Harry Reems

Male adult bio


birth= birth date and age|mf=yes|1947|8|27
location= Bronx, New York, U.S.
birthname= Herbert Streicher
death=
measurements =
height=
weight=
eye color= Brown
hair color= Brown
orientation= Heterosexual
alias= Harry Reams, Harry Reemes, Bruce Gilchrist, Charles Lamont, Tim Long, Ned Reems, Herb Streecher, Herbert Streicher, Herb Streicher, Herb Stryker, Bob Walters
afdb =1053
imdb = 0715857
homepage=
intro-tooshort

Harry Reems is the stage name of one of the best-known porn stars of the 1970s.

Early life and career

Harry Reems was born Herbert Streicher to a Jewish family in Bronx, New York on August 27, 1947. He served briefly in the United States Marine Corps before electing to pursue an acting career, principally in off-Broadway theater.

Looking for ways to support himself, Streicher began to appear in dozens of short, silent stag films, often referred to as "loops", during the early 1970s. He eventually went on to appear in approximately 140 feature-length sexploitation and hardcore films between 1971 and 1989, with "Deep Throat" (1972) and "The Devil in Miss Jones" (1973) being the best known as well as roughies like "Forced Entry" (1971) and "Sex Wish" (1976). In the former, he plays a sadistic Vietnam veteran hellbent on rape and murder; while the latter has him as a husband turned vigilante to seek revenge of the rape and murder of his wife. In 1975, he published a memoir, "Here Comes Harry Reems," in which he details the early years of his experience as an adult film actor. He had sex (in hardcore pornographic film) with the underage Traci Lords.

For the production of "Deep Throat" in Florida in January 1972, Streicher was hired to be part of the lighting crew, but the director was unable to cast one of the roles and asked him. He was paid $250 for the one day of acting work. Streicher was unaware that the director had given him the name "Harry Reems" until he saw the movie. [Jim Gallagher, "Porn fame is a trying experience for Reems", "Chicago Tribune", Oct. 14, 1976, p. A1.]

Reems's appearance in "Deep Throat" led to his arrest by FBI agents in New York City in July 1974, [ [http://worldofwonder.net/insidedeepthroat/archives/timeline.wow Inside Deep Throat: Timeline] .] and indictment in Memphis, Tennessee in June 1975 on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute obscenity across state lines. ["U.S. v. Battista", 646 F.2d 237, 241 (C.A. Tenn., 1981). The federal district court in Memphis had jurisdiction and venue because "Deep Throat" had been transported across state lines to be shown in Memphis in February 1974. "U.S. v. Peraino", 645 F.2d 548, 549 (C.A.Tenn., 1981). Reems called it forum shopping.] He was convicted in April 1976 with 11 other individuals and four corporations. ["'Deep Throat' Obscene, Jury Rules; 12 Convicted", "Los Angeles Times", May 1, 1976, p. 11. "Notables Aid Convicted 'Deep Throat' Star", "The New York Times", June 29, 1976, p. 26.] His conviction was overturned on appeal in April 1977 because his activities in making the film occurred before a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obscenity in 1973 ("Miller v. California"), and Reems was granted a new trial. ["Judge Grants New Trial for 'Deep Throat' Star", "New York Times", April 12, 1977, p. 12. The jury instruction at Reems' trial had improperly used the post-"Miller" definition of obscenity.] The charges against Reems were dropped in August. [ [http://worldofwonder.net/insidedeepthroat/archives/timeline.wow Inside Deep Throat: Timeline] .] Reems's defense claimed that he was the first American actor to be prosecuted by the Federal government merely for appearing in a film, and he received considerable support from established Hollywood and New York celebrities during his trial. [Among them: Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Shirley Maclaine, Richard Dreyfuss, Gregory Peck, Colleen Dewhurst, Rod McKuen, Ben Gazzara, Mike Nichols, Julie Newmar, Dick Cavett, George Plimpton, and Stephen Sondheim ( [http://worldofwonder.net/insidedeepthroat/archives/timeline.wow Inside Deep Throat: Timeline] ). Nicholson, Beatty, and Louise Fletcher were ready to testify on his behalf at his trial.] His successful appeal was handled by attorney Alan Dershowitz.

Later years

After years of alcohol and drug abuse, Reems began recovery from alcoholism in 1989. He eventually married and converted to Christianity. "Being the low-bottom drunk that I was, I started going around to churches," said Reems, who was raised Jewish. "I called myself a church gypsy." Reems credits his conversion to Rev. Mark Heiss, a former pastor with Park City Community Church. Heiss was abruptly replaced at the church by someone else, for reasons Reems says were never explained, causing Reems to leave the congregation in the belief that it was "about putting money in the coffers." Today, outside organized religion, he continues to meditate, pray and offer gratitude to God. "If I didn't put God in my life, I'd be dead now," he said. "I am not religious. I'm spiritual, 100 percent." [http://www.martyangelo.com/harry_reems.htm Harry Reems - 'Throat' star thanks God for new lease on life] , The Salt Lake Tribune] He continues to identify himself as "Harry Reems".

Reems was interviewed in the 2005 documentary "Inside Deep Throat".

In popular culture

*Harry Reems and his legal battle are featured episode 105 of the series Swingtown.

References

Autobiography: "Here Comes Harry Reems!", 1975, Pinnacle Books (OOP); ISBN-13: 978-0523004594

External links

* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,1487624,00.html Long interview and retrospective "(The Observer)"]
* [http://porno.fluctuat.net/cinema/images/porno-us-harry-reems.jpgPicture of Harry Reems]
* [http://www.moviehole.net/news/20050211_5046.html Harry Reems interview]
* [http://www.bullz-eye.com/entertainment/interviews/harry_reems.htm Bullz-Eye Harry Reems Interview 2005]
* [http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/feature.jsp?id=146685&page=1 Harry Reems on Inside Deep Throat] , an interview with Channel 4
* [http://www.sexherald.com/sex-industry-interviews/aftermath_of_a_sexual_maelstrom-_harry_reems_today.html Interview] with SexHerald.com