BJ's DIRECTOR JOE GAGE page; great gay film maker

DIRECTOR Joe Gage

Joe Gage working on El Paso
Often considered the best, he certainly had several of the most commercially successful gay porn films of the 70's/early 80's era. Interestingly enough, he left the "adult" business just as video was taking over film, doing just one movie in video format (Closed Set 2), and worked in low-budget horror films, under the name Tim Kincaid (such films as Breeders, and Robot Holocaust). In several of his films, he appears as one of the many men in the orgy scenes (many of the guys simply credited as "The Gage Men"). Some rumors said Joe Gage made films in the 80's under the name Mac Larsen because of trouble with Reagan's crack down on porn, or tax issues - not true. He said in an interview that he lost interest in making porno films, but they offered some quick money, and he made a deal with P. M. Productions to do several with a quick turn-around and a set budget. Those films were shot in 1 or 2 days, then edited and handed over to P.M. in a matter of just a few days total (in comparison to L.A. Tool and Die, which took 20 days for shooting alone, an unheard of amount of time for a porno movie). He is featured in one early film, from 1975, Morning Noon, and Night, where he portrays a chef in a 3-way (nice work with that zucchini!). He also directed an off-Broadway hit, Naked Highway in 1983. Most of his films were produced by "Sam Gage" pictured below with the curly hair. Recently Gage became a 2001 GayVN Video Awards Hall of Fame inductee, and began his return to the porno business with his 2001 release "Tulsa County Line".

Kansas City Trucking Co. (1976)
His first film, hugely successful, and was the first of the trilogy. Starring Jack Wrangler, Steve Boyd, Richard Locke, Duff Paxton, Kurt Williams ("Desert Rat" - slurp!), Dane Tremmell, Skip Shepherd, Bud Jaspar, and Maria Reina (Boyd's girl - non-sexual role). Richard Locke is the star of all 3 of the "trilogy," and here he plays an "older" (maybe 35!) trucker who is assigned to work with a new kid (big-dicked, str8, Steve Boyd). But before leaving on their first haul together, he and dispatcher/boss Jack Wrangler manage some very hot sex. A minor disconcerting thing, although I am used to the "dubbing" so commonly used in many flicks mid-70's, is that Locke's voice is not his own (he's the narrator, and it makes me wonder if it's Gage doing the narration) - having seen/heard him in several other films, . On the road, there is a fantastic use of dream-like sequences, flash-backs, etc, while Locke describes to Boyd how to deal with "urges" on the road, away from his girlfriend. Boyd dreams of getting it on with Wrangler (Dos Equis product placement), jerks off in the truck with Locke, and eventually, is heavy into the orgy finale (or was that a dream/fantasy?). This last sequence, as well as the fantastic 3-way in a seemingly abandoned house in the middle of the desert, combine great sound, lighting, and superior editing to create thoroughly sensual sex scenes. Alas, missing in most video versions of the film (including GAGETAPEs), and the DVD is the brief watersports scene (I have a Select Video copy that does have it!).

Nick Elliot (directory of photography) Al Steinman (music), Glen Nathan (sound)

El Paso Wrecking Corp (1977) Richard Locke, Fred Halsted, Mike Morris, and Jared Benson on the set of El Paso

Opened the day after Christmas of 1977, starring Richard Locke and Fred Halsted in the classic road movie/buddy movie/fuck flick. Locke and Halsted get fired from their jobs at Kansas City Trucking, hop in their pick-up, and head to El Paso in search of work; all the while finding plenty of bars, backrooms, public bathrooms, and outdoor spaces to keep them busy before arriving in El Paso to find jobs at the Wrecking Corp (where they christen the buildings with an orgy before tearing them down!) Also featuring: Clay Russell, Guillermo Ricardo, Keith Anthoni (in the motorcycle scene), Mike Morris (father), Jared Benson (son), Lou Davis, Steve King, Aaron Taylor, Robert Snowden, Ken Brown, Rob Carter, Jeanne Marie Marchaud, Veronica Compton, and in non-sexual roles Georgina Spelvin (she plays the bartender in my all-time favorite non-sex scene in a porn movie!), and Stan Braddock; plus "The Wrecking Corps" - Hal Dorn, Joe Gage, Ty Harper, Delmer Jackson, Yank Jankowski, Christian Laage, Buck Lingren, Ed Murray, Bill Oberfeldt, and Al Yeager. Original score enhanced by the use of the "SurrounduSound" audio system. Interesting, many folks remember the "incest" scene with the father and son, initiated by Fred Halsted's character. Look closely - Dad just walks in on his son who's about to have sex with Halsted, but simply watches, jerking off, as Fred and the son (Jared Benson) go at it - no actual incest, but more voyeurism, the key to Gage's films. See GAGEtape page for info on what's missing from DVD and later VHS versions of the film.

