Rumors were abounding yesterday afternoon that there was a raid on a video manufacturer for a fisting tape and that attorney Allan Gelbard might be the attorney-of-record for the manufacturer. So we called Gelbard. This is what he had to say:
Gelbard: "No one's been busted. There were some search warrants executed to look at a wide variety of different types of materials. But that's really all I can say at this point. This is totally unrelated to Seymore. It's not Seymore. That's all I can tell you. I don't want to give anybody the wrong impression. Nobody was busted for a fisting tape."
Farrell Timlake, president of Xplor Media Group, Inc writes: Dear Gene, I am sending you your very own personal copy of Sex for Life Too. I was telling you a bit about it in Cancun. I am sure you will love it or hate it but there will be no middle ground. However, if Acid Porn ever becomes it's own category like gonzo or feature, then surely I will be able to claim my right, in spite of criticism and regardless of praise, to being an originator.
In this industry, I think there is a great deal of what I will call Naked Emperor syndrome. This is the condition that prevails about the work that many companies produce, dressing up their productions with a lot of hype that is quite invisible upon closer inspection. I believe the negative impact of that on the person who watches a tape far beneath its zealous praise is equal to a young starlet going on television to cry about suffering every negative stereotype this business has ever endured. It creates a suffering that is borne from indignation, a feeling of "someone is taking advantage of me".
Now I have this movie, Sex for Life too. A lot of super hype has been rolled out on this. For a good reason? Does it stand up to all of it? I believe the answer is somewhere between the comparison and the contrast of it to anything else the market has produced in the last thirty years. It is not like anything else, so it stands alone. With out a true measure of comparison to determine its value, judging the worth by contrast is intensely more difficult.
Part inside joke, part porno, part pop art, and music video, Sex for life too is to narrative movie making what poetry is to the novel. It is a collection of images framed on a narrative to be interpreted for the meaning between the lines, rather than a narrative of images hung on lines to overtly express its meaning. By this pretense, certainly Sex for Life too is going to annoy many and appeal to a few who appreciate its differences.
Ultimately, my goal is to amuse people, arouse them, and keep them perpetually entertained. I am iconoclastic by nurture, and egotistical by nature, so of course I strive to create my shows beyond conventions and without regard for expectations. Certainly, much of porn is formulaic, but there are certainly no rules, no controls, little censoring of how that formula is concocted, and I like the potential that represents, as if it were a license to create freely.
I hope you like Sex for Life too, that you are refreshed by its differences and invigorated by the unique qualities that set it apart from the other 10,000 movies that are going to be made this year alone. I can boast about the celebrity cameos, I can dance the hoochie coo while rapping about the rock star studded soundtrack, I could impress Francis Coppola with the editing, but none of that means a damn thing. The only measure of success, whether it lives up to the hype, is do you watch it or do you fast-forward through it? If you watch it, then I know I must be going the right way on my journey to be unique and that Iíve not taken advantage of anyone by going in this direction. Sincerely, Farrell Timlake.
David Aaron Clark writes: "Jeez Gene, how could such an excellent journalist as yourself not mention that Gabor and Kid Vegas were having their midget bukkake chat at a well-known Hollywood club, on the set of my new show POISON CANDY, which Gabor is executive producing and Kid has a non-sex role in? And that the subject of midgets was on their mind because Bridgette Powerz were there performing, along with Annabel Chong and Eden Rae, not mention Jeff Marton from Evil Angel, who plays a serial killer in this upcoming feature from the director of ASIANATRIX 1 & 2, QUEEN OF PAIN, MAXIMUM ZOE and SEXHIBITION 6, amongst others? Do I ... offend?
Gene sez: "Thanx for the 'excellent' comment, David, and you do not offend at all, it's just that I'm only as good as my snitches. The report which filtered back to me kind of neglected all those minor little details."
Andy Soel writes: Dear Mr Ross. I am big fan always have been of adult movies. I was very fortunate to attend your great expo in los angeles, I love all the beautiful woman I got photos with all my favorites, I also met Buttman he is much shorter than I thought, Ed powers is a very funny guy , does not look like porno guy, I meet Jasmine St Claire and Andrew Drake from the Montel show he looks much like singer ricky martin, I thought that's who it was in beginning. I hope to go to other show next time. thank you sir
Gene sez: "You realize there will be no living with Drake after that comment."
