Lyric International - Revision history

Sneeuwbol: /* The next film */ Added link to After Dark interview in media depository

2023-12-04T01:26:53Z

The next film: Added link to After Dark interview in media depository

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:26, 4 December 2023
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	== The next film ==		== The next film ==
	There are several accounts of what Byars and Lyric were planning after ''The Genesis Children'', but it seems clear another feature fill was complete or nearly so. In a 1972 interview with Byars published just after that film opened (and closed), dance journalist Violet Helgy Swisher says,		There are several accounts of what Byars and Lyric were planning after ''The Genesis Children'', but it seems clear another feature fill was complete or nearly so. In a 1972 interview with Byars published just after that film opened (and closed), dance journalist Violet Helgy Swisher says,
	<blockquote>"Byars's next film venture is an already filmed documentary he has titled ''The Russian Adventure''. It unreels as a story of the travels of an International Boyhood group, filmed not only in Russia, but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Still in the early planning stages is a ballet feature to be filmed in the desert. Nude. Of course."<ref name=Swisher>Swisher, Viola Hegyi. "Generating ''The Genesis Children''". ''After Dark'', September 1972, p. 18.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"Byars's next film venture is an already filmed documentary he has titled ''The Russian Adventure''. It unreels as a story of the travels of an International Boyhood group, filmed not only in Russia, but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Still in the early planning stages is a ballet feature to be filmed in the desert. Nude. Of course."<ref name="Swisher">Swisher, Viola Hegyi. "Generating ''The Genesis Children''". ''After Dark'', September 1972, p. 18. Available in the media depository, https://www.boywiki.org/media/File:Generating_Genesis.pdf</ref></blockquote>

	The ''L.A. Times'' article about the arrests described Lyric's current project as "''Soviet '73'', a film about Jews traveling in Russia." <ref name=LATimes27Oct /> The Lyric producer claimed in 1975 that, "We had a tremendous amount of money sunk into a major TV travelogue on Russia just then." <ref name=campfire /> The recurring Russian theme indicates all three sources are discussing the same project.		The ''L.A. Times'' article about the arrests described Lyric's current project as "''Soviet '73'', a film about Jews traveling in Russia." <ref name=LATimes27Oct /> The Lyric producer claimed in 1975 that, "We had a tremendous amount of money sunk into a major TV travelogue on Russia just then." <ref name=campfire /> The recurring Russian theme indicates all three sources are discussing the same project.

Sneeuwbol: /* Technical quality of the films */ Beaulieu 16mm movie camera photo added

2022-07-03T01:28:56Z

Technical quality of the films: Beaulieu 16mm movie camera photo added

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:28, 3 July 2022
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	== Technical quality of the films ==		== Technical quality of the films ==
	[[Harlan "Slim" Pfeiffer]] is said to have filmed the Lyric movies in 16mm, and reduced them to 8mm for distribution. Guy Strait, who handled the distribution end of DOM-LYRIC, recounted in prison his techniques for taking photos and avoiding piracy of his films. “His favorite still camera was a Yashika E, twin-reflex that cost a mere $50 [...] He depended on a Mimiya C-33 for most of his professional still work. [...] He usually filmed 12-minute loops and longer movies with a 16-millimeter Beaulieu, which he considered to be superior to the more expensive German Hasselblad."<ref>Linedecker, Clifford L. 1981. ''Children in Chains''. New York: Everest House. p. 230</ref>		[[File:Beaulieu.jpg\|thumb\|230px\|A 16mm Beaulieu such as Guy Strait favored]] [[Harlan "Slim" Pfeiffer]] is said to have filmed the Lyric movies in 16mm, and reduced them to 8mm for distribution. Guy Strait, who handled the distribution end of DOM-LYRIC, recounted in prison his techniques for taking photos and avoiding piracy of his films. “His favorite still camera was a Yashika E, twin-reflex that cost a mere $50 [...] He depended on a Mimiya C-33 for most of his professional still work. [...] He usually filmed 12-minute loops and longer movies with a 16-millimeter Beaulieu, which he considered to be superior to the more expensive German Hasselblad."<ref>Linedecker, Clifford L. 1981. ''Children in Chains''. New York: Everest House. p. 230</ref>
	<blockquote>"He protected his reputation for quality work by keeping his films out of bookstores. It was more difficult to protect his work from pirates who purchased the films on his lists and had them duplicated for sales through other outlets. Although it bothered his aesthetic sensibilities and pride in his own work, he learned to lower the reproductive quality of his 8-millimeter film. He considered them still better quality than the competition, but not good enough to withstand the loss of detail and clarity when duplicated again by film pirates."(ibid, p. 233)</blockquote>		<blockquote>"He protected his reputation for quality work by keeping his films out of bookstores. It was more difficult to protect his work from pirates who purchased the films on his lists and had them duplicated for sales through other outlets. Although it bothered his aesthetic sensibilities and pride in his own work, he learned to lower the reproductive quality of his 8-millimeter film. He considered them still better quality than the competition, but not good enough to withstand the loss of detail and clarity when duplicated again by film pirates."(ibid, p. 233)</blockquote>

