First Job Out of College…
Due to moderate demand from friends contacting me on the passing of Larry Flynt, I decided to share about my experience as an employee of Larry Flynt Publications. Like many college grads, I moved to Los Angeles with no job and the kindness of friends’ couches. I worked jobs as a caterer, an assistant at Miramax’s publicity department (saw the Weinstein bros once), temped at Disney’s Buena Vista Pictures (hand filing) in Burbank, but could not find a steady job due in part to the mid-90s recession. Still, I loved LA, listened to the Cranberries on the 10, went to the House of Blues, and learned my way around without a Thomas Guide which I credit for being lost all the time. I was almost out of money and contemplating moving back home (a fate worse than homelessness) when I interviewed for and landed my first health insurance job working as an editorial assistant for “PC Laptop” and “Hot Boat” magazines. The job involved sitting at a desk with no computer, answer the phones and sometimes writing articles. One assignment involved a I ride on a super speed boat hauling super speed skiiers to Catalina. I feared for my life.
Larry Flynt’s penthouse office had lots of ornate rococo style furniture and art, painted art of his late wife, and the general feel of craziness. I met a lot of cool artsy riot girl type and swingers guys and, most importantly, got to pay my rent and celebrate the freedom to be an adult. I did have to see porn in the production office without any legal recourse and I believe I signed an NDA on this one. Since there was no Internet I saw the most shocking of my life at these offices.
That year, 1996, just happened to be the same year that Milos Forman directed the film about Larry Flynt who decided that all his employees would work as extras. I was all over that and in true LA serendipity, I managed to become a featured extra (a maid in Larry’s mansion), which led to me getting my SAG vouchers, and had a casual convo with Yale alum Ed Norton. If you don’t blink you can see me dusting a table in Larry Flynt’s mansion.
One of my roommates at the time kind of shamed my decision to take the job. I assume she had the resources to say no to a job. A the time I was thrilled to have work in the general vicinity of writing. I am am not proud of having worked for the publisher of (ew) “Hustler,”however, I am very proud to have paid my rent at 23.
