Oztangles Retrospective 4

The gay art of Oztangles
Read this mitchmen series from Part 1

2015

Oztangles - All Together

2015 seems to have been a quiet year for Oztangles art, this gym buddies series being the most interesting work. Sex in gyms seems to be a favoured subject for him but explicit images like this are relatively rare in Oztangles's work. It's a straightforward subject in erotic terms but but the mirror splattering effect (almost impossible to capture in a photograph) is a neat twist. 

This picture features some nice chunky physiques. 

2016

Oztangles - Asana

This striking pose featuring another 'chunky' makes a great picture and despite it's academic style and spiritual undertones is unashamedly erotic. Asana is the general term for a yoga pose and that influence is seen in other pictures in this period, in fact the companion piece to gym buddies (featured just above) shows both men striking a similar pose alongside each other to create an arty double-vision effect.

Oztangles - The New Gym Manager

The artist revisited that gym sex idea in more detail in 2016, using the same setting. He produced a 6 piece series which shows a provocatively-dressed Shawn being seduced (?) by the hunky new gym manager, Phil. 

Oz's interest in unusual, erotic clothing is familiar to us now but it seems slightly naive of Shawn to wear this skimpy outfit to the gym and then look surprised when it prompts the first man who sees it to start undressing. It seems as though that Phil's hyper-masculine appearance is overwhelming him, like a dream come true. Oz has gone out of his way here to create two men who stand at almost opposite extremes of the gay spectrum of sex appeal in almost every respect and it's a surprising pairing. 

Oztangles - Going Down On Shawn

Shawn's shocked surprise continues (somewhat improbably) as Phil gets down to work. 

Another chunky physique, despite his athletic occupation.

Oztangles - Pumping Shawn*

Shawn ends up shooting the mirror just like his predecessor in 2015, but this is a more refined version of that image. The change of angle and inclusion of an embracing arm succeeds in bringing out that these men are experiencing deep sensual pleasure from coupling their bodies, not just slaking their lust.

*I've sanitised the pungent wording of the original title, but that's not to minimise the genuine lustfulness of this series.

Oztangles - Chastity Scoreboard

Earlier images in this series which featured chastity cages seemed focussed simply on crude control but this is a more thoughtful study. It uses simple symbolism to develop the subject of extended chastity. 

The clock obviously shows the passage of time. Typically, Oz chooses an impressive, antique type, perhaps intending to draw on the idea of Victorian values such as discipline, obedience and devotion to a partner. The scoreboard presumably records the number of days this man has gone without discharging his feelings (although a cynic might see it as a count of how many times he has serviced his partner without getting any similar reward himself).

You may have seen diaries of men recording their experience of wearing chastity devices for an prolonged period. It's a way of showing loyalty to a partner, I suppose, but a bit weird if not reciprocated. I suspect the practice is not so much a lifestyle choice, as an exotic form of edging.

2017

Oztangles - The Milking Shed

I published this picture previously at mitchmen in 2020 as part of the milking factory series but make no apology for repeating it here. It the sort of arresting, composite drama that Oz is very good at but adds to his portfolio only occasionally. 

He's populated this one with an attractive range of men, all fitted with extraction tubes. The most prolific producer (right) isn't fully visible but his sexy body provides ample interest. The others watch warily as the overseer approaches with a device to stimulate production from one of the laggards. He's the most mature of the group above so it's understandable if his production capability isn't what it used to be. The nipple clips have obviously failed to do the trick so it looks like the foreman is about to try the carrot. If that doesn't work, I suppose the stick will be next.

Oztangles - Wet Nightmare

This image draws on a similar, forced milking scenario and uses the same visual construct for the mature, principal character, who we now see is sitting in another of Oztangle's sci-fi restraint frames, this one disguised as hi-tech, deck chair. 

