‘Deep Throat’ pornographic film opens in New York City 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1972)


Video: 'Inside deep Throat (2005) - Trailer [Linda Lovelace]'

(Monday, June 12, 1972, advertised to open at 9:45 a.m. EDT)Deep Throat, an American pornographic film that was at the forefront of the Golden Age of Porn (1969–1984), made its debut today at the World Theatre, located at 153 W. 49th Street, between 6th and 7th avenues, in the Manhattan borough of New York City.

Made for $25,000, the film returned more than $600 million worldwide. It was written and directed by Gerard Damiano, who was listed in the credits as “Jerry Gerard”; produced by Louis Peraino, credited as “Lou Perry”; and starring Linda Lovelace, the pseudonym given to Linda Susan Boreman.


Video: 'Deep Throat' trailer

One of the first pornographic films to feature a plot, character development, and relatively high production values, Deep Throat earned mainstream attention and launched the “porno chic” trend, even though the film was banned in some jurisdictions and was the subject of obscenity trials.

Lovelace later wrote that she was coerced and sexually assaulted in the production and that it is a real rape pornography film.