CIRCUS OF BOOKS

CIRCUS OF BOOKS

Late 1980’s

Donated by the Mason Family, 2020

Circus of Books was a bookstore and gay pornography shop that operated in West Hollywood and Silverlake. This sign was from the Silverlake location, visible from Sunset Boulevard. For generations of gay men, the Circus of Books sign was a symbol for a

store, gathering place, cruising spot, and resource to the community. The mom-and-pop business was established in 1982 by Karen and Barry Mason. The store survived the AIDS crisis, censorship wars, and multiple recessions until its closure in 2016. Circus of Books is a sign that bears testament to hidden narratives of individuals forced to exist in the shadows, and the businesspeople who put themselves at risk to provide services to them. To learn more about the Mason family and the history of Circus of Books you can watch the documentary Circus of Books on Netflix.