From this angle we can see that his ejaculate is being extracted into 5 separate collection vessels but we can only guess what they represent. Perhaps it's quality is being sifted by the extraction device (which appears to be impressively powered by nuclear fuel!). My guess is that the tubes reveal his declining production over successive periods of time, hence the need to provide stimulation.

If this is a production facility, it's a more private one with a cold, more clinical atmosphere but the harness-clad operative has clearly commandeered this man for his own pleasure as much as anything else. His method for stimulating production - an electro-wand - is crueler and much more intimidating than the dildo in the preceding picture. The victim's curled toes suggest that just the sight of it has already had an encouraging effect.

Oztangles - Vampire Prince

The subject of milking is explored further with this image which has the look of another nightmare with it's victim chained to a cold, sacrificial block planted in the middle of a vast, arid, featureless plain. He looks like a fairly ordinary guy with his ginger mop and smattering of chest hair, although I suppose his endowment is exceptional. He is being molested by a rather cute vampire to the accompaniment of dramatic lightning bolts and flanked by blazing torches which add a mystical, semi-religious air to the proceedings.

The simplicity of the setting contrasts with the finely-detailed sets of other images in this period but it does create the sense of a nightmare where things are sensed rather than seen and there's a feeling of detachment from the real world.

2018

Oztangles - Think You Can Take This?

2018 Seems to have been a quiet period for the artist as this is one of only two pictures by him which I have seen, the other being a beefcake pose of the leotard-clad 'rough trade' in the image above. Apart from his sexy characterisation and the intricately detailed (but slightly puzzling) setting, it's a relatively straightforward sexual encounter between a boastful top and a passer by who looks as if he might be a lot less experienced. The challenging words put into the top's mouth by the title represent the sort of sexually-aggressive situation that Ulf often simulates but it's not really my cup of tea. His seated position and 'come and get me' outfit don't quite chime with those forceful words.   

2019

Oztangles - Alien Nightmare

This image might easily form the basis for an entry in the mitchmen 'Milking Factory' series but it doesn't seem as if mass production is what these elegant, highly-stylised aliens have in mind. Mass assessment clearly is however and they have built an expensive facility of, effectively, niche-like cages where men can be detained humanely and their plumbing examined. Imprisoned comrades are obliged to look on while one of their number is singled out for milking, not such a terrible fate you might think.

Oztangles - Fallen Angel

This image revives two successful Oz themes from earlier years.

Firstly the cellar like dungeon where captives are restrained to await the attentions of a master who is seen descending the steps to deal with them. This atmospheric setting was previously seen in 2009's 'Downstairs it's Playtime' (in mitchmen Oztangles retrospective Part 1).

Secondly, the character 'Angel' who was last seen running amok in a weight training gym in 'Bench Press' and other related images from that same year. Now he seems to have met his match and is obliged to await the inevitable in a humiliating and highly uncomfortable pose. It offers an erotic sight to the top that has already prompted a reaction from him and his smile perhaps reflects knowledge of Angel's romantic exploits in earlier times, maybe even a personal interest in taming him. 

Quite what caused Oz to revisit these ideas 10 years later is unknown, perhaps this was an unfinished project, but if so it's completion adds a significant entry to his portfolio. 

We have come to expect 'fashion statements' from Oz in his pictures - witness the sweeping alien garments in the preceding image - and he duly obliges here by equipping the top with gold boots.

Oztangles - The Night Clerk

This picture has a slightly unfinished feel which may account for the absence of a logo. The hotel room depicted is seedy to the point of dilapidation so the appearance of the Night Clerk at the door, knowingly dressed in ragged, denim? shorts and lured (mesmerised almost!) by the promise of cash from a chubby guest is not overly surprising. It's not a common subject for a gay artist though (in contrast to last years Rough Trade, alley sex image).

