With nostalgia leading us to reboots, reunions, or just rewatching some classic media for comfort, it’s no surprise that this behaviour also creeps into our porn viewing habits.
Even with the increased availability and enormous volume of 21st-century porn, in this article we take a look at why we might flick on older, VHS-quality gay porn to fuel our jack-off fantasies.
Why Do We Gravitate Towards 80s Porn Stars?
Different Body Types
While we love the gay porn stars of 2023 and more recent years, beauty standards, the male physique, and how we idolise the male form have changed.
When we click on 1980s porn, we see guys that possibly look a bit more like the guys we fantasied about when growing up – our friends’ dads – lots of body hair, not so many tattoos, and probably a retro gay moustache.
We’re not saying that one is better than the other, but variety is the spice of life, and it can be fun to mix things up a bit – particularly when it comes to fuelling our fap fantasies.
Vintage Photography versus 4K
While HD gay chat rooms and 1080p can definitely make us feel closer to the action, there’s something about the soft lighting, Miami tans and Hi8 film of vintage porn that dials up the sex appeal.
I’m a big fan of the content that everyone is generating for the fan-subscription channels, but sometimes it can seem a bit repetitive – it’s all harsh bathroom lighting and nondescript hotel rooms.
Watching vintage action invites you to invest in the fantasy – it’s the kind of flick you can imagine watching in an adult movie theatre, surrounded by horned-up guys. You can pretty much taste the testosterone.
Less is More
You might enjoy hardcore fisting, a gay gangbang or something that really pushes the limit of sex and sleaze.
Still, with the vintage quality, lower production budgets and often just two ordinary guy-next-door types getting off, vintage porn can provide a sensually-shot scene, totally-hot tan lines, and a “less is more” mentality lets you focus on the smut.
Also, these guys are performing on camera without the benefit of Viagra or Trimix – that kind of gives everything an extra element of authenticity.
Old Souls
For millennials and Gen-Zs who didn’t live through the trials and tribulations of the AIDS pandemic, vintage porn may offer a slightly romanticised perspective on the generations of gay men on whose shoulders we stand.
These classic films not only deliver great sex, but they’re also a fantastic showcase of the shag carpets, the wood panelling, and the styles and fashions that defined that era.
It’s Just a Preference
Sometimes a scene is just hot and provides a “je ne sais quoi” that makes it a favourite porno to return to – whether it’s the performers or the chemistry between them, there’s some classic vintage porn out there that just absolutely pushes our buttons.
Some standout vintage porn films that I regularly return to include:
- Kansas City Trucking Co. – the Joe Gage classic that stars Richard Locke and Jack Wrangler.
- Al Parker in pretty much anything. Some of his best include Inches, Turned On, and Games.
- Chad Douglas in Below the Belt.
- In Your Wildest Dreams starring Kevin Williams. The scene in which Chad Douglas fucks Kevin over some gym equipment is genius.
If it helps you get your rocks off, and it’s from the time of yester-year lean back, enjoy and don’t question too much about why it turns you on.
