Vintage Season 4 - G-String Mysteries

 What do you make of this picture? It's obviously a magnificent torso image and that owes much to the skill of the photographer in preparing the oily model (I'll help with that!) and then audaciously cropping the image, removing half his head and outer limbs. It's awash with sensuality and for my money this G-string does not look at all out of place. The skimpy proportions and froth of pubic hair are unavoidably erotic when you're as close as this of course but it's shape is quite attractive too, with dipping curves seeming to echo the underside of the model's buttocks, like the overlapping scallops on a posh pelmet. 

But hang on, what's happening to the support string on the left? It is definitely real - you can see the indentation and shadowing of the hip flesh quite clearly. As it approaches the pouch, however, it seems to dive down and miss the point where you would expect it to join up and disappear inside the top hem. In contrast, the right-hand string appears to fully obey the normal laws of keeping up drawers. The more you look at the pouch, however, the more it seems to be hovering in the air, just in front of the model, but I can't decide if it's totally faked (despite the beguilingly realistic right hand string), or if it's actually attached to some other device behind, which we can't see.  

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Exhibit 'B' is another typical WPG image of two shapely men enjoying the sunshine. Their poses do not look natural, comfortable or stable and that tends to produce a corresponding, dissatisfied feeling in the viewer. However, if you allow your eye to rove over the torso areas you can see how the curves of their muscles and bodies seem to fit together and subtly complement each other. Thus the shoulder and pec of the model at the back fits into the curve of his companion's armpit, while the sweep of his tilted-back neck leads the eye down the plane of his chest to sweep across the concave shape of the nearer man's abdominal cavity and thence inside his G-string. This requires very clever crafting of the model's positions. It not only looks nice but visually suggests an intimacy between them and is thus erotic as well as arty. The overall composition is not entirely sucessful but you can see how judicious cropping might easily produce an image just as spectacular as the first example.

The G-strings in this picture are not clear, but they form different and slightly odd shapes, the one at the back strangely mounded while that at the front seems to taper off in mid air instead of continuing between the legs. It has a rigid shell-like appearance, a construction which would avoid inadvertant shaping of the garment to the objects inside. It lends some support to my conjectures about the shield-like appearance of the G-string in the first picture.

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This image also creates that shell like impression, with side strings again that don't go where you would expect. The curve of the top hem seems un-naturally rounded but that creates an unexpected peeking opportunity. It's another example of the Studio's low key eroticism and their refined artistry is illustrated here in the echoing double curves of pecs and knees (and the same shaped G-string between them). Also the elegantly flowing body lines like those of a diver. He's quite cute too!

Despite the Western theme, I don't think this is a WPG image and there's none of their artistry in this stilted pose (how I hate hands on hips!) or the lighting which does little for the muscularity on show. This shot relies more on the inherent appeal of the handsome model and on props to make it interesting but there's a very clear gulf in quality.

It's not a good copy but you get the distinct impression that this chap's pouch has been well and truly doctored. The black shadowing around the irregular shaped white patch makes it look 'applied' and the string is also unconvincing, not seeming to quite connect with the hem. Remember though that these disguises were intended to look just that, enough to be decent but unmistakably hiding something more tasty whose outline, surprisingly, can actually be discerned in the shadowing.
This feels like the tail starting to wag the dog!

More next time

Read this series from Part 1

I'd welcome ID information on the models in this article

Vintage Season 3 - More Puzzles in G-strings

Billy Joe Carr

Billy Joe Carr posing nude with his favourite record.

His chunky torso belies his boyish-looking face but it shows lots of pleasing curves without the bony-looking, extra detailing which shows up in ultra-lean physiques like that of Jack Thomas in No 1 of this series. Only the slicked-back hair style with quiff dates the model, but the domestic setting around him shows some interesting early sixties taste and technology.

Even if you knew nothing about Harry Belafonte, it's fairly obvious from the picture itself that the

inclusion of one of his album sleeves, carefully angled towards us is a very deliberate choice. Given the time the photo was taken (early sixties) I would guess that this is referencing his support for civil rights rather than the gay rights he has also become directly associated with now.