"Jason Grigsby" strikes again: "Hi ya Gene, Just saw your response on www.geneross.com You wrote: Gene sez: "Aside from the fact that you write from behind a pseudonym, most of your e-mail readily concedes that Ford's stuff is rumor and satire and you use the word 'unsubstantiated'. Then you talk about 'truth' being thrown in our faces. Well, if it's satire or rumor and unsubstantiated at that, it's not really truth, is it. Even you say, and I quote: "do you think we don't have the ability to discern between satire, rumor and fact." Evidently not. You just proved it by confusing your issues. Next time work on your logic before you work up a full head of steam. Speaking of steam, we're the ones operating the locomotive, pal. I suggest you get yourself and your cow off the train tracks."
Well then! Take a breath, Gene...now...isn't that better?
Talk about taking things out of context and confusing the issue. WOW! You really didn't get it, did you? I like how you attempt to twist the concepts to your way of thinking...good try, but missed the mark.
What I said was...MOST of what Luke writes is "unsubstantiated rumor and innuendo." Key word here is unsubstantiated, Gene. When I said, "Truth hurts, doesn't it?" I was referring to the way you REACT to what Luke writes. In fact, I even stated that the people with the most to hide, scream the loudest. It's the appearance of impropriety that hurts your credibility...and apparently your pride.
My point was that most of Luke's readers can pretty much figure out when he's full of it, or at least doesn't have a clue if it's true. When you react the way you have, it makes people wonder if maybe Luke is telling the truth, and it is you who are attempting to cover things up with threats and mixed messages.
I didn't confuse anything...you did. Sorry if I wasn't more clear. I will admit that I was a little miffed about the situation when I read that poorly crafted letter from the AVN attorney.
As for the pseudonym, my apologies. You see, I'm not in the business, and would rather not have my name linked to it. Could hurt the career I've worked very hard to develop. I've actually had a couple of very productive and enlightening email swaps with Paul...I think you're missing the point. Perhaps we're not so far apart on this as you may think. Read my note again...and look just past the words and see if you can pick up the message. Sorry...no cows around here. Regards.
Gene sez: "Oh, so you're not in the business and you would rather not have your named linked to it..well, excuuuuuuuse me. That statement alone tells me you don't know jack crap about the issues involved, so none of the comments you offer bear much insight, now, do they? You know as much about the facts-at-hand, as I do about Jose Canseco's bulging back disc."
The Brick Majors Controversy
Realizing that this is acquiring the texture of the Warren Commission Report on the Kennedy Assassination, we're going to try and wrap things up this morning on the Mrc Star/Luke Ford story. Brick Majors who's fast becoming Lee Harvey Oswald in all of this, has been getting the cold shoulder from sectors of the biz supposedly stemming from Rob Black's comment posted earlier this week that Majors was a "rat" for allegedly giving up Marc Star to the security gendarmes at the Summer Expo after Star's tiff with Luke Ford.
This is what Mark Webb, an apparent eyewitness has to say about the whole thing: "Common sense would tell me to just stay out of this, but I must reply as I have seen Brick Majors take an undeserved bashing over this whole incident.
"Irregardless to whether or not Luke Ford deserved to get clocked at the Expo, the timing and place were inappropriate. Had a serious melee broken out as this was happening a lot of people could have gotten hurt, including talent and others that just happened to be floating by. The incident took place in front of the AVN & Knob/Ryder booths.
"Neither myself nor Brick called security, that was done by someone else. Brick and I did however locate Mr. Star in the food court area and question his misguided actions (or heroic actions as some of you feel). While we were talking to him, security approached us and led Mr. Star away. His badge was confiscated and I believe he was not let back into the venue. It was I who asked him how he would feel if I just "layed him out right there" for his actions, so he would understand where we were coming from. I mean what would be the difference. I wasn't personally involved and neither was Marc Star, the whole incident involved Luke Ford & Darren Star. WE WERE NOT STANDING UP for Luke Ford, I am appalled that "sucker punching" is an accepted practice in this industry and that Mr. Star was upset for his believing that we were defending Luke.
"So if Mr. Star reads this, just remember what I truly said to you that day about how it is your brother that needs to defend himself against accusations and falsehoods posted by Luke. Your "family vigilantism" has no place on the floor of an industry presentation where we are all represented. I truly don't believe that anyone in this industry advocates physical violence to solve matters. Brick and I showed restraint by not becoming physically involved at the requests of Kristen and others who so vehemently testified to your innocence. You were chased down for your actions, not your beliefs.
