. All things must pass 🙁

  10. Daniel Camargo · April 5, 2015 Reply

    The brunette above Sgt Toni, early 1975 photo is just gorgeous and she looks so familiar. She has a Mediterranian Edwige Fenech thing. Any of you has any idea of who is she?

  11. arch erray · April 6, 2015 Reply

    You mean below Sgt Toni?

  12. ozzy · April 6, 2015 Reply

    Very great article! Jamie must have lived a fascinating life, a shame he’s no longer with us. The picture just below the unknowns caption, the woman looks familiar, but i believe the guy is Don Fernando, he was in Taboo in a scene with Juliet Anderson. I could be wrong..

  13. Louie Max · April 6, 2015 Reply

    Fascinating!!- Love the Serena ironing

  14. Gregory Pecker · April 6, 2015 Reply

    His acting was superb in WATERPOWER.

  15. valter josé maria filho · April 7, 2015 Reply

    Thanks

  16. chris · April 8, 2015 Reply

    RIP Jamie ! a once in a century legend. what a colorful life he led. Leslie Bovee looks delectable as usual. Viva Jamie we miss you. !!

  17. chris · April 8, 2015 Reply

    Ash AND April thank you for this and thank you for all you have done for the Golden Age !!

  18. Howie Gordon (Richard Pacheco) · April 8, 2015 Reply

    A delight to have yet another visit with Jamie!

  19. Michael · April 10, 2015 Reply

    Jamie is the true King of Porn. I love the guy.

  20. Raymond Santana · April 12, 2015 Reply

    A interesting look into Jamie’s past. Great pics!!

  21. Veronica Vera · April 17, 2015 Reply

    Totally love these photos. Viewed them late Friday afternoon when I thought I was ready to fade, but these photos lifted my spirits and renewed my energy. Thanks Ash and April and thanks Jamie. One picture really can be worth a thousand words and these pictures reveal so much about Jamie.

  22. Xavier · May 26, 2015 Reply

    Wait! I just need to get something off my chest.
    I need to shout it to the four winds: I LOOOOVE THE RIALTO REPORT !!!!!!!!!!

  23. Bruce · October 19, 2015 Reply

    Wonderful photographs. Jamie was one of you first people to connect the surface of pornography to the unconscious. His kink was always coming from a deep place. There was something utopian about him.

  24. Steven Otero · February 29, 2016 Reply

    Are the Unknown couple Tony Richards & Bree Anthony ?

  25. Marco · April 28, 2016 Reply

    Fascinating photos, from a fascinating man!

    Amazing seeing these never before seen photos. Very real and personal.

  26. Mike · September 30, 2020 Reply

    Who was Sgt Toni ? I’m intrigued but can’t find any videos under that name .

  27. Bobby Sherman · July 1, 2021 Reply

    When will the much anticipated Gillis biography see the light of day?

  28. JR · July 22, 2021 Reply

    You are correct. It’s Don Fernando

  29. Tigerheart · January 24, 2024 Reply

    Jamie is eternally fascinating.

    I wonder if the shot of him in drag is from the same film set that John T Bone referred to meeting him on in his interview.

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