Vintage Gay Media History

What little clothing Mr. October's wearing is certainly stylish for the period. He seems in very serious concentration, and maybe it's just me, but that jack-o-lantern's one eye opening seems downright naughty and nice at the same time. As with other months in this vintage calendar, we see the mysterious hand (notice the bird tattoo) offering suggestions of what perhaps is yet to come for our model?

Dom (his real name was Dom Orejudos was) was 20 years old when he began using the name Etienne, when his work was published for the first time in 1953's "Tomorrow's Man" magazine, issue #8.

Born in Chicago on July 1st, 1933, Etienne was a dancer and choreographer with the Illinois Ballet Company for 15 years. In addition, he was a very respected businessman, famous for his male physique studies which became internationally known. He was the recipient of three National Endowment for the Arts grants and was nominated/received three Emmy Awards.
His artwork is understandably sometimes confused with that of Tom of Finland. Both men definitely had an appreciation for very masculine guys and both enjoyed creating intense fantasy worlds. It's been reported that both artists knew one another and liked and respected one another's work. We'll take a look at more of his work in the future.

One of Etienne's most-favored artistic styles was to show a charismatic character becoming the sexual brunt of a masculine joke, usually at the mercy of other men surrounding him. To some, his work pushes the envelope of aggressive machismo sex that's sometimes depicted, which the artist himself once described as trying to capture man's "fears, needs, and unapologetic raw power." He died of AIDS complications in 1991.

EXTRA TREAT!

Some of the adult games and sports that men like to play together can be confusing to onlookers who don't quite understand the rules of play. It looks like this jock stayed in the locker room a little too long after the game, and now he's about to take one for the team and his own enjoyment (that strapped ass looks like it's been in this accommodating penetration position before). As always, Etienne can't resist adding a bit of fun irony---A jockster in white socks is about to get a beefy fist 'rammed'up his tight ass while being constrained on a table marked PROPERTY OF RAMS.

Homosexuality, implied as a strong undercurrent within classic Hollywood vampire horror films (and literature for that matter), is well established in media history. The comparable symbolism between the horror movie genre of vampires (sucking and swallowing the life's blood from their selected male human) and real-life sex performed on upon a male cock (sucking and swallowing his life-producing sperm) has not been lost on generations of literature and human sexuality professionals. A transfer of bodily fluids is happening in both situations. A dominance between males is happening in both situations. A forbidden attraction is going on.

In 1897, the best known vampire book, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, was published. Hugely popular in the U.S., it had been adapted for both stage and screen by the 1920s. The first vampire films were actually made by the French in the 1890s. By the 1920s, the Germans had produced Nosferatu, and in 1931 Hollywood jumped into the mix with Tod Browning’s Dracula. This 1973 sex flick remains culturally significant because it is often recognized as being the first gay vampire porn movie ever produced, even if the production values are somewhat limited. Before going to to make making mainstream horror movies such as Hell Night, Tom De Simone was a pioneering gay porn filmmaker in 1970s who often worked under the name "Lancer Brooks" (although there are no credits to this smut film).

The most fun is watching the main character's shirt button and unbutton itself in each scene. Handsome Jonathan Trent goes in search of his missing brother Clark in this vampire horror/gay sex movie. So where does he look for his brother? Naturally, at the spooky old mansion that is occupied by the mysterious Mr. Natas and his collection of hot male servants. But our blonde hero doesn't get anywhere after the servants open the doors. Jonathan has a sneaky hunch that something is going on inside that house, and that his brother may be involved, and he's right! We the audience get to discover that his brother Clark is indeed inside the mansion (of course) and he's preparing for the "hour of exchange" when dicks meet throats, resulting in a fancy silver cup being filled with sperm from all the servant dudes. They deliver their cum cocktail to the naked vampire Mr. Natas. Both blood and seamen are the fluids of human life and it turns out that this vampire likes 'em both.

Our hero Jonathan sneaks back into the house and discovers his brother in a bedroom after being freshly milked for his sperm and freshly-screwed by the vampire Natas. The thought of his poor brother taking a vampire's nasty dick in his rear is enough to get Johnny really upset! Only suddenly, Johnny has himself to worry about, as they capture him. Johnny gets some classic 1970's bondage treatment before the Sons of Satan inititate him into the "hour of exchange" cock sucking and to his horror--his brother is one of them! After they fill the silver cup, Natas arrives and then promptly gives Johnny a good screw. SPOILER ALERT! The last scene is a delivery guy who arrives at the old house and the door is opened by---converted servant/slave Johnny!

The Sons of Satan script is so darn bad that it's fun. Their plastic vampire teeth appear to be the Halloween costume type that stores sell three-to-a-pack (back then they were dime stores and today at dollar stores) and the actors have a problem keeping the fangs in place. Aside from classic 1970's men having sex with one another, this movie doesn't really have anything going for it, other than it was directed by Tom De Simone. As already mentioned, he went on to make mainstream movies like 1981's Hell Night. The actors are Ned Burke, Carl Ford, Bill North, Lee LeMay and Tom Paine. Most of this cast had already worked together in the 1972 gay smut film Chained, which was also directed by Simone (using the name Lancer Brooks).

