The Matinee Idol – (1995) Director: Gino Colbert
Speaking of Hank Hightower…..
I’ve sold this tape at least 3 times – the top pic is the actual big box from what I sold; below one of the boxless cassettes.
From my notes: Ken Ryker is The Matinee Idol, a Hollywood heartthrob with a dark past: he starred in gay porn before making it in the straight world. The plot concerns the nefarious desire of a tabloid journalist (shady Rob Cryston) to out Ryker and destroy his career. First scene you are teased with a naked Ryker, but he has to leave the set of the porno movie – poor hairy hunk Hank Hightower must fill in and give oral to Vince Rockland; then hairy legs in the air!”
Hank’s acting isn’t bad, but his co-stars? especially when they get to the sex part!
the sexy dialogue – at the height of 90’s dirty-talking porno guys –
“do that”
“you want me to do that?”
“yeah, do that!”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
YorjYefferson’s The Matinee Idol review on reddit
if you don’t get the title reference, check out – I’m Ryan Idol!
7 replies on “I’m The Matinee Idol!”
This film was originally supposed to star Ryan Idol and be another of his titles that included his porn surname (Idol Eyes, Idol Worship, Idol Thoughts…) but he backed out for some reason. So they gave Ken Ryker the lead role. I mentioned this in my review, in the April 1996 issue of Manshots there’s an article by Lucas Kazan who was just starting his career behind the camera as a production manager, about the real life goings on while this was made. You may have even sent it to me before, I think I read it either before or after I wrote that but it’s fairly interesting. Not sure how much he talks about Hank, the Rockland brother with the blond streak and ponytail or the rest of the cast though. One page of that article (and a few others) are scanned at this link:
https://zeus-gay-boutik.myshopify.com/products/manshots-1996-april-joey-stefano-steve-maverick-joe-simmons-ken-ryker-derrick-stanton-gino-colbert-jim-bentley-johnny-hanson-ryan-idol-chad-knight-mike-henson-eric-manchester-mark-perry-johan-paulik-mark-radcliff
I love how stagehand Hank is all like nope, not interested, fuck off… Until the director whispers an amount in his ear and then he says ‘cash or check?’ You’ve been on a Hank roll lately, he’s definitely worthy of admiration and content here.
Zephyr- I did not know that tidbit about Ryan Idol. Well done. It seems BJ did. I’m glad they went with Ken Ryker. I always just thought it was a reference to any movie star. Didn’t they used to call them matinee idols in the ’40s or ’50s? I don’t know. I’m talking out of my ass again. Thanks Zephyr!
Look, if I have to choose between two straight guys, I’m gonna go with Ken Ryker over Ryan Idol almost every time. Unless I can haz bofe str8 guyz pweez?
I was just never really into Ryan Idol that much and didn’t quite get why he was such a huge star. Perfectly good-looking and well endowed, but I saw very few of his videos. Maybe I didn’t know what I was missing, eh? I should check ’em out.
When his name comes up today, I’m more likely to think of the original “Idol” from the 1960s: Brian Idol. I’ve always imagined that Ryan’s name was inspired by Brian Idol, although I have absolutely no proof of that at all. I’ve always thought it was fascinating how gay porn names repeat over the decades. And if I was a photographer or director and had a chance to suggest a porn alias to my latest starlet, I would want to honor or pay homage to someone who came earlier by choosing a similar name.
Gosh, this has gone off topic. Sorry fellas. I’m supposed to be talking about the clip. The first 2 minutes are funny for numerous reasons, some intentional, some likely not: for instance, people trying to act, the idea that Ryker would ever bottom, that awful blond streak in Rockland’s hair, the idea that Vince Rockland would ever be into hairy chests, the director bursting through the window. I mean, why? He was directing the scene from behind the set? I guess that could be. Some direct using monitors instead of watching the performers. I wonder who played the director? Anyway, Hank Hightower was the only thing that made sense, although I would have much rather had Ken Ryker fuck him. Like I said, if I have to choose between 2 straight guys…
I’m being kind of bitchy. No offense intended to fans of the Rocklands (they were pretty damn gorgeous, like the Kardashians of gay porn- very good at looking good), and no offense to gay-4-pay performers in general, or to fans of hairless men. It was the ’90s and I felt there was a lot of bad gay porn being made and there was a kind of metrosexual, manicured look going on that created an absence of hairy men and facial hair and I just wasn’t a happy guy over it at the time.
That said, both guys were good in the scene. I do like Hank’s performance better, but Rockland held his own. Hank Hightower really was the epitome of the working class man in his sleeveless flannel shirt. He just nailed that archetype.
I would’ve liked to have seen the next scene with Ryker topping Jake Andrews. I am still a fan. I can’t say why I liked him when he had the same clean-cut, clean-shaven look that the others had. I just did. Maybe it was the muscles? I liked Ken Ryker for that (alright it was his dick also) right from the start when he debuted as a Colt model with the name “Bill Flagstaff.” He had such a baby face. I thought he got hotter over time as he matured, but kind of a wooden performer, bless his heart.
I noticed on GEVI that Ken Ryker’s character’s name was “Ryan.” Ha ha. That had to be intentional.
Thanks BJ! Sorry for the rant. *sad face*
Jake Andrews seemed to be the only male performer whom Ryker really connected with. I don’t recall him ever sucking any other man on film (correct me, please) and for once he appeared to actually be enjoying himself.
Who wouldn’t enjoy being with Jake Andrews!
Hey! I can’t speak for his recip in other vids, but he gave Jake Andrews a BJ twice! They also had a scene in The Other Side of Aspen IV. He must’ve liked something about Jake.
BJ, I love, love, love your assessment of the dialogue in the ’90s. Awesome and so true! You still get that sometimes these days.