"Luke Ford plays with fire on a daily basis, we know this and I believe that he knows this. Everyone in this industry fuels his fire by responding to his posts, rumors and innuendo. Hell, we even respond to his truths.
"On a weekend when we are fundraising for the free-speech coalition, someone was attacked for their remarks and posting on the internet, which last time I checked, albeit tasteless and irresponsible at times, were still covered under free speech.
"Brick, sorry we got involved, we probably aren't the most popular people right now, but I am sure that we did the right thing and I personally would do the same thing if it happened tomorrow.
Gene sez: "The question is, who was the gunman on the grassy knoll. If Major and Webb didn't call security, then who did. [Most likely Ford himself.] But here's where we get the conflicting stories. Majors says no, but Marc Star still claims it was Majors who took his badge, as this e-mail and a follow-up phone call to Marc attests:
Marc Star's e-mail: "Gene: The following was sent to me by Luke Ford. I see no point in responding to him directly so I am sending this on to you. Apparently Luke Ford believes the burden of proof is on the innocent: \n[Star quotes Ford]: 'I will quit "journalism" and take down my darren star stuff if you or anyone can show me that Darren had nothing to do with leigh zermuhlen's death, was not in the hotel with her, etc... Peace..LF
"Also, I don't want Brick Majors to be in hot water and want to retract my statement claiming that he went and flagged down security. He simply grabbed my convention pass and made off with it. (Luke Ford actually printed on lukeford.com that Brick flagged down security. I am yet another reader suckered in by his string of false truths.) Brick had no idea what he was stepping into and is absolved in my eyes. -Marc
Star in a follow-up phone conversation:
Star: "Brick grabbed my convention pass."
G. Ross: "What the fuck was that all about?"
Star: "That's what he did. I never got my pass back. That's the primary reason why I never showed up at the convention the rest of the weekend. But I don't want to get Brick in hot water. He didn't know what he was doing."
G. Ross: "Did you go to that shoot Monday?"
Star: "Yes."
G. Ross: "Did Luke ever wind up showing?"
Star: "No..I got word that he called one of the girls on the set, I don't know who, and asked if I was there. When he found out I was there he decided not to come. That's what I heard."
Brick Majors called yesterday afternoon to say that he'd been in contact with Rob Black about Black's comments.
Majors: "I didn't even know who Luke Ford was before this thing happened including Marc Star. I never saw security, I never called security. I guess he's [Rob Black] already had somebody call you to get whatever statement he made about me withdrawn from your website. I talked to Rob's secretary or his assistant, whatever it is. On top of it, when security came back to me after the fact and asked me what I saw I said, buddy, I didn't see a thing.
"Did you get a letter from Mark Webb? Because Mark Webb's the one who asked me to go over there with him. He goes I'm going to find that guy. I said who are you looking for? The guy that just hit him [Ford]. I said what did he look like. Did you see him? He said, yeah, I don't even know who he is. I followed him over there. I said is that the dude. He said yeah. Mark Webb gets in his face. Mark Webb's the one who called me. He's the one who said here comes security. I'm looking at the guy's [Star's] badge. He pulled it out of his back packet. I take the badge, look at his name. It says whatever it says. Then here comes security. Then everybody went their own way. I never saw security.
"Mark Webb calls me and says Brick you're taking the heat for all this. I better step in and clear things up. After the incident happened, Mark Webb had me go with him, when we came back, I never saw Luke Ford again. Luke Ford can't say I did anything. He was the one at the front door telling security, supposedly making a police report. And they came back over and asked me if I saw anything. I was with Dayton Rain, and Dayton sat there and both of us said no, sorry, we didn't see a thing.
"I didn't want to get anyone in trouble. I don't know either one of these guys. I don't know what the beef is. I have nothing to do with it. I guess Rob Black's comments are going upon what he's reading from everyone else. If he's going to bring my name up he should talk to me first before he starts shooting his mouth off about it. This is ridiculous.
[The Star incident occured Friday afternoon. Black was interviewed Saturday morning on a whole other issue when he brought Majors' name up as the "rat" in the wood pile.]
Rob Black: "The guy's [Major] been calling. He can't get work now. Marc Star called me up, he was like thanks for the support, but I don't want to be the guy who gets this guy black listed. So, finally Brick Majors called me like eight times Thursday. I'm like fuhgedaboudit...I don't know..Brick Majors is a wonderful guy..everybody should use him. There's the retraction. Everybody should use him, and pay him more than what his rate is, and he's not a fucking rat."