Sneeuwbol at 18:04, 1 July 2022

2022-07-01T18:04:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:04, 1 July 2022
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	<div style="margin-right: 25px; float: left;">__TOC__</div>'''Lyric International''' produced "[[physique]]" photography of boys and young men during the window that opened in the late 1960s when legal and social bans against male nudity fell, but before more hardcore products skimmed off demand for Lyric's nudes, and the child pornography panic. At its height, Lyric made a push for mainstream respectability with the ~~1971~~ feature film [[The Genesis Children]] which combined a foggy New Age message with teen and preteen nudity, and the 1971-1973 [[Zipper]] magazine, where wide-ranging articles similar those in ''Playboy'' were printed along with nude but not explicit photo features of male teenagers and youths. While the Lyric catalog did not go beyond non-sexual nudity, carefully avoiding the legal line of obscenity, Lyric owner [[Billy Byars, Jr.]] partnered for distribution with San Francisco gay rights pioneer and noted pornographer [[Guy Strait]], some of whose pornography did include actors under 16. Lyric maintained an unusually constant stable of "Lyric Boy" actors, the best known of whom was the blond [[Peter Glawson]] who appeared from around 10 years of age to 17 in Lyric's products, including magazines, 16mm shorts, photo sets, ''The Genesis Children'', and a ''Zipper'' interview.		<div style="margin-right: 25px; float: left;">__TOC__</div>'''Lyric International''' produced "[[physique]]" photography of boys and young men during the window that opened in the late 1960s when legal and social bans against male nudity fell, but before more hardcore products skimmed off demand for Lyric's nudes, and the child pornography panic. At its height, Lyric made a push for mainstream respectability with the feature film [[The Genesis Children]], filmed in 1970 and released in 1972, which combined a foggy New Age message with teen and preteen nudity, and the 1971-1973 [[Zipper]] magazine, where wide-ranging articles similar those in ''Playboy'' were printed along with nude but not explicit photo features of male teenagers and youths. While the Lyric catalog did not go beyond non-sexual nudity, carefully avoiding the legal line of obscenity, Lyric owner [[Billy Byars, Jr.]] partnered for distribution with San Francisco gay rights pioneer and noted pornographer [[Guy Strait]], some of whose pornography did include actors under 16. Lyric maintained an unusually constant stable of "Lyric Boy" actors, the best known of whom was the blond [[Peter Glawson]] who appeared from around 10 years of age to 17 in Lyric's products, including magazines, 16mm shorts, photo sets, ''The Genesis Children'', and a ''Zipper'' interview.

	Lyric came to an end in late 1973, in a scandal that the [[Meese Commission]] called "the first [[child pornography]] [[ring]] ... brought to public view," although no pornography charges were ever brought against Lyric's collaborators.<ref>[https://ia902908.us.archive.org/0/items/finalreportofatt00unit/finalreportofatt00unit.pdf#page=185 Attorney General's Commission on Pornography: final report.] Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Justice (1986) Chapter 11, p. 131</ref> The arrests mark the first appearance in the ''Los Angeles Times'' of policeman [[Lloyd Martin]] who became one of the faces of the [[great kiddie porn panic]]. Guy Strait's arrest in an unrelated case of sex with a minor led to his becoming a nonperson in the gay rights community, and in gay rights history. In recent years some of the same film clips found unprosecutable in 1973 have appeared as evidence in the [[Azov Films]] prosecutions.		Lyric came to an end in late 1973, in a scandal that the [[Meese Commission]] called "the first [[child pornography]] [[ring]] ... brought to public view," although no pornography charges were ever brought against Lyric's collaborators.<ref>[https://ia902908.us.archive.org/0/items/finalreportofatt00unit/finalreportofatt00unit.pdf#page=185 Attorney General's Commission on Pornography: final report.] Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Justice (1986) Chapter 11, p. 131</ref> The arrests mark the first appearance in the ''Los Angeles Times'' of policeman [[Lloyd Martin]] who became one of the faces of the [[great kiddie porn panic]]. Guy Strait's arrest in an unrelated case of sex with a minor led to his becoming a nonperson in the gay rights community, and in gay rights history. In recent years some of the same film clips found unprosecutable in 1973 have appeared as evidence in the [[Azov Films]] prosecutions.
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	Lyric produced a number of magazines (two authors, Robin Lloyd and Clifford Linedecker, say 90 magazines were produced, but neither cites his source for the figure) and at least one calendar.		Lyric produced a number of magazines (two authors, Robin Lloyd and Clifford Linedecker, say 90 magazines were produced, but neither cites his source for the figure) and at least one calendar.
	~~<a href="/en/~~Zipper~~" title="Zipper">Zipper</a>~~ Magazine appears to have been produced by Byars, though without the Lyric imprimatur.		[[Zipper]] Magazine (1971-1973) appears to have been produced by Byars, though without the Lyric imprimatur.

