Page 20 - AVN August 2016

WHO’S WHO
IN MEMORIAM
Former Hustler Editorial Director Bruce David Passes
years, died June 16 at the age of 75, reportedly
Bruce David, an employee of LFP, Inc. for nearly 40
from septic shock following a long illness. When
he retired some three years ago, his titles were
editor-in-chief and editorial director for the
company’s major publications including Hustler magazine.
“My father was certainly the greatest man I’ve ever known
and I will miss him dearly,” wrote son Taylor David on the
Facebook page devoted to Bruce. “Although I am beyond
devastated by this loss, I find comfort in the fact that he
lived a rich and fruitful life. He was a brilliant artist, writer,
publisher, and journalist—a man of many talents. He made
his mark on the world as editor-in-chief of Hustler Magazine,
publishing consequential investigative pieces and political
commentary that championed the working class and First
Amendment, pushing the boundaries far beyond the scope
of your typical sex magazine. As a screenwriter, he made
people laugh, adding his wit to shows like Family Ties and Alf, among others. His
achievements in life were abundant and I am terribly saddened he has gone.”
“My heart is broken, as we have lost a Hustler family member, Bruce David,”
wrote Theresa Flynt on her Facebook page. “Bruce’s contribution to Hustler over
the past 40 years added to the DNA of the magazine. He was the essence of what
Hustler stands for, he was the catalyst in the obscure subjects that contributed to
our editorial edge, always thinking of the strange, outside of the box thoughts,
sexual, worldly, environmental, sci-fi and political concerns with no fear. Many
people feared him as he was crass, direct with crazy ways, yet at the same time, he
was respected, admired and loved.”
David’s first contact with the adult entertainment industry came as Al
Goldstein’s executive editor at Screw magazine in New York City in the early
1970s, and as sometime-co-host of Goldstein’s Manhattan Cable late-night sex
talk show, Midnight Blue. But all that changed when David wrote a critique of
Flynt’s then-new magazine, Hustler.
“Bruce was working for Screw and wrote a review of the very first issue of Hustler
back in 1974,” Flynt recalled. “He said, ‘The new men’s upstart, Hustler, has just
nudged out Refrigerator Monthly as the most boring publication in America.’ So I
called him up. I told him, ‘I love your review! And I agree with you, by the way.
Why don’t you come to Columbus and help us out?’”
“He worked for Larry Flynt Publications for nearly four decades,” added current
Hustler editor Ann Denbok. “He was stubborn, arrogant … very creative.”
As editorial director, David oversaw all of the LFP publications, including
Hustler, Hustler XXX, Chic, Taboo, Taboo Illustrated, Barely Legal and others. He wrote
editorials for several of the magazines, as well as the “Asshole of the Month”
column, though Flynt himself chose the featured asshole. It was one of those
columns, featuring “Moral Majority” leader Rev. Jerry Falwell, that led to a
lawsuit in which Falwell claimed that he had been defamed,
even though the column was clearly labeled as satire. The
case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which
found that the content was constitutionally protected—a
major victory for adult entertainment, which still produces
parodies of mainstream movies, TV shows and books.
“I’m sorry to hear that he’s gone,” reflected Ernest
Greene, whose work on the Taboo magazines and some “all-
sex” LFP publications was overseen by David. “I really liked
him. He was a big tall guy with a big loud booming voice and
he could be intimidating—and God knows, I think a lot of
people quavered at the thought when he’d yell for them to
come into his office, but actually, I think the times I spent in
his office were some of the happiest times I had there.
David was reportedly a bit of a technophobe, disliking
email and preferring to edit copy in printed form rather than
on a computer screen.
“He was really good at the editorial part of being an editor,” Greene stated.
“He could read things very well. He never gave up on doing that; he looked at
everything that went into the magazines. Many’s the times I saw him going
through copy line by line—and I will tell you absolutely, he never touched a piece
of copy of mine that didn’t get better. ...
“One thing he could not tolerate was anything he thought was stupid,” Greene
added. “He could tolerate a lot of things, but if you said something dumb in
his presence, or something he perceived to be dumb, look out! He had an epic,
legendary temper but once he vented that, it was over and then he could go right
back to being a very cheerful and very entertaining and very funny raconteur.”
Politically speaking, David had libertarian leanings, which allied with Flynt’s
early politics. David began to push Hustler in a more political direction early on.
“His politics were a funny mix of things, but generally speaking, he was
suspicious of government—but he was suspicious of the people who were
suspicious of government,” Greene related. “It could be fairly said of Bruce that
his general attitude was one of extreme skepticism toward anything that came
through the door, which is a good attitude for an editor, in my opinion. He was not
impossible to convince. He had an open mind, and some of the many things we
discussed—politics, culture—there was very little he didn’t know.”
It was David who brought on board such politically savvy columnists as Nat
Hentoff (formerly of the Village Voice), Robert Scheer (former editor of the radical
left-wing journal Ramparts) and political commentator Brad Friedman.
“Once again, our community loses part of its memory and part of the strange
mix of interesting Bohemian-type people that were drawn to the industry in the
early days. This is a link with our history that’s now severed,” Greene said.
—Mark Kernes
Bruce David photo courtesy Hustler magazine. Read a longer version on AVN.com.
Kenny Brandon, 1978-2016
away on June 22. He was 38. Brandon had been
Adult industry videographer Kenny Brandon passed
regular content shooter and photographer for more
than 10 years working for various companies,
including ATK and Combat Zone. The native of Chino Hills,
Calif., is survived by two daughters, ages 6 and 5.
Brandon’s family has not released any details about his
passing, but his sister Sommer said, “He was loved by his
family very much. He loved his girls very much. He was a great
dad and brother and we will miss him greatly. We have lots of
wonderful, fun memories. We love you Kenny. You’re in our
hearts forever.”
Brandon made his directorial debut in 2006, shooting Virgins
of the Screen for Combat Zone. He also had directed for his
ex-wife’s Alicia Silver Productions, which produced content
for companies such as Combat Zone, Homegrown Video
and others. In addition, Brandon worked with Silver’s former
agency, Silver Star Models, in the mid-2000s. His photography
website was KennyOgraphy.com.
Several adult industry members remembered Brandon in
social media posts.
OC Modeling called Brandon a “loving father” on Twitter.
“The ATMLA family sends prayers and condolences to
Kenny’s children who will be missing a very good father,” the
ATMLA agency wrote on Twitter.
“RIP @KennyBrandon you had a loving and fun soul and
people will forever remember that,” performer Sophia Grace
tweeted.
Performer Scott Lyons called Brandon “an amazing guy” with
whom he’d been friends for his entire career.
—Dan Miller
Photo of Kenny Brandon at AVN House Party by Chris King
20 | AVN.com | 8.16