Anthony Guyther

Anthony Guyther (1921–2017), better known as Vulcan Studio, Tony, and later Capital Studio, was a New York commercial artist who turned his camera toward the male physique in 1955. He named his studio after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and the forge, associated with volcanoes and the power to transform raw materials into something beautiful. Of course, volcanoes also invite some rather masculine associations: heat, pressure, rising temperatures, and the occasional spectacular eruption. I suspect the name wasn't entirely innocent!

*All below photos are by Anthony Guyther.

1. Unknown models posing in Guyther's home.

2. Anthony Guyther in 2015 at age 94 in his home in Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard.

Guyther came from a background in commercial art, working for Condé Nast, Theatre Arts, and other publications. His photographs have a wonderful simplicity about them. A white wall, a doorway, a chair, or a corner of his apartment was often all he needed. His models ranged from relatively unknown young men to familiar physique favorites like Steve Wengryn and Kip Behar.

3. Frank Lombardo for Joe Weider's Adonis magazine c. 1958.

4. Jim Stryker, well-known as a muse for Walter Kundzicz also posed for Guyther.

5. Kip Behar in a posing strap taken in Guyther's pied a terre in Hollywood. Behar was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1936, and served in the Marine Corps, was a gymnast, and bodybuilder he got parts as extras in Hollywood movies in the 50's and 60's.

6. Steve Wengryn circa 1957–1958, was a popular physique model born in Ukraine and a former high school football player in New Jersey whose photographs were so sought after that Adonis devoted 27 pages to him in its June 1961 issue.

Guyther's work appeared regularly in physique magazines, although it also attracted the attention of postal authorities. One of his lesser-known models would eventually step behind the camera himself, becoming a prolific physique photographer in the 1980s. More on him in a future post!

7. Jack Weisberger on a stool. The inset reads he was " of medium height...a champion tennis player...New Jersey State Champion among other victories.

8. Artie Klassner aka Klassen and Billy Fischer recently featured in the Hands On post Oct 5.

9. Ronnie Mills contact sheet.

10. Phil Young profile shot near the window.

Guyther eventually moved on to painting and mixed-media collage, settling on Martha's Vineyard in 1984, where he continued creating art well into his nineties. He had a wonderful saying: “Rest is rust.” Not a bad philosophy for a man who spent his life making beautiful things.

11. A mixed-media collage by Anthony Guyther created in his later years in Martha's Vineyard.

Please leave thoughts, questions, corrections or additions in the comments. Thank you, bns