Guys In Uniform Studio (Updated 14th June)

Article Incomplete

 

1. Guys In Uniform - Sailor in the Rigging

 

Guys in Uniform Studio set up in the mid 1970s, producing sexy pictures with a strong flavour of military discipline. 

 

It was much inspired by the example set by Royale Studio in the late 1950s, and the personnel involved reputedly had connections of some sort with Basil Clavering's set-up. The photo above directly references the 'Sailor in the Rigging' images of Royale Studio and Hussar. 

 

 

2. Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline

 Guys In Uniform created many Gym Discipline scenarios which also mirrored Royale storyettes, but without the gym horse, which had provided both context and a handy platform for punishment in the earlier images. 

 

 

3. Royale Studio - 'Through the Legs' pose from 'Soldier-Sailor'

 

Other images copy the striking 'through the legs' poses which were a feature of Royale's work (notably Soldier-Sailor). I tend to think Royale derived them from cinema, 'film noir' advertising. See 'Military Intimidation' for an excellent, Guys In Uniform example. 

 

 

4. Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers, 'Dunces'

The creation of Royale-inspired imagery seems to have peaked with a set (which I have called 'Caning By Numbers' since GIU don't seem to have given them names). Although their imagery is new, it seems to closely copy the Royale Storyette 'Tough Schoolmaster', notably including the use of archaic dunces caps. At the time of writing, I am still drafting 'Tough Schoolmaster' and heavily revising my article about the 'Caning by Numbers' set to cross-reference the similarities. (This link presently takes you to the old article, but will be updated).

  

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The pictures of both studios pushed at the boundaries of acceptability for their respective times. Royale's beefcake images flirted with homosexual innuendo and sadism, which was strictly taboo in the 1950s Britain. By the late 70s, when Guys in Uniform was formed, gay lifestyle magazines were commonplace and even frontal nudes were permissible (if flaccid). However, the combination of nudity and discipline scenarios' was still highly controversial and problematic.

 

5. Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline

 This image is similar to Royale discipline scenarios, but they did not show their subjects undressed like this.

 

 

6. Guys In Uniform - The Investigation

Both Studios openly used genuine servicemen as models, particularly Royal Guardsmen (sometimes in authentic uniforms). This shocked the establishment and provoked police raids to seize their material. In Royale's day, anything to do with homosexuality was hushed up by the press, but in the case of Guys in Uniform there was a full-blown public scandal when a tabloid 'exposed' that real Guardsmen were posing for nude photographs in homosexual magazines. The specific images concerned were those of the 'Caning by Numbers' series, image 4, above.

  

 

7. Guys In Uniform - The Harness

Guys in Uniform did venture into one area where Royale and Hussar had not dared - Leather and Rubber fetish. The leather harness/apron shown in the picture above was part of a provocative (for its time) exploration of leather and rubber fetish. It was a subject which formed a major part of Guys in Uniform's output and they developed the visual language of domination and submission in a way that goes far beyond what Royale did, a contribution to the leather fetish scene that is probably more significant than it is given credit for.

 

 

8. Royale Studio - Man wearing a Leather Harness

 

Recently, a solitary image has come to light suggesting Royale had a similar harness (above), but if they did, images of it were never published at the time. This photo formed part of the Bonham's sale of photographs by Basil Clavering in 2021 which I have identified* as being part or all of the British Photographers Collection, sometimes known as the Originals (*see postscript in the Royale Numbers article). However, this collection also included pictures from 'Guys in Uniform' (see preceding paragraph in that Numbers article) so the attribution of this image to Basil Clavering by Bonhams was probably a simple mistake.

 

Interestingly, the saleroom stated in their prospectus that the collection of hundreds of Royale Studio images had been "acquired by the present owner in Notting Hill in the 1980s, from a fan of Studio Royale (sic) who had tried unsuccessfully to mimic its success". This latter reference sounds very much like the 'Guys in Uniform' producer.

 

Royale did publish a series of fetishistic images with models wearing pouches made from chains, but the Dolphin/Hussar set 'Leather Merchants' seems to be the limit of their ventures into the leather scene.

