ANE Showcases Variety on Day 1

The three-day AVN Adult Novelty Expo 2005 kicked into high gear today in Pasadena with an astounding display of virtually any sex-related accouterment you could think of. Sponsored by California Exotic Novelties, Doc Johnson, Pipedream, Nasstoys and Topco Sales, the event brought together volume buyers (over 700) with the most respected manufacturers of toys for grown-ups (over 150 exhibitors), and it was a happy union indeed.

Of course, “toys” barely begins to describe the vast array of items on exhibit: lubes, whips, vibrating hand held bidets, dildos crafted from steel, glass and silicone. Lollipops shaped like penises, vaginas made from chocolate, leather restraints to hold one back, herbal enhancers to turn one on. Massage gloves, chrome clothes pins designed for nipples, nipples designed as paper weights, vibrators by the score. Lingerie, butt plugs, greeting cards, remote controlled tickling panties, and, as always, cock rings, cock rings, cock rings.

A willowy blond in short shorts walks the floor with a sample tray of what appears to be sushi. It isn’t. “It’s a little masturbator toy with lubes,” she explains, packaged in a sushi box. “It’s by Outrageous Toys.” She hands over a sample that looks like a red blob wrapped in plastic. “It’s a little cock ring, and also a stress ball.”

A svelte, abundantly tattooed woman named Melody Harrison is examining the booths with a professional eye. She is co-manager of the Love Boutique in Santa Monica. “It’s an erotica store for ladies and gentlemen, we cater to couples,” she says of the exclusively female-run company. And yes, the dedicated employees try every product themselves. At the moment, she’s in the market for silicone toys. “We try and carry things that are vagina-friendly,” she reveals. “We found some new silicone toys from Tantus, and we already placed an order with them.” That’s how it works, here at the Expo.

One man who absolutely knows how this business works is Fred Malorrus. He should; when he started in the novelty racket, Pearl Harbor was a recent event. That was back in ’42. “It’s a terrific show,” says the 90-year-old father of the Ben Wa Novelty Corporation (his grandson, Scott Tucker of Topco Sales, nabbed the Joel Warner “Good Guy” Award last night at the Free Speech Coalition Awards). “Considering its beginnings, you know, which was nothing. We were always going in the back door everywhere; now we’re out in the open with all this merchandise where everybody can see it and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Years ago, it was under the counter, so to speak. Now it’s a whole different ball game.”

A Ben Wa ball game, to be precise, yet the roots of the company are humble. “I used to sell French ticklers from my car, driving around the countryside selling to bars and gas stations and places like that,” reminisces Malorrus of his early, Johnny Noveltyseed years. “Back and forth, New York to Chicago to St. Louis.” Did he ever think something like the Expo would happen? “I never thought I’d live this long!”

Over at the Stockroom booth, things are shocking. Literally, thanks to a device known as the Violet Wand, an item that’s attracting attention from buyers on the stroll. The Wand is a throwback to early 20th century device touted as a cure-all. It may not cure anything, but if you like quick stabs of electro shock, it’s a damn good time. Stockroom rep Linda Santiman demonstrates, sending the violet light down through a glass tube where it crackles and sparks on her arm. “I make sure and keep it really low for people, but it can get pretty strong,” she says. “People say it’s the best toy they’ve ever played with.” But, retailing at $440, those good times don’t come cheap. The Stockroom is the exclusive distributor.

Traffic in the hall slows down a bit as everybody goes for the free box lunches provided. A sandwich, potato salad and a cookie. Not bad, then it’s back to the floor, back to the buying and selling and the perpetual trolling among a wealth of products. And the day goes on… Stay tuned for event coverage of the following two days of AVN Adult Novelty Expo.