The Dandy + The Daddy Bear

Two Of My Favorite Influences + Inspirations

CECIL BEATON + MARC BROUSSARD

On this day, several of my favorite men were born.

Two of them—the photographer-designer-wunderkind Cecil Beaton and the soulful singer-songwriter Marc Broussard—hold a special place in my heart and history.

I first “met” Cecil Beaton in a used bookstore in 1985.

Armed with $10 saved from my allowance, I bought a small stack of art and photo books, including The Best of Beaton, published—before I was born—in 1968.

The book was my introduction to Mr. Beaton’s photography and design work—a world brimming with elegance, whimsy, and wonder. His motley mix of work felt both foreign and familiar, like a language I didn’t fully understand but instinctively recognized.

Was Cecil Beaton gay too…maybe?

Why did I buy the book? Besides its $1 price tag and its beautiful photos, I was drawn to the colorful, hand-drawn title on the cover—and recognized Truman Capote’s name from 1970s talk shows. I was just a kid, but little did I know how much Beaton and Capote—two of the most iconic dandies of the 20th century—would shape my sense and sensibilities in the years to come.

I first “met” Marc Broussard in a music store in 2005. I was on a tight budget, so I stuck to the used CD section for my retail therapy. Among my haul was Carencro, Broussard’s debut album, released in 2024.

Why did I buy it? Well, beyond its $1 price tag and Broussard’s good looks, a friend had recommended the album. I hadn’t heard it yet, but I figured, why not? The man may have caught my eye, but the moment I hit play, his voice caught my ear, heart, and imagination.

What. A. Voice.

Broussard’s soulful growl and heartfelt lyrics spoke to me in a way few artists have.

Tracks like “Home” and “Gavin’s Song” instantly became part of my personal soundtrack. Nearly twenty years later, Carencro remains an all-time favorite.

And the fact that Broussard, a straight man a decade my junior, has morphed into quite the handsome “daddy” bear is just the icing on the beefcake.

When people ask me what my “type” is, I often think of these two men as opposite ends of my personal attraction spectrum. Cecil Beaton represents refinement, wit, and a sense of theatricality, while Marc Broussard embodies soulful authenticity, rugged charm, and raw talent.

The truth is, most men can catch my eye. For all kinds of reasons, I find the male form endlessly beautiful and inspiring. My eyes love to roam and wander. But creativity and talent always manage to get my full attention.

So here’s to the Dandy and the Daddy Bear—and to all the men out there who remind us of the many shades, shapes, sizes, and stages of masculinity.

Let’s hear it for all the boys, dudes, guys, and men!
Clint 🌈✌️

P.S. Yesterday, I wrote a post about how I started on Substack, exactly one year ago. It’s been an amazing first year. Thank YOU for being part of it! 🥳❤️

ON THIS DAY

BIRTHDAYS = HIGHLIGHTS

• 1904 = Cecil Beaton = English photographer, diarist, and designer 🌈

• 1915 = Mark Goodson = American Family Feud and The Price Is Right creator

• 1919 = Andy Rooney = American soldier, journalist, critic, and tv personality

• 1925 = Yukio Mishima = Japanese writer, actor, and model 🌈

• 1941 = Faye Dunaway = American actor and producer

• 1943 = Holland Taylor = American actor 🌈

• 1949 = Lawrence Kasdan = American filmmaker

• 1963 = Steven Soderbergh = American filmmaker

• 1964 = Shepard Smith = American tv host and journalist 🌈

• 1968 = LL Cool J = American rapper and actor

• 1969 = Jason Bateman = American actor, director, and producer

• 1982 = Marc Broussard = American singer-songwriter

EVENTS = HIGHLIGHTS

• 1900 = Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca premieres n Rome.

• 1952 = Jim Kepner and members of the Mattachine Soceity in LA discuss the idea of publishing a magazine for the LGBT community. They named their organization One, Inc. and put out the first issue in January, 1953. In 1956, One opened the Institute for Homophile Studies. Today, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at USC is the largest repository of LGBTQ materials in the world.

• 1952 = Today, NBC's morning news program, debuts with host Dave Garroway.

HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES

• National Dress Up Your Pet Day

• National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

• National Shop for Travel Day

• Ratification Day

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PHOTO + QUOTES OF THE DAY

CECIL BEATON BY ERWIN BLUMENFELD

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”
Cecil Beaton

“Perhaps the world's second-worst crime is boredom; the first is being a bore.”
Cecil Beaton

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