Handsome Derrek Diamond performed in smut and then, like so many gentlemen who made the same decision to drop their trousers before him, just as easily decided to retire from the business a few years ago. In 2010, it's reported that Derrek took a hiatus from the porn industry so that he could marry his long term boyfriend and save the family jewels for his hubby to enjoy. Fans have not been so quick to forget about Derrek however, and he still has Internet groups dedicated to all-things Derrek. Anthology video collections of his work are still available. What made him so special in an ocean of hunky men working in smut?

As a professional male model, Derrek worked in the world of imagery and he seemed to understand the fantasy component. He did a great job of fitting the role being played at that time. Derrek had that easy going 'guy next door' look about him and a sexual sensibility that cocks were there to be enjoyed (and guys should be screwing his beefy ass) when such opportunities came about. It's all these factors (in different genres of porn with their own audiences) that helped to make (and keep) him so darn popular.

It's reported that his journey began by being discovered at the Randy BlueStudio and then later he became a Raging Stallion exclusive model. Lucky for us, he left a great collection of Eros to continue to enjoy to this day, including a very-red-themed Playgirl.com (romantic?)photo shoot. But in stark contrast to the plush roses and red velvet robe of the Playgirl images, there's also something that's a little extra special about some of Derrek's work, and well, the names of some of these videos probably speak for themselves: Flogs for Fuck (Bound Gods), Pledgemaster, The Hazing, and Skuff 4, Downright Fierce, which includes this synopsis: "Race Cooper leans on his Harley down a deserted alley, his chiseled torso glowing in the moonlight. Innocent looking cruiser Derrek Diamond sees him and approaches with caution. Mating can be dangerous. Cooper removes his thick leather collar and secures it on Diamond, making him is willing submissive. After forcing his cock down Diamond's throat. With his butt ready for the pleasure that only a throbbing cock can deliver, Diamond leans on a lamppost to receive Cooper's rod. Hungry for more fucking, Diamond retrieves a mattress from a pile of debris and lies down so Cooper can pound him harder." It's a great reminder that actors and models perform many roles and that the really talented folks are able to give outstanding performances no matter what the part calls for.

We all know that men likes machines and toys, so it's a natural combo when the two are joined for some greased-up heavy metal fun! Derrek demonstrated how industrial machinery has a potential place in every man's garage or bedroom.

If there was a kinky side to some of his performances that made him popular with select audiences, there was also a mainstream audience that will recognize Derrek for decades to come from the still-popular 2010 film Tales of the Arabian Nights.

Jan DeWerd remains a mystery, in that VGMH thinks that Playgirl could have done so much more with this wonderful man's published photos. He certainly had the looks and physique. His thick cock was a pleasure to behold, for the limited views that readers were treated to. Jan appeared in the November 1975 issue in the Horoscope section and then again in April 1977 in a collection of previously unpublished photos of various models. We do get to see an aroused Jan with a horse behind him in one closely cropped shot. We'll just celebrate what we have of Jan as we wonder what photographs might still be in a file cabinet or dusty folder somewhere that never made it into the magazine. A nifty story in this issue was "Hiring A Man For Sex: A Young Woman's Experience."

Longtime friends knowjust how much we love our James Bond movies here at VGMH. Ian Fleming created the fictional character of James Bond, an intelligence officer in the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6. Bond was also known by his code number, 007. And one of our all-time favorite "James Bond" actors starredin Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall (2012) with his newest Bond film set to debut this week, Spectre. Daniel is calm, cool and gay-friendly (more on that later). He's also the first blonde actor to play Bond, and the first to be born after the start of the film series, and also the first to be born after the death of author Ian Fleming in 1964. And oh yea, when the part called for it, Daniel's performed in film nude.

In a TimeOut London interview (October 2015), Craig talked about playing the macho James Bond character, answering "Playing James Bond is a lot about how you look the clothes, the walk, the fitness. Do you ever get fed up with all that?"] Its a drag. The best acting is when youre not concerned about the surface. And Bond is the opposite of that. You have to be bothered about how youre looking. Its a struggle. I know that how Bond wears a suit and walks into a room is important. But as an actor I dont want to give a fuck about what I look like! So I have to play with both things. In a way that works, as thats Bond: he looks good and he doesnt give a fuck what you think he looks like!"

These pictures are from the 2000 film Some Voices in which Mr. Craig gave us full frontal nudity:

Born: 2-March-1968

Birthplace: Chester, Cheshire, England

Our Mr. November's quite the rugged outdoors man. Gloved and booted, he's ready for hard work. That plaid flannel shirt could have come from the Sears or Penny's Fall and Winter catalog. No doubt he's creating a whole lot of wood out there, but he looks more than ready and able to cut those trunks down to size. And then there's that mystery hand holding another leaf that could come in handy...If you look VERY close you will see something fun at the end of the pine cone positioned over his groin dangling between his legs...the tight tip of his uncircumcised penis is getting a little fresh air. Maybe it's just VGMH, wishful thinking, but doesn't Mr. November's beaming smile looked a lot like that of real-male model and vintage muscle man Dale Curry?

DALE CURRY

Dale deserves and will get his own profile in the future.

FALL PROTECTION PLAN
Fall: The weather gets crisper, the days get shorter, and leaves turn colors. Winter is coming! There's a lot of talk about climate change these days, and we rely on the old methodology...if it's cold outside, a man's natural bodily instincts will kick-in and protect the family jewels from the harsh elements and offer nonstop desires to stick his "stick" into a warm and welcome opening.

