Part 23 - Pleasure Reader / Phase IV
These are the last of the covers for Phase IV of Greenleaf Classics Pleasure Reader's rebranding efforts. The focus continues to be on a lone figure in the foreground, with a 'softer' look and emphasis on the eyes. The cover art was created by Robert Bonfils, Savage or an unknown artist. And the authors? Well, most will be familiar to you, if you've read any of the other posts in this series, but...
...we do have a real juicy one today! Yes. Pay dirt. And it's intriguing dirt. Something unexpected, to be sure.
This time, the novels appear in the order they were published.
Patrick Doyle is a familiar name. We've seen his works, here, here, here, here and here. He has sixteen novels to his credit.
Mr. Steward was, at one time, the official tattoo artist of The Hell's Angels. More on that later...
Through an academic advisor, he was introduced to and became friends with Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. The three corresponded regularly (these letters would serve as the basis for his book, Dear Sammy: Letters from Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas) and Steward traveled to their rented house in France during 1937 and 1939. During these visits he spent time with such literary notables as Thomas Mann, Thornton Wilder, Lord Alfred Douglas (Oscar Wilde's lover), and Andre Gide (and, according to his diaries, fooled around with a couple of them).
In 1946, he would leave teaching altogether in order to help re-write The World Book Encyclopedia.
During the 1950's, Steward transitioned from teaching to living the life of a tattoo artist. After being mentored by Milwaukee-based master tattooist Amund Dietzel, he opened a shop on South State Street in Chicago, where he tattooed sailor-trainees from the US Navy's Great Lakes Naval Training Station, gang members and street people. In the process, he became friends with a slew of gay artisans, including: Julien Green, Fritz Peters, Paul Cadmus, Glenway Wescott, Chuck Renslow and partner Dom Orejudos (illustrator Etienne/Stephen) and George Platt Lynes.
Starting in 1957, under the name Phil Andros, Steward began writing erotic fiction. First, for a Swiss magazine called Der Kreis (The Circle). At first, the works were based on his numerous sexual exploits, but soon he branched out into essays, reviews and gay news articles. He then began writing for a Danish Magazine, Eos/Amigo. His primary focus during this period was on sadomasochism, rough trade, and the power dynamics of interracial sex.
With Tom of Finland
Steward had a life-long alcohol and barbiturate problem, as well as a bad heart. He died in Berkley, CA on December 31, 1993, at the age of 84. His life work is still cherished and celebrated today.
This time, the novels appear in the order they were published.
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Learn a little bit about Llewellyn Hollingsworthy (Lyal H. Stevens) and see his other works here and here.
Boychick For A Star
Author: Llewellyn Hollingsworthy
Cover Art: Savage
I don't know what to make of that title. Just the oddest thing ever. It must be explained in the book. The cover really doesn't offer much of a clue, either. Is he a politician or a nightclub singer? I'm thinking the latter, because a bow tie implies night life, not stumping for votes.
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The Milkboy
Author: Patrick Doyle
Cover Art: Savage
Love this title! Love this cover art! How amazingly silly does this look? You can just hear the man in the foreground's thoughts... "Oh, I hope it is the Milkboy - bring me something to sup. He is the cream in my coffee and the reason I wake up." This is like an Adam Sandler movie waiting to happen! Adore those big blue eyes - so full of anticipation. Well, whatever the Milkboy is serving up? I'm sure its fresh and frothy!
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Another from Douglas Dean (Dean Goodman). Learn more about him, here. He's quite prolific and a number of his works have been featured throughout this series.
An Exceptional Young Man
Author: Douglas Dean
Cover Art: Robert Bonfils
Ahh, the steam room! At first glance, I thought this cover was damaged, but that's steam covering this exceptional young man's assets. Very clever of Mr. Bonfils. Have you ever had sex in a steam room? Me? I couldn't breathe very well, let alone see. The one at Steamworks in Chicago is fun, though. Very well-lit and rather like a porcelain-lined maze.
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Greenleaf Classics had certainly established a solid stable of writers. Here's another from Peter Tuesday Hughes. You may remember him from, here, here, here, here, and here. Peter worked as a travel agent in San Francisco.
Spin the Boy Down
Author: Peter Tuesday Hughes
Cover Art: Unknown
Well, this title means something completely different these days, am I right? But back then, no. The turn 'spin' was not associated with drug use (although, it could easily have applied to poppers - which were much stronger in the day). This boy! Very androgynous and look at his pretty shirt! I am not digging this scene, what with the ominous looking man in the background (and who's peering out that jailhouse window?). But that shirt! I want that shirt... (not my color, but I love the pattern).
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With over 30 novels in the genre, one would think there would be more information on Chad Stuart. But, if there is, I am unable to find it. Well, it turns out, of course, to be a pseudonym for William J. Lambert III - also known as William Maltese. Words must flow out of this man's fingers like some kind of gay, divine lifeforce - he has written so many books under so many different names. I wish my mind worked like that. Just click on any of the previous posts in this series and you're bound to find a book written by him.
