Smithsonian PaJaMa Collection

Taking another look at the PaJaMa Collective's photographic work which Margaret Hoening French donated to the Smithsonian after Jared French's death.  We start with Mel Fillini 

posing in a study which was used for the painting, The Sea.

 

Jonathan Tichenor

This is Jonathan Tichenor showering at Fire Island.

 

Paul and Jared

Margaret Hoening French took this photo of her husband

 Jared French (standing) and his lover Paul Cadmus.

 

Marked

Someone in PaJaMa marked this up for cropping, but no one has ever found the finished product if there even was one.  There's something about it that grabbed my attention that I can't describe.

 

Paul Cadmus

Paul Cadmus was notably shy about being photographed fully nude,

and this is about as close to a frontal shot as one will find.

 

Bob Wallace

This is Bob Wallace from 1947.

 

Unknown

Another of the many unknown models in the Smithsonian's PaJaMa collection.

 

Another

I've posted quite a few photos over the years of this attractive PaJaMa unknown model.

This one is a bit grainy, but he still shines through.

 

John Butler

This is John Butler from 1945.

 

Jared

You regulars knew we weren't going to get through this without a naked photo of Jared French, who posed for literally hundreds of them in the Smithsonian donation.  At least this one is rather different.

 

Ten 1970s Porn Stars

It's 70s porn star day, and we start with John Alexander.

 

Paul Barresi

I couldn't do a 70s series without Paul Barresi.

 

Bill Cable

I never get tired of looking at Bill Cable.  This is from one 

of his memorable photo shoots with AMG.

 

John Coletti

Known for his appearances in Playgirl, this photo of John Coletti was not in the magazine.

 

Dick Fisk

No gay clone uniform for Dick Fist in this shower shot.

 

Gordon Grant

The hat and boots in this shot of Gordon Grant are fully authentic,

but something tells me that's not what you're looking at.

 

Barry Hoffman

Before he hit the skids (as in skid row), Barry Hoffman cut a fine figure.

I can't bear to look at some of his later work for Old Reliable.

 

Richard Locke

While he is best remembered for his blue collar portrayals,

Richard Locke looks pretty good in a suit.

 

Mike Morris

Mike Morris is shown here on a camping trip with a model I could only identify as "Paul."

 

Roger

Ending with a happy model generally known only as Roger, but sometimes

 billed as Tom Garrett.  The photo is from Lancer, Vol 1.

 

Ten by Lesser Known Photographers

Although you have probably heard of some of them, the ten photographers I'm featuring today are among the lesser known of the classic physique era.  There is a dearth of work by most of them, 

and I don't even have enough of some to give them their own series.  We begin with the always impressive Bill Hillgardner in an outdoor photo by Lou Melancon.

 

Joseph Hanson by Gebbe

Gebbe, aka Richard Gebhardt, was a mentor for Lon of New York.

The photo above is from 1930 and features Joseph Hanson.

 

Lee Yarusi by Al McDuffie

Al McDuffie took this photo of Lee Yarusi under the Acme brand.

 

Jack Cole by Maurice Seymour

Instead of the usual bodybuilder, we get a dancer in this 1930 photo of Jack Cole

 by Maurice Seymour, aka brothers Maurice and Seymour Zeldman.  

Gary Bordman by James B. Hills

Going really obscure with this one.  The photo above of Gary Bordman by James B. Hills (sometimes the middle initial initial is given as E.) is one of only three I've been able to find by this photographer.  And one of the other two is the extended version below which was used as a centerfold.

 

Richard Sorkorum by Dominique

There are some unflattering stories about the photographer Dominique,

but this picture of Richard Sorkorum is quite impressive.

 

Monte Walton by All American Studio

With a name like All American Studio, you'd think this outfit would be better known.

This photo of Monte Walton is one of about two dozen images by them that I could find.

 

Ralph Bernard by Avery Willard

Although I could do without the busy diamond backdrop,

I do like this Avery Willard shot of Ralph Bernard.

 

Phil Campesi by John Hernec

I have previously posted two other photos of Phil Campesi from the same session by John Hernec.

Work by this photographer is very hard to find, and my collection is quite small.

 

Jim Smith by Rip Searby

Our concluding image is a Rip Searby photo of Jim Smith.  There's a story Jim French's trade name before he became Colt Studio, Rip Colt, was an homage to Rip Searby.