Royale Studio Models - David Reid (Updated 14th Nov '24)

1. David Reid solo - Royale Catalogue Entry

David Reid appeared in a number of Royale sets and storyettes. This image was his first, solo appearance, seemingly nude, oiled up and astonishingly muscular (with a touch of puppy fat). He's seated on Royale's famous military drum which appears in a number of Royale studio sets.

Royale Studios' Catalogue entry for DAR

1a David Reid by Royale

 
This image (added Jun 2022) is almost certainly from the DAR set.
It appeared in 'Tomorrows Man 7' magazine in 1959.

2. David Reid - Royale 02

It's possible that this image, which I found at Adonis Male, also comes from this early set with the black background. Although it's attributed to David, it's hard to authenticate it's identity in this quality. I do sense the hand of Royale's associate, Scott of London in the shapely pouch (if you know what I mean!). The chains add a tasty, feisty, fetish touch.

3

This image of David, is from Man Alive No 9 (April 1960)

This study of a dude cowboy from the autumn days of 'pouch art' looks rather ridiculous to modern eyes at first, but even from that perspective there's still a perverse sexiness in the manipulation of the model. David's youthful beauty and muscular build shine through the confusion. There's a somewhat leaner look about his face that's possibly connected to getting 'ripped' for a bodybuilding competition. 

For all the oddness, there's erotic craft to admire in the well-stuffed pouch and the belt tightly cinched about his waist accentuating the model's tapered torso and screaming out that his jeans are missing. It's lightly suggestive of restraint, especially in combination with the whip. 

The bandana tied round his neck has a similar, erotic ambiguity. It was a common, stylish accessory for TV cowboy stars of the time like Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter, but it also accentuates the sexiness of a stout neck when it's tied in a narrow strip - see Ty Hardin (in the middle) from the 'Bronco', TV show

4

This picture of David appeared in the following issue of Man Alive, No 10 (1960). It showcases his broad back and shapely buttocks but I'm not sure it's a very flattering pose overall (admittedly the slope of the magazine in this e-bay sales picture isn't helping). 

The gun as an erotic device is something of a cliché and it's shadow seems to be in an odd place if it's meant to be erotic innuendo. Once again David's hair is a standout feature.

5

This image really does showcase David's lusciously upholstered torso.

From Body Beautiful 16 (1961)

6

Another image from the same 1961 outdoor shoot.

Tracking down images of David is complicated by the use of aliases.

He was labelled as John Dawe for this picture when it appeared in Trim Studio Quarterly 26 (1968). 

It was part of a retrospective feature on Hussar Studio. 

8

David fronted Body Beautiful 16 in 1964 looking a lot more mature in Tarzan-esque gear with yet another fetish accessory - rope. You can see him as a body-builder here rather than a suggestive porn model but I've yet to discover other pictures in this vein. It may be that he used a different name for his straight posing. This picture was taken by Davmel not Royale. 

9

This is the best picture I have of David Reid and his luscious torso by a long way. It surfaced out of the blue in the Colville Exhibition of Royale Studio coloured masters in 2019. Royale lovers will recognise the wagon wheel from the closing scenes of 'Unapproved' but this image is not part of that storyette. The only other example I can recall of a Royale Studio model wearing cut-offs is Ian Oliver in another Colville coloured picture. The cowboy flavour is unusual for Royale too although it also occurs in another image of David Reid above.

This picture of him is the closest match I can offer to the slightly puzzling images of the Caned Sailors set, which is related to BULLIES (see below, Royale 04 in the mitchmen archive)

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This bio's will be included in the mitchmen Open Archive of Royale Studio