But wait! There's yet one more observation. For survival, this is the time of year when some wild male animals are busy growing new, thicker body fur to keep warm during the upcoming winter months. Nature knows what's ahead and protects these playful mammals...just consider the Brown Bear, Siberian Tiger, and of course the American Wolf. Instincts for survival no doubt made men with thick beards and very hairy chests (growing up their necks for visual confirmation) top potential breeders. These dudes had the sperm to not only fertilize chicks to guarantee their DNA survival, but the bodily protection to survive the harsh weather elements, and the machismo to enjoy some male bonding time.

VGMH sees many hairy wolves living in their daily urban habitat ...walking around (upright) in heavy work boots, driving Jeeps Cherokees, drinking coffee, and drooling at the Best Buy electronics counters. A thick bush of hair helps to hold on to heat...important in prehistoric times when men wore minimal clothing. Okay, so this is really just a cheesy excuse to show some hairy men...let's have some fun with the season! Judging by the thick fur these men are sprouting, it's going to be a c-c-cc-cold season.

According to the Farmers’ Almanac, this winter will see more days of shivery conditions: a winter during which temperatures will average below normal for about three-quarters of the United States.

Back just after the turn of the last century, swarthy Luciano's three-day beard stubble and that densely carpeted chest fur were only the beginnings of his macho attractions to international audiences. Changes in politics had created a new industry in many Eastern European countries that had previously not been open to the west's smut industry. Millions of men around the world were hungry for Hungarian naked men. The European/Czech adult gay entertainment boom was offering fans fresh faces and physiques. But there were lots of good looking men, so what set Luciano apart? It was Endino's banana-curved 6-inch pleasure stick that made him a star. Just as quickly as it became aroused it bent upwards and curled up his belly, twitching when it saw someone that he wanted to fuck with it.

Luciano Endino (akaLuciano Carroll) appears to have beenone of those guys who briefly worked in the world of adult modeling for about two years before moving on to do other things in his life (it's reported that this hunk is also a credentialed math and physics instructor).

Between 2002 and 2003 there was a fair amount of media attention paid to the new star. Luciano graced the cover of Honcho magazine's September 2003 issue. Cover photos are designed to grab attention on crowded magazine racks to get customers to buy them, and the Honcho cover photo of Endino's hairy chest and inviting treasure trail certainly delivered. Luciano also appeared in Blueboy, Indulge, and Machismo. These were primarily shots tied to his movies. Famed European director Csaba Borbely used Luciano in many productions.

While they may have admired his ruggedly beautiful face and 200 pound 6' solid body, some gay smut critics were less than generous in comments about what they seem to have viewed as limitations in his acting skills during sex scenes, which was a common complaint about the men from Czech countries. "In true no-nonsense Eastern European style, Lucianoand his partners get the job done of having sex together...just don't expect much chemistry between these buffed straight studs with Viagra boners. [...] a hairy guy [like this] would be perfect playing the part of a young best friend's hot daddy. Let a geeky skinny twink provide the excitement of licking every inch of his friends' daddy [Luciano] playing with those big ballsand riding Luciano's cock to the moon and back."

Luciano was primarily a contract performer of Pacific Sun Entertainment during his time in the business. He was usually seen performing top roles in his movies shot in Hungary or Greece wearing a condom. He definitely knew how to suck cock and usually kissed his partners. What's surprising is that wasn't filmed in a lot of solo movies.

Interestinglyin terms of gay vintage movie smut trivia, Luciano Endino fucked wrestling pal Erik Maestro in the locker room showers for a 2002 Hungarian porno (Secrets of a Wrestler Vol. 2: Slam) that included some English subtitles at the bottom of the screen, sometimes obscuring views of Luciano's buns! Reading the subtitles while trying to get 'in the mood' may not work so effectively at pitching a tent, but they are definitely fun on their own to read. Some other films also by Pacific Sun studios also included subtitles.

Actually, subtitles in American-produced porno smut films goes all the way back to early days of film loops before sound became a standard feature. They were typically added at the beginning of the loop while the performers were being introduced and the situation for them having sex was being explained to the audience. It usually didn't take a lot of dialog (then and now) before clothing came off and nooky began.

Paper Magazines are an interesting media format that we love here at VGMH because they represent such an important part of contemporary gay history. Despite promises that they would disappear, pulp magazines continue to be sold in book stores, supermarkets, major retail stores at the checkouts, and of course in specialty stores (as in adult versions). Vintage copies in good condition command large amounts of money compared to what they originally sold for. And unlike their electronic modern cousins, good old-fashioned paper publications do not require a battery or plug-in source to view.

By definition, "magazines" are printed publicationsissuedperiodically,usuallyboundinawaxed papercovers designed to attract attention of potential buyers,typicallycontainingessays,stories, photographs, or drawings along with advertising. Some magazines are geared to a large audience while many specializeinaparticularsubjectorarea,such asgender, hobbies,news, gossip, orfitness and sports. Their paper pages are fragile yet strong enough to withstand the test of time and countless fingers thumbing through them. Here we show our appreciation to previous issues of timeless magazines from Novembers gone by.