L. A. Tool & Die (1979)
The final installment in the trilogy, Locke finally meets his man (Will Seagers), who he patiently waits for until he is ready; through several orgies, and other hookups before they finally "do it" together near the end, and decide to shack up together. Imagine, a porn film with a flashback death scene in Vietnam (Seagers saying goodbye to his lover). Starring Richard Locke and Will Seagers; The scene with Casey Donovan in the woods, (with Terri Hannon, and Derrick Stanton), just great (of course, he does another fantastic in the woods scene in Heatstroke). Final scene, where they discover water in the desert plot of land Locke had invested all his money in was inspired by a Loretta Young nun movie - Come to the Stable!! Plus Paul Baressi in the obligatory Gage bi/str8 scene, flinging his used condom at the kid in the bushes who's been spying on Baressi and his girl. Plus Richard Youngblood, Bob Blount (bearded blond, who died in a motorcycle accident a few weeks after shooting), Johnny Falconberg (great glory-hole scene with Seagers, possibly his only porn appearance), Michael Kearns, Joe Walsh, Joseph Kearns, Shawn Victors, Becky Bitter, Dan Pace (aka Rocky Genero), Scott Sinclair, Gregg Dale, Bob Damon, Roy Harwood, Chuck Cord, Matthew Forde, Steve Rideout, Rev. Spoonball (on the radio), Joe Gage and "The Gage Men" (Carlos Balajo, Patrick Graham, Paul Guild,Erling Hitt, Beau Lovejoy, Max Osterhaut, Jose Solica, Nels Stensgaard, Shelly Gard). Music by Al Steniman, Harmonica solos by Chuck Thatcher.

Closed Set (1980)

The standard line these days on Closed Set and Closed Set 2 (if you read video boxes) is that they were never meant for commercial release. Not exactly true. Basically, Gage wanted to experiment a bit, get a gathering of select men together for a one-night stand-up sex session, like a backroom, and see if he could get enough material to make it into a commercial film. Using four cameras (6 cameramen: O.J. Davis, Nick Elliot, Joe Gage, Jason Soto, Chris Walmsley, and Richard Youngblood - some of whom also participated in the action) and filmed in 4 hours- the first hour wasn't even sex, just intros, "sniffing each other out" with clothes on - it was indeed released in movie theatres back then when Gage saw he had some good stuff! Starring "The Gage Men" - no cast listing for the film, though of note is J.W. King (also seen in : A Night At Halsted's, Gold Rush Boys, Face To Face, SkinFlix, Three Day Pass and many more) and R. J. Reynolds (seen elsewhere in Three Day Pass, Wet Shorts, Beg Men On Campus and A Night At Halsted's) - both are amazingly greedy oral enthusiasts!; also spotted: Sam Benson, Scott Sinclair (scene in L A Tool & Die paired with “coach” Dan Pace (AKA Rocky Genero)) - camermen Nick Elliot, D. J. Davis, Joe Gage, Jason Sato, Chris Welmsley, and Richard Youngblood (who you've also seen in front of the camera in HANDsome and L. A. Tool & Die) are also in on the action

HANDsome (1981)

This film is often dismissed and misunderstood, but it's a favorite of mine. Basically about guy's jerking off, with some oral action, but what strings it together are phone calls to "Joe" suggesting locales and scenarios for .... an orgy? ...a film? Or are these just audio jack-off tapes that filmmkaer Gage is listening to, imagining how he'd film them? - If you've seen Heatstroke, then you'll see that this film served more or less as a pre-cursor to it, with some of the techniques being tested in HANDsome, and used more successfully, in Heatstroke. Starring J.D. Slater, Ron Clayton, Roy Garrett, Bill Geary, Robert West, Rick Youngblood, Joe Gage, and others not credited. Amazingly seductive soundtrack from Man Parrish; Vocal Montages based on "The Ad" by Rick L. Pollack - (you can even hear some of Roy Garrett's erotic poetry in one or two scenes)

