The C. J. Laing Thread....

[Ian Jane]

OK, let's dedicate this one to Ms. Laing! Have at it. Hopefully she'll be back to answer whatever questions arise.

[John Ellsworth]

Hi C.J.! I'm a big fan of yours along with a lot of the other people on here. What do you remember about Waterpower and Dominatrix without Mercy? Also how did you get involved in doing movies? In your interview in "The Other Hollywood" it's a bit unclear in one entry it says you started doing doing loops for the Mitchell bros to finance you going to texas with Sam Cutler. But in the other, it more or less you started in New York. WWW.imdb.com states that you did school of the sexual arts with Shaun in 73 but in "the Other Hollywood" it states you were bummed you didn't get Behind the Green Door. BTW www.imdb.com also has listed your real name for the last few years. All of this stuff has been out there on the internet for quite some time. not that this probably makes you feel any better. Also any stories about Roberta Findlay or Joe Davian or...Shaun Costello?

[C.J. Laing]

Good morning everyone,

On the subject of privacy and what is or isn't public knowledge:

At a time in history when the identity of 'Deep Throat' (Watergate, not Georgina) is revealed, thinking one can maintain basic levels of privacy is naive at best, especially with respect to something as easy and available as a birth name. Thanks to people like Luke Ford my real name has been available on the internet for years along with his premature obituary declaring my death of unknown causes in the 90's. In addition to Mr. Ford's lists which include Jewish porn stars and their real identities, I have appeared on lists of flat-chested porn stars, porn stars with big noses, and stars from the 'Jurassic era' of porn. IMDB just has a variety of goofy nom de plumes or mispellings of C.J.Laing.

What I found upsetting was while Shaun showed obvious discomfort with his own sudden exposure he felt completely at ease exposing personal facts about others with no regard for the passage of time. His rationale being that 'Back in the seventies everyone knew: Marc Stevens/Marc Kutner, Jamie Gillis/Jamie Gurman, Harry Reems/Herb Streicher, Carter Stevens/Mal Worab, Georgina Spelvin/Chele Graham, Roger Caine/Al Levitsky. etc, etc, etc.'

Yes, within our incestuous group we all knew each others' real names, certainly if you were around for more than a week. However, to reveal facts that only a friend would know -- things that are not common knowledge and not germane to the questions at hand -- is disturbing, especially coming from someone who not only says they liked me but considers me a friend.

now, back to our regularly scheduled program.

[C.J. Laing]

Originally Posted by John Ellsworth

What do you remember about Waterpower and Dominatrix without Mercy?

Waterpower was made towards the end of my run in films. I was shooting cocaine daily, living with and supporting a man (since deceased) who also appeared in films. His stage name escapes me now. I was a physical and emotional mess. Shaun and the Mitchell Brothers were the only people who gave me work. I recall very little about Waterpower other than the shoot was insane and was done very late at night.

Which one is DWM? You must remember, at the time I was simply hired for the day. Did I know the names of films or what they would be released as or subsequently re-released as? No.

Also how did you get involved in doing movies?

I was hanging out in San Francisco with a group called "The Angels of Light," an offshoot of the "Cockettes." A beautiful girl named Tina came home one day telling us that she had just made $100 working one day for the Mitchell Brothers. I went down to the O'Farrell Theater, auditioned, and in the infamous words of Sally Field, "they liked me, they really liked me." I worked one day on a loop for a series called "Juke Joint." I took the money and bought a ticket to Austin, Texas to meet up with Sam Cutler in an attempt to further my career as a third-rate groupie with the Grateful Dead. I was in Texas for a few days then returned to New York. The Mitchell Brothers came to NY shortly there after and introduced me to their East Coast counterparts, The Buckley Brothers, for whom I did my first film with Jamie Gillis, I think under the Gwen Starr name.

In your interview in "The Other Hollywood" it's a bit unclear in one entry it says you started doing loops for the Mitchell bros to finance you going to texas with Sam Cutler. But in the other, it more or less you started in New York. WWW.imdb.com states that you did school of the sexual arts with Shaun in 73 but in "the Other Hollywood" it states you were bummed you didn't get Behind the Green Door.