This November 1957 issue of Popular Mechanics (below) is one of my all-time favorites. In addition to a nifty story about how to build your very own backyard ice rink, there's a great story inside about Walt Disney's Disneyland.

The article is written reflecting the type of reader of this nuts and bolts magazine--men interested in how things work---and wowweee does it ever deliver! Once upon a time there was an attraction at Disneyland called the Rainbow Cavern Mine Train. This article illustrates how they made the paint pots percolate as trains passed by. The story also describes drive belts for hippos, five-horse-power electric motors for alligators, and even tells a secret--a toot from the train whistle tripped sound-actuated switches that turned on the spinning rocks! Very modern!

And if that wasn't enough, there was also a pattern to make your own Happy Hunter Pipe Rack! The time spent in the basement or garage making this pipe rack could also offer an excellent excuse to have some 'male personal enjoyment' time with maybe a few special magazines carefully tucked away.

Of course with the kick-off for the holiday season circa 1957, Kodak offered their new Pony II camera. Hmmm..wonder who (or what) he is taking a photo of?

And the new 1958 cars!

It was also a time when straight men could indulge in socially-naughty sexual delights with issues like this November 1957 Playboy magazine...while the nudity in Playboy was frowned upon by the conservative-minded moralists, interestingly, the male viewers of the magazine were seldom criticized for enjoying to look at women purely for their sexual pleasure (and implied desire to fuck them if given the chance). And while on that subject, did people really believe that men only looked at the big boobs and crotch fur gals without masturbating a few dozen times? Straight men were usually given a free pass because after all...boys will be boys...

...and sadly these decades were also a time when gay men were largely invisible to much of mainstream society and their sexual pleasures were forced to be disguised behind topics like fitness, such as this November issue of Demi Gods.

An order form would arrive in the mail after the first correspondence. Men in posing pouches were the norm. But even in the 1950s there were some daring specialty publications. Although this was risky and usually illegal if caught. A safeguard was to try and wrap the nudity around a theme such as nudists or exercise. Below we have a 1950s football player with both a facial expression and boner that both look very serious. Yes, it's nice to appreciate nude males, in a purely clothing-free non-sexual way, of course.

Things changed down the road a few decades later with mainstream Playgirl and VIVA magazines, when a selection of gents were offered monthly for the explicit purpose of being viewed as sex objects (albeit officially for women to ogle over). Here's some nice vintage November issue covers:

Viva, November 1973

By November 1980, gents could give thanks for magazine covers like this Honcho (below) which celebrated the sexual beauty of the human male for the intended viewing pleasures of other men.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Today kicks off VGMH's holiday season! Creating our own holiday tradition several years ago, VGMH started this tribute to the men of African decent who've kindly appeared in gay smut over the ages. A number of early models made their mark in the business and remain true classics. Early legends such as Bob Mizer (Athletic Modeling Guild) routinely photographed handsome African American men like Gerald Oglesby and Tyronne Jones. Indeed, smut (both straight and gay) has always been a forerunner in terms of bringing different races together to have some fun and enjoyment.

Retailers began calling the day after Thanksgiving "black Friday" because so many people started their Christmas shopping then, that the stores made enough money to put their bottom line profits for the year in "black" ink instead of money-loosing"red" ink. It was also when the department stores took down the sheets and displayed their wonderlands of Christmas window displays and ornate decorations throughout the store. Aside from a few retailers, those elaborate window displays (along with the staff of professional decorators that created them) have been history for some time.

Things changed thanks to discount retailers who cut prices and didn't even have window displays to decorate. But these cement-box-stores had another draw for the public: Frenzy-driving discounts replaced the decorations to lure in the shoppers. And now yet another transition is in full progress, as the cement-box-stores try to compete with online retailers. Stores are competing to stay alive and Black Friday has creeped into the actual Thanksgiving holiday in many places. To be sure, price is very important, as is the convenience of shopping from home. Nothing stays the same. Today's flat screen TV's will become tomorrow's 8-Track tape decks. But these men will always stay in style.

Ronnie, from Sierra Sierra Domino Studios

From 1950's body builders posing for early physique photographers to everyday gentlemen making some extra money in the 1970's, black men have a long and valued place in gay erotic history. Craig Calvin Anderson's Sierra Domino Studios produced beautiful images of black men during the 1970's. The 1980's and technology (VCR machines and inexpensive videos) brought more black men into gay smut than ever before. The success of rap music helped to titillate young white male audiences and has infiltrated numerous aspects of mainstream culture including fashion, movies,
vocabulary, and porn.

Below: Mr. Larry Samuels

Below: Mr. Willie Lewis

THE END

While piracy of copyrighted porn content continues to be the biggest problem that most smut producers consider within their $97 billion industry, there's another potential threat to their profits that is making some in the businesses very nervous as well--competition from their very own sexting customers!

Especially for professional sites that specialize in amateur good looking men posing solo, the growing social acceptance of young guys from around the world to get naked in front of a mirror and proudly show their schlongs (which eventually often get viewed for free on the Internet by the millions) is real business competition.

These sexy dudes are displaying their wieners not for a paycheck but because they want to show themselves off. Often the backgrounds where the photos were taken are bathrooms with thrown towels, toiletries, and toothpaste (or something else!) on stained mirrors above wash basins. It's real life horn dogs seeing who wants to enjoy them!

