Circus of Books

(Shopped 02÷06÷16 SA @ 8:30pm): There were certainly more than books inside this three-​ring circus!
Circus Of Books was my first real introduction to adult magazines, drug paraphernalia, and the gay community back in the early 1980’s when I walked here with cousins and friends of mine who lived in the area to buy snacks, checked out the random stuff they carried, and got adolescent sneak peeks at the numerous mature items that were sold. With the recent notice that they were finally closing-​up shop after 35+ years
, I had to poke my head in, bought any tidbits I needed, and paid my respects. How was possibly my last visit to this salacious sex snack shop!?:
The Purchase
:
~Marley’s Mellow Mood Green Tea ($ 2.00) — Hey man… pass the dutchie from the left hand side as you swigged on this refreshingly chill beverage!
~Incense Holder ($ 1.95) — Could always use in another room!
~Incense ($ 2.25×3) — Wonderful soothing scents to air out my pad for a harmonious feel.
Service — Unless you wanted to enter the «adults only» area at a back corner of the shop or needed help with anything in their display glass cases, there really wasn’t any other service to speak of. It was all self-​serve (so to speak!) until you had your items rung-​up at the register. Easy-​peasy!
Parking (Varied; FREE in this case) — I lived close by, so I simply walked from my pad. Otherwise, there were timed meters all along the main drag of Sunset Blvd. and a few recently-​converted paid parking lots. If you chose to park on any of the side streets, please read all posted signs thoroughly or you may have an unpleasant present in the way of a ticket tucked underneath a windshield wiper blade.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience — I always remembered this corner business as a clusterfuck of «this-and-that»…and that still held true
. The main focus was its appeal to the gay — soon enough lesbian, bisexual, and transgender — communities with its rows of magazines
, clothes
, toys, and videos. But, it was also a head shop that carried all your needs behind the counter and glass cases
. Alas, I was in it for the lovely incense
, various snacks
, and the random boxes of comic books, CDs, and DVDs. The walls were usually covered with various advertisements and posters. Mostly electric fluorescent ceiling lighting filled the place while some natural lighting made its way through the front glass windows. There were no TVs, but indie muisc played in the background.
Attire — Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-​shirt, boardshorts, and flip-​flops.
Overall, my only real tie to the Circus Of Books location in Silver Lake was nostalgia as a kid and now a random curiosity stop just to see what they had as a local adult resident. Sure, I’ve impulsively bought CDs, incense, and snacks since I moved into the area, but I had no interest in its main moneymaker (s). It had become an important business in the community, but as I’ve witnessed all longstanding stores were sadly and unwilling departing for economic reasons. I found fairly good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $ 11.00; NO tip required). And, they accepted my credit card of choice… AMEX! 3.5 STARS

Is this place a front for somethings else? I thought it was an actual bookstore not a weird adult back room with sketchy front end

Store hours need updating. Sign on the door saying they close at 10pm now. Irritating.

I came here with no expectations but I was still disappointed and pretty weirded out by the whole experience of circus bookstore. The place looks” apparently is open from 9 AM to 11:30 PM. Upon entering I said said hello to the clerk who completely ignored me as I me walked around this weird bodega like spot. It’s got a pretty good selection of fashion art and alternative lifestyle magazines but other than that practically no books written after 1983. Super weird random and honestly quite suspicious candy selection and an even more random table of moldy looking beanie babies. But from what I could spot from the front of the store there’s a also pretty good variety of LGBT pornography DVDs.

All the fun of the circus, without contortion or animal cruelty. If they don’t have the book you want, they might send out a search party.

This place has been here for YEARS!
I will say this though, it’s a cluster-f.k of nothing. I have no idea what’s going on here. If you want a magazine from 1999 or an old Wesley Snipes movie, this is your place. I even found panty hoes for sale.
Stop the Madness.

Crowded, creepy feeling, strange smell. This is «two stores in one» — the front is a combination small bodega/​used book store/​magazine stand. Get your chips and soda, a lighter and crack pipe, a soiled copy of a Japanese «manga» comic, and the latest issue of «Guns and Weapons» — in the front. Then in the back there’s sex toys and gay porn on DVD.
There are better places locally for sex toys and porn, and better places for used books, and better places for snacks. Maybe it’s the combination that’s appealing. The only thing appealing to me was the mural on the east wall, which was kind of cool.

This store is terrible! Some used vinyl, random dollar bins, and tons of magazines, but barely any books. The word «circus» (or «books», really) doesn’t seem to relate in any meaningful way to what is inside the store.