The client's appearance here is a logical development of the chunky physiques 0f 2015-6 above and it's not altogether unattractive and certainly not devoid of erotic interest, but it makes a dramatic contrast with the steely, 'cut', musculature of the God-like gigolo in the doorway. That difference in appearance and age tends to be a chasm in real life, one that can usually only be bridged by money, so there's a measure of social comment here 

Unexpectedly, there's a picture on the wall which satirises the old masters and the publicity stills of early, glamorous Hollywood stars. It's canted angle perhaps suggests that this sordid scene is the fate in store for even the most desirable sex objects as age asserts itself.

~ 

The Oztangles retrospective at mitchmen blog concludes in Part 5.

You can read the previous Oztangles articles at mitchmen from Part 1

Lottery Luck

Every man who entered the swimming gala at the Tuffluk County Fair this year

was given a free pair of swim trunks with a lottery number on the front.

The Star Prize was to be a new home and income for life.

The draw was made about 5pm and it was No 7 that came up

The prize turned out to be a place in the National Labour Programme.

5 years guaranteed work, board and lodging all included.

Brace Yourselves Boys!

Afterwards, sitting in the transport to the Labour Aggregation Center, the shackled boys compared notes and found that they all had had flings in the past with Susie Jones, the girl who had been handing out the 'free lottery trunks' at the County Fair. Flings that had all ended in acrimony after she found out about them two-timing her. It looked like they all had 5 years to think about that mistake.

~

For other mitchmen captions click on the mitchmods label below

 

Another Night Visitor by Mitchell

Gay BDSM Art by Mitchell of mitchmen blog
and a story about domination and being dominated

Mitchell - Night Visitor

Greg woke up with a start, realising someone was in his bed with him.

He had felt the sudden sag as it gave beneath their weight.

A hand began scrabbling with his pyjamas, releasing the waist tie.
He tried to stop them, but his wrist was grabbed, pulled back, twisted up his back.
An arm snaked round his neck jerking it backwards.

"Not a sound!" a vaguely familiar voice hissed in his ear.

Then he was rolled forwards on to his chest.
His arm forced up between his shoulder blades.
His face pushed down into the pillow, muffling his protests

He felt his pyjama bottoms being roughly tugged down and off.
Then the intruder lay on top of him trapping him beneath his weight
He could feel the warmth of his body, the press of his skin

"What is this? Who are you?" Greg whimpered.

The man stirred and his body hair brushed Greg's shoulders
as he leaned forward to touch his lips to Greg's ear

"I am your innermost desire", he whispered darkly

Greg felt his legs being slowly spread apart.

 ~

For other pictures in the Mitchell Mitchmen 'Night Visitor' series,
click on the label at the foot of this post

For other drawings by Mitchell at mitchmen
click on the 'mitchpix' label at the foot of this post
or visit the mitchmen Gallery Hub

Be Careful What You Wish For - 9

1

 

2

3

4

5

A mitchmen fantasy posed by the very lovely Derek Atlas.

For other mitchmen, unfortunate 'wishes' click on the label just below this post

~

Images 3,4 and 5 by Captured Guys

Image 2 by Eddie Christie Photography

Image 1 - I don't know

Royale Studio 05 - Airman's Gym Spanking - Part 2

Read this mitchmen post from Part 1

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 17

The Trainer's desire to punish Peter mounts further.

He changes here from using artistic humiliation poses and opportunist flicks with his rope,

to engaging in full-on spanking with Peter pinned down on the top of the horse. 

The fact that we can't see his face adds to the sense of subjugation.

The curved shape of the horse forces his legs to stretch out behind, opening slightly to straddle it. 

Possibly the sexiest image in the set if you're a spank fan.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 18

But the relentless assault has now become too much for Peter.

He turns and stops his tormentor from delivering the next blow, 

which he was clearly intending to make even more forceful.

He had even risen onto his toes to bring more weight to bear.

This action also raises his crotch closer to Peter's face

but Peter seems to turn away.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 19

The battered athlete finally rebels and turns on his tormentor

and the oppressor suddenly looks far less bulky and intimidating.