Heatstroke (1982)

My all-time favorite. From the black-and-white shots at the beginning, the excellent Man Parrish theme song, and especially the amazing scene with Casey Donovan lost in the woods (sucking off all these guys with the hottest voice-over on film - a guy suggesting all sorts of hot sex scenes, from whacking off as you pull up to a gas station attendant, to making it with "Dad"...) a thoroughly amazing film! Set in Montana, some ranch hands set about to make the most of their weekend - time at the local peep shows, an excellent scene where Richard Locke gets it on with his ex-girl's new miliatary boyfriend, and a scene where a guy is refused admission to the local sex club cuz he's too old, so he grabs a fellow rejectee (wearing an Izod shirt!) and does it 'round back! Roy Garrett (Rory), Casey Donovan (Marty King), Richard Locke (Shep), Clay Russell (Pete Mattson, U.S.M.C.), Clinton Coe (Jud), Bud Wallace (Dave), John Steele (Barney) and introducing Richard West (Lucky). Plus The Gage Men (of course), Suzanne Tyson as Jolene, the peepshow dancer, and Bob Shane as the sex club clerk. Jud's Fantasy written by Rick L. Pollack

my description when selling a spare copy on eBay:

Roy Garrett is our narrator, one of a group of ranch hands under the purview of bearded daddy/boss Richard Locke. He and his buddies are given a free weekend, as the rodeo is in town and Locke wants them to enjoy themselves for once. Roy ends up in a dirty bookstore where he watches a female peepshow performer (dangerous female parts!). Along with another guy, they watch her and jack off, as well as egg each other on vocally, and grabbing at each other - FANTASTIC SCENE!
Next, ex-Marine Clay Russell visits Richard Locke; it seems that Russell was once married to Locke’s wife. After some double entendre-laden flirtation, disguised as two buddy’s chatting about marital frustration, Russell gets Locke to let him see it, then touch it, then perform oral. Locke refuses to reciprocate - at first - but then does it like the pro that he is. Slow, sensual music adds to the mood (as does the intercutting of RODEO footage!)
Clinton Coe (Jud) is the only cowboy left at the ranch, and tries to pass the time reading Rollo May's Love and Will. That doesn't quite do it for him, so he goes for a walk in the woods. Here's where the films descends into the surreal - Casey Donovan babbling naughty scenarios like a stoned slam poet over rapidly edited footage - an all out orgy with filthy voiceover - Jud's Fantasy - written by Rick L. Pollack. At first it's Casey Servicing a faceless and huge Black men as Clinton masturbates, watching; then it's both Casey and Clinton enjoying oral on several men, as the filthy talk continues. Both men perform admirably.
A great sequence, with cute lil' Bob Shane as the clerk who won't let "over-the-hill" John Steele into a sex club. Rejected and dejected, Steele slowly leaves, but is joined by another rejectee, Bud Wallace (too preppy). A brief commerseration leads to, of course, hot sex! Don't let this social commentary on the emerging gay scene of the early 80's distract too much, as the sex scene that follows isn't just a couple of guys helping each other, this one has real passion, including a good deal of kissing that is sometimes missing from other Gage scenes (usually related to the specifics of the sex dynamics of the particular scene). Intercut with Rory at the rodeo, these men make out, grope, and slowly undo pants and have great oral sex.
Rory and Lucky (Richard West in his first film appearance) go to a drive in movie - KUNG FU. Rory spills something, goes into the glvoe comaprtment, and discovers dirty - GAY - pics! As the two men initially pretend to not know what to make of it, they eventually decide to try out what they see pictured - and Rory discovers where Lucky gets his name - he's huge!
Next up, the finale orgy featuring all the ranch hands and big boss Richard Locke. Locke pushes little Roy Garrett just too much this time, and they briefly fight/wrestle; once Rory has conquered Locke, he kissses him - then tells him to perform oral on all the other ranch hads before he plans on topping him! (even non-ranch hands Casey Donovan, John Steele, and Clay Russell participate, too) And finally Locke gets topped.

Cellblock #9 (1982)
with Bill Geary, Bob Shane, Bud Wallace, Jake Masterson, and Roy Garrett; recently re-released on VHS and DVD. I haven't seen it since it was in the theatres, 15 years ago.