	Some of the Lyric magazine titles include:		Some of the Lyric magazine titles include:

Sneeuwbol: /* Books, magazines, and films */

2022-07-01T18:00:39Z

Books, magazines, and films

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 1 July 2022
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	Lyric produced a number of magazines (two authors, Robin Lloyd and Clifford Linedecker, say 90 magazines were produced, but neither cites his source for the figure) and at least one calendar.		Lyric produced a number of magazines (two authors, Robin Lloyd and Clifford Linedecker, say 90 magazines were produced, but neither cites his source for the figure) and at least one calendar.
			<a href="/en/Zipper" title="Zipper">Zipper</a> Magazine appears to have been produced by Byars, though without the Lyric imprimatur.

	Some of the magazine titles include:		Some of the Lyric magazine titles include:
	* ''[[Naked Boyhood Magazine]]''		* ''[[Naked Boyhood Magazine]]''
	* ''[[Sun Children]]''		* ''[[Sun Children]]''

Sneeuwbol: /* Books, magazines, and films */

2022-07-01T17:53:47Z

Books, magazines, and films

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:53, 1 July 2022
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	== Books, magazines, and films ==		== Books, magazines, and films ==

	''[[The Genesis Children]]'' was ~~Lyric's~~ only feature film, ~~its~~ other movies ~~being~~ shorts produced in 16mm and reduced to 8mm for distribution. Some of the films are:		''[[The Genesis Children]]'' was the only feature film Lyric ever released, although at least one other appears to have been ready at the time of the firm's spectacular close. Its other movies were shorts produced in 16mm and reduced to 8mm for distribution. Some of the films are:
	* ''[[Danish Boys' Camp]]''. Feature documentary. 1971. Producer: Billy Byars. Editor: Wayne Schotten		* ''[[Danish Boys' Camp]]''. Feature documentary. 1971. Producer: Billy Byars. Editor: Wayne Schotten. There is no indication if this was a 16mm or 35mm production.
	* ''[[Swim Party]]'' and ''[[Spring Break]]'' were filmed by Slim Pfeiffer at [[the pool with the cinderblock walls]] at the Lyric studio in Los Angeles.		* ''[[Swim Party]]'' and ''[[Spring Break]]'' were filmed by Slim Pfeiffer at [[the pool with the cinderblock walls]] at the Lyric studio in Los Angeles.
	* ''[[Sandy Hill]]'' may have been filmed in Sandy Hill in east Texas.		* ''[[Sandy Hill]]'' may have been filmed in Sandy Hill in east Texas.
	* ''[[Summer Freedom]]'' was made at Corpus Christi National Seashore in Texas.		* ''[[Summer Freedom]]'' was made at Corpus Christi National Seashore in Texas.
			*''[[How to Make Friends]]''
			Two other "films" are slideshows assembled from Lyric photographs, and perhaps some others, bear a 1995 copyright claim by "Gulf Coast Productions", and have text cards that refer to Lyric photographer Slim Pfeiffer. They are:
	* ''[[Peter and the Desert Riders]]''		* ''[[Peter and the Desert Riders]]''
	* ''[[How to Make Friends]]''
	* ''[[Boyhood Scrapbook]]''		* ''[[Boyhood Scrapbook]]''

Sneeuwbol: /* The next film */

2022-07-01T17:40:40Z

The next film

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:40, 1 July 2022
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	<blockquote>"Byars's next film venture is an already filmed documentary he has titled ''The Russian Adventure''. It unreels as a story of the travels of an International Boyhood group, filmed not only in Russia, but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Still in the early planning stages is a ballet feature to be filmed in the desert. Nude. Of course."<ref name=Swisher>Swisher, Viola Hegyi. "Generating ''The Genesis Children''". ''After Dark'', September 1972, p. 18.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"Byars's next film venture is an already filmed documentary he has titled ''The Russian Adventure''. It unreels as a story of the travels of an International Boyhood group, filmed not only in Russia, but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Still in the early planning stages is a ballet feature to be filmed in the desert. Nude. Of course."<ref name=Swisher>Swisher, Viola Hegyi. "Generating ''The Genesis Children''". ''After Dark'', September 1972, p. 18.</ref></blockquote>

	The ''L.A. Times'' article about the arrests described Lyric's current project as "''Soviet '73'', a film about Jews traveling in Russia." ~~[''L.A. Times'', ''op. cit.'']~~ The Lyric producer claimed in 1975 that, "We had a tremendous amount of money sunk into a major TV travelogue on Russia just then." <ref name=campfire /> The recurring Russian theme indicates all three sources are discussing the same project.		The ''L.A. Times'' article about the arrests described Lyric's current project as "''Soviet '73'', a film about Jews traveling in Russia." <ref name=LATimes27Oct /> The Lyric producer claimed in 1975 that, "We had a tremendous amount of money sunk into a major TV travelogue on Russia just then." <ref name=campfire /> The recurring Russian theme indicates all three sources are discussing the same project.

