COLT Studio Group
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Gay pornography |
| Founded | New York (1967) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Products | All-male erotic products |
| Website | www.coltstudiogroup.com |
COLT Studio Group is an American pornography company.
Overview
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COLT has produced all-male erotica for over 40 years. COLT started in New York City in 1967, moved to Los Angeles for twenty-five years and is now based in San Francisco, California.
COLT Studio Group is the umbrella company for other brands such as:
- COLT Studio
- Buckshot Productions
- COLT Minute Man Solo Series
- Olympus Studio
- The Legendary Bodies Series
- COLT Gear
- Buckshot Toys
- COLT Leather
- COLT Basics
- COLT Mobile
- COLT Cash
- COLT Publications (magazines, note cards and calendars)
COLT produces and distributes content online through its website and adult video retailers worldwide. The company licenses the COLT and Buckshot trademark for the COLT Gear, Buckshot Toys novelty line as well as COLT Leather apparel, COLT Calendars, COLT and Buckshot Magazines, and soon to be COLT Bars worldwide.
COLT Studio was founded by photographer Jim French. French hired Robert Koplin (former COLT Model), as the new President of COLT Studio. Due to Koplin's diligence and tenacity, he revitalized the brand and located interested parties to acquire the Company. The most intrigued and suitable prospective buyer was John Rutherford.
In 2003 John Rutherford, previously of Falcon Studios, and his life-partner Tom Settle (dba Prowest Media) purchased the company and changed the name to COLT Studio Group.
In 2007, COLT Studio Group celebrated its fortieth anniversary. Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring February 23, 2007 as "Colt Studio Day" in celebration of this anniversary.[1] This proclamation was controversial, attracting criticism from conservative commentators including Fox News' Bill O'Reilly.
Tom Settle is Colt's Chief Financial Officer. Settle has been involved with the motion picture industry for nearly 20 years, starting in the mailroom of Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood, and eventually becoming Chief Financial Officer of ESC Entertainment, the digital production arm of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Studio, before joining COLT Studio Group.
Because of financial difficulties, Rutherford and Settle could not repay Jim French and other creditors for outstanding debts, so they declared bankruptcy in the expectation of restoring the company. French sued them, and they countersued. In 2011, a judge approved the bankruptcy proceeding and the lawsuits were dropped.[2]
References
- ↑ Vega, Cecelia (3 March 2007). "Policy changing after gay porn studio lauded. Mayor was unaware of proclamation, now wants oversight". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ↑ http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews39_04/page14.cfm
