gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (San Francisco)
[personal profile] gridlore
Porn lord Jim Mitchell dies at 63

Jim Mitchell, the porn czar who co-founded the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre and who later shot his brother to death, died Thursday night at his Sonoma County home. He was 63.

Paramedics were called Thursday evening to Mitchell's home near Two Rock in western Sonoma County, said Sgt. Mitch Mana of the county coroner's office. They could not revive him, and Mitchell was declared dead about 8 p.m.

The cause of death was not immediately known, but foul play was not suspected. An autopsy was conducted today, Mana said.

Mitchell grew up in Antioch. He and his brother, Artie Mitchell, opened their adult theater in San Francisco on July 4, 1969. The two also produced a string of pornographic movies, including "Behind the Green Door" with Marilyn Chambers in 1972.

In 1992, Jim Mitchell was convicted of kicking in the door of his brother's Corte Madera home and shooting him to death.

Prosecutors described Mitchell as a controlling, angry man intent on reining in his brother. The defense described the killing as a tragic accident.

Mitchell served five years in San Quentin State Prison before being paroled in 1997.


For almost two decades, Jim and Artie were SF A-list. Top SF politicians would go to the O'Farrell and no one would care because it was the Mitchell Brothers. They were in every gossip- column, made Herb Caen on a regular basis, and were just everywhere, like Cyril Magnum and the Brown Twins.

The O'Farrell is still there, as are the beautiful murals along the Post St. side of the building. But the place started getting shabby after Jim killed Artie, and the decline continues. The Mitchell Brothers saw sex as an art form, and the theater in the old days reflected that. Today? It's another strip club in the Tenderloin.

I met Jim once, years ago. I was home on leave and went to the city with some friends. Jim carded me, and I, being under age, used my military ID. He gave me a VIP pass for the night.

Great martinis.

Date: 14 Jul 2007 00:27 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sylvan.livejournal.com
Surely the end of an era.

I had no idea they were behind "Behind the Green Door". I heard about that movie at a very young age and then watching Fozzie Bear sing the song, caused my poor child brain to go through all sorts of weirdness... It's a wonder I'm not a furry! lol.

Date: 14 Jul 2007 02:41 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nilita.livejournal.com
A few years I read a couple books about the brothers (long story). Anyway, the books were: "Bottom Feeders: From Free Love to Hard Core" by John Hubner and "X-Rated" by David McCumber. Just the other day I was wondering what became of Jim. Now I know.

Date: 14 Jul 2007 02:55 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] notthebuddha.livejournal.com
If you've seen the Estevez' brothers' "Rated X", do you think it was an accurate portrayal? (as movies go, at least)

Date: 14 Jul 2007 05:50 (UTC)
kshandra: illustration of the classic drama masks (Comedy/Tragedy)
From: [personal profile] kshandra
Neither of us have seen it TTBOMK (it was a cable release at a time we didn't have it). I remember being fascinated by the casting at the time.

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gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (Default)
Douglas Berry

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