	With a comic story on a bomb scare (it was a prop), the ''Los Angeles Free Press'' gives an account of what Lyric was up to in December, 1972. "Lyric Films, also known as Billy Byars and Associates" was in the process of editing two films at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Formosa Ave., Hollywood. Jeremy Hoenack, who edited ''The Genesis Children'', was with his wife Barbara "toiling over the celluloid images on a reel of motorcycle adventures" on a Movieola. Lyric was using two editing rooms. Other Lyric personnel included "Miss Helen Hill, business manager and confidante of producer Billy Byars ("Genesis' Children") who is out of town." Those with access to the editing rooms include "Tom Grubbs, a young filmmaker who's renting one of the rooms for an educational short he's producing. Oh, yes, and there's Joe Fineman, he's also studio manager, in charge of things in Mr. Byars's absence." Mr. Fineman is "... cutting a film for Mr. Byars now — a documentary on Russia."<ref name=Rubine1972>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/community.28040031.pdf?page=10 Rubine, Naomi. "The bomb at Goldwyn Studios"] ''Los Angeles Free Press'', Volume 9, issue 438, Dec 8-18, 1972. P.10</ref>		With a comic story on a bomb scare (it was a prop), the ''Los Angeles Free Press'' gives an account of what Lyric was up to in December, 1972. "Lyric Films, also known as Billy Byars and Associates" was in the process of editing two films at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Formosa Ave., Hollywood. Jeremy Hoenack, who edited ''The Genesis Children'', was with his wife Barbara "toiling over the celluloid images on a reel of motorcycle adventures" on a Movieola. Lyric was using two editing rooms. Other Lyric personnel included "Miss Helen Hill, business manager and confidante of producer Billy Byars ("Genesis' Children") who is out of town." Those with access to the editing rooms include "Tom Grubbs, a young filmmaker who's renting one of the rooms for an educational short he's producing. Oh, yes, and there's Joe Fineman, he's also studio manager, in charge of things in Mr. Byars's absence." Mr. Fineman is "... cutting a film for Mr. Byars now — a documentary on Russia."<ref name=Rubine1972>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/community.28040031.pdf?page=10 Rubine, Naomi. "The bomb at Goldwyn Studios"] ''Los Angeles Free Press'', Volume 9, issue 438, Dec 8-18, 1972. P.10</ref>

Sneeuwbol: /* The next film */

2022-07-01T17:35:22Z

The next film

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:35, 1 July 2022
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	With a comic story on a bomb scare (it was a prop), the ''Los Angeles Free Press'' gives an account of what Lyric was up to in December, 1972. "Lyric Films, also known as Billy Byars and Associates" was in the process of editing two films at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Formosa Ave., Hollywood. Jeremy Hoenack, who edited ''The Genesis Children'', was with his wife Barbara "toiling over the celluloid images on a reel of motorcycle adventures" on a Movieola. Lyric was using two editing rooms. Other Lyric personnel included "Miss Helen Hill, business manager and confidante of producer Billy Byars ("Genesis' Children") who is out of town." Those with access to the editing rooms include "Tom Grubbs, a young filmmaker who's renting one of the rooms for an educational short he's producing. Oh, yes, and there's Joe Fineman, he's also studio manager, in charge of things in Mr. Byars's absence." Mr. Fineman is "... cutting a film for Mr. Byars now — a documentary on Russia."<ref name=Rubine1972>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/community.28040031.pdf?page=10 Rubine, Naomi. "The bomb at Goldwyn Studios"] ''Los Angeles Free Press'', Volume 9, issue 438, Dec 8-18, 1972. P.10</ref>		With a comic story on a bomb scare (it was a prop), the ''Los Angeles Free Press'' gives an account of what Lyric was up to in December, 1972. "Lyric Films, also known as Billy Byars and Associates" was in the process of editing two films at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Formosa Ave., Hollywood. Jeremy Hoenack, who edited ''The Genesis Children'', was with his wife Barbara "toiling over the celluloid images on a reel of motorcycle adventures" on a Movieola. Lyric was using two editing rooms. Other Lyric personnel included "Miss Helen Hill, business manager and confidante of producer Billy Byars ("Genesis' Children") who is out of town." Those with access to the editing rooms include "Tom Grubbs, a young filmmaker who's renting one of the rooms for an educational short he's producing. Oh, yes, and there's Joe Fineman, he's also studio manager, in charge of things in Mr. Byars's absence." Mr. Fineman is "... cutting a film for Mr. Byars now — a documentary on Russia."<ref name=Rubine1972>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/community.28040031.pdf?page=10 Rubine, Naomi. "The bomb at Goldwyn Studios"] ''Los Angeles Free Press'', Volume 9, issue 438, Dec 8-18, 1972. P.10</ref>