Big Guns
Author: Chad Stuart
Cover Art: Robert Bonfils
Who knew Rambo had a thing for blonde twinks? First Blood, indeed! Robert Bonfils has never really gotten on the androgynous male bandwagon, has he? Even this sweet young thing has the squint, jawline and ruddiness of a real he-man. Hmmm... big guns, huh? Well, fire away!
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Yet another by Llewellyn Hollingsworthy (Lyal H. Stevens).
Naked Rebel
Author: Llewellyn Hollingsworthy
Cover Art: Robert Bonfils
Oh, dear... another possible case of cultural insensitivity. I don't know. But, we mustn't be wary of diving in. So... Mandingo? Culturally insensitive? A simple Google search and you'll have an answer. Romanticizing or sexualizing plantation era slavery is simply a no-go, due to the power imbalance. If I were to read such a book, I would struggle with myself throughout with questions regarding the author's intent and that internal battle would destroy the purpose of the book. There would be no spank in that bank.
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Phil Andros (philandros - greek, meaning 'loving her husband') aka Phil Sparrow is a pseudonym for Samuel Morris Steward. Check him out!
Born in Ohio on July 3, 1909, Steward grew up to attend Ohio State University in Columbus, where he then taught English as a university fellow.
Steward would go on to teach at Carroll College in Helena, MT and The State College of Washington. He was fired from his teaching position at the latter school due to his sympathetic and humorous portrayal of a prostitute in his comic novel Angels on the Bough. That is when he moved to Chicago, where he taught at Loyola University and then, DePaul University.
Throughout his life, Steward kept meticulous notes regarding his sexual habits and dalliances. In 1949, he met Alfred Kinsey, founder of the Institute for Sex Research. Steward became an 'unofficial' contributor to the center, offering up his detailed personal sexual history, donating sexually-themed items to the institute's archives, and his polaroid picture collection depicting scenes from gay male orgies that took place at his apartment. He also introduced Kinsey to a number of sexually active men in Chicago who would serve as sources to further the institute's research. Steward looked upon Kinsey as a mentor, frequently referring to him as 'Dr. Prometheus' (a god-like bringer of enlightenment to humankind). Steward allowed Kinsey to photograph his sexually-themed apartment and film a BDSM sex scene Steward had with Mike Miksche (New York erotic artist, Steve Masters). Steward also donated a large amount of drawings, paintings and objects du art that Steward, himself, had created.
The Tattoo Joynt
During this time, he and Kinsey remained close. Steward once described Kinsey as "as approachable as a park bench". At Kinsey's urging, Steward continued to keep fastidious records regarding his sexual trysts, going so far as to create a card catalog he referred to as the "Stud File", sharing the information with Kinsey to further his research.
Things changed dramatically for Steward in 1966, thanks to changes in American publishing laws. He was finally able to publish a series of stories he created from his 'Stud Files', in the form of a book call $TUD.
A change in venue (San Francisco) came about, thanks to The Hells Angels, who tapped Steward as their official tattoo artist. Steward specialized in a type of Japanese-style tattooing, a love of which he would share with the artists he mentored, such as Cliff Raven and Ed Hardy. He would retire from tattooing in 1970, writing a social history of the art form entitled, Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos.
Renegade Hustler
Author: Phil Andros
Cover Art: Robert Bonfils
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John Sutherland (not to be confused with the other nine writers with the same name) has two credits in the genre, this and Paul's Coming Out.
Unnatural Father
Author: John Sutherland
Cover Art: Robert Bonfils
I am confused. Which one is the father? Or is this why father is considered unnatural? Because he has his bearded buddy over, lounging around in next to nothing? Oh, so many questions. Why do you torture us so, Robert Bonfils? Well, one thing is certain. That dude's hair is perfection.
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Not much is known about Carl Driver, except... he did write on both sides of the fence! My favorite title of his? Probably the hetero novel, A Heel is Born. By the way, you can get an e-book of one of his titles - Made With Clay for $2.99 on Barnes and Nobles site. Why? I dunno.
The Soldier Boys
Author: Carl Driver
Cover Art: Unknown
Hee, hee. Don't worry son... he's got your back! Oh, dear... what we have here is yet another WWII romance. I don't think Nazi death camps make for the sexiest of backdrops, do you? Yet, this sub-genre persists. Given that? This is one odd cover. I can see why Robert Bonfils and Savage passed on this one.
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Well, that's it for Phase IV. We just have eight books to go for this imprint. Yes... Phase V of the rebranding only lasted for eight books and then they shuttered this imprint. It has been a long haul with this one, but then it is the Greenleaf Classics imprint with the most gay titles.
Did you like what you saw? Did I get something wrong? Let me know in the comments section.
Until next week...
Thank you for reading.
Soldier Boy - The Shirelles
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3 comments:
Oh, this one was juicy!
I laughed out loud. Literally. Reading your comment on that shirt. It's pretty, though.. LOL
And Phil Andros had the most amazing chest ink! Yes! And he kept a diary and shared it with Kinsey? Rad.
XOXO
Your research is extensive and impressive.
Samuel actually lived not far from my house his in Berkeley. I live on Tenth near University & he on Ninth near University. I will figure out which little cottage he lived in. Thank you for the post.
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