I had the most incredible experience with Circus of Books.
I’ve been doing an art project with old adult VHS’s. (weird, I know. But that’s how it goes). So anyway I’d been searching for old porn VHS’s everywhere– but to no avail. No one had any! Then I called Circus of Books– they were excited to help me, and did so with dual professionalism and irony. They informed me of their incredible VHS porno collection, and even outlined some of the most hilarious titles and covers.
I“m not a gay man or anything, but I I found what I needed at Circus of Books, and enjoyed doing it. I’ve gone to other sex shops before and actually been hit on by employees, and felt a bit awkward about the entire thing. At Circus of Books the employees made me feel comfortable (even though I am not their typical clientele), and were excited to help me with my project.
Also– lots of old used books (some good titles), some enormous dildos, sodas, even some snacks and rave gear. Circus of Books has all of the necessities.

Bizarre and creepy place that has no connection to books or a circus. More like a bodega in Harlem that caters to shuffling sex offenders violating more than just their parole. Between this place and Jumbos Clown Room I think LA has a pretty bleak concept of circus. No wonder Iris had to shut down.

Really good selection of used $ 1 books. My girlfriend almost bought a Baby Sitters Club. I bought my sister a card to say I’m sorry. It had a nude man in bondage and it said «Best intentions.»

Was confused by how this place made money until I went in the back and saw the dildos.
I was entertained by the Ass Master.
Bought a copy of Half-​Blood Prince for two dollars. Good book!

I am an apparent idiot, I thought this was a bookstore! I went in one day and I was sort of suprised. There is a book or two. I thought it looked smaller on the inside than it seemed from the outside and then I saw the back part! OH I GET IT! I had a good laugh and the guy behind the counter was cool and he saw me get it and laughed as well. Well what do you know. It is a popper, porn and pipe store! If this is what you are looking for they have an excellent selection. I didn’t buy and but I did get a bottled water and an LA Weekly!

Was out late walking my dogs around the neighborhood accompanied by a recent romantic love interest who had never been inside Circus of Books. What!!! I was astounded! This is only one of THE main landmarks of the silver lake neighborhood!
So…is it a bookstore? He asked.
Circus of Books is a convenient store of the most random items. From the conventional sodas, candies, ice cream bars, liquor, beer, magazines; to a fortuitous assortment of clothing items, the most bizarre greeting cards and fridge magnets, but best of all, this place caters to the porn community, in specific, the GAY porn community. Its awesome!!! Enter through the Woddstock smiley face wooden beaded curtain and all around you will be bombarded with extra large dildos and sex toys. Follow the path into the backroom and PORN PORN PORN Galore. Carefully separated into sections so you are not overwhelmed; there is the gay porn literature, the heterosexual porn literature; and my favorite: the CLASSIC porn literature featuring 1970s tattered books turning sepia tones from old age, slightly frazzled from the years with dated titles and erotic cover drawings. I must say it was quite fascinating, though i was scared to touch them too much without a place to wash my hands almost immediately.
Follow the path to endless rows of magazines and dvds for all fetishes and tastes alike. My friend and i were having a blast walking around the aisles and admiring some of the original titles.
The guy behind the desk was really nice and friendly. He told us the place used to be 24 hours but recently had changed to close at midnight. Random visitors quietly penetrated the back rooms without any shame. Hipsters with long shaggy hair and tight jeans bought packs of beer.
They had a vast selection of art and architecture magazines, as well as regular books (used and new).
My dogs were welcomed inside, even though neither of them was 18 years + they were allowed inside the porn section too! But if you are a human being under the age of 18, you are limited to the main part of the shop!
Low key, mellow dive vibe. If i ever need a soda, a random t-​shirt, fridge magnet, or PORN, this will be my first stop shop!

For all your BOOK/​SMOKING/​PORN NEEDS
This place is wonderfully strange, and covered in alluring art work so i wondered inside to see more. The place is typically a liquor store with some books sprinkled around the shop. Maybe my definition of «circus» is wrong but i feel like its painful misleading unless by «circus» you mean drug paraphernalia, Gay porn, and cigarets then sure.

Well, that was… unexpected.
It’s one of those places I’d always meant to visit, and thanks to an overfed parking meter, I finally got my chance.
What I was semi-​expecting: a secondhand book store a la Iliad or Acres of Books.
The reality: There were a couple discount book bins in front of the shop, but when I walked in I thought I’d entered a liquor store with all the candy and food lining the walls. Then we noticed the display case of «water pipes» and other glass paraphernalia.
Ah, so it’s one of THOSE bookstores. To each his own.
Kept walking and browsed through the few racks of books in the front of the store. Nothing looked at all interesting or of any real literary value. Then my eyes fell on a plastic door warning against minors.
I go through, and there it is. WALL OF DILDOS.
Uh. hey, look at that. Heh heh…
It sort of catches you off guard. It’s not like my Victorian sensibilities — Haha! — were offended or anything.
The adjoining room was loaded to capacity with gay porn DVDs. Baskets on the end of aisles were filled with $ 5 cast-​offs. «I Dream of Weenie» for $ 3.99 was resting on the top of a pile.
Amusingly the used books storefront with its no name novels was completely deserted, but there were several guys in the back all averting their gaze from one another. As we were leaving a group of flamboyant, young bucks came into the shop and headed straight for the back, and I couldn’t help but smile. It’s so wonderful to see people that comfortable with who they are.
As for Circus of Books, if you’re into the gay sex shop scene, that’s great! This is the place for you.
However, for the conservative book enthusiast that might wander in thinking to treasure hunt for some first editions or obscure lit, this is not the shop you’re looking for. Move along.