	None of these names appeared in the press in the Lyric scandal. Mr. Fineman's IMDB entry has a long list of credits, including 88 in editing and an equal number in production, starting in 1971 and including the "Real to Reel Film and Video Festival" Festival Prize in 2018. There is however a gap of several years starting in 1972. IMBD has more than one Tom Grubbs. ~~Rubine~~ says that Hoenack finished editing the Russia film.<ref name=Rubine1972 />		None of these names appeared in the press in the Lyric scandal. Mr. Fineman's IMDB entry has a long list of credits, including 88 in editing and an equal number in production, starting in 1971 and including the "Real to Reel Film and Video Festival" Festival Prize in 2018. There is however a gap of several years starting in 1972. IMBD has more than one Tom Grubbs. The ''Free Press'' article says that Hoenack finished editing the Russia film.<ref name=Rubine1972 />

	Byars told his hometown paper on Christmas Eve, 1972 about a "television documentary scheduled for release under the title "Soviet '73" [...] the first totally uncensored film ever made in the Soviet republics."<ref name=blair1972> Blair, Pat. "Film Industry Challenge Grows" ''Tyler Courier-Times'', Tyler, Texas, 24 Dec 1972. Page 37</ref> It was "hoped to be shown sometime during late winter." He said he was seeking Texas financing for "his next feature film, a spy spoof with the working title of "Heist."" <ref name=blair1972 /> "His goal is to base the financial headquarters of his company in Houston, and he’s getting a start on that goal by seeking "entirely Texas money" to finance "Heist." "<ref name=blair1972 />		Byars told his hometown paper on Christmas Eve, 1972 about a "television documentary scheduled for release under the title "Soviet '73" [...] the first totally uncensored film ever made in the Soviet republics."<ref name=blair1972> Blair, Pat. "Film Industry Challenge Grows" ''Tyler Courier-Times'', Tyler, Texas, 24 Dec 1972. Page 37</ref> It was "hoped to be shown sometime during late winter." He said he was seeking Texas financing for "his next feature film, a spy spoof with the working title of "Heist."" <ref name=blair1972 /> "His goal is to base the financial headquarters of his company in Houston, and he’s getting a start on that goal by seeking "entirely Texas money" to finance "Heist." "<ref name=blair1972 />

Sneeuwbol: /* The next film */ Swisher footnotes standarized

2022-07-01T17:31:16Z

The next film: Swisher footnotes standarized

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:31, 1 July 2022
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	== The next film ==		== The next film ==
	There are several ~~versions~~ of what Byars and Lyric were planning after ''The Genesis Children''. In 1972 Swisher says,		There are several accounts of what Byars and Lyric were planning after ''The Genesis Children'', but it seems clear another feature fill was complete or nearly so. In a 1972 interview with Byars published just after that film opened (and closed), dance journalist Violet Helgy Swisher says,
	<blockquote>"Byars's next film venture is an already filmed documentary he has titled ''The Russian Adventure''. It unreels as a story of the travels of an International Boyhood group, filmed not only in Russia, but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Still in the early planning stages is a ballet feature to be filmed in the desert. Nude. Of course."[Swisher, ''~~op. cit~~.'']</blockquote>		<blockquote>"Byars's next film venture is an already filmed documentary he has titled ''The Russian Adventure''. It unreels as a story of the travels of an International Boyhood group, filmed not only in Russia, but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Still in the early planning stages is a ballet feature to be filmed in the desert. Nude. Of course."<ref name=Swisher>Swisher, Viola Hegyi. "Generating ''The Genesis Children''". ''After Dark'', September 1972, p. 18.</ref></blockquote>

