Guys In Uniform 2 - Caning By Numbers

Read the first post in this series

The second post in this series continues the sequence of Guys In Uniform images immortalised for collectors by the tag 'Numbers', which was assigned to the pictures by the publisher of the so-called 'British Photographers Collection' (see Royale Sources Nos 1 & 2). This set seems to recreate, almost exactly, the action of the (equally fragmented) Royale Studio set, 'Tough Schoolmaster', which is being posted at the Royale blog in parallel with this article. I will reference the similarities in the text. 

The set is also significant, historically, in that it resulted in a full-blown public scandal in 1976, after it was published. The use of serving Guardsmen to pose for the pictures was uncovered by the Daily Mirror tabloid and their sensational articles led to allegations of 'vice rings', police raids, questions in Parliament and discharge from the Army for some of the unfortunate models. 

This set was originally reviewed at this blog in 2010, it is significantly expanded here with some images rarely seen before. I have reconstructed it from various internet sources including copies of British, gay magazines of the 70s. In the absence of a thumbnail sheet or catalogue information, I have sequenced them using clothing continuity and an imagined storyline, matching that of 'Tough Schoolmaster'.

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 01

This is the nearest I can find to a starting image for this set. It shows a military student in gym kit, standing 'at ease', but rigidly correct, as he would on the parade ground. He's clearly under the control of the Officer-like gentleman at his side, who I take to be the Instructor. 

This image (recovered from a GIU Studio advertisement in 'Him Exclusive' No 8, 1975) seems to be a fragment of a bigger scene, there is another 'student' in this series, and it's likely he appears at the right in the full picture. It looks as if it might be a disciplinary situation.

The original of this picture was printed in black and white, I have colourised it using AI.

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 02

 This picture shows both athletes. We don't have much information about the names of GIU's models, so, for simplicity, I refer to the two students in this article as No 3 and No 4.

 

The Instructor is preparing to punish them, a prospect that is filling No 3 with dismay. Presumably he's first up. The flimsy shorts they are both wearing amplify the threat. 

 

No 4 is wearing a dunce's cap, an archaic punishment for failing to learn to the teacher's satisfaction. It's possible the missing half of image 1 might have shown him wearing it, with the other two men witnessing his discomfort. The dunce's cap immediately makes a connection with Royale's 'Tough Schoolmaster' storyette, specifically image 03 of that set, where a similar scene is enacted.

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The original of this picture was printed in black and white, I have colourised it using AI. There also exists a version where the students aren't wearing any shorts at all, it's an ingenious, later tweak that is very sexy, but the clothing combination doesn't fit into the storyline. See it here.

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 03

There's a jump in continuity here. Athlete No 3 has clearly just had his taste of the cane. We don't have an image of that, but there are lots more like it to come. The Officer is signalling a glum-looking No 4 to come forward and take his place. Notice the strange shadow falling on his lower body, it surely can't be an accident!

 

A clip board can be seen standing on the table which says "Set 3, Test 4". It might simply be the equivalent of a clapper board, indicating that this is the fourth scene of the third GIU photo set. Alternatively it might mean that these two men are members of Set (or Class) 3, and have either just failed Test 4, or are in the process of being subjected to it.

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 04

The two athletes swap places (and hats) and No 4's punishment (or test?) commences. The erotic quality and authenticity makes for an interesting comparison with the Royale equivalent. The GIU picture benefits from sexier shorts and colour, but Royale's tighter composition scores for dramatic effect. 

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 05

The underlings rebel and the sadistic Officer is brought to his knees to receive a dose of his own punishment. No 3 has somehow lost his vest in the struggle, we see it lying on the floor. There's an intriguing ambiguity about his position, squatting, equally exposed, astride the Instructor. The dunce's cap is symbolically set aside. It's edited out altogether in some circulating copies of this image. 

 

Compare this image with Tough Schoolmaster, image No 4. It's compelling evidence of the Royale inspiration behind this series. (Which is not to disparage the GIU versions as mere copies. They stand up as pictures in their own right). In Royale's version the cap is more realistically lying discarded on the floor.

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 06

The target area is clarified. 

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 07

 

Somehow, the Instructor regains control and here seems to be singling out No 3 (on the floor) as his attacker.  That seems borne out by the grappling between them in images 5 and 6. In Royale's storyline the rebel is more obvious (image 03), but we don't have that moment in this story. No 4 seems to have changed sides and is holding him down. A 'collaborator' sub-text also runs through Royale's storyline (e.g. image 01).

 

This image defied all my attempts to satisfactorily clarify or colourise it.

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 08

 In the final sequence of images, both athletes have shed their numbered singlets. Fortunately, they have different coloured shoes to provide continued identification. The Instructor takes his revenge, using restraints to ensure this student at least can't escape retribution.

Surprisingly it's No 4 in the firing line, whose role appears quite passive in the other images we have.  His apparent collaboration in image 7 hasn't got him off the hook. This development is different to the Royale story where it's the rebel who is strung up. In this case, the rebel, his classmate, watches with an inscrutable expression. In these final images we can see he's wearing spiked track shoes, which might have made the rebellion interesting!

 

This image makes a further telling link with 'Tough Schoolmaster' which features an identical, restraint arrangement (image 05). That image gives a clue to what happens next in this set.

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 09

 As in the Royale image, the 'collaborator' helps to lower the offender's shorts. It's a great moment. 

 

Notice how the Instructor turns away from the camera to hide his face in these more sensitive images. We now know that these were serving Guardsmen, so it's an understandable precaution. He is identifiable in the earlier, more innocuous images.

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 10

 The instructor tells his assistant to step aside, so his aim will be unobstructed. No 3 looks glum, perhaps having experienced it himself already, or expecting to be next. 

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 11

 The Instructor seems to be indulging in some sadistic teasing here, which is something of a tradition in this genre. The visual effect is impressive, No 3 looks fascinated. The photographer has cropped this image more tightly than the rest of the set to emphasise the drama.

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 12

 The coup de grâce produces a very good image indeed. We can only speculate whether it's good acting or real reaction. The sagging shorts provide a last twist.

 

Guys In Uniform - Caning by Numbers 13

In this image, it appears that No 3 gets his reward for betraying his classmate. There's an item in the top corner which might tell us more if we could see it properly. 

 

In this image we can see more clearly, the flimsy, lingerie-like nature of the student's shorts. It seems a less masculine look than Royale's, very traditional styles with plain fronts and elasticated waists. However, Scott, who was renowned for his tight shorts in Royale's time, sometimes tucked the waistband inside the shorts to produce a lower top-line.

   

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*Sequencing most GIU sets is very difficult, because we don't have any catalogue information and the usual method of tracking continuity of clothing and the action generally runs into contradictions that can't be resolved except by conjecturing a storyline that has no supporting evidence. This was the case with Set 1 in this series, which I eventually split into two. I've managed to come up with a sequence that works for this one, helped by cross-referencing the Royale storyette

 

In truth, there's evidence that some of the sets were not even conceived as stories. The Guys In Uniform house magazine, 'Uniform', grouped many of the images under non-descriptive headings like 'The Barrack Room', 'Attack' and 'Authority' although 'The Sneak' and 'The Card Sharp' do suggest an intended narrative. Set No 1 was called 'The School Prefect' in Uniform magazine, but I've skated over that for obvious reasons. In any case it doesn't help with sequencing them.

 

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Preview the next Guys in Uniform set 

You can read the original articles that followed on from this one,  

No 3 onwards are still pending revision at the moment, 

which for No 3, will be substantial. 

 More about Guys In Uniform Studio  

 

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! 

 

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AussieGuys posts at Deviant Art