G. Ross: "You have a way with retractions."
This Saturday [July 17] night's Dr. Susan Block Show will feature that highbrow, midwestern, lowcut literary couple, Marianna Beck and Jack Hafferkamp, the intrepid, erotic and always erudite publishers of Libido Magazine: The Journal of Sex and Sensibility, just back from their exhibit at the Erotic Museum in Paris. The program will be broadcast live in its entirety at www.drsusanblock.com, starting at about 10:30 PM (PT). It can also be seen live on iFriends.net, and will be shown subsequently among archived programs in Dr. Block's Erotic Theater of the Mind, and edited for broadcast later as a half-hour episode of Dr. Block's weekly TV program airing on cable stations throughout the Greater LA area, as well as in various locations around the world.
BlockStudios are located at the Dr. Susan Block Institute for the Erotic Arts & Science's uniquely sensational Speakeasy, which also includes the Speakeasy Gallery, featuring LA's only permanent collection of erotic art (art curator: Kim Mendoza), and a thirty-foot bar from the place's Prohibition Era days as a genuine 1920's speak-easy. The Speakeasy Gallery's Foot Fetish Art Exhibition (the first of it's kind) is currently on display.
Dr. Suzy's Speakeasy is located in downtown LA, just around the corner from the LA Convention Center and the burgeoning Staples Sports Arena. For further information, please call 213.749.1330.
drsusanblock.com radiosuzy1.com eroticsgallery.com blockbooks.com blockbonobofoundation.org
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Brick Majors is trying to clear his name in connection with the Luke Ford incident at the Summer Expo. Majors swears up and down he had nothing to do with Marc Star being ratted out to security. Majors says he's squared his beef with Rob Black who had said he was never going to hire Majors. More details to come.
Dirty Bob writes: "Dirty Gene: It should be interesting to see what happens this weekend (July 18) for the annual Nudes A Poppin at the Ponderosa Sun Club's annual event in Roselawn, Indiana.
As tradition has it, Ron Jeremy is the host with celebrity MCs being Jenna Jameson and Stephanie Swift from Wicked Pictures and Al Lewis (Grandpa Munster) from the local graveyard. The big question everyone is asking is "Will Jenna show?"
I won't be there myself even though it is a scant 4 hour drive from here in beautiful downtown Kettering, Ohio. I have only been there once this past decade, actually, and that was in the early 90's. I wish I WAS going there this year 'cause I can see a potential BIG problem arising: A memorandum was sent out last week by certified mail to video companies known to have been there in the past. Sent by John Stagliano and Will Stein (the official licensed videographers for the day's many events), it states in the Memorandum:
"...Ponderosa feels as if they are being taken advantage of by several video production companies that are capitalizing on videotape sales of the events without paying for and expenses of the events." and "...they (Ponderosa) have taken many steps to enforce their no-tolerence policy and we feel compelled to advise you accordingly. I personally have heard the word "confiscate" uttered and I would assume that word ties to cameras and film. In addition, Ponderosa apparently intends to seek relief in State Court against unlicensed production companies that sell videoptapes and photographs of this and future years events. Ponderosa's belief is that there is a substantial and distinct difference between the Nudes A Poppin event, which is held on private property, and those events filmed in public, such as Mardi Gras."
Gene, it is obvious that the Ponderosa wants total control (including media publicity) by the tone of this letter. Fine. YOU try to tell that to the THOUSANDS of people who shell out $40 to get in and take pictures! HOWEVER, the big problem is that, in their advertisements of the events, their flyer states in big, bold print "BRING YOUR CAMERAS This festival day is the only time that cameras are permitted at the Ponderosa". They are giving implied permission for cameras by the wording of their flyer. See the problem? I predict trouble.
Remember, they did say that "...they (Ponderosa) have taken many steps to enforce their no-tolerence policy". I have also heard rumors that bikers from Chicago may conveniently be on hand to smash cameras and camcorders of certain people who may be taping the events Hmmmm.
Joy King at Wicked says the Ponderosa event has been trying to get Jenna to host for about three years.
G. Ross: "I hear the bets are going in Las Vegas on this one."
King: "I heard that, too, when we booked her on the Helmetcam show last week. The producer of the show told me that everyone at Playboy bet against her, and he won. He's the only one that said she'll be here. She was there, and she'll be there this weekend. Ron Jeremy was helping to set the thing up. This is something she's always wanted to do, but she's been booked. This time they made it easy. They gave her two weekends to pick from, and the one she picked was the one it will be. She gets in on Saturday. The event is Sunday 10 to 4. She and Stephanie will be introducing different acts and will be doing a strip act."