	The ''L.A. Times'' article about the arrests described Lyric's current project as "''Soviet '73'', a film about Jews traveling in Russia." [''L.A. Times'', ''op. cit.''] The Lyric producer claimed in 1975 that, "We had a tremendous amount of money sunk into a major TV travelogue on Russia just then." <ref name=campfire /> The recurring Russian theme indicates all three sources are discussing the same project.		The ''L.A. Times'' article about the arrests described Lyric's current project as "''Soviet '73'', a film about Jews traveling in Russia." [''L.A. Times'', ''op. cit.''] The Lyric producer claimed in 1975 that, "We had a tremendous amount of money sunk into a major TV travelogue on Russia just then." <ref name=campfire /> The recurring Russian theme indicates all three sources are discussing the same project.
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	With a comic story on a bomb scare (it was a prop), the ''Los Angeles Free Press'' gives an account of what Lyric was up to in December, 1972. "Lyric Films, also known as Billy Byars and Associates" was in the process of editing two films at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Formosa Ave., Hollywood. Jeremy Hoenack, who edited ''The Genesis Children'', was with his wife Barbara "toiling over the celluloid images on a reel of motorcycle adventures" on a Movieola. Lyric was using two editing rooms. Other Lyric personnel included "Miss Helen Hill, business manager and confidante of producer Billy Byars ("Genesis' Children") who is out of town." Those with access to the editing rooms include "Tom Grubbs, a young filmmaker who's renting one of the rooms for an educational short he's producing. Oh, yes, and there's Joe Fineman, he's also studio manager, in charge of things in Mr. Byars's absence." Mr. Fineman is "... cutting a film for Mr. Byars now — a documentary on Russia."<ref name=Rubine1972>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/community.28040031.pdf?page=10 Rubine, Naomi. "The bomb at Goldwyn Studios"] ''Los Angeles Free Press'', Volume 9, issue 438, Dec 8-18, 1972. P.10</ref>		With a comic story on a bomb scare (it was a prop), the ''Los Angeles Free Press'' gives an account of what Lyric was up to in December, 1972. "Lyric Films, also known as Billy Byars and Associates" was in the process of editing two films at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Formosa Ave., Hollywood. Jeremy Hoenack, who edited ''The Genesis Children'', was with his wife Barbara "toiling over the celluloid images on a reel of motorcycle adventures" on a Movieola. Lyric was using two editing rooms. Other Lyric personnel included "Miss Helen Hill, business manager and confidante of producer Billy Byars ("Genesis' Children") who is out of town." Those with access to the editing rooms include "Tom Grubbs, a young filmmaker who's renting one of the rooms for an educational short he's producing. Oh, yes, and there's Joe Fineman, he's also studio manager, in charge of things in Mr. Byars's absence." Mr. Fineman is "... cutting a film for Mr. Byars now — a documentary on Russia."<ref name=Rubine1972>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/community.28040031.pdf?page=10 Rubine, Naomi. "The bomb at Goldwyn Studios"] ''Los Angeles Free Press'', Volume 9, issue 438, Dec 8-18, 1972. P.10</ref>

	None of these names appeared in the press in the Lyric scandal. Mr Fineman's IMDB entry has a long list of credits, including 88 in editing and an equal number in production, starting in 1971 and including the "Real to Reel Film and Video Festival" Festival Prize in 2018. There is however a gap of several years starting in 1972. IMBD has more than one Tom Grubbs. Rubine says that Hoenack finished editing the Russia film.<ref name=Rubine1972 />		None of these names appeared in the press in the Lyric scandal. Mr. Fineman's IMDB entry has a long list of credits, including 88 in editing and an equal number in production, starting in 1971 and including the "Real to Reel Film and Video Festival" Festival Prize in 2018. There is however a gap of several years starting in 1972. IMBD has more than one Tom Grubbs. Rubine says that Hoenack finished editing the Russia film.<ref name=Rubine1972 />

	Byars told his hometown paper on Christmas Eve, 1972 about a "television documentary scheduled for release under the title "Soviet '73" [...] the first totally uncensored film ever made in the Soviet republics."<ref name=blair1972> Blair, Pat. "Film Industry Challenge Grows" ''Tyler Courier-Times'', Tyler, Texas, 24 Dec 1972. Page 37</ref> It was "hoped to be shown sometime during late winter." He said he was seeking Texas financing for "his next feature film, a spy spoof with the working title of "Heist."" <ref name=blair1972 /> "His goal is to base the financial headquarters of his company in Houston, and he’s getting a start on that goal by seeking "entirely Texas money" to finance "Heist." "<ref name=blair1972 />		Byars told his hometown paper on Christmas Eve, 1972 about a "television documentary scheduled for release under the title "Soviet '73" [...] the first totally uncensored film ever made in the Soviet republics."<ref name=blair1972> Blair, Pat. "Film Industry Challenge Grows" ''Tyler Courier-Times'', Tyler, Texas, 24 Dec 1972. Page 37</ref> It was "hoped to be shown sometime during late winter." He said he was seeking Texas financing for "his next feature film, a spy spoof with the working title of "Heist."" <ref name=blair1972 /> "His goal is to base the financial headquarters of his company in Houston, and he’s getting a start on that goal by seeking "entirely Texas money" to finance "Heist." "<ref name=blair1972 />

Sneeuwbol: /* The scandal */ footnote regularized

2022-07-01T02:58:38Z

The scandal: footnote regularized

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:58, 1 July 2022
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	== The scandal ==		== The scandal ==

