Big Al

January 24, 2005 12:10 PM

He spent a lifetime peddling smut and once had an $11 million fortune, but after losing everything and becoming just another homeless New Yorker, Al Goldstein is now happy pushing bagels instead of porn.
posted by terrier319 (15 comments total)

I heard him on Imus, and he doesn't sound too happy to me.
posted by nathanrudy at 12:38 PM on January 24, 2005

Those he befriended in the porn business, a billion-dollar industry he helped pioneer, turned their backs to him. Even his own son, Jordan, a Harvard graduate who works for a New York-based law firm, refuses to speak to him.

"My life has turned to crap," Goldstein said. "To go from a being a millionaire and then living in a homeless shelter and being rejecting by 98 percent of your friends is horrendous, but I'm a survivor."

The guy is even too dumb to know that he never had any friends, they were only interested in his money....... it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
posted by centerpunch at 12:44 PM on January 24, 2005

Poor Al.

I always veiwed him as Larry Flynt's New York sidekick. Maybe I'll stop by and have a pastrami to show my support.
posted by jonmc at 12:50 PM on January 24, 2005

"The Internet made pornography available for free and I couldn't compete," said Goldstein, who now lives on Staten Island, with his fifth wife, Christine, 28.

I know the fable about the abused porn starlet who never had any real love or had too much abuse from a father figure and thus goes into porn.. but.. I.. still.. don't...understand..

69-28=41.
posted by cavalier at 1:01 PM on January 24, 2005

Does Screw still exist?
posted by SisterHavana at 1:15 PM on January 24, 2005

Here we have a guy that sold hooker ads. And he went out of business. Why should I feel sorry for him again?
posted by jsavimbi at 1:22 PM on January 24, 2005

I saw that too, Cav. I don't think he's suffering TOO badly.

But still, I wanted to stop by and offer a hug until 1) I realized the bagel place is in Brooklyn, and 2) he's probably not standing in the door:

Now he works at New York City Bagels on commission, cold calling customers to generate corporate accounts.

So before you head out to Brighton Beach, remind yourself that he's probably in the back room by a telephone and not out shaking hands.
posted by Lady Penelope at 1:26 PM on January 24, 2005

Penn's just willing to give people the benefit of a doubt, without judgement based on yesteryear's news. Somehow, I doubt he'd do the same for Flynt.
posted by vanadium at 1:30 PM on January 24, 2005

An appropriate time to plug a friend's movie, "Goldstein."

I always thought it was a funny coincidence that Goldstein was also the name of the leader of the resistance in Orwell's 1984.
posted by cloudscratcher at 1:31 PM on January 24, 2005

Does Screw still exist?

I haven't seen it on the newsstand but then again I'm not looking for it ... the Web, as Big Al points out, has pretty well decimated the porn mag industry.
posted by terrier319 at 1:46 PM on January 24, 2005

Why does Penn Gillete sound more and more skeevy every time I read something about him?

It's skeevy to help a guy get a second start in life?
posted by mosch at 2:14 PM on January 24, 2005

i seem to remember Paul Thomas Anderson remarking how upset Al was that he didn't ask for his help as a consultant on 'Boogie Nights.' he consulted with Veronica Hart instead.
posted by NationalKato at 3:15 PM on January 24, 2005

Why does Penn Gillete sound more and more skeevy every time I read something about him?

It's skeevy to help a guy get a second start in life?

Penn Jillette: Bailed out his friend the porn king. Making a movie devoted to the dirtiest joke ever told. Built a house that features a pornographic art collection and dedicated S&M rooms.

Yeah, I started getting the creepy vibe from him long ago, and he has only confirmed it in the meantime. Also, this post is total LastWeeksNewYorkerFilter.
posted by ChasFile at 8:51 PM on January 24, 2005

Now he works at New York City Bagels on commission, cold calling customers to generate corporate accounts.

The guy's a frigging telemarketer now! Far from wishing him well, I hope that he chokes on a bagel or something.
posted by sour cream at 11:07 PM on January 24, 2005

The tragic story of when a man discovers there's no honor among smut peddlers. Poor crazy kid.
posted by nanojath at 8:26 PM on February 23, 2005