Porn Legends Show Up for Harry Reems Memorial

Legendary figures in the Chasworth-based adult entertainment industry gathered late Saturday night to memorialize Harry Reems, the star of Deep Throat, who died last week of pancreatic cancer.

The upbeat memorial was held at the Zephyr Theatre in Hollywood just after a showing of the play Deep Throat Sex Scandal, authored and produced by Studio City's David Bertolino. 

Writer and porn star Bill Margold, who knew Reems, offered a toast, and warned, "Alcohol was Harry's downfall, so I would be careful about what you're toasting with."

Margold, who lives in Hollywood, said he spoke to Reems recently to try to get him to come to the play from his home in Utah. Reems hung up on Margold a few times, then called back and apologized.

"The guy who plays Harry is spot-on and it's a great tribute to the kind of guy Harry is, and how he should be remembered," Margold said, referring to the play that shows how Reems was a reluctant advocate for Free Speech when he was caught up in an obscenity case over the movie.

Encino resident Marc Ginsburg portrays Reems in the play and said, "I'm overwhelmed at the praise by Bill Margold, and am glad that he is such a big supporter of the play."

Bertolino said the play's third and last extension is through April 14, and that even in its ninth week the show is often sold out.

"We have been overwhelmed about the response for the show, and we hope to bring it to other cities in the state, and perhaps Las Vegas," the producer/writer said. Bertolino also spent many hours with Reems discussing the play when he was writing it and said, "Harry didn't realize where he stood in the business and how popular he was."

Bertolino added, "If he saw this play he would have seen what a freedom fighter he was, and never thought he would be."

Ron Jeremy, who had a recent heart attack and was supposed to do a cameo in the play, said, "I wished Harry saw this play because he would have been pleased. This is the way he should be remembered."

Mark Kernes from Chatsworth-based Adult Video News and actress Melissa Hill will be among the cameos in the play over the next few weeks. Bruce Vilanch, Sally Kirkland, Christopher Knight and many others have also performed in the play in cameo roles.

On Saturday night, Dr. Susan Block Show broadcast live on location ffrom the memorial. She interviewed Ginsburg (playing Reems), as well as Natasha Parker (Linda Lovelace in the play), plus veteran adult film stars such as Margold and Jeremy as well as Nina Hartley, Tom Byron, Hyapatia Lee, Paul Thomas, Rebecca Bardoux, Veronica Hart, Alana Evans and Herschel Savage.

Meanwhile, the close of the play has been rewritten, according to stage assistant Ben Scuglia. When mentioning Reems at the end of the play, it says that Reems "is now in a place where can be [having sex] with whoever he wants—without judgment."

Mention Patch when ordering your tickets, and you will get a discount for the VIP tickets. Click here for tickets http://deepthroattheplay.com.