Legs, Legs, Legs...I spent one afternoon speaking with Legs, on the request of Annie Sprinkle. This was the first time I had ever discussed my experiences with a journalist. It was at the very early stages of his project before he had a publishing commitment. We were never able to complete the interview. It wasn't until a friend mentioned that I was quoted on the dust jacket of the book that I ever knew of its existence. I went to a talk Legs gave at a local bookstore. Horrified by the creative liberties Legs had taken in the book, I signed everyone's book, "Remember, at least 10% of this book is full of shit!" There are words attributed to me that would never have come out of my mouth and which make no sense at all. BTW, I am still waiting for my copy so I can't refer back to what it states in regard to Green Door, but yes, I wanted to be in a Mitchell Brothers feature. I had a wicked crush on one of their camara men.

Also any stories about Roberta Findlay or Joe Davian or...Shaun Costello?

Gosh, Roberta. I haven't thought about her since I spent whatever monies I earned working with her. I don't recall anything about her, good or bad.

I am not sure who Joe Davian is.

Regarding Shaun...I will get back to you on those antics.

[John R]

Hi C.J. Another big fan of yours here (I'm sure you'll hear this many times on this board). Anyhow, here's a few questions for ya:

1). Do you have any fun stories about the movie "The Honeymooners?" You were really good in that one, especially the parts where your character had to deal with Ronzonni, the annoying doorman.

2). I'm always curious as to how performers come up with their stage names. Is there some story as to how you picked the name "C.J. Laing?"

3). Any recollections about your famous scene in "Barbara Broadcast" where you pee into a large kitchen bowl? I'm guessing that was done in 1 take?

Welcome to the board!

[wade parker]

Welcome to the board C.J.! Contrary to popular belief not all porn fans are drooling perverts, there are a lot of good people here. Too bad the interview wasn't completed for Legs book. It is a very incomplete book and that may explain why: lots of unfinished interviews.

A friend of mine interviewed Roberta Findlay for a book he's writing and she spoke fondly of you. ANYONE BUT MY HUSBAND is probably my favorite film of yours.

A few questions

You worked with Terri Hall on several films including THE TAKING OF CHRISTINA. Do you have any memories of working with her?

Do you remember working with Zebedy Colt and Harry Reems in SEX WISH?

You also made SATAN WAS A LADY for Doris Wishman, one of your earlier films. Any memories of this loud brash woman?

[Tim Mayer]

Ms Laing:
Is it true that most of the scenes with you and Gloria Leonard in MARACHINO CHERRY were actually shot for another film?

Hey there CJ!!!

What a trip to have you here... I've seen you in lotsa stuff and have always enjoyed watching you perform. If you don't mind answering a few questions... Do you remember being in the film ORIENTAL BLUE (1975) with Peonies Jong, Bobby Astyr, Bree Anthony, Jamie Gillis, Terri Hall, Kim Pope, etc. Fun movie... Any comments? THE TAKING OF CHRISTINA (1975) is another good film... You worked for/with Zebedy Colt a few times (in SEX WISH, THE AFFAIRS OF JANICE, EROTIC DR. JECKYL, UNWILLING LOVERS) - How was that? Heard he passed away not too long ago. In fact, you were the star in JANICE, which is an insane film (your death via poisonous silver paint)... You worked for Damiano on ODYSSEY...Recollections?
I'll leave you be for now... Oh, and Joe Davian was the guy who directed you in NIGHT OF SUBMISSION (1976), a bdsm-themed satanic porn also starring Annie Sprinkle, Vanessa Del Rio, Carter Stevens, and among others a skinny black dude with a huge dick known as "Red Baron."
Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and well.

[wade parker]

CJ may not remember Joe Davian because she had a nonsexual role in NIGHT OF SUBMISSION. A good comic role but all she does is stare into a window and say funny lines. Couldn't have been more than thirty minutes of work.

[Aaron G]

Hello CJ : You mentioned the O'Farrell Cinema in SF, I recently read Hunter S Thompson's 'Kingdom of Fear' and he mentions that he was the 'night manager' of this joint - is this true or one of his drug hallucinations? The Mitchell Bros. were also good friends of his too. Did you see that horrible film 'X-rated' about the Mitchell Bros.? Were they really such shmucks?

Also it's interesting to know most of the old-school pr0no shmeckels were Jewish!! I always thought most of them were drifters from Omaha!

In the immortal words of Matt Houston, "Well, y'know, C.J. - my daddy always told me..."

Are you the lady what makes belts these days?

[C.J. Laing]

Hi Everyone-

I would love to answer all these questions but you are going to have to help me out here. I have no idea what the titles of the films are, other than a few of the bigger ones i.e., Sweet Punkin, Anyone, Water Power and Barbara Broadcast.

