Porn Valley- I got to rekindle an old friendship this week with John Paone. John, certainly one of the nicest people I’ve met- here or any where- was the original managing editor of AVN, and I took the post over from John back in 1987 when the magazine was still in Philadelphia. A physically imposing Arnold-type, [or at least that’s the way I remember him] John went on to run his own graphics design company.

“What a disaster that field is,” he laughs.

But throughout the years Paone managed to keep his hand in the adult business, generally as a freelance writer. And just recently Paone took over as the marketing/p.r. guy for Pleasure Productions.

How he wound up with Pleasure is an involved story. Apparently AVN put out an anniversary issue several years ago featuring cartoon panels, one of which featured Paone. When Paone saw the cartoon he began cracking up, not only because 20 years had gone by in a wink since he had been with the magazine but also the fact that he had been out of the porn loop for a bit. So Paone called Tim Connelly and asked if he could start doing some writing. Paone began doing reviews and feature articles. After which then-editor Mike Ramone called him asking if he’d do an on-the-set piece about Luc Wylder and Alexandra Silk who were shooting in Philadelphia at the time. Paone went over to Daydreams, a strip club, to meet them and also hooked up with Don Benn.

“He and Luc and Alex are apparently very close,” notes Paone who, because of an intervening work schedule, never got to do the on the set piece. Though he and Benn struck up a friendship and pal’ed together at last year AEE show. Benn then, because of his health, asked Paone if he’d want to take over his website, www.pornonewsnetwork.com. Paone figured this would be his full time entry back into the business and allow him to make more contacts. Timing being as it is, Ramone again called Paone and asked if he’d do a story on Pleasure’s 20th anniversary in the business. During a conversation with Frank Kay, the owner of Pleasure, Paone was asked if he might want to come in to run the marketing and p.r. for the company.

“I thought this was unbelievable- back in the business full time, strong company on the east coast, I don’t have to uproot the family,” thought Paone who jumped at the opportunity and started with Pleasure two weeks ago. According to Paone, it’s only about a 50 minute drive up the Jersey turnpike to the company’s headquarters from where Paone lives in northeast Philadelphia.

Just to give me an idea of how long it’s been since we last hung out, Paone, who has three kids and is celebrating his 22nd wedding anniversary, says his oldest daughter is now 21.

“The only problem is- now that the kids are old enough they want to know why daddy’s got all these porno boxes around the house for,” he says. I suggest to John they’ve probably already figured that out, not so much wondering. Paone says he hasn’t broken the news- officially- as yet.

“I wouldn’t mind if my oldest daughter knew, she’s old enough,” he adds. “My son, it would probably make him the most popular kid in high school.”

Though Paone figures the cat will be out of the bag soon enough when he’s out and about garnering publicity on behalf of the company’s contract girls.