As with all porn, technology constantly creates new opportunities that were not available before the technology became invented. This is certainly true of smart phones and "Sexting" which the dictionary defines as "thesendingofsexuallyexplicitphotos,images,textmessages,ore-mailsbyusingacellphoneorothermobiledevice" but millions know it simply as 'sexting'.

For some gay men, regular everyday guys combine their smart phones and social media friend groups to snap pics of their morning wood and/or six-pack abs and then send the images out to their media pals to enjoy. In return, these friends return equally intimate photos of themselves. Masturbation and electronic devices go, well...hand in hand like never before. Some men may also be looking for an actual hookup with their admirers on sites like Grindr. Here, the selfie pic becomes a preview of what to expect. Just a few minutes and quick photo snaps on their smart phones offer unlimited local opportunities for the 'cock-ee' and the 'suck-ee' to have sex together in real time.

Warnings about sexting do not seem to work very effectively with younger generations who are very comfortable seeing sexual images of naked people on their computers, tablets and phones. As an analyst in the porn business noted "Many of these [guys sexting nude selfies of themselves] are as physically attractive as the paid male models we have working in the industry. They're proud of their bodies and have no real issues, even when they [the photos] go viral. Real names and locations are not usually connected to the photos so there's actually a lot of anonymity in their personal life."

Indeed, swapping sexting pics among straight male buddies is a favorite new pass time while knocking back beers at the local bar. Girls are rated for looks, bodies and how explicit the photos are. Male bro's win stud points for the total number of hot gals that they persuaded to such share pictures with, and also for how many open pussy shots (with faces) they have in their collections. Sex psychologists are suggesting that there's a 'bromance bonding experience' which now happens among straight men that is totally unlike watching conventional porn videos together. This occurs because, usually stored along with the sexting pics received from their female conquests, are the explicit sexual selfies of the man who owns the phone, flexing and sporting his erections that he had originally sent to the females. It's become common for men to openly comment about their buddie's physique and cock pictures (sent to women) in a way that previously would have been considered homoerotic.

One expert regarding this trending phenomena noted that "In gym showers there's a homophobic code. You NEVER look down. But with sexted selfies it's the complete opposite. There's tremendous bravado. They view themselves like [straight] porn studs and high-five about their sexual prowess with women." Views about homosexuality and men as sex objects have also changed dramatically in just the past ten years, especially among young adults. "That many times their photos wind up on gay Internet sites doesn't seem to be an issue with many in this generation."

Sexting is growing in all aspects of everyday life for many people with smart phones, and in some instances it is not remaining anonymous and causing problems in other areas of their lives. Just this week, it was reported that The Boeing Co. had fired and disciplined several workers for “inappropriate personal behavior.” It seems that the Everett plane workers had been using company-issued phones for sexting. And of course, there was the infamous Anthony Weiner scandal (pics below). The Democratic U.S. representative for New York had served the state of New York's 9th congressional district. Mr. Weiner was well-liked and seemed poised for a promising career in politics until his proclivity toward sexting pics of his weenie was publicly revealed. Nice body, Anthony!

One thing is for certain: Sexting is not going away anytime soon.

NOT VERY MERRY (BUT PRETTY DARN GOOD)

I don't think I'd suggest this movie to anybody looking for something 'fun and uplifting' to watch during the holidays...Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence takes the audience into the (complex) everyday relationships of four men existing in a Japanese military POW camp in late 1942. There's a war of wills and of sexual attractions going on between a rebellious British prisoner Major Jack Celliers (David Bowie) and the commandant, Capt. Yonoi (Ryuichi Sakamoto), who admires Celliers' strong will. Yonoi's steeped in ancient Japanese tradition, yet he's drawn to Celliers sexually, which causes him great internal conflicts to deal with. Meanwhile, Col. John Lawrence (Tom Conti) is engaged in a see-sawing relationship with sergeant Gengo Hara (Takeshi Kitano) who is a held-prisoner of his own country Japan.

The taboo of same-sex gay activity is suggested throughout this film: A Korean soldier is condemned to commit "seppuku" (a Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment...I told you this wasn't your typical holiday flick) after being caught in an "improper" relationship with one of the Dutch prisoners. As the execution is carried out, the Dutch prisoner, who is forced to watch it along with the rest of the prisoners and the Japanese officials, bites his tongue and then dies of suffocation himself.

As Bowie is interned in the camp, Yonoi develops a homoerotic fixation on him, often asking Hara about him, silently visiting him in the hours when Bowie is confined. However, later on, Yonoi becomes enraged and has him buried in the ground up to his neck as a means of punishment.

SPOILER ALERT! The movie's gay undercurrent is brought forward more strongly as the allies approach the camp and all prisoners are prompted to form lines outside the barracks. Bowie breaks the rank and walks decidedly in Yonoi's direction, only to end up kissing him on the cheek. This is an unbearable offense to Yonoi's honor code; he reaches out for his samurai sword against Celliers (Bowie), only to collapse under the conflicting feelings of vindicating himself from the offense suffered in front of his troops and his own emotions for Celliers.

