Profiles in Greatness: Male Hustlers

JOE BUCK & LITTLE JOE

Midnight Cowboy (1969) & Flesh (1968)

Times are hard on the boulevard, and if anyone knows that it's street hustlers. Man's gotta eat. Despite the constant echoes of his girlfriend Crazy Annie, "You're the only one Joe! The only one," Joe Buck is not the only one. Not exactly street wise, but also no stranger to them, Joe Buck and Little Joe were both on 42nd Street back in the day. Those nostalgic days when it was cool to walk the streets in a cowboy hat and bandana looking to get paid for sex. Even in a bad economy, flesh is still a valuable commodity. First things first, get the money up front! Secondly, who foresees the extra monthly expense of paying for your wife's girlfriend's abortion, like poor Little Joe, or having to pay your own clients out of sheer pity, like proud Texan Joe Buck.

Who doesn't want to supplement their income? These boys knew how to hustle their way into infamy and an extra twenty in their pocket. Lest we forget: it's all about the MONY.

"M-O-N-Y.

That's just exactly how you spell it

up there on that big buildin' up there."

Tip 1:

Walk the Walk

Joe Buck:

Accessories from your own hitchin' post

+

Fringe

+

Distracting pants

Little Joe:

Red bandana

+

Moccasins

+

Clean underwear if possible

Tip 2:

Talk the Talk

The Joe Buck Approach:

Look like cowboy tourist + Stalk rich women

The Little Joe Approach:

Look like Joe Dallesandro

Tip 3:

Find Your Fanbase

Joe Buck

1) Rich Old Ladies

2) Drug and Scrabble Enthusiasts

3) Bob Balaban

Little Joe

1) Rich Old Men

2) Art Critics

3) Burn Victims

Tip 4:

Advertise

Joe Buck

Little Joe

Tip 5:

Make Sylvia Miles Cry

Joe Buck

Little Joe

(Hustling his way through Hollywood in Heat (1972)).

NOTE: Club Silencio does not endorse self-prostitution as a means of income, unless you or a loved one is circa-1970's Joe Dallesandro.

Profiles in Greatness: Jessie Todd

Characters and quotes to live by.

Jessie Todd

in

Paul Morrissey's HEAT (1972)

At her sun-baked Los Angeles dive motel, Jessica Todd (Andrea Feldman), daughter to esteemed game show regular and one-time film star, Sally Todd (Sylvia Miles), finds herself back in the sanitarium of sorts. The dregs of Hollywood society (recovering addicts, performance artists and child stars) flock to the seedy motel to swap sexual favors, sunbathe, and mooch off those who still somehow bask in industry success. Jessie's addition to Heat is that of an entitled and deranged celebrity daughter, who's a self-pronounced lesbian (self-pronounced as "lez-bin"), unfit mother and health food advocate.

Defining characteristic: Emotional problems

Likes:

• Money
• Sunbathing
• Inappropriate sexual advances

Oh, Joey, I feel so sexy now! Just to have this big boot between my legs!

• Lesbianism for childcare
• Health foods (favorites include: sunflower seeds, nuts, artichokes, avocados)

I'm very healthy. There's a health food store right around the corner here. I go down there every night to get some nuts. D'you ever try nuts? I'm into ecology -- health foods and all that great stuff. Avocados, artichokes... You should see the way I make artichokes. Olive oil, salt, peppa... Fabulous. They come out delicious. Wish you could come over one night for some artichokes and avocados. I'll cook on my hot plate. I like all the health foods. You name it, I eat it.

Dislikes:

• Chlorine in her cigarette burns
• Lesbianism without childcare
• Her baby Mark when he's off his sedatives

Jessie: Joey, would you take this for me?

Joey: What're you carrying your baby in a bag for? Didn't your mother tell you to cut it out?