The Origins of Amateur Porn and the Invention of the Video Camera

Posted in Amateur Porn, Retro, Amateurs on February 4, 2008

We all know that the whole world of porn from loops to films projected in theaters like Deep Throat and all those classics changed dramatically with the video camera. We also know that the whole gonzo thing and switchover to lo-fi ways and means of shooting porn changed when the video camera became less expensive and portable. Now we can trace it back to the exact year according to Copyranter. ““You’ll wrack your brain to think of a place you can’t use a video tape recorder. We’re showing only one of thousands of ways to get it on…on video tape. And here’s a great offer. Every buyer of an AKAI VTR will receive a personal invitation from one of the provocative Penthouse Pets to attend a video taping session—with her—in a city near them.“

The camera and recorder retailed for $1,295 and weighed “less than 20 lbs.” According to some money calculations that would be $6,238 today in 2008. A bit steep. Click on the ad for a bigger pic, the copy is hilarious.

What’s surprising to me is that it took decades for amateur porn makers to realize you could sell your sex tapes. Of course the internet did play a large role in it. So have a gander at the phenomenal site Sellyoursextape which is 100% genuine homemade sex tapes made by real couples. Want to make $2,000 for your homemade porn? Talk to fine folks at Sell Your Sex Tape, the way this amateur couple did.

4 Responses to “The Origins of Amateur Porn and the Invention of the Video Camera”

Audacia Ray said on February 5th, 2008 at 11:38 am:
Homegrown Video [http://homegrownvide.com] launched in 1982 and has been a really successful clearinghouse for amateur sex tapes since then - they pretty much defined the category of “amateur.”
MasonSquelch said on February 5th, 2008 at 6:49 pm:
This ad is a great find! It really were different times then, if not a completely different era! Do you know where they published this (magazine, newspaper, …)?
admin said on February 5th, 2008 at 7:02 pm:
Hi Audacia, After taking a peek, I’m not so sure about homegrownvideo, looks like it falls more into the “pro-am” category, unlike Dare Ring or Sell Your Sex Tape . I’ll have to do more research about the beginnings of amateur sex tapes and what not.

Mason, I have a feeling this was published in Penthouse.
MasonSquelch said on February 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pm:
That would fit, thanks