Like the rest of this set, it's a very 'posed' picture, 

but the intertwining is quite sculptural, and Peter's pose is almost balletic.

There's also a decent tension and sense of strength in the grapple. 

 However, the erotic is not forgotten, both men have their backsides turned towards us.

Peter's being still in the line of fire of that rope.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 20

The bully is forced to his knees (nice showcasing his own shapely buttocks)

It's another classical sort of image, but by a quirk of the camera lens, 

Peter suddenly seems to be looming over his tormentor.

It's as if his show of spirit has caused him to become a giant. 

The close bodily intimacy here is rather daring.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 21

The Trainer is forced to the floor.

A great domination image with interesting shadow detail.

Peter's crotch here is poised directly above the bully's face

producing a rather subtle, erotic potential.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 22

Peter drops to his knees, pinning the bully's shoulder 

and straddling his body, much closer to his face.

He reaches for the knotted rope to establish full control.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 23

This is the best image in the set for me - energy, unrestrained eroticism and sexual domination. 

Although the rope is raised threateningly, it's physically impossible for Peter to use it in this position, in fact there's no image in the set that actually shows him landing a blow.

It's his crotch, with contents clearly delineated by shadows and creases which is the threat.

It's poised just inches above the hated Trainer's face, ready to descend.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 24

The Trainer fights back (or so it seems)

 but rather than throwing Peter off, the pair have simply turned sideways.

and his chest is still intimately bedded between Peter's thighs. 

Is Peter's left hand holding him back in this picture - or pulling his head forward?

The phallic, drooping tip of the horse seems to creep closer, sniffing.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 25

At this point it seems like Peter has had enough and is turning tail.

The angry Trainer prepares to get up and follow him,

incidentally giving us a nice shot of his back muscles.

But there's more to this picture than this unexpected plot development....

Peter has bent down presenting his backside to the Trainer's face.

He seems to look back, resting his hand suggestively on the tip of the horse. 

You can read this as being inviting or/and signalling that he's in control, sexually.

The tip of the horse just happens to be exactly aligned with the Trainer's mouth. 

Coincidence? Or design?

In fact this composition has a splendid connecting line that starts with Peter's head, curves with his back and ass, down through the Trainer's torso to the floor. That curve seemingly encloses the projecting shape of the horse, rather like an 'end' bracket, thus:  --) It's a cleverly disguised message that seems to sum up the ambiguous, on-going, simmering sexuality between these pair.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 26

Peter clambers on to the horse, giving himself more height and launching himself onto the trainer before he can stand up. This move is reminiscent of those dives off of tabletops in swashbuckling movie fights but might also have been inspired by the use of ropes in professional wrestling which was coming into vogue in the UK at this time and about to launch on TV (ITV World of Sport).

Paradoxically, this picture also seems to suggest that he's going to be received with open arms. It's possible (at a stretch admittedly) to see Peter's act as symbolising an erection (and that represented in his body shape). The Trainer's sexy, open-legged stance and wide-open arms suggest unexpected receptiveness and vulnerability. Notice that the Trainer's own phallic symbol, the rope, is pushed aside, disappearing out of the side of the picture. 

This looks convincingly like an action shot, but it was probably posed statically due to camera limitations. Peter demonstrates more balancing skill to sustain what looks like an unstable position.  It's a crafty picture though, your eye tends to assume that the horse is sideways-on but in fact it's angled towards you so Peter's leading leg is not hovering in thin air but planted on the horse like a tightrope walker's. 

His co-star's kneeling pose looks equally unbalanced but I think that is a trick of the camera. 
This is a particularly nice shot of him from behind, suggestive of manly bulk.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 27

Here, the necessity of static posing turns what ought to be an 'impact' picture into a 'help me get down' image that seems to hark back (unintentionally) to Peter's boyish, softness in the opening pictures of the set. However, it has produced a particularly attractive shot of the Trainer (his best methinks) and (out of context) seems to show manly dominance and a welcoming back of the prodigal son that is warmly homoerotic.

