Thursday, 9 May 2024

Artists at Hussar

 


As well as beefcake physique shots and photo storyettes Royale Studio occasionally featured Artists in their Catalogue. For example, List 7 (April 1959) featured Arthur Downing and List 8 (Oct 1959) had drawings by Ron Wright. This diversification is an indicator of Clavering's ambition to build up the enterprise (as was the inclusion of photographs taken by John Barrington). 

I described in the Royale/Hussar timeline article how, in 1960, the two newly diverging 'brands' (Royale and Hussar) seemed to get in a scrap over the publication rights for Tom of Finland's 'Thieving Cowboy'. Hussar's advert above in 1963 publicised the work of a new artist, Holzman, with a story about another thief who gets caught. A few years earlier Royale would probably have described the 'toughie' as a Ted. There's a full article on 'Merchant Navy' at mitchmen which uncovers the true identity of Holzman. 

This ad accidentally coincided with another sad milestone - the final disappearance of the Royale Studio brand from the Physique press. Incidentally, Hussar never described themselves as a Studio, but as Hussar Photography initially and later simply as 'Hussar'.

John Skilling solo album completed

John Skilling posing in chains (Hussar)  The Gallery article on John Skillings solo appearances for Royale and Hussar is now complete. The ...