Oil Rig #99 (1982) (as Mac Larson)
all I can remember is that I saw this film about 10 times in one night, while I was at the Bijou Theatre on 3rd Ave, tripping my brains out. American men, on a Middle Eastern oil rig, haven't much to do except set up a sex tent to "pass the time". Starring Ryan Harker, Bud Wallace; Carrado Quinto, Jesse Jones and Jose Morales, Jeff Stone, and Tharon Davis. Oh yeah, and check out the "wildlife shots" - I am SURE were filmed at the Bronx Zoo!

Tough Guys (1982)(as Mac Larson)

Another film where the theme song alone gets me hard! Eric Ryan, Roy Garrett, Keith Anthoni (shooting onto his own face!), Ryan Harker, Bob Shane (very slurpable face!)Jeff Stone (as the "leatherman") and Members of the West St. Gang, NYC.

Eric Ryan is our "host" narrating a story of men who "like it rough" in New York City.

Two businessmen enjoy phone sex, each in his own office; one describes sex at the urinals as the other masturbates and the janitor walks in on him. The hairy muscular janitor takes off his clothes and starts to masturbate over near his desk, and the businessman gives him oral. Then he's on the desk getting topped condomless; all the while the other guy on the phone continues his dirty-talking.
Eric Ryan imagines what it's like in one of the newer condos going up in lower Manhattan. A rich art collector ( "pop" gay art!) is served by Eric Ryan, who is his butler.... Turns out the art collector isn't reading an art book, but a dirty magazine tucked inside. Ryan undresses, showing off his hard smooth muscular body. He walks up to the "boss" and makes him service him. Several postions / angles are shown, then Ryan tops the guy condomless.
Keith Anthoni (playing PAC MAN) is getting horny as his buddy comes out of the shower. Keith services his buddy, the favor is returned; highlight is as each attempts auto-fellatio, back-to-back!
the "leatherman" Jeff Stone is working out, pumping iron in his leather chaps (yes, in leather gear!) as a burglar (Bob Shane) is in the loft attempting to crack a safe. Roy Garrett sneaks up on him with a gun, and foils his attempt. Jeff Stone watches, as Roy forces swarthy msutached Shane to give him oral service. Roles are switched, leatherman masturbates watching, and then Roy gets topped condomless.
Eric Ryan stumbles upon two guys in an alley having sex. A leather guy and a guy in a jockstrap; by the time Ryan joins in, there are 3 guys, and now, with Ryan, 4 enjoying back-alley oral and anal sex. By the end of the scene, it's hard to tell if there are 4, 5 or 6 guys, as there are crotches, mouths, butts, etc just enjoying the small orgy!
director of photography: ENRICO MONTENEGRO; titles by CHICO

In The Name of Leather (1982)(as Mac Larson)

The plot here involves Daniel Holt being interviewed and showing off his new line of leather gear. The host imagines Holt, himself, and a bunch of other guys wearing, and using, the stuff. Great scene with Holt in chaps, etc, taking a dildo, and several guys shooting all over him! Besides Daniel Holt, the film also stars , Keith Anthoni, John Schaft, Gerry Condit, Jeff Stone, Garrison Belt, Bill Anawitt, Tharon Davis, Tristan Carson

Gerry Condit stars as a handsome redhead who interviews porn star Daniel Holt on the set of his new film and about his new line of erotic toys. Soon, though, the interview fades and fantasy takes over as Holt plays with his new toys, and his own, big favorite. The new toys include a Megaharness, a Megabelt (for holding handcuffs, tit clamps, cockrings, etc.), and a Saddletramp (a pair of stirrups on a leather strap, the better to ride your partner). Holt demonstrates the toys while sitting in a director's chair.
The interviewer later imagines himself dressed in leather and performing slippery activities in tandem with the sultry Holt.
Soon the duo have disappeared and a leather master (Jeff Stone) is shown fondling a cat-o'-nine tails, watching hard-hatted Tharon Davis jack off. Before long, the leather-masked Stone is topping
Keith Anthoni is quite a pig here, throroughly enjoying Daniel Holt's huge one
A parade of leather fantasies continue with an orgy that's surely the highlight here, with Holt as the center of attention in his gear, dildo, men surrounding him for the finale

Red Ball Express (1983)
Mickey Squires (billed at the time as "Colt Superstar")plays a delivery guy, bringing moonshine to various places, while Jayson MacBride give hims delivery instructions. An "on the road" device, where Squires keeps going to places where sex is happening, or about to happen, but he's never involved, until the end, when MacBride instructs him to come back to the dispatch station, and the standard, but oh-so-hot orgy ensues. My favorite scene, actually, involves Roy Garrett and fellow fireman doing each other, and just as the 2nd guy cums, the fire alarm goes off, and they pull up their pants and go! Another film where the orgy finale is just great! Recently released on DVD. Also starring Daniel Holt, O'Bannion, Everett MacDonald, Bob Shane (slurp!!), Jeff Stone and Wayne Stephans.