 

9. Dolphin Photography - Leather Merchants

More details pending

 

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The Guys in Uniform Business

 

Ever since the release of the British Photographers' collection of Royale Studio and Guys in Uniform images, (Source 1) this Studio has suffered from being called 'Men in Uniform' in some quarters. However, it always used the 'Guys in Uniform' label in its short existence, as shown in the image below and image 2, above. There was never a Studio called 'Men In Uniform'  

 

This misconception seems to have originated from the publication of the British Photographer's collection, since the originator gave some of his scans titles beginning with MIU. An interesting, 2002 article by Squaddie John about the history and the connections between the two studios gives an account of how this came about. Formerly published at 'Milism' (now defunct), I have been given permission by the author to reproduce it at mitchmen - read the 'Milism' article. 

 

 

10. Ad for Guys In Uniform in 'Him Exclusive' Sept 1975

 

Strictly speaking, 'Guys in Uniform' was a product of 'Studio 57', run by Charles Koestler and based in Linden Gardens, Notting Hill. Some of their advertisements showed this link. This ad also shows they were using the same marketing technique as Royale - 'selection' sheets from which clients could choose which prints they wanted to buy.

 

In a different ad, GIU announced that they had compiled two selection sheets as an easy way to order, emulating the Royale catalogues. It was a sales methodology that was becoming outdated by then and none of these selection sheets seem to have survived. It's not known if they were able to secure an income stream from them.

 

N.B. This advertisement was originally published in black and white, I have added the colour using AI.

 

 

11. Guys in Uniform Feature in 'Q International' v1 No3 (1976)

 

Like Royale and Hussar, Guys in Uniform supplied their images to the Gay Magazines of their time - 'Q International', 'Him', 'Playguy' and 'Zipper'. We know that 'Him' paid for them and provided free advertising (from Daily Mirror 20/10/75). Many of the illustrations were printed in colour, which was not affordable in the 1960s for Royale. Unlike Royale, they don't seem to have reached out to US magazines, a link-up with 'Drummer' might have transformed the business. 

 

12. Guys In Uniform - Cover of Uniform Magazine, Issue 2

 

Guys in Uniform also published 3 issues of their own glossy 'Uniform Magazine' (above). Surprisingly, though, it only carried black and white photos, although the ad above (image 10) makes it clear that they were selling colour prints.

 

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More to come

How it ended 

watch this space! 

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View the mitchmen review of Guys in Uniform pictures in 13+ Parts 

Mitchell's Art

Mitchell - Double Manipulation (M855)

 I've got out of the habit of posting my own pictures here, recently, although I do post them regularly on 'X', which is not entirely logical! This post is from my 'Caps and Collars' story which is temporarily paused at the moment. It's a new scan.

Ferret, the captive detective is being tested by The Doctor and his evil henchman, the Black Trainer. It's all purely out of professional interest, the Doctor would claim. This manipulation is, in effect, a deconstructed (is that the right word?) Boston Crab. Unlike many ring moves, this one looks as if it hurts. It does bring up Ferret's buns a treat in those backless briefs. No gain without pain!

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For more pictures by Mitchell at this blog, 
click on the 'mitchpix' label at the foot of this post. 

There's info about other galleries in 'Mitchell's Gallery Hub' tab,
which is just below the site header at the top of this page. 

Classic Homoerotic Images 11 - Seven Seas, Wet Swimmers

  

 During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, British gay men were given a nightly treat as they settled down to hear the Weather Forecast on the TV. It was preceded every night by a sponsorship ad showing a group of swimmers in red singlets and black shorts standing in the pouring rain with their wet clothes clinging to their muscular bodies. Then they ran jumped into Lake Windermere. There were other themes, but they hardly ever were screened in this position

Gay men loved it. For innocents, still learning about their sexuality and fearful of being different from their friends, seeing this imagery on a respectable TV program must have helped them understand it was OK to look at men's bodies.