	Lyric came to an end in late 1973. The ''Los Angeles Times'' article about the arrests was titled "14 Men Indicted in Sex Movies Featuring Boys Ages 6 to 17: Son of Actress, Heir to Oil Fortune, [[YMCA]] Counselor, Scoutmaster, Schoolteacher Among Those Facing Charges".<ref>Farr, William. "14 Men Indicted in Sex Movies Featuring Boys Ages 6 to 17". ''Los Angeles Times'' 27 Oct 1973, p. B1, B8</ref>		Lyric came to an end in late 1973. The ''Los Angeles Times'' article about the arrests was titled "14 Men Indicted in Sex Movies Featuring Boys Ages 6 to 17: Son of Actress, Heir to Oil Fortune, [[YMCA]] Counselor, Scoutmaster, Schoolteacher Among Those Facing Charges".<ref name=LATimes27Oct>Farr, William. "14 Men Indicted in Sex Movies Featuring Boys Ages 6 to 17". ''Los Angeles Times'' 27 Oct 1973, p. B1, B8</ref>

	The "Heir to Oil Fortune" was Lyric's owner, and the "Son of Actress" a Lyric producer. As the policy of the ''Los Angeles Times'' was then to not index criminal justice proceedings, it used to be difficult to determine just what happened to the fourteen accused. Those newspaper archives with full-text indexing are now available online, however. A later story confirms that the first of the accused to go to trial ("YMCA Counselor") was acquitted after a full day of jury deliberation, and that two others had pled guilty. An article in ''The Advocate'' gives the final toll: "Five guilty, four 'no contest,' one acquitted in chicken ring" <ref>[https://uosc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USC_INST/vafrrm/proquest2268824486 "Five guilty, four 'no contest,' one acquitted in chicken ring"].''The Advocate'', May 22, 1974, Issue 138, p.27.		The "Heir to Oil Fortune" was Lyric's owner, and the "Son of Actress" a Lyric producer. As the policy of the ''Los Angeles Times'' was then to not index criminal justice proceedings, it used to be difficult to determine just what happened to the fourteen accused. Those newspaper archives with full-text indexing are now available online, however. A later story confirms that the first of the accused to go to trial ("YMCA Counselor") was acquitted after a full day of jury deliberation, and that two others had pled guilty. An article in ''The Advocate'' gives the final toll: "Five guilty, four 'no contest,' one acquitted in chicken ring" <ref>[https://uosc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USC_INST/vafrrm/proquest2268824486 "Five guilty, four 'no contest,' one acquitted in chicken ring"].''The Advocate'', May 22, 1974, Issue 138, p.27.
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	One source claims that one of the boys was "dangled over a cliff" by policemen until he agreed to name men with whom he had had sex.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050219002356/http://www.paedosexualitaet.de/exp/cliffsrc.html Documenting Abuse of Boys and Families by Los Angeles Police] cites two articles as its source for the claim: Sarff, Doug. "L.A. Jury frees first 'chicken ring' defendant". ''The Advocate'' San Mateo, CA. 16 January 1974 (page 3); and "Cliffhanging Testimony: Jury: Second 'chicken ring' defendant guilty". ''The Advocate'', San Mateo, CA, 30 January 1974 (page 5). There may be a digital copy including the 1974 ''Advocate'' at [http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b24360993~S1 UC Berkeley].</ref> The claim was apparently made in open court. The Lyric producer cited above said that "[T]wo of them were just hustlers the police had dug up — I hardly even knew them. They had worked for Lyric a good little while ago. Even the police didn't push their stories too much, because they were both well into their teens and they admitted they were willing participants."<ref name=campfire />		One source claims that one of the boys was "dangled over a cliff" by policemen until he agreed to name men with whom he had had sex.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050219002356/http://www.paedosexualitaet.de/exp/cliffsrc.html Documenting Abuse of Boys and Families by Los Angeles Police] cites two articles as its source for the claim: Sarff, Doug. "L.A. Jury frees first 'chicken ring' defendant". ''The Advocate'' San Mateo, CA. 16 January 1974 (page 3); and "Cliffhanging Testimony: Jury: Second 'chicken ring' defendant guilty". ''The Advocate'', San Mateo, CA, 30 January 1974 (page 5). There may be a digital copy including the 1974 ''Advocate'' at [http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b24360993~S1 UC Berkeley].</ref> The claim was apparently made in open court. The Lyric producer cited above said that "[T]wo of them were just hustlers the police had dug up — I hardly even knew them. They had worked for Lyric a good little while ago. Even the police didn't push their stories too much, because they were both well into their teens and they admitted they were willing participants."<ref name=campfire />

	The Los Angeles scandal was fueled in part by the August 1973 discovery of the murders in Houston, Texas, by [[Dean Corll]] of at least 27 teenagers. The police insinuated to the press that the Lyric scandal might have a connection. Lyric's owner was originally from Texas; another of those arrested in the case was identified by the ''L.A. Times'' as "William Johnson, 55, a Houston photographer".~~(supra)~~		The Los Angeles scandal was fueled in part by the August 1973 discovery of the murders in Houston, Texas, by [[Dean Corll]] of at least 27 teenagers. The police insinuated to the press that the Lyric scandal might have a connection. Lyric's owner was originally from Texas; another of those arrested in the case was identified by the ''L.A. Times'' as "William Johnson, 55, a Houston photographer".<ref name=LATimes27Oct />