Mickey Squires (Wolf), Jayson MacBride (O'Bannon) Daniel Holt (Everett MacDonald), Bob SHane (Sloane), Roy Garrett (McCabe), Jeff Stone (Leatherman), Wayne Stevens (David) and the Red Ball Crew: Bill anawatt, Marty Jesus, Daye Simon, Terry Hunt, Hal Brighan, Tristan Carson, Paul Stapleton, John Sammartino, Gerry Condit, Kyle Grayzal

501 (1984)

Does the title refer to the style of Levi's, or to that time in the early morning when you lay awake, thinking, with your lover asleep besides you? Daniel Holt plays an NYC taxi driver, making friends along the way. If you like Holt, you should love this film, he's practically in every scene. The last scene, he is "topped" by Richard West (with a nice long one though not quite as fat as Mr Holt's). Richard West, David Atkins, Tom Law; plus John Ending, George Heat, Rick Rodd, and others. Like many of his films, this one has good original music (by Rick Rockwell) and great cinemaphotography (Todd Focus). Produced by Alister Armondo, not sure if "Sam Gage" was still around, but Joe Gage was getting out of the porn business, but decided to help a friend (Armondo) out who wanted to make a film, and needed Gage's name to raise the money. Gage directed the cameraman's shooting, but did not write, or participate in the editing of the picture. note: Current available versions are only 64 minutes long; the original was 79 minutes, but I haven't (yet) checked into what, specifically, is missing, but I suspect it's the lingering cab rides through New York City - which I thoroughly enjoy!

Starring: Daniel Holt (Michael), Richard West ("Lucky" in Heatstroke, ROKKO here), Leatherman Tom Law (Tom), George Heat (Alex), John Ending (Bill), Rick Rodd (Emory)

A leatherman. redhead Tom Law, gets it on with Holt in a dream. Alternates Holt masturbating solo with Tom servicing Holt's huge crotch; Holt continues to masturbate as he also imagines servicing, then finally masturbating in front of the mirror
Holt gets to work, driving his cab. Lots of crotch watching as he drives, then he takes a fare into an elevator in the West 20's. Unassuming trick, but wait til he pulls open his fly! Slim build, arguably bigger down there, and Holt gets on his knees to find out!
After riding his cab at night, Holt takes a break to "read" a copy of HONCHO. He begins to masturbate, then sees two men in a building across the way - they masturbate, share oral
Next up, Holt is at a party with a group of clone types - lots of LEVIS, of course. Some guys are in a corner masturbating together, another is at a glory hole; Holt gets a cute young blond to service him, first thru his button flys, then the real thing. Intercut with another clond guy at a gloryhole. Then Holt moves in on the action at the gloryhole.
Same party, Holt spots a guy he's seen all over town - Richard West. A lingering handshake seguees into a bedroom scene, with lots of affection, kissing, rubbing. Holt is fully naked and gets oral as West barely lets his hugeness out of his jeans , then they do mutual oral. Holt gets topped condomless
good original music (by Rick Rockwell) and great cinemaphotography (Todd Focus); written edited by Thomas Hawk

Closed Set 2 (1984)
Another "quick-shoot" - this one actually done direct on video, where the camera just roams around the room of hot Gage Men doing it. This and 501 were Gage's last until recently. "Live sound" - including the musical soundtrack, thus a "tinny" quality to the music, as if a boombox were in the room. Most of the men are in Levis, donning cockrings, and you don't see many faces, but lots of cocks being stroked, some cocksucking. Was hard to find (one of the distributors in the 1980's was Marksman Productions), but now appears to be available through BIJOU VIDEO. Uncredited, but you'll recognize some of the faces, like Daniel Holt, Richard West, and others from the Mac Larsen films, especially 501.

Joe Gage page 2 - 21st century videos producer Sam Gage

Joe Gage receiving an award in 2001.

last updated (kinda) 12/26/2019