SPOILER ALERT! Four years later, Lawrence (Conti) visits Sergeant Hara, who has now been imprisoned by the Allied forces. Hara reveals that he is going to be executed the next day. The two bid each other farewell for the last time. Just before Lawrence leaves, Hara happily wishes Lawrence a Merry Christmas.

Bowie's time spent filming in the Cook Islands also provided the impetus for his hit album of the same year, Let's Dance. Before leaving, Bowie packed several tapes of some 1950's and 1960's rythym and blues tracks, with the idea being that he needed something he could listen to over and over again between film takes. Oshima's method of working may have also been an influence, as Bowie described it as "a bit like making old rock 'n' roll records, when James Brown and his band would do it just once". Let's Dance was completed after location shooting was wrapped and Bowie had returned to New York. It was all finished in only 20 days.

Rhett was Playgirl's centerfold holiday present to its readers back in December 1985. The blond honey with a golden tan was certainly easy on the eyes. He was also known as porn star Jeff Quinn to those who might have already seen him in the gay smut video Inch by Inch during that same year, which is when his gay porn career really took off. He is however credited with appearing in a 1983 straight smut film called Triple Play. Considering the typical career of a male porn performer, Jeff worked about the average amount of time in gay porn (for about two years or less), where he was often cast as a hot piece of ass that other horny boys just couldn't get enough of enjoying. But Jeff had quickly became something much more than an 'average' stud in gay porn. Jeff's fan base was very large considering that he covered: 1) Tasteful male nudity for straight women and gay men via Playgirl magazine; 2) Gay men via hardcore porn and gay smut magazines; and 3) The bisexual market via bisexual videos. His early-to-mid eighties career was during the end of the pre-condom era so many of his scenes were performed bareback. His decision to retire continues to puzzle many of his fans.

Jeff appeared in several very successful bi movies, including the hugely popular Innocence Lost which became a neighborhood video store favorite with the 'bi-curious' renters (aka guys who did not want to take an all-male gay video up to the counter to rent from the neighbor's son or daughter and be outed). His role in 1985's Switch is On included heavy hitters Jon Vincent, Kevin Williams,and Steve Ross, and last but not least Jeff Stryker.

And as a VGMH gift just for you to enjoy, we're including the full-page printed layouts from the magazine spread in addition to just the photos. Please enjoy!

One of Jeff's most memorable gay films was Splash Shots II. In one scene, Lance and Jeff Quinn are two buddies out for a run. They jocks decide that they need a salty protein fix, so they make a stop over at Chad Douglas’ place and begin to worship his cock while floating in the pool. The photography is top-notch and the action believably hot. Chad winds up fucking Jeff again with some excellent camera work as we see Lance masturbating while watching the mating.

In another scene, Jim Bentley, Jamie Landon, Jeff Quinn and Eric Manchester engage in some sexual gymnastics together once more by the classic Cali pool scene. Sparking cool water, a beautiful Spanish tiled pool, palm trees, and four sexy young naked men. Bentley calls his friend Jeff over to meet the new hot gardener Eric Manchester. One of the reasons this movie remains so darn popular is that the men were clearly in their youthful primes and having a good time.

Today we'll take a time machine back to December 1952 as seen through the eyes of those browsing through the Sears 1952 Wish Book. Note that it's officially called the Sears Christmas Book and not renamed to become a 2015 politically correct Sears Holiday Book. From a purely cosmetic perspective, the cover looks bright and shiny with a cartoonishly drawn young Santa, presents under the tree, and a boy and girl eager to dive right into it all.

The Sears Wall and Winter Catalog of 1952 had included a full-color-page dedicated to getting their customers to vote. By December 1952, the presidential elections were over and Dwight D. Eisenhower had defeated Democrat Governor of Illinois Adlai Stevenson. "I like Ike" was an irresistible slogan; Eisenhower had won a sweeping victory. But scratch right under the surface and things were not quite so ideal for many in real life. Since the end of World War II the American economy had been doing great, but here in 1952 people were pulling back and a little afraid of the future and they didn't know it yet, but financially at least things were soon to become worse when a recession would hit the country the following year. But more was going on to make people uneasy besides money. Polio had hit many thousands of families. Television provided a new social expectation for how a middle class white family living in the suburbs should look and act, and how successful they should be, and what items they should possess.

And most sadly of all, many Americans at home had long-ago tired of the deadlocked Korean war which they disconnected from it as best they could, even as American servicemen died. There is a real reason that the Korean War is often referred to as "The forgotten war."

Korean War Veterans Memorial

The American war in Korea lasted three years, one month and two days and ended in a stalemate on July 12, 1953. But in 1952, they didn't know that ending date quite yet. For the soldiers who served and died, and for those who returned home wounded mentally physically, the impacts upon the rest of their lives would never be forgotten.

Out of necessity to support the war effort, a whole of of social norms had been thrown out of the window during WWII. Women worked the factory floors and became excellent machinists and iron workers. Many gay men were not only admitted into the military, but they were often accepted albeit begrudgingly, since every man counted in combat. So now in 1952 with the war won and the men back and the babies made, it was time for everything to revert back to pre-war society. Only try as they might, not everything (or everyone) was willing to go back to pre-war roles in society. By 1952, real anxiety was happening for those who longed for how things had been.

