After months of cussing and discussing vintage gay erotica with my old friend DJ, he finally offered to loan me some of the latest additions to his private collection.
Of course, I said yes.
When we met up yesterday, he didn’t just bring a piece or two. He showed up with two bags full of 4x5 and 5x7 prints. Easily a hundred photos, worth thousands of dollars. Not the kind of haul you casually toss into a tote bag. Holding them felt like holding frozen moments of art and history all at once.
A lot of the models are unfamiliar to me. Same with the photographers, when they were labeled at all. Which, if you know me, only makes this loan even better. The thrill isn’t just in the image. It’s in the discovery. The research rabbit holes. The slow unraveling of who, where, and when. If possible.
There’s also something about the prints themselves. Knowing they’ve lived other lives before landing with me. Passed through hands, hidden in drawers, tucked into portfolios, maybe even forgotten for a time. And now, somehow, they’ve found their way back into the light.
Over the coming days and weeks, I’ll be scanning and sharing what I can, when I can.
If you enjoy a little mystery, a slow reveal, the tease of not knowing what’s coming next, I’ll be posting selections here on Substack. I already have ideas for a few montages, small curated moments pulled from the stacks.
For those who prefer things a bit less restrained, I’ll be sharing additional, full monty images over on Bluesky.
NOTE: Most of you already know why I do it this way. But for those who don’t, here’s the short version: Substack’s payment processors tend to clutch their pearls at most adult content. So I keep things suggestive and tasteful here, and share the more revealing images over on Bluesky. Honestly, I like the distinction. There’s something to be said for a little mystery, especially below the belt.
But back to DJ.
I don’t take it lightly that he trusts me with this. These aren’t just photos. They’re fragments of queer history. Artifacts from a time when desire had to be coded, hidden, or quietly circulated. There’s courage in that. Beauty in it. And yes, plenty of unapologetic flesh.
DJ shares that belief. That this work deserves to be seen, appreciated, and preserved. Not locked away in boxes where no one gets to experience it.
And who is DJ, exactly?
First and foremost, he’s my forever friend. He’s also a former lover and longtime partner-in-crime. A true pain in the ass and fellow Texan, DJ is someone who’s taught me more than I’ll ever admit. He has an exceptional eye, exquisite taste, and a deep respect for the past. He works in antiques and estate sales, which gives him a knack for finding what others overlook, don’t understand, or fail to value until it’s too late.
Then there’s his personal art and photo collection. Carefully collected and curated. A seemingly motley mix of artifacts and ephemera that say as much about him as it does about the eras it represents.
One of these days, maybe he’ll let me dive deeper into his collection.
If he does, you already know I’ll bring you along for the ride.
For now, I’m feeling very grateful for his generosity.
Keep calm and appreciate on!
Clint 🌈✌️
P.S. Here’s a couple more quick scans to tide you over until I have a chance to scan the rest:
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thru 05-31-26
FROM THE ARCHIVES
BORN THIS WAY ON THIS DAY
05-06 = Jon Reed Sims (1847-1984) = American choir conductor 🌈
05-06 = Mary Lowndes (1857-1929) = British artist and suffragist 🌈
05-06 = Noah Galvin (1984- ) = American actor and singer 🌈
05-06 = Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926) = Italian actor 🌈
MAN CRUSH(ES) OF THE DAY
“I have been deeply touched by the many telegrams, cables and letters that have come to my bedside. It is wonderful to know that I have so many friends and well-wishers both among those it has been my privilege to meet and among the loyal unknown thousands who have seen me on the screen and whom I have never seen at all.”
Rudolph Valentino
Nice one Brian, it was always good to drop into a good long time photographer friend from the Yclub. He followed the BB (body building) circuit as a freelance photographer for the BB magazine's of that period in time. He also had a small studio in a BB/gym. I always got to see the BB's portfolios he did as a side hustle. All heady days of testosterone fuelled young guys. It was easy (or so it seemed) to get the lads and blokes to risk full frontal nudiity, as long as they stayed 'private' images. Very much like the ones you posted from Lon etc of NY 😎👍Well enough of the past now. Cheers DougT 🏴🇬🇧
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