LAURE SAINCLAIRE'S WICKED WEEK
French Adult Film Star Laure Sainclair has just finished a Wicked week in Los Angeles promoting her upcoming projects and appearing at AVN's Adult Entertainment Expo held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Night of the Stars at the Bonaventure Hotel.
Laure, who is under exclusive contract with Video Marc Dorcel, had a busy week with interviews and photo shoots. Laure had interviews with Mike Albo from Hustler Erotic Video Guide and Ken Wood from AVN, a Club International photo shoot with Wicked Pictures contract star Stephanie Swift and shot by Brad Armstrong and an all day shoot with Brad and Cynthia Willis for promotional purposes and future box covers.
Last Saturday, Laure signed autographs and posed for pictures for fans. She also was included in a photo-op with the Wicked Pictures contract stars that was covered by Hot Video, Club, AVN, Adam Film World and FOX.
Wicked Pictures distributes Marc Dorcel titles in America. Laure's next movie scheduled for release will be "First Lady."
Tim writes: Gene, I'm hoping you can answer a question that nobody else seems to know the answer to.... I am trying to find out if Marilyn Chambers does any hardcore scenes in the movie "Still Insatiable"? I e-mailed Excalibur films and they said that they believe so. What the hell kind of answer is that? Please let me know if she does and also if you have seen the movie, and what you think of it. Thank you in advance.
Gene sez: "Haven't seen the feature but here's the breakdown of Marilyn's sexual activity according to VCA.. Marilyn does a straight boy-girl scene with Julian; she does a threeway with Julian St. Jox and Mr. Marcus, that includes anal but not a d.p.; she has a fourway with Julian, Kylie Ireland and Juli Ashton and a single-girl masturbation.
"Jason Grigsby" writes: Dear Paul and Gene, As a frequent reader of the Luke Ford website and that of Gene Ross, I just gotta say...get a life! Both of you! Are you so thin-skinned that you can't take criticism or satire aimed at you? How old are you? Grow up and understand that you are fair game as much as the next guy. You are public figures...you chose to be.
If you honestly expect any of the writings on Luke's site to be taken as anything other than pure rumor or satire, you've lost what's left of your mind.
The issues that Luke asserts on his site have been rumors within the industry for years. But, now that Luke has a sizable readership, and people are beginning to ask tougher questions about you and your crooked ways, you gotta try to stop the train that's bearing down on you. Unfortunately, you will not succeed. You see the train has built up a head of steam and can't be stopped now. Neither of you have any credibility. Not to say that Luke is always the most credible source for information...anyone with half a brain can see a lot of what he writes is unsubstantiated rumor and satire...But, the way you both react to it, smacks of two guys trying to cover up.
Do you honestly think that all of Luke's readers are stupid! Do you think we don't have the ability to discern the difference between satire, rumor and fact? Perhaps, since the world that you live in is full of complete morons and trailer-trash bimbos, you assume all those who enjoy watching said bimbos get their Butts stuffed are also deficient of brain power. Well, boys, you're not only wrong, it just shows that being immersed in stupidity rubs off!
Let's face facts, you guys are as dirty as your industry! The truth hurts don't it! When that truth is thrown in your faces in whatever form, those with something to hide scream the loudest. Get my point, gentlemen.
And, where did you find those hacks you call attorneys! Teach them to spell, then teach them the law, then crawl back under your rocks and just go away. When you guys hire an outside company with no affiliations to the Porn industry to run the AVN Awards...then we'll see what develops.
Hey, Luke...Keep it up. And, while you're at it...burn a flag or two...It'll really piss me off, but I'll fight to defend your right to do it! Feel free to post this on your site if you like...I have a feeling we won't be seeing it on the AVN site, or on geneross.com.
Gene sez: "Aside from the fact that you write from behind a pseudonym, most of your e-mail readily concedes that Ford's stuff is rumor and satire and you use the word 'unsubstantiated'. Then you talk about 'truth' being thrown in our faces. Well, if it's satire or rumor and unsubstantiated at that, it's not really truth, is it. Even you say, and I quote: "do you think we don't have the ability to discern between satire, rumor and fact." Evidently not. You just proved it by confusing your issues. Next time work on your logic before you work up a full head of steam. Speaking of steam, we're the ones operating the locomotive, pal. I suggest you get yourself and your cow off the train tracks."