With baby boomer little boys growing up, uncertainties and insecurities about everything already mentioned played right into the hands of those who were looking for ways to feel safe (and an escape goat to blame). So it was only five months into the next year (May 27, 1953) when Ike's Executive Order 10450 went into effect, banning anyone engaged in "sexual perversion" from federal employment. Thousands of gay and lesbian civil servants quietly accepted the disgrace of losing their careers which they had built over years of service during several wars.

It also made big news that December in 1952, when The New York Daily News carried a front page story announcing that Christine Jorgensen, a transsexual woman in Denmark, had become the recipient of the first successful sexual reassignment operation. The story is sensationalized by the press. Men in locker rooms make vulgar sexual jokes to one another about the Bronx GI turned pretty woman (they do not understand the difference between gender identity and homosexuality). That same month, the American Psychological Association (APA) released their first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. It's an official list of mental disorders which will be used by mental health professionals diagnosing their patients. Homosexuality is listed as a sociopathic personality disturbance. Masculinity would become even become more defined for boys after all of this so that they would not turn out queer.

This is also the time when the classic "Dad gets a loud tie for a present which he will never wear" jokes originated. From a purely male modern perspective, these ties (below) from the Sears Christmas catalog are quite the fashion statement for any era!

The bold primary colors and geometric patterns along with artistic flairs are something of a surprise, but they were in fact stylish with designers in 1952 and not just here in the Sears catalog. Garment designers of the 1950s went back to classic 1920 styles in hopes of providing energy and excitement to men's standard gray and black wardrobes. Given as gifts with the best of intentions, they were not widely accepted by everyday guys, no matter how hard they tried to show their kids how much they loved 'em, and the ties usually found their ways to the back of the closet.

Men's lounge wear was full of printed fabrics and loose fitting so the family jewels were comfy to self-adjust. The idea was, a man would get out of his work clothing and slip into these outfits to watch television and smoke his pipe.

Men's underwear was standard gear, functional and practical. For families without a lot of expendable income, getting replacement basics like new skivvies made perfect sense for dependable Dad. It is of note that like pajamas, shorts were colorful and striped and printed.

"Santa Baby" was originally recorded by Eartha Kitt with Henri René and his orchestra in New York City on October 6, 1953. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5502 (in the USA). The song was a huge hit and continues to be played at the holidays.

When someone live through hard times, sometimes they get lucky and move on, but they never forget. Life stacked the deck against Ertha from an early age. She was labeled a 'yella gal' from birth (due to her mixed heritage skin color and living in the south). Eartha never knew her father, she was abandoned by her mother at an early age (in favor of her darker sibling), and was raised by another family that ignored her. By her own thoughts, she grew up with extremely low self-esteem. How did she cope? She focused herself into a dream-type fantasy world and created a vision of herself. Along the way, she became many a gay man's icon.

A self-proclaimed 'sex kitten,' Ertha was famous for her catlike purrrrr. Her career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, and later in movies and on television. Ms. Kitt was one of America's most versatile performers, winning two Emmys. She also nominated for several Tonys and also for two Grammys. She made headlines in the 1960's for denouncing the Vietnam War during a visit to the White House. The next ten years found her blacklisted in the United States.. Her career continued to soar, however, during her exile in Europe until 1976, when President Jimmy Carter invited her back to the United States.

One title Ms. Kitt was proud of was her being awarded the title of "Gay Icon". Later in life Eartha Kitt would say: "After my blacklisting, it was the Gay community that welcomed me back with open arms." This was something she never forgot and spent a great deal of her time dedicating herself to working with the Gay Men's Health Crisis and other AIDS charities.dded Kitt, "I feel very close to the gay crowd because we know what it feels like to be rejected."
Kitt’s sentiments in that interview are still topical now. Speaking on the subject of marriage equality for gay and lesbian families, Kitt said, "I support it because we’re asking for the same thing.

"If I have a partner and something happens to me, I want that partner to enjoy the benefits of what we have reaped together."

Added the world-famous performer, "It’s a civil-rights thing, isn’t it?"

Though some Black Americans take umbrage at the suggestion that the civil rights struggle of gays and Blacks have close parallels, Kitt herself made that comparison, saying, "We were not allowed to go through certain doors because of our race, our color.

Eartha Kitt, Batman series 'Catwoman' and "Santa Baby" singer, 'international symbol of elegance and sensuality,' died on Christmas Day.

Back by popular demand, VGMH proudly presents its tongue-in-cheek updated listing of toys gone horribly wrong (or amazingly correct, depending upon the perspectives of the viewer). So, here we humbly present a vintage cavalcade of fun vintage toys.

And speaking about mountain tops, back in 2014 Hasbro suddenly began fielding a host of complaints from parents horrified to discover that the “extruder tool” found in the Hasbro Inc. Play-Doh Sweet Shoppe Cake Mountain play set looked a lot like something that might be found in an adult sex toy shop (or their parent' night dresser drawer).

'ON STAGE' SUPERSTAR DOLL

No comment.

ALLAN

Every guy needs a buddy, and Allan was Ken's pal to hang out with when Ken wasn't trying to please that evil bitchy Barbie. He was the first guy that made friends with studly Ken (the box he came in even says that Ken's clothes fit Al), and Al also became the boyfriend and even later the husband of mousey Midge. By then he had shortened his name to Alan. Alan went to Willows High School for a few years but moved in 1966 , the same as Midge. Perhaps they went together to explore the world. The evil rumors that Midge caught Ken in Barbie's pink convertible one night, parked in a rest stop with Al's head bobbing up and down, they just are not true! Some say they've seen a guy who looks a lot like Allan living it up in the Castro, a bit older and definately over his one-time buddy Ken. Whatever happened to Midge? Who cares?

