Towels in the Studio

Yesterday's towels were at least pretending to belong in the home. In the studio, we can pretty much stop pretending.There's no pool, shower or backyard in sight. The towel is simply another prop for photographing a naked man.

1. Marty Shimkus aka Marty Nelson toweling his underarm by Bob Mizer in 1951. This was taken during what historians call Mizer's "Classical" or "High Classical" period from 1940s to mid-50s when he used more solid studio backdrops.

2. Fred Ritter toweling his face (with Bobby Evans) by George Platt Lynes c 1953. Fred modeled and took photos with his brother, Bill, known as the Ritter Brothers. Fred was gay, in fact he was lovers with George Platt Lynes from the 1930s to his passing in the 1950s, at which point Fred was willed all of GPL's negatives, which he donated to the Kinsey Institute for protection as GPL was also bankrupt and they would've surely been confiscated. Fred's brother, Bill, was heterosexual and married to a woman.

3. Erman Cassamassa with towel draped across his shoulders by Alonzo Hanagan aka Lon of New York c. 1955.

 

And it's remarkably useful. Hang it around the neck and the model has just finished a workout or stepped out of the shower. Hold it at the hips and it gives the hands something to do. Drape it over a shoulder and suddenly a completely naked man looks almost casually dressed.

4. Lee Stevensen with white towel pulled over his shoulder and holding a bar of soap in his hand by Pat Milo c 1954. By the look on his face and angle of his penis, he looks pretty excited about getting clean.

5. Mike Hampton holding a towel by Bob Mizer in 1954.

6. Mark Nixon aka William Markley Nixon III with towel slung over his shoulder by Bruce Bellas for Tomorrow's Man in 1955. Nixon was a 19 year old attending Culver Military Academy when he was discovered by Bellas. He continued modeling into the 1960s with a much more developed muscular body.

 

Or forget the story altogether. Put the towel underneath him and it becomes part of the studio furniture—a soft patch of texture against skin and a convenient way to frame the body.

7. Don Wagner pulling open a towel and looking mean by Bob Mizer in 1951.

8. Tony Rivers lying on a towel in a rare photo of his backside by Lon of New York c 1953.  He had quite a reputation for his front side.

9. Danny Combs on a blue beach towel (or possibly a tablecloth) by Jack Fritcher and David Sparrow for Drummer magazine 1979. I really like the camera angle and lighting in this shot. Combs was a "Groovy Guy" contest winner for the gay newspaper, The Los Angeles Avocate (founded in 1967), that later went on to become Advocate Magazine in 1969.

 

After five days of towels, I think that's what has surprised me most. They're so ordinary that they make nudity seem ordinary too. Beach, pool, yard, home or studio—a towel gives the naked man an excuse to be there, even when nobody really needs one.

10. Steve Kelso in an interesting monochromatic tan shot with round shapes and a towel in the background by Jim French. Kelso is a personal favorite Colt model of mind.

 Please leave thoughts, questions, corrections or additions in the comments. I am particularly interested in info about the models. Thank you, bns