It's been almost a year since I did my first full series on the life and work of Bernard Perlin, so let's do another. A major figure in the formative years of gay art culture in New York, he was close to a number of major figures, including the PaJaMa Collective and George Platt Lynes. So I am starting the set with a photo of him by Mr. Lynes and a portrait of the great photographer by him.
Vintage Muscle Men
Showcasing vintage male photography, mostly nude. You must be 18 years of age or older to visit this blog! If you hold a copyright on any material shown on this blog, notify me, and it will be removed immediately.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Japanese Model
Bernard Perlin was present at the surrender of Japan in September of 1945. (You can see one of his drawings of the actual signing if you click on his name in the list of topics on the right hand side of this page.) He apparently engaged a Japanese during his stay in the early days of the occupation for the two drawings shown here. Given the food shortages in Japan leading up to and including that time, it is surprising to see the model so well fed. Perhaps Mr. Perlin took some artistic license. The fundoshi underwear worn adds a certain level of authenticity.
Joe Santoro
I find this drawing of a snoozing Joe Santoro to be of exceptional quality.
Mr. Perling completed it in 1950.
1942
This untitled work is dated 1942, around the time Bernard Perlin worked on government posters.
I have to wonder if this was one of the poster models getting in a little extra work.
War Posters
Early in World War II, Bernard Perlin contributed to the war effort by producing propaganda posters. The one above was part of a successful War Bond promotion, but the one below was not finished or published. I'm guessing that the African-American model was not well received in some circles.
August 1945
In August of 1945, Mr. Perlin was on assignment in the Mariana Islands for Forbes magazine.
He did this drawing of U.S. servicement an air base getting the news that bombing had been
ended. This was after the atomic bombings, but before the formal surrender of Japan.
The Bartender
I'm closing today's series with a painting from 1958. It's called The Bartender, and all the patrons
appear to be men. Yes, there were gay bars in New York City in 1958.
Monday, September 29, 2025
Jack Mitchell
Returning to the work of Jack Mitchell today. The photo above was made at one of his gallery shows where his amazing talent for portraiture was on display. Although I won't be posting
those today, take a look online if you want to see some amazing work of that sort.
Outtake?
My source wasn't sure if this was an outtake from a photo session
or the way Jack Mitchell intended it to be seen.
Milton Dean I
Jack Mitchell did a whole series of photos of Milton Dean using plant and floral overlays.
I'm not crazy about the techinque, but it is interesting in a way.
"And Puppy Dog Tails"
This my (probably unexpected) favorite of the day. It is the cast of the 1969 Gay Liberation play,
"And Puppy Dog Tails," one of the highest grossing off-Broadway productions of the year.
Body Parts
This was in a group of photos for sale on a high end auction website labeled as "Jack Mitchell: Body Parts." I don't know if that was Mr. Mitchell's name for them or the sellers'.
Cal Culver II
Cal Culver is making a second appearance today for two reasons. First, I recently found half a dozen "new" Jack Mitchell photos of him, and second, this one is rather different from the other.
Milton Dean II
Ending the set with a second photo of Milton Dean. Despite the floral clutter
obsuring the model, I like this one more than the first one posted today.
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Champion Studio Day
Walter Kundzicz owned Champion Studio and is best known for his extensive use of color
and kitschy props. Today, I am going back to basics with all black and white photos and
only a smattering of props. We start the show with a minimalist image of Bob Anders.
Hank Strothers
That mesh posing strap on Hank Strothers was a censorship dodge.
More on that subject in a later post today.
Mike Pohl
We get three views of Mike Pohl on page 25 of Champions All,
a publication put out after liberalization in the late 1960s.
Tore Lind
Tore Lind's Scandinavian good looks worked well with a jockstrap.
Note the image of a naked woman in the background.
Doug Betts
This is Doug Betts on the white sand of the Sunset Beach Club,
Walter Kundzicz's very own Florida nudist resort.
You might enjoy the front and back views.
Rock Granger
This Rock Granger in one of Walter Kundzicz's censorship dodges, see-through
underwear. He was also known to have used mesh posing straps and veils.
Having been raided at one point, he wasn't taking any chances.
Ken French
Lots of beef and a nice dusting of fur
in this posing strap shot of Ken French.
Oh, and the smile is icing on the cake.
Dick Stark
I've posted quite a few photos of Dick Stark over the years,
but somehow managed to miss this one until now.
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