GAY FIRE FIGHTING SET

Right on! Oh, wait...the company name was GAY! grrrrrrr

UNUSUAL ROBOT

There's just something about this toy's shape that I like...

He's Magic Alright...

Rainbow Batman!

Maybe Santa first raised an enbrow after Jimmy wanted this bear coat hook. Marketed mostly in Asian countries as an adhesive hook that makes hanging coats n' stuff fun for the whole family, they came two pricks to a package..errr bears to a package!

THE CROTCH DRONE

He's called The Punisher. And his missile-launching dick delivers a pounding to it's desired target.

Looks Like Buzz has a Woodie!

No wonder he has that smile on his face! Just look where people are sucking on him.

Already a popular 1960s singer, Jean-Paul Vignon went on to host a Canadian-made (Dick Clark produced) series called The Sensuous Manwhich led him to posing as one of the first nude male centerfolds for Playgirl's December 1973 issue as their Man of the Month. But Jean-Paul Vignon is probably best known today for having portrayed Edouard the French waiter in the Star Trek: The Next Generation first season episode "We'll Always Have Paris".

Born in Ethiopia to a French father and an Italian mother, Vignon made many singing records in France and recorded on Columbia Records in the U.S. where "Don't Cry Little Girl" went to #32 on the the top 40s chart in 1964. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffin, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. If you look closely between his legs in the photo below you will see Jean-Paul's dangling cock.

As an actor, he starred with William Holden and Cliff Robertson in the US film The Devil's Brigade (1968). He appeared in several television shows such as The Rockford Files, L.A. Law, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, and The Gilmore Girls. He also played a part in the first Shrek film as one of the merry men. Handsome Jean-Paul is now 90 years old. We thank him for sharing with us in that 1973 December Playgirl issue and wish him a happy holiday.

The Pennys Wish Book catalog. Notice that name was Pennys back then and not JC Penny. The cover is absent of a whole lot of cheer with a mostly black background and a little adorable girl with a Santa in the shadows. In terms of men's fashions, the models were handsome for any era and the clothing was stylish. The polyester pants were tailored to showcase any slack snakes that might be bulging.

Perfect for any 'man cave' would have been these fine gift ideas. I wish I could get some of these (at those prices) now!

And then there were these great decorations.

VGMH knows that some friends of this blog will smile when they see some of these toys which they will no doubt recall from seasons past in their lives. Of course, those GI Joe's and robots (in mint condition with packaging) are valuable today to not only those who grew up with these items but also to many younger generations who just find them amazingly desirable!

The year was 1981, and Montgomery Ward's Christmas Wish Book was just chock-full of things to make men happy on Christmas morning! From sexy lounging wear to the latest in high-tech electronics and guns thrown in as well, there was something for everybody. Below, the bare chested photos of these two male models were probably more desirable than the products they were showcasing to sell.

Color TVs were not cheap by any means and a remote control was definitely an added perk which is why they are so prominently displayed in the photos.

Wow! VCR machines were super hot and super expensive still for most folks to be able to purchase. The VCR would soon change porn forever by bringing it directly onto the television screens of millions of households, before the Internet arrived.

It looks like VGMH's sexy Mr. Mailman has been enjoying our holiday cards before delivering them to us once again this year! We don't mind the ripped envelopes or even the sticky white stains that he leaves on them. We just wish that he would knock on the door and make a special delivery all his own! So let's enjoy these holiday greetings from the past courtesy of artist Etienne.

The holiday card above is so darn festive! We're in luck to find yet another wonderful winter wonderland card. This trio of yuletide carolers are as buff as Santa's muscular reindeer team and are as 'in the mood' to spread good cheer as any three gents could possibly get!

Let's see, I don't remember a whole lot about my shore leave. Where the heck did this leather jock strap come from? One of the most pleasing things about all of Etienne's work his that his sense of humor shines through.

We have two Adonis gents (nude of course) decorating their tree with what else...balls! And strategically, the dark haired gent's face is conveniently situated right in front of his love's crotch, which is pressing against the backside of his head, while a branch of the tree with a hanging ball ornament covers his own set of balls. Our blonde muscle man couldn't be more 1950's physique-perfect! If one takes the time to really admire his skills, the attention to detail (even the ball ornament's glitter is illustrated nicely) of the large tree and garland and wooden step ladder are all picture perfect.

Mr. October (and an extra treat!)

That Sucking Sound: 1970s Sons of Satan

Brilliant Diamond: November Stud Derrek

November 1975

007 Daniel Craig

Mr. November

Climate Change

Luciano Endino

Happy Thanksgiving U.S.A.

Our 'Black Friday' Salutes African American Nude Men

Cyber Sexting Saturday and Sunday!

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Rhett Routley (Jeff Quinn)

1952: It's the most magical time of the year...

Eternal Ertha

These retro toys just SCREAM IT!

December 1973

December 1970

1981 Gifts for Guys!

That darn Mailman!