One and Done!

Barbara Bourbon was born in California and spent the first sixteen years of her life on Indian reservations in the Pauma Valley north of San Diego. She graduated from Fallbrook High and then attended San Marcus Jr. College for a year then San Diego State for a year. She also studied at Palomar College for two years where she majored in drama.

After finishing school and with a degree in drama, Barbara moved to Boston where she became a member of the Boston Repertory Company for three years. Her experience as an actress and singer included the lead in nine different plays performing in major cities across the country. She starred in dramatic classics like “Of Mice and Men” and musical hits like “Man Of La Mancha’. She also garnered some good film credits which included a co-starring role in “One Million A.D.” with John Carradine and leading roles in five other Hollywood feature films. Ms. Bourbon also had an important supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola’s, “The Godfather Part II”.

Barbara Bourbon was a rarity in porn and for very good reason. Since the golden age of porn began back in the early 70′s it has been an extremely rare occasion where a performer would appear in a film that would become an all time classic and then become the ONLY adult film she would appear in. However, that is exactly how it happened with Barbara Bourbon. That one film was “The Afternoons of Pamela Mann” which was done in 1975 .

As for a performer of Ms. Bourbon’s mainstream stature starring in an adult porn film like “The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann” was quite a risky step. However, she took on the role solely because of the caliber of the production personnel, including the cinematographer, who had a mainstream background. The green eyed blonde had no inhibitions on displaying her womanly charms, but previously she had rejected a few offers to do porn films. The reason she had turned those down was she considered the films to have no real production value, good writing or any artistic merit she personally felt comfortable with. When she read the story line of “Pamela Mann”, saw the opulent sets and actual locations, the mainstream like atmosphere with the crew, plus the eroticism that was almost enough to convince her to do porn.

The turning point to Ms. Bourbon saying yes and agreeing to do the film was seeing it would be directed by the much respected Radley Metzger. He had a solid track record in mainstream and used the name Henry Paris for his porn projects. So she agreed to take the role and reveal her sexual charms and talents in front of the cameras. When the film was completed, Ms. Bourbon exited the porn scene as quickly as she entered it. She went back to concentrate on her mainstream career and her other real passion in life, that of training exotic Siberian Tigers. It was a one time thing and she never had any desire to do again. She continued to work in mainstream and also some TV as well under her mainstream name. Unfortunately her mainstream name has never been revealed.

Today, Barbara Bourbon would be in her 60′s and her whereabouts and what she is doing in 2018 are unknown. However, for someone appearing in just one major porn film that became a golden age classic, she gave a totally professional and masterful performance. As an actress and sexual performer she will forever be remembered as the star of  an extraordinary film. If you have never seen “The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann” , which is also in the XRCO Hall of Fame, by all means find it on DVD and enjoy Barbara Bourbon and her performance.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN