I live in the suburbs of a city that has hit the National Press for the wrong reasons many times.
One of the better known examples is/was the whole Larry Flynt /HUSTLER magazine fiasco of the 1970s.
Not gonna talk about that - there is a fairly good movie that covers that and 4 or 5 books.
One written by Larry Flynt himself.
These days, Cincinnati is a bit more progressive. We've got a HUSTLER store in downtown Cincinnati and one in the outer suburbs. Both stores are treated as tourist attractions for some out of town visitors.
(The suburban one has more floor space and a better selection of stuff. ) Jerry Falwell died earlier today.
He and Larry Flynt were the main adversaries in one of the HUSTLER legal cases.
Here is what he said earlier today about Falwell :
Upon hearing of his death, Flynt released the following statement to Access Hollywood:
Quote"The Reverend Jerry Falwell and I were arch enemies for fifteen years. We became involved in a lawsuit concerning First Amendment rights and Hustler magazine. Without question, this was my most important battle – the l988 Hustler Magazine, Inc., v. Jerry Falwell case, where after millions of dollars and much deliberation, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in my favor.
My mother always told me that no matter how much you dislike a person, when you meet them face to face you will find characteristics about them that you like. Jerry Falwell was a perfect example of that. I hated everything he stood for, but after meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends. He would visit me in
California and we would debate together on college campuses. I always appreciated his sincerity even though I knew what he was selling and he knew what I was selling.
The most important result of our relationship was the landmark decision from the Supreme Court that made parody protected speech, and the fact that much of what we see on television and hear on the radio today is a direct result of my having won that now famous case which Falwell played such an important role in."
The full article is here : http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah5356.shtml
I just think its really cool that these two very public adversaries managed to become friends after all their legal battles - even when they knew they were philosophically opposed to what they other believed on many issues.
- Ed C.