We’re pleased that this week The Rialto Report has an article published in The Daily Beast: the remarkable story of Avon film director Phil Prince.
You can read the article on The Daily Beast website.
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Phil Prince
Phil Prince made a handful of movies for Avon films, a series associated with the chain of New York XXX theaters that included the Avon 42nd St, the Avon Love and the Avon 7. These were not the mythical cross-over movies that would entice mainstream viewers into the theaters – the Avon films form the sleaziest chapter of golden age adult movies.
Phil was a first-time filmmaker, who had no training or knowledge of the film industry, and yet who created a small, significant, and shocking body of work that continues to resonate today.
After making a handful of movies for Avon, Phil disappeared from the film scene – amid rumors of jail sentences, shootings, and drug dealing – and never returned.
For 40 years, much of Phil’s story has been shrouded in mystery. So what is the truth behind the suggestions of his time as a live sex show performer, his extensive racketeering, a murdered wife, a life of crime spent on the edge of New York’s violent Westies gang, and making some of adult film’s most outrageous titles?
In fact, who the hell was Phil Prince? Find out at The Daily Beast.
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Phil
Phil and first wife Teresa
The Avon 42 theater in Times Square
Phil working in the Avon office
Phil directing on set
Phil with The Rialto Report’s April Hall
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I am so happy to see this republished – this is one of the finest pieces of cinematic research / insight I have ever read.
Thank you Mando!
Amazing article. Absolutely amazing, especially after Landis’ misinformation campaign.
I hope that this Daily Beast deal gives you the exposure that your work deserves, because this should be a Netflix limited series..
We appreciate that John!
A movie or TV series surely…….. it’s crying out for it.
A superb article, well researched. Oh wait this is a Rialto Report reprint. Apparently The Daily Beast recognizes true excellence and integrity in journalism. Thank you to Ashley,April, and all others unnamed that bring us these Times Square denizens tales before they are forgotten. Wonderful work. I hunger for the next original article or podcast.
Thanks so much Tony!
It seems he made peace with this world just prior to his death. His admittance that much of what he did was in reaction to his father abandoning him and eventually forgiving him was probably quite liberating. More liberating than engaging in a live sex show for an audience of strangers, stealing televisions, or directing dirty movies. This is what it means to rest in peace.
Speaking of reprints, I can’t find a Rialto Report you did awhile back about the cops making a porn film in New York City. Was this report pulled for legal or factual issues, or am I just bad at finding your past posts?
Hi Mikey – no legal or factual issues at all but yes the post is temporarily down. We sometimes take down posts for a variety of reasons – when we’re in ongoing discussions with a film production company re adapting the story, sometimes to add more information to the stories, etc. We will repost when we’re able.
Great article. I’d wondered why it had disappeared from this site. Any chance that the “story of Avon films” article, which I’ve searched for in vain, will be republished at some point?
HI GAG – per our note to Mikey, sometimes we temporarily take posts down but they’ll be back up in the future!
Jeez, I look at that more recent picture of Phil and I didn’t even recognize him, he lost so much weight. At least you all talked to him before he died so we have that on record.
Also don’t forget Shaun Costello. He was even more involved with Avon than Phil was. And he’s still around, too.
Intriguing story about a fascinating figure! Rialto needs to be a series on Netflix or Prime!