However, the suggestion of an embrace is illusory for the Trainer has reclaimed the rope and it remains poised menacingly, it's frayed ends a reminder of the intensity of earlier misuse.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 28

However, Peter's fight-back in this story is not finished. 

His flight knocks the Trainer to the floor again.

Peter pins him down by the shoulders, 

his leg pushing between his thighs.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 29

The bully is knocked out.

Peter stands over him in a nicely crafted pose, 

seeming satisfied but alert to deal with any revival.

It seems to say, "You deserved that". 

The horse seems to chuckle in the background.

The reclaimed rope drooping in Peter's hand here suggests he might be thinking of delivering other, wetter punishments and you might think the 'hands free' pose in the final picture below is suggestive of exactly that.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 30

Thumbs up. Job well done.

(Until word gets back to their superiors).

Views through open legs like this are something of a Royal trademark, one that was employed also by Guys in Uniform. If you check out those examples, you will see it works rather better with stocky legs.

Compared with No 29, this is a somewhat disappointing final picture in dramatic and erotic terms, although there is that faint whiff of the urinal about it and a decent copy might show enough detail of the Trainer's crotch for fans to fantasise about Peter squatting on his toadstool. Otherwise, we have to content ourselves with a vanilla, fairy tale ending - the sensitive dreamer outwitting a sadistic bully by virtue of his athletic agility - and a parting shot of Peter's delicious bottom. 

~

All in all this series it's a feast of bottom shots, mostly Peter's, with a couple of very nice crotch shots making memorable punctuations (Nos 2, 23 and, in a better-quality set, 29 too perhaps). It's also a feast of spanking imagery with eight distinct occurrences and it really puzzles me why it doesn't pop up more often at spank sites.

This series seems to have been primarily designed to showcase Peter and as well as looking good physically, he also does enough in acting terms to bring the staged poses to life which is no mean achievement. The wrestling sequence seems to cry out for video, but be careful what you wish for, porn actors don't usually have the practical craft to put on a convincing wrestling performance, they tend to end up as friendly rough and tumbles.

Despite the cauldron of sexual suggestiveness and ambiguity cooked up by the photographer we end up no wiser at the end about the inner feelings of the participants - or even what has really happened here. A bit like a Becket play. All very sixties.

The inter-services element is something of a mystery too, the sailor is definitely in charge but wouldn't have any jurisdiction normally. Even Sailor Al was perplexed by this one!

A Gym style punishment also featured in my review of Guys in Uniform material and it's quite an interesting erotic power scenario. For the ordinary serviceman, the stiff formality of his uniform has a protective character and hides his individuality. When he is made to change into flimsy, briefer gym kit his body is more exposed, but he also loses that shield of anonymity and membership of a group. The dispenser of punishment here remains part-clad in his normal service uniform which reinforces his authority and the disconnection of the victim.

~

Peter George's other appearances in beefcake mags and Royale Studio sets are reviewed in a separate mitchmen article - Peter George (pending)

This complete set has been added to the mitchmen Royale Studio Open Archive as Royale 05

 

Royale Studio 05 - Airman's Gym Spanking - Part 1

This article is a revised version of Royale Studio post no 5,  

originally dated Aug 2010 at mitchmen blog (cnt 370).

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 01

This Royale set shows a bare-topped sailor forcing a man in gym kit to perform exercises on a pommel horse and the floor. This opening image of the set seems to show the tyrant, knotted rope at the ready, creeping up on the athlete who sits daydreaming on the horse (and looking rather like an Edwardian fairy perched on a toadstool) when, presumably, he should be hard at work practicing. 

The model wearing the shorts in this series is Peter George, who we saw tied to the rigging in the very first of this Vintage Royale Studio photo series of articles. He looked equally wistful and absent in that photo, something of a Peter Pan-like figure. 

