Circus of Books

For over 35 years, the gay porn shop Circus of Books served as the epicenter for LGBT life and culture in Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to many in the community it served, the store was cultivated and cared for by its owners, Karen and Barry Mason, a straight couple with three children. Circus of Books offers a rare glimpse into an untold chapter of queer history as it crafts an intimate portrait of the Masons and their journey to becoming one of the biggest distributors of hardcore gay porn in the United States. Their loving story unfolds through the lens of their daughter, filmmaker Rachel Mason.