110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - wlinks_may08 - Index

The Mitchell Brothers greatest claim to fame
was in their efforts in the courts to change the
interpretation of the First Amendment and redefine
pornography. The boys went from bad to
worse and had the Mafia chasing them after the
government was finished. Their story was told in
a movie called “Rated X” staring Charlie Sheen
and Emilio Estevez.
The story ended up tragic when Jim shot Artie
dead and spent five years in San Quinton. He
himself died last November in Petaluma.
I actually went to school with Artie Mitchell.
He was a jerk. One night he slipped into the chemistry
lab and watered down all the acids and base
for the research project I was going to do the next
day. I had to use gallons of solution instead of
pints to get my reaction. That was decades ago
and I’m still irked.
My husband, Doug, attended school with
Jimmie Mitchell. He was the calmer and brighter
of the two. Jim might have been successful in
whatever he attempted. He started off in San
Francisco with a camera asking girls to lift their
blouses and taking pictures, which he then sold
to grinning Japanese tourists. It was the beginning
of what would become a sordid empire.
Even though we can’t praise either their behavior
or art, we can acknowledge the role these two
guys played in upholding San Francisco’s boast that
it has some of the best bad things in the world.
But then again, perhaps not best…. Jim Mitchell
once admitted that the only Art in his porn was
his brother. Jimmie gave out free passes to one of
his movies at a school reunion so I went. I had my
coat unbuttoned when I went in but by the end
had it buttoned up to my throat. I didn’t want
anything showing, not even my sweater.
I’m still blushing!
The Historical Society is hosting a Theater Event
at 11 a.m. on May 17. This will include a ribbon
cutting ceremony dedicating our new entertainment
exhibit. Michael Semanick will be there with
both his Oscars. He and Tyler Steelman will be
available for autographs.
Join us for a 6 p.m. social hour and elegant
dinner here at the museum. $40 for tickets. Call
Joanne Bilbo 925-757-4169.
The Antioch museum remains amazingly active
for a small town. We don’t have dusty exhibits.
Everything has a fresh “as-if-it-was-used-yesterday”
quality. It’s fun to do something that turns
out as great as this has become. Come see for
yourself.
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Send an email to editors@110mag.com with questions
or comments.
PERSONA I BLOOM
MUSEUM
HOURS:
WEDNESDAYS &
SATURDAYS
1 P.M. TO 4 P.M.
CALL FOR
TOURS:
925-757-1326
FOURTH
WEDNESDAYS
6:30 P.M. BOARD
MEETINGS
May/June 2008 www.110mag.com 77