CHATSWORTH, Calif. – Twenty-eight people who have made notable contributions to the adult entertainment industry will be inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame Jan. 24, during the AVN Awards Show in Las Vegas. Three of the honorees hail from the online sector.
Originally designed to bestow honors upon outstanding performers and directors (now known as the Video Branch, which still encompasses the majority of inductees), in recent years the Hall of Fame has expanded to include four additional segments:
- Founders Branch, for those who created companies back in the day.
- Pleasure Products Branch, for manufacturers, distributors and retailers of sex toys.
- Executive Branch, for key members of the industry who work behind the scenes.
- Internet Branch, for those who built the online sector.
In all branches, a minimum of 10 years in the industry is required for consideration.
The 2015 Internet Branch honorees are:
Steve Lightspeed
As the founder of LightspeedCash along with a number of innovative pay sites, Lightspeed has been credited with originating the teen solo-girl niche. Although he founded his operation as a hobby in 1999, it quickly became a full-time, thriving business.
Lensman
Largely unremembered today, Lensman’s contributions to the adult online industry include GFY.com, Webmaster Access, AmateurPages.com and Adult.com. Lensman, who became an executive vice president at Playboy Enterprises after selling his assets to the company, retired from the industry in 2008.
Botto Brothers
Rich and Robert Botto have been retired from active participation in the adult online industry for several years, but as the founders and operators of MaxCash and Kara’s Adult Playground, their influence on the early development of the industry’s affiliate model is indelible.
For more information about the AVN Awards, visit AVNAwards.com.
A complete list of 2015 Hall of Fame inductees is here.