	Lloyd Martin, the policeman most responsible for the arrests, constructed a national reputation as the "child abuse policeman". He later fell into discredit. Widespread criticism of him and his methods is easily found on the Internet. Martin's signature sound bite is that child abuse is "worse than homicide." A ''Salon'' article calls him "infamous" and provides a good general discussion of the exaggerations of child pornography foes.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070304095923/http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/01/31/kincaid/index1.html Is this child pornography?] Kincaid, James R. ''Salon'', 31 Jan 2000</ref>		Lloyd Martin, the policeman most responsible for the arrests, constructed a national reputation as the "child abuse policeman". He later fell into discredit. Widespread criticism of him and his methods is easily found on the Internet. Martin's signature sound bite is that child abuse is "worse than homicide." A ''Salon'' article calls him "infamous" and provides a good general discussion of the exaggerations of child pornography foes.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070304095923/http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/01/31/kincaid/index1.html Is this child pornography?] Kincaid, James R. ''Salon'', 31 Jan 2000</ref>

Sneeuwbol: /* The scandal */

2022-07-01T02:52:59Z

The scandal

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 1 July 2022
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	While the Meese Commission and the ''Los Angeles Times'' both refer to films of child pornography, the news article says that the accused were charged not with child pornography, but with molesting children. It says "One confiscated film shows the boys playing nude on a beach believed to be near Corpus Christi." Lyric did produce such a film, ''[[Summer Freedom]]'', but a film of "boys playing nude on a beach" was then neither pornography nor illegal in the US.		While the Meese Commission and the ''Los Angeles Times'' both refer to films of child pornography, the news article says that the accused were charged not with child pornography, but with molesting children. It says "One confiscated film shows the boys playing nude on a beach believed to be near Corpus Christi." Lyric did produce such a film, ''[[Summer Freedom]]'', but a film of "boys playing nude on a beach" was then neither pornography nor illegal in the US.

	One source claims that one of the boys was "dangled over a cliff" by policemen until he agreed to name men with whom he had had sex.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050219002356/http://www.paedosexualitaet.de/exp/cliffsrc.html Documenting Abuse of Boys and Families by Los Angeles Police] cites two articles as its source for the claim: Sarff, Doug. "L.A. Jury frees first 'chicken ring' defendant". ''The Advocate'' San Mateo, CA. 16 January 1974 (page 3); and "Cliffhanging Testimony: Jury: Second 'chicken ring' defendant guilty". ''The Advocate'', San Mateo, CA, 30 January 1974 (page 5). There may be a digital copy including the 1974 ''Advocate'' at [http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b24360993~S1 UC Berkeley].</ref> The claim was apparently made in open court. The Lyric producer cited above said that "[T]wo of them were just hustlers the police had dug up &~~emdash~~; I hardly even knew them. They had worked for Lyric a good little while ago. Even the police didn't push their stories too much, because they were both well into their teens and they admitted they were willing participants."<ref name=campfire />		One source claims that one of the boys was "dangled over a cliff" by policemen until he agreed to name men with whom he had had sex.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050219002356/http://www.paedosexualitaet.de/exp/cliffsrc.html Documenting Abuse of Boys and Families by Los Angeles Police] cites two articles as its source for the claim: Sarff, Doug. "L.A. Jury frees first 'chicken ring' defendant". ''The Advocate'' San Mateo, CA. 16 January 1974 (page 3); and "Cliffhanging Testimony: Jury: Second 'chicken ring' defendant guilty". ''The Advocate'', San Mateo, CA, 30 January 1974 (page 5). There may be a digital copy including the 1974 ''Advocate'' at [http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b24360993~S1 UC Berkeley].</ref> The claim was apparently made in open court. The Lyric producer cited above said that "[T]wo of them were just hustlers the police had dug up — I hardly even knew them. They had worked for Lyric a good little while ago. Even the police didn't push their stories too much, because they were both well into their teens and they admitted they were willing participants."<ref name=campfire />

	The Los Angeles scandal was fueled in part by the August 1973 discovery of the murders in Houston, Texas, by [[Dean Corll]] of at least 27 teenagers. The police insinuated to the press that the Lyric scandal might have a connection. Lyric's owner was originally from Texas; another of those arrested in the case was identified by the ''L.A. Times'' as "William Johnson, 55, a Houston photographer".(supra)		The Los Angeles scandal was fueled in part by the August 1973 discovery of the murders in Houston, Texas, by [[Dean Corll]] of at least 27 teenagers. The police insinuated to the press that the Lyric scandal might have a connection. Lyric's owner was originally from Texas; another of those arrested in the case was identified by the ''L.A. Times'' as "William Johnson, 55, a Houston photographer".(supra)