Lost Boys: Vintage Images of Ray Connors

Lost Boys: Vintage Images of Ray Connors

Alias: Tracy Andrews

Years Active: 1980-1981

Absolutely nothing is known about Ray Connors. I searched a lot, but came up empty. He was not in the industry long, appearing in only about four films. 

That said... why is he included in this series?

For one plain reason: he was my very personal introduction to gay porn. 

My first paper boyfriend.

I'd never stepped into a dirty bookstore before. Really, never noticed them at all. Didn't know they existed. Didn't know what went on there. That is until 1982 or so. The house on Park Avenue was not far from one of infamous porn-king Ferris Alexander's dirty movie theatres. It had a bookstore right next door.

Not that anyone cared or noticed little old me, but I felt like Indiana Jones entering the Temple of Doom walking into either the bookstore or the movie theatre. That's how naive I was back then. Oh the shame. Imagine if someone I knew saw me!

And I had no money... but I would take what little I had and plunk it down for a hot spank book, something I did on a regular basis until home video became a thing.

Walking into that bookstore, I would automatically give the clerk a sideways glance, totally ready to be yelled at or told to leave. I felt judged. And yes, I was that guilty! Guilt about being gay and in need of some... outlet. I'd walk up and down the aisles.  It would take me forever to work up nerve enough to walk over and look at the gay stuff. When I did? First, I would look at the pulp fiction novels... wanting to appear 'less' of a perv. You know... literary? But eventually, I would get over to the magazines and that's when dollars met value. See, I had to weigh the two carefully to get the most bang for my buck. 

Frequently, I would end up purchasing a three-pak - three single, older issue magazines sealed in plastic wrap with a big graphic declaring what a bargain they were. There was no way of knowing what the middle magazine was until you got  home - and, typically, it was somewhat of a dud, but the cover photos on the magazines you did see held so much promise, you were more than willing to accept that wager.

My very first dirty bookstore purchase was a three-pak containing Ray Connors in Nova's Lockerroom. The images of Ray, leaning back on the lockers, showing off his nicely-filled jock strap was the stuff of my adolescent high school cream dreams. I didn't care much for the 'other guy', but Ray? 

Ray pushed all my buttons. 

It had to do with plausibility. Ray looked like he could have been a Senior at my high school. And Ray looked very approachable, so it was easy to superimpose my fantasies on top of the images in the magazine. We went steady for many years, though it was an open relationship, so we were both free to see other people.

I loved his porn-stache and imperfect smile. The fly-away nature of his hair. His eyebrows. All of these were traits found attractive back in the day.  And I loved his socks! Nova Studios was truly innovative. They had porn down to a science. One of their hallmarks was that each actor had to keep one piece of clothing on during sex, typically a pair of brightly colored or striped socks.

Nova Studios also pioneered the marketing technique of creating glossy brochures to help sell their films, cover costs and raise capital. They would produce a 16-page, full-color, glossy magazine based on each film, with each magazine containing about 70 stills from the film.

So chalk this one up to wistful nostalgia. Seeing these images again was like seeing an old boyfriend. And, lo and behold... he hasn't changed a bit! 

Yes, time has indeed been kind to him.

And that, my friends, is the beauty of paper boyfriends!

Until next time...

Thanks for reading.

My New Boyfriend - Carly Simon

Old Boyfriends - Crystal Gayle / Tom Waits