If you want particular information regarding a scene in a film, I will need more information as to what I did and with whom, where the scene took place and any other visuals. I have not seen many of my films and have no idea what the end result of a days work 31 years ago was. So, I have no clue what I did in the Honeymooners and who the doorman was. To say I was quite good in any film is such a kick. I was known as the worst actress out there. I actually refused to act and more often than not read my lines as a parody. I thought acting was absurd. It was not what I was hired to do. These were sex films.


My name came about by using the initials of my imaginary child that I had from my imaginary relationship with a member of a (to remain nameless) rock band and the Scottish psychologist R.D. Laing. Good Lord, I was so pretentious.

The infamous kitchen scene in BB- that was intense. Yes, I do recall it being done in one take.

I remember most of the regular NY scene actors of that time, Zebedy Colt being one of them. My recollection of him was that he fancied himself quite the thespian. He was much older than me and not someone I ever hung out with outside of a shoot.

Does anyone have a picture of Doris Wishman to jog my memory of who she was? I know I worked with her but not much more than that. You do realize these shoots were not exactly actor /director collaborations like a Steven Soderbergh/Julia Roberts film. The role of the director, as one can imagine was more of a stunt coordinator-Place your leg here, move the bottle there, yes, faster, that's it! By George, I think she's got it!

Harry Reems and I had a relationship for a while and tried living together in Malibu back in the early 80's. I spent time with him at the Playboy Mansion during the early Hefner/Shannon Tweed days, just after Dorothy Stratten's death. I learned to gamble on football from Freddie Dryer and Jim Brown. And Al Goldstein who was writing for Playboy and an often guest at the mansion, though a pig to most was an absolute gentleman toward me who assumed a rather fatherly role when I needed it most. Of course things have changed dramatically in his life and just recently he offered to sell my contact information to a writer for $100.

I had wonderful and dramatic adventures with Harry and I loved him dearly. His recent interviews seem to downplay the depths of his problems during the time we were friendly and I am not comfortable discussing what he has not admitted publicly. However, the quote in Legs' book is incorrect. It should read "suck my cock, where's the beef" How they came up with the bastardization they did is beyond me.

More later. Cheers, CJ

[Ian Jane]

Originally Posted by C.J. Laing

Does anyone have a picture of Doris Wishman to jog my memory of who she was? I know I worked with her but not much more than that.

A few fun shots of Doris....







Weren't you in Satan Was A Lady?

[Robin Bougie]

CJ!!
Wow! What a surprise! I'm so glad you decided to drop by and chat with us. I'm positive you've got a LOT of fans on this board. I've heard that you were considered one of the worst actresses in porn at the time (Remember reading a quote by Al Goldstien on the matter) but personally, I thought you were pretty much ALWAYS great on screen. One of my top ten fave porn performers of all time, in fact. I've always been really hyped about the way you carried yourself in your films, and your sex scenes were never boring. YOU ROCK!

I've got about a million questions for you, but I'll save them for the moment. Hope you are going to hang out for a bit.

[John R]

[quote=C.J. Laing]

If you want particular information regarding a scene in a film, I will need more information as to what I did and with whom, where the scene took place and any other visuals. I have not seen many of my films and have no idea what the end result of a days work 31 years ago was. So, I have no clue what I did in the Honeymooners and who the doorman was. To say I was quite good in any film is such a kick. I was known as the worst actress out there. I actually refused to act and more often than not read my lines as a parody. I thought acting was absurd. It was not what I was hired to do. These were sex films.

I always found your acting to be as good as any of the other 70s era performers. Since you didn't take it seriously, maybe that's why it came across on screen as natural. The bit I was talking about in "The Honeymooners" was a running gag throughout the movie where you'd be interrupted during sex by the apartment's doorman, Ronzonni, who would ring you on the intercom system. The whole thing seemed to be a parody of the Rhoda TV show in the 70s - remember, the whole "this is Carlton your doorman" thing. Anyhow, you had some funny responses to Ronzonni - the one I remember was "Ronzonni, you're about as funny as a baby's open grave!" I've attached a picture of the scene.
And yes, your sex scenes in the movie were great, as always.




My name came about by using the initials of my imaginary child that I had from my imaginary relationship with a member of a (to remain nameless) rock band and the Scottish psychologist R.D. Laing. Good Lord, I was so pretentious.

I figured there was some cool story there. Thanks for the response!