The admiration being shown for him here by a naked white man is not without it's own subversive element. This image may also be reflecting the widespread, wishful thinking that Belafonte might himself be gay. The symbolic extraction of his image from the interior of the record player implying a coming-out scenario. Belafonte however is married and if you take this picture at face value, so too was Billy Carr who is shown wearing a wedding ring.

 Billy Joe in G-string? 

At first sight this looks like an authentic G-string. However comparison with the previous photo shows it can't be, both pictures are the same. On closer inspection the shadowing and angling of the just-visible creases and hems, while seemingly real, actually suggest that the garment and its contents are angled to our right whereas Billy Joe's body is facing the other way.  It looks like this G-string cup has been taken from another model and superimposed on the photograph of Billy Joe (an interesting variation on my 'sharing clothes' postings!). The side strings also perhaps look a bit straighter than you might expect as they curve round behind him. Real or not it's compact size is rather more attractive (or at least more erotically interesting) than that worn by Donnie Kay in my last post. 

Interestingly the model's wedding ring has been blurred out too in the second picture, perhaps this censorship is an early manifestation of the anti 'gay for pay' movement. Whoever imagined that these old porn pictures could have so much sociological significance?

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Read this series from Part 1

Vintage Season 2 - The trouble with G-strings

 Kurt Freeman by Bruce of Los Angeles

This semi-arty style of image was typical of the era of the pouch/string. The open pose is nevertheless fairly erotic. I have always found clothed bodies more interesting than naked ones in general and I must admit I do like the G-string. I know there are those that find them slightly silly but this looks OK to me. Of course you might argue that Kurt Freeman would look good in anything.....

Kurt Freeman with pole

....then again perhaps not.

I don't think this is a painted-on G-string, but it is the wierdest design imaginable. Notice how the top hem is completely horizontal instead of following the curve of the body like the upper picture. Whether real or superimposed the result is neither erotic nor flattering to the physique. It doesn't make Kurt look any less handsome but slightly foolish instead.


Donny Kaye

I don't there's any room for doubt about the authenticity of this garment. It's capacious cut would make any man comfortable - if he had no sense of style that is. In this case I suspect there's something else inside as well, just to prevent any risky shape 'materialising' through oil soaked fabric. It's not nice really and poor Donny seems to be in tears about being made to wear it. That's a truly mitchmen-esque humiliation in it's own way, putting this man firmly in his place, but on the whole I'm at one with the detractors here. 

more next time

Read this series from Part 1

Vintage Season 1 - Now you see it....

A couple of pictures that show the two faces of erotic photography as it used to be.....

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 Don Hawksley 

Don Hawksley models an unusual jock-like garment - or is it underwear? Notice how the crossing lines of the hems act almost independently of each other in visual terms making the model simultaneously appear clad at the rear but unclad too. I'm not sure how intentional this was, open backed jock-straps seem to have been acceptable in the 60's. This garment seems to be made of a very clingy material and is possibly wetted to enhance shaping and give a degree of transparency (a practice I noted in my series on Royale studios).

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  Don Hawksley 

Same model, same pose, same stool but now he's jock-less. 

The existence of near-identical nude and clothed photographs was a consequence of the censorship of the times. Readers knew that the discreet photographs published in magazines were just the acceptable advertisement and more daring, exposed (so called 'natural') images were available by post. Not that it was legal to send nude pictures through the post, it wasn't, but obviously it was harder for the authorities to detect that. Studios made a virtue of discreet packaging! Customers ordering from abroad ran the additional risk of customs inspection which was much more likely to detect undesirable imports. Unfortunately, if found, such items came ready labelled with the recipient's name and address, but if he was lucky it would just be confiscated.

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 Jack Thomas

A name to conjure with! Jack models here in a posing pouch (to use the coy terminology of the time). It's the same as a G-string but perhaps the female connotations of that expression were too distasteful.

