Jay Howard was a young man with a troubled past. He lost his parents in a plane crash as an infant and was raised by his grandmother, who dragged him to church multiple times a week. At 17, he ran away to Los Angeles, seeking a new life in the bright lights of the city.
It was in LA that he met Mel Roberts, a physique photographer who would become his lover and collaborator. Mel had been struck by Jay’s beauty when he saw him washing a car in nothing but shorts. They soon began working together, with Jay modelling for Bob Mizer at AMG and later moving into hardcore porn.
Jay’s story is a complicated one, involving modelling, hustling, and running a small gardening business. According to those who knew him, he was expensive but great in bed, with a particular talent for oral sex. He was also an enthusiastic bottom, although he only topped in some of the hardcore movies he made in the early 1970s.
While Jay’s story is fascinating, it also shines a light on the darker side of the porn industry and the challenges faced by LGBT individuals in the 1970s. For Jay, being openly gay and involved in porn meant being ostracized by much of society. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his passions and create art that celebrated his sexuality.
Today, Jay is remembered as a pioneering figure in the world of gay porn, someone who pushed boundaries and challenged societal norms. His story is a reminder that even in difficult circumstances, it is possible to find one’s place in the world and make a meaningful impact.