Sean Michaels is still basking in the warm glow of having just completed his first trade show as a video owner, not just as a performer.
Michaels as this to say in assessing the Summer Expo and what it meant to Sean Michaels Productions, International: "I believe we accomplished most our goals which was to initiate contact with the existing customers we have and boost our sales with those customers and meet clientele we didn't have. There seemed to be interest in our product. We're starting to get re-orders on all our titles. I think we achieved our goal there. The EXPO vs. the VSDA was a great idea because it focused on us, the adult entertainment aspects of everybody. We needed that, and I think it's a great idea. The show picked up day after day for us. In fact the first day was a very busy day for us as well and it was a barometer for the rest of the week. We got to see a lot of people for the first time that my sister Sandy, who's in charge of sales and marketing, has spoken to over the phone. It makes a big difference. I like the way a lot of the booths were set up. It was roomy. People had room to do business. The girls seemed like they were happier. A little more room helps. You could move comfortably. I'm trying to get into more trade shows, period. I need to get out there. Every little bit helps. Next year we want to do Cannes.
"People were telling us to keep up the good work, and that they liked our product. That was a great thing to hear. More than anything else, that's what you want to hear, and that wasn't provoked. We were being told that our product moves well in stores. That was a pretty consistent thing we heard. In the middle of summer, that's a good feeling. We were also getting questions about our titles. I'm thinking about throwing out a bondage line, and there was some buzz about that.
"We were really excited about having the show in LA. That was nice. Different vibe. Different clientele. People were a little more chilled down as far as the Vegas atmosphere is concerned. We got to focus a little more on what we came there to do. On the whole it was a very positive thing.
"I learned that I must do these shows. Especially now. And I'm looking forward to the CES 2000. Everybody's excited about it. I'm preparing myself for that. Hopefully we'll knock 'em dead. I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time - talent and directors and producers as well. I think AVN doing it this way was a great approach. Because it was catered to us. That's what we've been needing for a long time. We benefited from it very much.
"If there was any room for improvement it would have to be more women. It had every element you need at a trade show, just more beautiful women. That's what we come to look at.
"I ran into some dancers who asked me if I was coming to the dancers' expo [in Las Vegas]. I asked them what they were doing here, they said promoting their show. They thought this show was a good thing for everybody."
Michaels has Rocks That Ass 3 coming out next week.
Bryan Berber of New Beginnings offers some innovative suggestions.
Berber: "I met some new people. I saw some old people. That was a good thing. What I would like to see happen, I don't know if you can fit it or not, but if there's a way to do the Adult Expo and ANME at the same time, I think that would be the best thing since sliced bread. All the ballrooms at the Sheraton Universal [where ANME was held] were filled with novelty exhibitors. Right up the hill is the Universal Hilton. My suggestion would be to take all the ballrooms at the Universal Hilton and make that video. I know space is limited, but you cut down on the size of the booths. There's even elevators that go from the Sheraton to the Hilton and vice versa, so people can go back and forth. That way people are spending three days in town seeing everything instead of a week in town and a week away from their businesses. If we could pull that off, that would be a sweet thing. It seems like the novelty show has a nice setting at the Sheraton, if we could combine that with the Adult Expo, that would be advantageous to everybody. I think we could get a lot more people out there. I know some people who came out for the Expo and didn't make it to the novelty show and vice versa."
Bob East from Odyssey Group Video said he was pleased with the show. "I liked the fact that it is not as crowded at CES," East said. "I think more business was done at this show than I've ever done at a CES show in terms of being able to sit down and talk to people. They're not as frantic trying to get through a crowd. Overall I'm very pleased. I'd like to see more people but that will come with time."
Seen signing at the Odyssey/Private summer Expo booth, Halli Aston, though not under formal contract, is going to represent Shane's Slumber Party line.
"We're not putting her under contract but we're going to have her be one of the girls we want to represent the company. She's going to kind of take the face of Slumber Party and be the spokeswoman for that line," a Shane spokesman said.
Ira Weston, representing Web Power, "the world's largest Internet site" said his company wasn't getting traffic at the Expo. Ironic because traffic is the lifeline of the Internet.
Weston: "We were in a corner, and it seemed like the traffic wasn't flowing by us as much than if we were in the center. Honestly, I expected a little more traffic. Our main business is letting people know who we are. But it was an important show for us from the point that we picked up a lot of new producers. That w