Watch the Video 

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Click on the label below for more Classic Homoerotic Images

AI Art by AussieGuys

a

Rolls-Royce 1 by AussieGuys

 AussieGuys art is an eclectic collection mainly focussed on conventional AI Hunk-dom, but this is an interesting recent, development. Two guys embarrassingly stranded in their expensive car. I've posted a captioned version at 'X'.

 

Rolls-Royce 15 by AussieGuys

The artist has produced an astonishingly large number of variations in this Rolls-Royce series, all based around this scenario. It's sexy but difficult to decipher what's actually going on. 

See also RR17 and RR29.

 

Best Friend 2 by AussieGuys

As you might expect from an Aussie, there's plenty of beach fun imagery. I'm attracted to the shorts in this image. The yellow dangling rope is a worrying sign that AI might be secretly gay.

 

Big Fish by AussieGuys

 Beach boys don't have it all their own way, this is a marvellous study of more mature masculinity with a scary dash of phallic symbolism. Shame about the purse, though.

 

Couple 40 by AussieGuys

I think it gets a bit carried away with bulk here, but the muscle hunks parading in wet underwear is a nice idea. There's a sense of these buddies thinking of casting their own lines for a catch they've seen further down the beach (see below).

 

Couple 38 by AussieGuys

Maybe it's these two cheeky chappies that they're checking out. They've got bulk of their own to flaunt, tantalisingly disguised and yet emphasised by the patterns of their sagging pouches, which are slung oh, so low. 

 

Polycule, We Are One - 30 by AussieGuys

 This is a romantic, but very sexy image of a spontaneous kiss in the surf. The facial expressions and postures of the outer men are fascinating. Are they embarrassed? Disappointed? Jealous? Whichever is the case, they don't seem inclined to make up a second pairing with each other.

Apparently a polycule is a network of people connected in a polyamorous dynamic, so there. 

 

Polycule, We Are One - 4 by AussieGuys

 This expresses the same idea, slightly more subtly, with matching trunks substituting for linked hands as an expression of closeness between the right-hand pair - or perhaps revealing a lack of it. Did AI actually dream up that little twist? The body-hugging trunks themselves are rather less subtle and may distract you from contemplating the 'polydynamics' in depth.  

  

Couple Beach by AussieGuys

There isn't an image that can't be improved by taking the guys' pants off 'em. This one is also tender and romantic, with a hand clasp that seems to signal deeper feelings than casual friendship. Unfortunately, this idyllic, surging moment is about to be interrupted by a tsunami-like wave. That's AI for you, no sense of proportion.

 

AborgPinkLiz 5 by AussieGuys

This native Australian is certainly prepared for the big one (so to speak). He's another, pleasing example of the variety of men represented in this artist's pictures. 

 

Surfer's Pet Dolphin 9 - by AussieGuys

Check out this cheery chubbie.
Love the stuffed pouch.

 

Dreamtime 4 - by AussieGuys

The determination to represent Australian-ness justifiably includes an admiring flash back to the ancient, local cultures. Some think images like this are degrading and insulting, but we all have ancestors like this. The beauty is idealised here, but the originals had an ability to survive in an unforgiving environment that would compare favourably with many of the i-phone generation.

 

Australian Football League - by AussieGuys

The Aussies are formidable competitors in most sports, as English cricket fans know, all too well, but Australian Rules Football is a unique, fast flowing sport, that attracts gay admirers due to the skimpy shorts they all wear. This leaping pose with the corny, 'Reach For The Stars' subtext looks like it's an AI stock image, but the ultra-short shorts transform it, revealing an expanse of muscular thigh and a glimpse of the jungle-like interior for fans of up-shorting.

 

Cisboy 12 - by AussieGuys

One of Aussieguys' quirks is dressing some of his handsome models in fem-style underwear. The title, I presume, is a modernisation of 'sissy', owning the insult and, in the setting of a public beach, making it a Pride-style, defiant assertion of identity. 

That's fair enough, but my perverse temptation is to pair it with the earlier image of muscle guys in wet underpants ...(see below).

