Sex Before the Internet

As VHS and cable brought sex scenes into the living room, Playboy's relevance was under threat. Hugh Hefner had to keep up with the times and bring his brand to television.

The brand Girls Gone Wild becomes an instant hit, making its creator, Joe Francis, a star, but its behind-the-scenes drama rivals its on-screen thrills.

The creators of Showgirls wanted to push the limits, but it turned out America wasn't ready for explicit sex in a mainstream movie – until it came out on home video.

Deep Throat made porn mainstream, but it took time for gay porn to come out of the closet. One buttoned up producer would help it happen and revolutionize American masculinity.