I bought something here @CircusOfBooks
Was it paraphernalia?
No.
Was it a weekly news magazine?
No.
Was it porn?
No.
Was it a used book or vintage vinyl recordings?
No.
It was a T-​shirt.
But they do have all that other stuff in this random little corner store in the Silver Lake neighborhood…

uhhh, nice selection of books and whatevz, but I’m mostly praising you for your super low prices on poppers. :(
I went to Rough Trade and I think they only had 2 different choices and they were $ 25+! I then walked, like, 20′ down Sunset and Circus of Books has 2-​for-​$ 7 deals and 10+ brands!
Keep up the good work, I guess… :-/

5 stars because there’s no other place like it, and I’ve looked. No place that balances a fascinating variety of esoteric, arty magazines and books (many of them completely non-​sexual in nature) AND an atmosphere conducive to cruising or getting cruised by gay men.
It used to be much cruisier, I think, when I first started hanging out in Silverlake in the late 90s. I remember you really couldn’t go in there without getting cruised… I know because there actually were a few times I JUST WANTED A COPY OF FRONTIERS I SWEAR but I ended up getting followed out by somebody. So if it’s cruising you’re looking for I suggest Le Barcito on the next block, or maybe just walk around the nearby streets… just look for the NO CRUISING signs, most of the action happens around there. Good luck!
So anyway yeah they have books too. And all of your last minute sex and drug-​related needs, like papers and screens and pipes and chapstick and lube and designer water etc etc.

Being a Los Angeles native, I would pass by Circus of Books all the time when I was a kid and thought it was just a standard bookstore. It wasn’t until I was about seventeen when I learned the dark, horrible truth from mi hermano that Circus of Books contained no circus nor did it contain an enormous book collection. No, instead I found out it was a hot spot for male and male hook-​ups and mediocre pornography. Being the gentle and innocent creature I am (who liked to read De Sade), I never went in. Fade to black.
Fade back to my life, 2010. I am now married and a bit more life weary. My wife tired of the paths we were pursuing sexually cajoles me into going into Circus of Books. Call me a prude, but I don’t like being surrounded by endless amounts of cheaply made yet highly expensive dildos and plastic bottles of lube. To quote The Beach Boys, «That’s not me!». My wife says I’m a prude too, but what more sexually could I want? I’m not into crazy things like S&M or feet or toys. I’m pretty old fashioned when it comes to what I like sexually. And I know what I like. After some heavy motivation and pushing and black mailing, she convinces me that Circus of Books may be that proverbial spark to reignite that weak flame that is our marriage (like eating late night ice cream and petting our five cats isn’t exciting enough for her?). Iris in onto my face looking semi-​distressed.
Cut to: me and her entering Circus of Books at midnight after a couple of beers. First we casually look at their magazine selection. For it’s infamous history of carrying a variety of porno, they’re magazine selection isn’t half bad. I found some interesting stuff including lots of imported magazines from the UK.
But let’s be honest: that’s not what we’re here for. Music and fashion magazines are all good and all, but what we came here is behind a swinging door. In we go and are immediately encountered with vintage Playboy’s, furry comics and a nunnery’s worth of dildos. Good fun! We look around a bit more and she’s very impressed by the their fetish magazines, including (and not limited too) soft-​core S&M, 50+ women spreading their ‘ginas and young men taking loads of man gravy into their mouths.
The toy selection wasn’t huge, but I get the impression more people came here for their pornography. I think (but am not sure) that they rent out their pornography which seemed a lot more limited than their adult magazine collection. Basically, a lot of straight-​forward gay and straight videos. No frills. No insane fetishes. Just simple penetration for several minutes and the grand finale. There were a few more and more strange Japanese ones that piqued my interest, but we weren’t there for that.
In the end, after dragging me in there, we didn’t buy anything at all except for an issue of Shindig magazine and as much as I love sixties garage rock, there’s nothing erotic about it. Hell, the store didn’t even take our dignity away. The store itself is pretty plain looking and the atmosphere is unspectacular, but I’m not sure what to expect from a store like that. On the plus side, they had the radio on, and Falco «Rock Me Amadeus» and Gary Numan’s «Cars» came on the radio to subside the mood. Not an unpleasant experience by any means, but I’m certain to go again in the future just because my wife will take me.