I haven't positively identified the Trainer by name but he looks to me like Tom Harding from Navy Romeo and Navy Gash (images 14 and 15 below provide a more helpful comparison). In this picture he's obviously eyeing Peter's ass which appears to be clad in satin-like shorts (an effect replicated in another, very sexy 'footballer' picture attributed to Royale, just below). The curved snout of the pommel horse has a certain phallic quality and seems to emerge from between the Trainer's legs for Peter's to sit on, initiating the sense that the Trainer has a sexual interest in him.

Royale Studio - Footballer tying his laces

This man's shorts seem almost transparent, probably a consequence of Royale's practice of wetting them so they cling tight. Who wouldn't want to touch or spank that succulent bottom? It's one of my favourite Royale images. But I've not been able to identify the model.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 02

The dreamer dismounts looking sullen and resentful but resting his ass casually on the snout of the horse. His trademark Royale, tight, white shorts bulge provocatively in the fashion of Scott of London. The athlete is no pussy, he's muscular and fit, but his entire pose here seems deliberately provocative with a coy dip of the head seeming to reciprocate the Trainer's interest. 

The Navy man stares at the young man's groin with his knotted rope raised. It's not clear if he is contemplating a grope, or is contemplating lashing it to quell the rebellion and restore proper military discipline.

Sadly, although I have a complete set of 30 images for this series, they are all of this grainy quality, so it's less of an erotic treat than it ought to be. I wish I could find a way of clarifying them but standard photo enhancers don't seem to help very much. At least, the black background colour of the blog helps a little.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 03

The Instructor asserts his authority, bringing Peter to attention before him. Peter's bearing is not overly military here*. Perhaps his relaxed pose is still signalling his resentment or lingering laziness.  

Luckily the Trainer still seems to be more interested in staring at his crotch (which seems to be less prominent here, the bulge disappearing like a mirage). In any event the Trainer's raised hand and the remarkably rigid, knotted rope has dropped to his side. 

The two men remain connected by the shape of the horse with it's handles 'at attention' between them like dildos.

*I don't have a Royale catalogue description for this set but Peter George is described as being a Corporal and Physical Training Instructor in the blurb for his solo sets (see note 2 below). In other words he was a military man

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 04

When Peter finally does commence his exercises, his physical fitness and training immediately becomes apparent in holding this demanding position. His raised feet are slightly skewed towards his mentor, which makes it even more difficult to hold. 

His Trainer still seems preoccupied with the young man's crotch, but Peter's twist towards him also appears presents a tremendous sight of his tensed thighs and backside, stretching those shorts to the limit. 

The sense of sexual chemistry simmers on.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 05

Press-ups on the pommel horse offer the Trainer an even more tempting sight.

The tightness of Peter's shorts becomes even more apparent in this image with the centre seam drawn up between his buttocks and his thighs bulging out of the leg openings. The Trainer moves in closer, clearly poised to spank him but there's no obvious reason for it, other than temptation. 

The tormentor's change in position for this image presents a more attractive view of his own physique, showing a pert bottom, clad insnug-fitting trousers. Their tightness is betrayed by a fleshy bulge above the belt. His bell bottoms (which have obviously been wetted as was usual for Royale Studio) look less untidy, less crumpled than in the previous images.

This image has a number in the corner indicating that it has been cropped from a thumbnail sheet but it is the same quality as the rest of the set and you can see that the number seems to have been erased from the corner of the preceding picture. They all seem of the same quality.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 06

Here the poor gymnast seems to have collapsed over the horse presumably from the beating he's has received. His left hand reaches back, symbolically seeking to protect his backside. His thighs look more muscular than ever in this perspective and make him look bigger than than his tormentor. 

Shorts aficionados will enjoy the lifted flaps of the side-dart in the hem of these shorts, provided exactly to accommodate thigh expansion. Those with imaginative, lustful eyes will also spot that Peter's shorts create the illusion of the head of a penis, propped against the trunk of the horse.

