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In the previous episode of The Complete Disappearance of Cheri Champagne:
After years of hearing mysterious stories about the 1980s adult film actor, Cheri Champagne, I was keen to see if she was still around and interested in talking about her life. The trouble was that no one seemed to have heard from her for almost forty years.
There were many reasons why she intrigued me: from the strange beginnings dancing in a cage in a Maine sex club, the bizarre adult films she’d appeared in, the aggressive persona she adopted in magazine interviews, and her dominatrix-themed stage show that toured the sex clubs of New York in the early 1980s.
Hers was a typically wild life journey from another era – but there also seemed be something different about Cheri, something that nagged at me, suggesting I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. No one had managed to get close to her back in the day, perhaps not surprising given that she claimed she kept a torture chamber in her house and that her main pleasure was inflicting pain on her partners – hardly the sexy, feminine image that so many other stars of the time cultivated.
But there was perhaps more to her than that: there were rumors from those who’d known that her hinted at a secret, something hidden in her background, something that might explain her distant attitude and seemingly hostile behavior.
And then, after years of looking, I found Cheri. I called her, excited to learn the truth from her perspective. Her reaction was hostile and angry. She obliquely referred to trauma in her past as being the reason for not wanting to talk – and, after a short conversation, she hung up. This is what happened next.
This is the concluding part of Cheri Champagne’s story.
You can listen to the first part here.
This podcast is 30 minutes long.
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Cheri Champagne
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This 2 ep arc is nothing shot of a masterpiece. Truly exceptional.
Again, WOW. There shoud be a Pulitzer prize for podcasts, bcuz the Rialto Report merits one.
Thrilling, shocking, and gripping.
This transcends adult film histories…….. relevant to history, period.
Quite apart from the revelations, the salacious hisory, and the first rate stroy-telling: the self-awareness here is refreshing and poignant. Thank you Ashleigh.
Sad. Did I miss it or whatever became of her child? This story tickles a few of my remaining brain cells. Wasn’t some guy from Maine also providing girls of questionable age to the adult film makers of NYC in the late 1970’s into the 1980’s? Seems that is stuck in my memory banks, maybe even from this site. Does this ring a bell with anyone?
Thanks for all you do on this site. I enjoy the history even as sordid as it can be at times.
I have written many times before to compliment you on a story or podcast that moved me in some way or provoked a particular nostalgia. Today I write to compliment you and April on the journalists you have become over the years. Kudos for going where the evidence leads you. Even when covering that may besmirch an industry and topic that provided enjoyment and entertainment to you and countless others of us. The truth matters as you have proven time and again. Thank you again for your illuminating character studies and stories regarding the people and characters in the golden era of the adult industry.
RIP to the lady who was the character Cheri Champagne. I am glad that Ashley felt she truly moved on and was able leave that abuse behind and begin to live again.
You guys. Stunning. Absolutely fucking stunning. Stunning, stunning, stunning, stunning. Should I find a synonym here? How about: Stunning. I’m stunned. This production value, alone…
You know what, y’all? I used to work for a company whose bullshit mission statement included the credo “Improve Everyday.” They didn’t know nothing about what that meant – but y’all *do.* This is such a stunning piece of work.
I recently went back to – I think it was RR Podcast #6 – Barbara Nitke’s interview, and I love Barbara (I have several of her photography books), and that was indeed a fascinating portrait of Golden Age Adult Film’s ‘inside baseball,’ but to just contrast that with this here…you guys have come so dang far, and done so much invaluable work along the way. I am just blown away by this. Keep going. Keep raising the bar. Bravo!
Also, I believe that when people pass on, they leave their earthly concerns here. I think ‘Cheri’ is very proud of this (not the least reason being the light it brings to the dark she lived; the awareness it brings forth). I feel she is smiling on y’all from wherever she is. She’s Free. Love y’all.
Wow amazing story totally shed that image and moved on the Greek tragedy is her missing brother and how much effect it had on her….wow….Great work!
“Make your relationship to porn a highly thoughtful one”. That’s a line I found on an Adult site.
Rialto Report really makes us think about the pluses and minuses of the Adult industry, without trying to impose simplistic judgements or answers. Adult is not good or bad, it is *both* good and bad. For 50 years I’ve loved Adult, but also been ethically troubled by it at times. Occasional references to trafficking, abuse, and damaged performers are part of the latter. Thanks to RR for not glossing over these, while still highlighting all the good stuff we fans love about our hobby.
Shucks. I think my gushing, extensive comment got deleted when I tabbed back. This was a spellbinding piece of work. Transcendent. Bravo! Keep raising the bar. Cheri smiles on y’all. She’s free.
Thanks for the fascinating, sad story. Seems it is a common one amongst sex workers. This is very similiar to Linda Lovelace’s story, that no one in the porn industry believed. Too bad you can’t give us her real name, so we can read her full story online. I searched for further info on her through Google, but nothing came up. I am glad it turned out that she had a relatively happy ending.
Another amazing, haunting podcast. Is this the end of the Rialto Report? I certainly hope not but if so I understand.
That was quite outstanding – reflective and profoundly moving. Thank you.
I re thinking how I’m interpreting these segments now after listening to these last two episodes.
The fact that you released this shows that she misjudged your intent and honesty in your work.
She made a mistake by not allowing herself to be interviewed. Her story needs to be told.
I surmise that Ashley and the team here spent a lot of time pondering how they were going to present this.
As usually they hit it out of the park.
I never leave comments on websites but I’ll make an exception here because of the remarkable way this story has been handled. Cheri’s story is dramatic – and could have been treated in a salacious manner. Indeed the first episode is exciting and dramatic. But the way that the tragedies of the tale are layered into the narrative in such a sensitive manner is tremendously sensitive and delicate. Her real name is never revealed, and her humanity and real issues with what happened to her are explored in a caring way.
This isn’t always an easy listen, and a lot of thought has clearly gone into how to tell the story careful – and the self-reflective way it ends is extremely moving. Thank you for showing all sides of the topic, and not trying to avoid the difficult questions. Very impressive.
I admire the way that THE RIALTO REPORT shows ALL sides of the XXX biz. Truth is sometimes complex.
It’s very interesting that she knew your podcast and had heard some of the interviews. Perhaps she was looking for stories similar to hers? Considering her experience, I can understand why she’d look with disdain on anyone she might feel was promoting this period of the adult industry in a positive light. Not that all of your previous interviews have necessarily been joyous affairs.
The closest thing to a “happy ending” on this is that she was able to transform her trauma into counseling that would help others. It’s truly noble.
This is some damn good writing Ashley.
A very moving story told brilliantly. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Some of it reminded me of Blue Velvet, although different of course.
Bravo! What an emotional story! Great music too!!!!! My heart is broken for her.
Wow.
Out of all of the lives that were covered on The Rialto Report, this one was the most haunting for me.
Cheri is the perfect example of an individual who truly crawled through broken glass and was able to escape, survive and thrive in the end.
RIP, Queen.