The fishing net was a popular posing accessory in the sixties, presumably that's to do with the idea of making a 'catch' as fishermen are not noted for exhibiting nudity (or sex appeal particularly). There's also a connection with gladiators which were a popular cover for nude photography and art. Having said that, I can't work out why he's holding it up in the air like this, he's not going to catch anything that way!

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Jack Thomas

Same model, same pose, same net, but now he's pouch-less.

Holding up the net makes more sense in this version but it won't take you too long to spot that this is actually the same photograph. The pouch/G-string has been painted on in the first picture for official publication. Fairly cleverly, it must be said but it wouldn't fool the practised eye. The giveaway is the flat front and extra length needed to cover the offending organ although you can see the dangling shadow has actually been altered. Of course, the objective is not to make the covering look real, but to highlight the existence of the nude version of the photo without getting the cops on your case. 

Some studios touching-up (as it were!) was extremely crude and the painted on layer very obvious - perhaps as a protest. This practice gave rise to the idea that photos were posted out with a covering which could be scratched off on receipt. I think this must be a myth, such a device would not cut any ice with the authorities and it's hard to imagine the suppliers laboriously painting error-correction fluid onto every image they sent out (typically in sets of 20 photos)! 

To nude-starved viewers however the resulting clumsily-censored pictures must have been just as arousing as the unspectacular nude version.

More next time

The Look Of Surprise

(click on picture to expand)

The look that says "Well, I wasn't expecting that".

(Thinks) 'How rude!'

It had started as a normal day.
Alfie set out for a jog in the woods before going to work.
Then he met another jogger and one thing led to another
He didn't notice the other one creeping up behind.

Now it looked like he was going to be late for work.

Jay Black - 2

My second example of Jay Black's work I've chasen for it's underlying theme as much as Jay's contribution to it. Basically this is a story of  ......

'white lad fancies black pole dancer and gets black bar-man included in the deal'. 

(all pictures are Copyright of Next Door Ebony)

 Brandon makes his play 

 

In 'Three to get Lucky' (2014), Brandon Jones plays the caucasian admirer in suitably boyish (pseudo-innocent) fashion. Jay Black is joined by chunky Marc Williams in taking advantage of him. 

The plot line is obviously founded on inter-racial attraction and all the stereotyping and baggage that goes with it is at the disposal of anyone who views it, but if everyone's having a good time why not? 

 

For my money, the 2 on 1 scenario coupled with the contrasting skin tones adds a frission of the dangerous and the forbidden that could only be improved by surrounding the group with an audience all the same colour (either black or white). Interestingly the impact of this image would alter according to the colour chosen, each conjuring up a different back-story according to the viewers own built-in perceptions and prejudices.

Jay Black is not the prettiest man around but his sheer muscularity plays well in the nightspot lighting especially in the video itself. The contrasting skin colours enhance the visual experience, adding clarity. The purple backdrop also plays it's part in augmenting the photography. The mirror on the wall behind, on the other hand, is cleverly positioned but well.....a bit OTT.

 

The mature Marc Williams hasn't lost his cuteness yet and contributes a physical bulk that makes his intervention seem quite intimidating and it's certainly impressive to watch that butt going. 

Well done Brandon!

Check out the trailer clip below!  

Three To Get Lucky

See the whole film at Next Door Ebony

Jay Black - 1

I mentioned Jay Black in my series of articles on Brian Bodine and promised to provide some examples of his more interesting work. I'm starting with a video trailer from the film 'Knotty Boys'. Video is a format which I don't usually employ on this blog but I think the opening seconds are amazingly erotic and static pictures alone could not possibly do them justice.

Bam Bam

Black's co-star in this production is the unfortunately named 'Bam Bam', whose slightly grizzled appearance is considerably more interesting than his moniker might lead you to expect.

And his backside speaks for itself. Bam Bam plays a rent boy.

Jay Black

The action in the video trailer (above) is preceded by a sequence in which Jay Black is tied up by another man in readiness for Bam Bam's pre-booked arrival.

Jay seems to be getting ready for forceful going over.
 However, the action that follows is not what you might expect.

You can see the whole video at Next Door Ebony