In these opening images, the Trainer hardly changes position and they are clearly intended as a showcase for Peter's physique and fitness - and why not?

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 07

In desperation, the gymnast seeks refuge under the horse. This pose seems to continue his casting as a less than manly character despite his obvious physical attributes, not least this view of his (increasingly) formidable backside and thighs, although it's a somewhat receptive pose.  

The Trainer pursues him with his rope and this gives us a nice view of his own upper body. I like the hairy forearm on the left. That clenched fist means business and Peter's ass is in the firing line. If his body were lying reversed left to right in this picture one might suspect a penetrative threat from that fist (and don't imagine that practice was unknown in 1960). 

The military being able to 'make a man' of new recruits (who were typically 18 years old when entering UK National Service) was a common belief in post-war Britain. However, there's a thin line between strict discipline and bullying - especially when forbidden physical attractions come into the equation. Compulsory National Service ended in 1963 which interestingly coincides with Royale's heyday. 

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 08

In picture 8 the gymnast balances on top of the horse as though about to perform a head stand.

It isn't clear if this picture depicts a resumption of the gymnast's normal training regime with the Trainer poised to correct any further error, or is a deliberately humiliating example of 'assuming the position' to be beaten. It seems to boil down to the same thing in this storyette. 

Even this relatively poor quality image shows Peter's lean, muscularity to great effect. The airman's well defined, muscular physique and tight clothes are the star of this little series. The better quality originals of these pictures must have been very sensual. 

Many of the photos, as usual, are pretty static but artfully composed, here striking a balance between humour and eroticism. Obviously artistic styling can constitute a defence against censorship laws but the S&M element here isn't very subtle.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 09

Once again Peter ends up on the floor, almost in tears as the relentless beating goes on.

It's an unusual, emotional dimension, another indicator of the subject's sensitivity

in an era when men were expected to bear pain and humiliation with fortitude.

It seems almost callous to observe that it results in another great image of his lower body.

Notice that the handles/pommels have been removed from the horse after picture 7 and it's been temporarily moved back against the wall. The session continues with more conventional PT floor exercises.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 10

Peter's execution of this simple stretching and balance exercise seems to meet with his mentor's approval. These signs of submission and obedience seem to cause the sexual temperature to drop.

Peter presents a neat, trim figure but the front of his shorts are less revealing than one might wish, possibly a deliberate decision by Royale, perhaps the original was a little too graphic!

 

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 11

Peter is not just toe-touching here, he's comfortably touching the floor, demonstrating impressive flexibility. One can't help thinking that the Trainer's obvious pleasure is partly derived from the sexually submissive nature of his pose. We catch a nice glimpse of Peter's crotch.

The horse lurks in the background, it's splayed legs mirrored by Peter's.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 12

You can't blame Royale for also giving us the rear view of the same bent over posture! 

The feel of submissiveness, bowing to his master, is even stronger in this variant. 

Peter's head aligns suggestively with the Trainer's crotch and for the first time we see some detailing there, with just a modest hint of volume, thanks to the clingy dampness. There's a distinct sense that he is about to administer a spanking.

In this picture, you can actually see the stretching of tendons at the back of Peter's leg that this exercise promotes. The Trainer is holding him down, possibly pressing him down further to increase the stretch. It's a legitimate coaching intervention but one that makes the stretch more painful.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 13

Peter's submissiveness seems to rekindle the Trainer's lust. The athlete finds himself back on the horse in another humiliating punishment position and for the first time we actually see the knotted rope striking his ass. The rigidity of the rope makes static posing of this image possible, but there's a hint of a blur there. One might wish for a more dynamic, more involved pose on the part of the Trainer. 

