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Job Interview

[whitespace] Todd Allen

Fantasy Man

Ever wonder what it's like to sell porn? Metropolitan's David Boyer popped in at the Mission News Adult Book Store (2086 Mission) and chatted with Todd Allen, the man behind the counter. Todd, it turns out, is just an average guy trying to make a living. He's upbeat and witty and seems unfazed by the penis pumps and plastic playthings that surround him.


David: What is your job?

Todd: I'm a clerk.

David: Do you like it?

Todd: I don't like to work. I should have been a millionaire. But I guess it's all right. I've done worse; I've dug ditches before, so this is easier. And you get a sexual education on this job. You deal with a lot of people with sexual problems. They got to have it. Today. And it's a new world, with AIDS. You're gonna have people going for what we sell here because it's sexual fantasy and you just can't go out and have every hooker on the block like you could in my day.

David: How did you start?

Todd: I was a banquet waiter for 10 years with the Hyatt, but it didn't work out. And I was looking for a job in San Francisco and opened up the Sunday paper and it said "Work in an adult novelty store." So, I was at Burger King waiting on them to interview me and then it was time for [the bookstore] interview. So I said, 'Forget Burger King.' And walked down here and interviewed and got the job.

David: How long have you been doing it?

Todd: Three and a half years.

David: What's the most popular item sold here?

Todd: I would have to say the sale videos. And the most popular toy we sell is the 8-inch dong--they're really moving.

David: Do you hang out with people you work with outside the store?

Todd: No, I don't, because I work so much. Sometimes seven days a week.

David: If you weren't working here, what might you be doing?

Todd: I'd probably be in hotel work.

David: Favorite movie you've seen in the last six months?

Todd: Jackie Brown. It reminded me of the old Blaxploitation films. It was a good movie. Tarantino, he did well.

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From the June 29-July 12, 1998 issue of the Metropolitan.

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