Jim South
Encyclopedia
Jim South is a recruiter and agent in America’s pornography
industry.
South sold insurance in Dallas for a few years and moved to Los Angeles
in 1968. He opened a fashion modeling agency first, then formed the World Modeling Talent Agency in Sherman Oaks, California in 1976. The agency represented many performers and models who worked in adult movies and magazines.
World Modeling has represented adult stars such as Shauna Grant
, Marc Wallice
, Ginger Lynn
, Gina Ryder
, Savannah
, Katie Gold
. and Christy Canyon
. The agency became infamous for unknowingly representing a then underaged Traci Lords
. Through South's agency, 15-year-old Lords started nude modeling under the stage name
Kristie Elizabeth Nussman. Lords became the September 1984 Penthouse
"Pet of the Month", for which she earned $5000, and first performed in pornographic movies in October 1984.
Following the May 1986 revelation that most of Lords' porn work was illegal, South was arrested
on March 4, 1987, and was among those later charged by the U.S. government with pandering and child pornography
. The charges were eventually dismissed after the discovery that the government had issued Lords a passport under the name Kristi Nussman. (South first learned that Lords' age was in question in a phone call from Suze Randall
.)
In an interview South said, "The only reason that (the charges were) dropped was that the federal government that saw the very same ID I saw gave Traci a passport to go to Europe to make an X-rated movie." That movie, Traci, I Love You
, which was made in Cannes
soon after Lords' 18th birthday, is her only legal porn film in the United States.
In interviews and her book, Lords held him in perpetual contempt for what she sees as his (and others') unapologetic role in her sexual exploitation. She stated that she named him "Tim North" in her autobiography not for legal reasons but as a means to protect people from him,and to avoid giving him and his company any publicity, which could draw young women into the sex industry. Lords wrote that South gave her cocaine
and champagne during her first nude photo shoot at World Modeling. Christy Canyon
, a supporter of South, disagrees with this claim, and said that Lords lied a lot in her book.
In his investigative memoir Beaver Street: A History of Modern Pornography, which will be published in the United Kingdom by Headpress in 2010, New York journalist Robert Rosen describes the Traci Lords affair as a government sting operation. According to the book, the government was aware that Lords was underage, yet rather than “rescue” her they allowed Lords to continue performing in pornographic movies for a year in order to gather evidence on South and the filmmakers. They then charged South and some of the filmmakers with child exploitation.
In 1991, porn producers discovered that Alexandra Quinn
,a World Modeling talent, had entered porn in 1990 at age 17. Quinn pretended that she was born in 1968, the same year as Traci Lords' birth. Unlike the Lords case, Quinn did not generate a scandal with media coverage, nor did anyone face legal action.
South has appeared in several documentaries about the porn industry. He has two sons, James South Jr., who worked with him at the agency, and Dallas South. His father was assistant chief of the Dallas Police Department
.
World Modeling shut down in November 2006 because of falling profits. Over a year later on December 5, 2007, South announced the reopening of World Modeling with a change of direction as well as an intent to reduce the number of young women he represents.
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
industry.
South sold insurance in Dallas for a few years and moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1968. He opened a fashion modeling agency first, then formed the World Modeling Talent Agency in Sherman Oaks, California in 1976. The agency represented many performers and models who worked in adult movies and magazines.
World Modeling has represented adult stars such as Shauna Grant
Shauna Grant
Shauna Grant was an American nude model and pornographic performer. Born Colleen Marie Applegate, she was sometimes credited as Callie Aimes, Callie Aims, or Colleen Applegate.- Early life :...
, Marc Wallice
Marc Wallice
Marc Wallice is a former American pornographic actor in adult films. He tested HIV positive in 1998 after allegedly hiding his HIV positive status for two years and infecting several women, sending shock waves throughout the porn industry. He left the industry but later returned as a director,...
, Ginger Lynn
Ginger Lynn
Ginger Lynn is an American pornographic actress, prominent in 1980s videos. She also had occasional roles in low-budget B-movies. AVN has ranked her at #7 in a list of the 50 greatest porn stars of all time...
, Gina Ryder
Gina Ryder
Gina Ryder is an American pornographic actress.She has worked for Adam & Eve, Wicked, Vivid, Sin City, Cal Vista/Metro, and Legend amongst others. She also appears on The Erotic Network, Spice, The Playboy Channel, and can sometimes be seen in R-rated films for Showtime and Cinemax. She has starred...
