HOLLYWOOD—The X-Rated Critics Organization today released the names of the varied adult industry personalities who will be induced into its Hall of Fame at the 2016 XRCO Awards Show, taking place June 22 at OHM nightclub in Hollwyood.
The 2016 Hall of fame class includes studio heads, beloved female performers, influential directors and the man behind one of the industry's most relied upon websites.
"Every year we have a number of worthy names up for consideration," XRCO chairman Dirty Bob said. "So many people have contributed to the industry over the years and a new crop becomes eligible every year. Narrowing it down is never easy. This year's class is very special in that it honors our history while recognizing the tremendous changes we have experienced as we look towards a bright future."
Among this year's inductees are Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures founders Steve Hirsch and Steve Orenstein. These two industry giants created adult movie empires that dominated triple-X features for over two decades and established the contract star model that made household names our of Ginger Lynn, Jenna Jameson, Christy Canyon, Jessica Drake, Jenteal, Serenity and many others.
One of those stars, Briana Banks, enters the Hall of Fame as well, after having recently announced her return to the industry. She's joined by Golden Age legend Constance Money of Barbara Broadcast and The Opening of Misty Beethoven fame, and early millennial star Hillary Scott, who in 2006 took home a record five XRCO Awards including Female Performer of the Year and Best Actress for the epic Corruption.
"Hillary Scott's 2006 XRCO Awards haul was unprecendented," organization member Roger T. Pipe said. "A clean sweep in the five individual categories she was nominated in and another two for her movie Corruption. I doubt we will ever see a single performer take home that many trophies in one shot again."
Three enormously impactful women claim spots in the director/creator subsection of the Hall this year. Screewriter Raven Touchstone gets the nod for her huge span of work including Vivid's Ginger movies and many others, a number of Bruce Seven titles, and additional long stints with Wicked and Metro. Joanna Angel and Mason join Candida Royalle and Suze Randall as the only female directors to receive this honor.
Angel and Mason have both defied the conventional wisdom that says female-directed porn is softer than that created by their male couterparts. Since her start in 2002, Mason has directed over 160 titles most notably for Elegant Angel Productions and sister labels Hard X, Erotica X and now Dark X. She has become well known for her hard-edged sex scenes and beautifully shot tease sequences, as well as her signature star showcases that have become career-defining efforts for the ladies they're built around. Angel has made her mark not only as a movie creator but as a top performer with over 240 titles to her credit, and as a trailerblazer with her website BurningAngel.com that ushered in a new aesthetic and distinctive style for porn with its focus on tattooed, often unknown talent and indie music.
"Joanna's career has been exceptional in every regard," Dirty Bob said. "She is a popular and dynamic performer, a skilled director and has created a brand that is truly her own. She is someone we all love and are very proud to call part of our industry."
Don Houston joins the Hall of Fame as a member of the 5th estate. Writing primarily for XCritic.com, Houston is one of the most prolific and highly regarded critics in the industry, and has been an outspoken voice for all positive aspects of the industry. Also entering the ranks in the Special Award category are IAFD.com and its proprietor Jeff Vanzetti. IAFD (the Internet Adult Film Database) houses information on nearly 200,000 adult movies and over 150,000 performers. It has been one of the most trusted resorces for both fans of adult entertainment and industy professionals for more than two decades.
"IAFD.com is quite possibly the most influential adult site in the history of our industry," Pipe commented. "It is an invaluable resource for porn fans and critics alike. The review database has given a voice to many up and coming critics, myself included. The induction of the site and the man behind it are long overdue."
The full 2016 XRCO Hall of Fame class is as follows:
IAFD / Jeff Vanzetti - Special Award
Don Houston - 5th Estate
Raven Touchstone - Creator
Steve Hirsch - Special Award
Steve Orenstein - Special Award
Constance Money - Film Pioneer
Hillary Scott - Actress
Briana Banks - Actress
Mason - Director
Joanna Angel - Director
Attendance of the XRCO Awards is restricted to adult industry personnel and press only. Admission is free, but attendees must RSVP to be added to the list. To do so, click here.
Limited sponsorship opportunities and program ads are still available for the 32nd annual show. Interested parties may contact Dirty Bob at (937) 299-6700 or [email protected].
Currently, the 2016 XRCO Awards are sponsored, at various sponsorship levels, by Wicked Pictures, IAFD, Axel Braun Productions, DVDErotik.com, GlamorGirl, AGW Entertainment, Pipeline Multimedia, Sybian, Naughty Business, SS Entertainment LLC, Adam & Eve, and ATMLA.
For more information, visit www.XRCO.com and follow the organization on Twitter @XRCOAwards.com.