This image fails for me, slightly, because AI has simply fitted the lace fabric into the lines of conventional male attire. Adapting it to imitate the different shape produced by a female body would create a more startling contrast.

 

Couple 40 by AussieGuys
(captioned by mitchmen)

 No-one knows the secret thoughts that lurk in the hearts of even the most butch of tough, Australian, hypermasculine personas!

 

Jock 33 by AussieGuys

It may be that the muscle-heads are being sized up themselves 
by one, very excited bather in the water! He has a confident air that might make him more than a handful for them.

 

BeachBaby60 by AussieGuys

 This young man further down the beach also proudly shows his colours. He, too, has a look that suggests that he is adept at finding opportunities for all that stuff he's packing in that impressively load-bearing pouch-ette.

 

Jock 174 by AussieGuys

Just when you thought beach wear couldn't get any skimpier! 

It looks like this guy earned his athletic laurels in Starbucks. 

As you might note from the picture serial number, there are lots more of these at AussieGuys' website (link below). 

 

Couple 8 by AussieGuys

 This take on skimpiness, applying it to shorts, appeals to me. More than the semi-implied transparency, in fact. There was a fad for shorts/trunks like this a few years back, but they don't seem to turn up so often now. Maybe that's because they have too much of a tendency to turn downwards, once you start walking!

 

Big Kid 76 by AussieGuys

 

I ought to give the last word to a more conventional representation of Aussie manhood, with a slightly wild, slightly gauche personality and fierce patriotism. Never mind the ducks, mate, come and rescue me!

 

 

Like A Good Glass of Wine by AussieGuys

 

Cheers! 

 

 ~ 

 

AussieGuys posts at Deviant Art

Targeted

 Phil was looking forward to an evening with his newly purchased beefcake magazine. It had a wrestling special this month. He showered up and then changed into a clean jockstrap. It was well-worn and soft. He loved the way it enclosed him at the front, but felt exposed and vulnerable behind. 

He liked to read, while lying on his stomach, and spread a duvet on the floor to lie on. The curtains were drawn across the window for privacy, but it was too hot to close it completely and the curtains occasionally stirred in the evening breezes. A breath of the cool air kissed his ass cheeks sending a delicious sensation through his body. Slowly, he leafed through the magazine, becoming totally absorbed and increasingly excited. He rubbed himself against the duvet. The pictures were very good this month.

Suddenly two arms reached from behind him and grabbed his hands, pinning them to the floor. "Keep still" a deep toned voice said. Phil felt the weight of a body settling on his back, bare skin touching his own. 

"What is it, what do you want?"  Phil's voice trembled fearfully, but he amazed himself by not panicking. 

The stranger's hands tightened over his. "I've been watching you for some time" he said. "Seeing the window open tonight, I thought I'd drop in and introduce myself". He chuckled, "Yeah, introduce myself".

"Maybe I'd better get dressed" Phil said in a shaky voice.

The stranger laughed "You already are, that's what drew me in". He released one of Phil's hands and Phil felt him lift slightly as if adjusting something. Then he felt the weight pressing down again, the warmth of a chest on his back - and a touch on his backside cheeks too. And then came something in-between.  

 

~

Photo from a 1993 beefcake mag, 'BoyProof'. 

For more 'targets' at mitchmen blog, click on the label below.

The Night Visitor

 The Night Visitor liked men who slept in the nude.

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For more Night Visitors, click on the label below 

This photo by Dudley Carver 

Targeted

 Ryan could remember going to bed at his usual time. He'd felt exhausted after a long training session with his football team-mates. 

Then nothing until awoke and found himself strapped to some sort of frame in a dark, damp, dungeon-like place.

There was a strange feeling at his groin, a dull ache, it felt as if his tackle was being squeezed by something very tight. 

"Welcome, Mr Hawke!", a voice boomed out, "we are ready to begin your induction".

Ryan could just about make out a masked figure in the murk.

He felt a stab of fear. 

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Artist unknown, I'm afraid. 

For more 'targets' at mitchmen blog, click on the label below.