, Savannah
Savannah (porn star)
Not to be confused with the pornographic actress Savanna SamsonShannon Michelle Wilsey , commonly known by her stage name of Savannah, was an American pornographic performer, starring in more than 100 pornographic videos during her career...
, Katie Gold
Katie Gold
Katie Gold is an American pornographic actress.Gold’s initial career in the adult film industry lasted from 1997 to early 1999. She returned to the industry in 2003 as a contract girl for JM Productions.-Awards:AVN...
. and Christy Canyon
Christy Canyon
- External links :...
. The agency became infamous for unknowingly representing a then underaged Traci Lords
Traci Lords
Traci Lords , also known as Traci Elizabeth Lords and Tracy Lords, is an American film actress, producer, film director, writer and singer...
. Through South's agency, 15-year-old Lords started nude modeling under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Kristie Elizabeth Nussman. Lords became the September 1984 Penthouse
Penthouse (magazine)
Penthouse, a men's magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combines urban lifestyle articles and softcore pornographic pictorials that, in the 1990s, evolved into hardcore. Penthouse is owned by FriendFinder Network. formerly known as General Media, Inc. whose parent company was Penthouse International...
"Pet of the Month", for which she earned $5000, and first performed in pornographic movies in October 1984.
Following the May 1986 revelation that most of Lords' porn work was illegal, South was arrested
on March 4, 1987, and was among those later charged by the U.S. government with pandering and child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. The charges were eventually dismissed after the discovery that the government had issued Lords a passport under the name Kristi Nussman. (South first learned that Lords' age was in question in a phone call from Suze Randall
Suze Randall
Suze Randall is an English model, photographer, and pornographer. She has been one of the world's leading erotic photographers for more than 35 years....
.)
In an interview South said, "The only reason that (the charges were) dropped was that the federal government that saw the very same ID I saw gave Traci a passport to go to Europe to make an X-rated movie." That movie, Traci, I Love You
Traci, I Love You
Traci, I Love You is a 1987 pornographic movie. It stars Traci Lords, Marilyn Jess, Gabriel Pontello and Alban Ceray. It was Lords' final adult film. It was produced in Cannes, France, two days after her 18th birthday...
, which was made in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
soon after Lords' 18th birthday, is her only legal porn film in the United States.
In interviews and her book, Lords held him in perpetual contempt for what she sees as his (and others') unapologetic role in her sexual exploitation. She stated that she named him "Tim North" in her autobiography not for legal reasons but as a means to protect people from him,and to avoid giving him and his company any publicity, which could draw young women into the sex industry. Lords wrote that South gave her cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and champagne during her first nude photo shoot at World Modeling. Christy Canyon
Christy Canyon
- External links :...
, a supporter of South, disagrees with this claim, and said that Lords lied a lot in her book.
In his investigative memoir Beaver Street: A History of Modern Pornography, which will be published in the United Kingdom by Headpress in 2010, New York journalist Robert Rosen describes the Traci Lords affair as a government sting operation. According to the book, the government was aware that Lords was underage, yet rather than “rescue” her they allowed Lords to continue performing in pornographic movies for a year in order to gather evidence on South and the filmmakers. They then charged South and some of the filmmakers with child exploitation.
In 1991, porn producers discovered that Alexandra Quinn
Alexandra Quinn
Alexandra Quinn is a retired Canadian porn star who has been active in the industry since the late-1980s.Quinn's first year in the industry took place prior to her 18th birthday. Age 18 is the legal minimum in which United States citizens may appear in pornography...
,a World Modeling talent, had entered porn in 1990 at age 17. Quinn pretended that she was born in 1968, the same year as Traci Lords' birth. Unlike the Lords case, Quinn did not generate a scandal with media coverage, nor did anyone face legal action.
South has appeared in several documentaries about the porn industry. He has two sons, James South Jr., who worked with him at the agency, and Dallas South. His father was assistant chief of the Dallas Police Department
Dallas Police Department
The Dallas Police Department, established in 1881, is the principal law enforcement agency serving the city of Dallas, Texas.-Organization:The department is headed by a chief of police who is appointed by the city manager who, in turn, is hired by the Dallas City Council...
.
World Modeling shut down in November 2006 because of falling profits. Over a year later on December 5, 2007, South announced the reopening of World Modeling with a change of direction as well as an intent to reduce the number of young women he represents.