This picture seems to jump back to the stylised balancing of No 8, but 13 is it's correct position according to the Royale Catalogue sheet Go to Footnotes Section . The horse changes position several times in the storyette possibly reflecting a reshuffling of the sequence. The flow of the narrative is pretty flexible.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 14

There follows a demonstration of the classic press-up floor exercise. The relaxed starting position is inherently submissive and the Trainer looks on approvingly. This camera angle brings Peter's peachy bottom nicely to the fore again. The Trainer angles his rope towards it, it's frayed ends resembling prongs.

Peter almost looks naked below the waist here thanks to brightness washout. All we can see of his shorts is the V-dart cut out of the side seam. I assume that this was not a deliberate ploy by Royale to slip in some nudity but who knows? The other images in the set certainly don't seem to suffer white-out to this extent.

Compare the Trainer in this picture with Tom Harding in the cast photo from Navy Gash (Tom is  sitting on the right). The chin detail, mop of hair and general build seem a good match to me. His controlling role here also matches how he is used in other Royale Studio shoots.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 15

In the press-up raised position a nice buttock tightening effect teases the on-lookers and I know there are people out there who will find the glimpse of shadow at the front of his thigh equally inspiring!

Peter's rigidity in this position is another indicator of his fitness and experience. You sense he's looking back wondering if it's OK. With the Trainer stood behind him he's in a very vulnerable position, blind-sided and completely defenceless.

Royale Studio - Airman's Gym Training 16

The Trainer cannot resist striking once again at this peachy target.

Peter turns in surprise (and growing annoyance no doubt)

Nothing he does seems to please this man.

The Trainer's rigid rope doesn't just strike Peter's buttock, it's angled directly into his crack, seeming to advance the erotic agenda that he has concealed behind impassive stares until now. His crotch detailing becomes visible again but gives little away.

Royale Studio No 05 at mitchmen blog continues in Airman Spanked Part 2 (next post)  

~

Footnotes

[1]

The official title of this series is unknown to me. It doesn't appear in any of the catalogues I have. There is a catalogue thumbnail sheet for the set (above) which tells us there are 30 pictures in all and gives their sequence, but it's bafflingly labelled '2-BR'. Royale labels usually involved the model's initials (which doesn't fit with Peter George) or else abbreviated the title (as in NARO - Navy Romeo). 'Bullies Retribution' might fit here but that's just a guess. It's implied that there's also a 1-BR but I haven't seen it. 

Sailor Al called this series 'Gym' and I've also seen it called 'Navy Gym' which might conceivably been the original title. However since the athlete's vest in this series bears a badge with an eagle similar in style to that used by the RAF (*see Note 2 below), I have taken it to mean that he is playing an airman and used that as my own, more descriptive title, for the series. 

It's interesting to see that a previous owner of this sheet seems to have picked out his favourite pictures - 5, 12, 16, 17, 23, 25 and 26. Good choice! 

[2]

Whilst the eagle on Peter's vest is very similar to that used by the RAF, it's usually contained within a roundel on their official badges. I can't find one that looks exactly like Peter George's, but I did find this one:

Interestingly, this is the official badge worn by RAF PT Instructors. In Royale Studio's notes for Peter George's solo set '3-PUN', he is described as Corporal Peter George, a Physical Training Instructor. This occupation was also referenced in beefcake magazines of the time that printed his pictures. Royale did not specify which branch of the services he was in, but Trim magazine stated that he was an RAF man. Whether that's based on information supplied by Royale or an inspired guess like mine, I don't know. It's not hard to imagine Peter's badge being cut out or fashioned from an RAF one like this to create a subtle reference to his background, which Royale clearly wanted to exploit.

Above, an RAF PTI of the modern era, I love those colour-coded, 'muscle' singlets 

(the Army version has red edging).

I mentioned Royale's connection to the annual, London, 'Royal Tournament' in No 3 of this mitchmen series (Navy Gash). The RAF contributed that event along with the other services, this Royal Tournament 1964 RAF gymnastics display video happens to be contemporaneous with the Royal era (but it's not possible to spot Peter in it!)