Douglas Juleff (1919-1999) was a talented physique photographer better known as Douglas of Detroit. Ten days ago I published one of his photos as part of a series on men in classic flexing poses. That was appropriate because Doug got his start doing mainstream bodybuilding magazine photos. He is better known for his full male nudes, though, and that let to a notorious raid by the Detroit Police in 1958. Mr. Juleff was beaten, his negatives and prints destroyed, and he was sent to prison. He never took up photography again after his release, even when male nudes became legal. His own father assisted the police. I can't even imagine what this hero went through.
Never forget those who paid a terrible price for our freedom to enjoy these images, and never forget that there are those who would still like to take it away.
And one cannot imagine his fate in prison at a time when gays were considered as sick individuals , with rough co-prisoners ? Horrible and his own father ? How possible ??
ReplyDeleteHad I been in Mr. Juleff's position my father would definitely have assisted the police. This type of parental cruelty is extremely common. Although I admit I'm curious as to how his father had the power to do this as Mr. Juleff was nearly 40 years old when he was arrested.
DeleteAnton, one account of the police raid I read said that Doug's father showed the police where some prints and negatives were located and even helped destroy them. Apparently, a family property was used by Doug to do his work, and thus the father's opportunity to "help."
DeleteIt happened in March of 1955 according to the Detroit Free Press.
DeleteIn that portrait of Douglas Juleff I see a sensitive artist. I can only imagine
Deletethe indignities he had to suffer and later in life become a recluse still scarred by the whole ordeal.
Fortunately, he got some recognition while still living. I believe he was given a retrospective gallery show and a dignified spread in a Detroit newspaper.
DeleteJe viens de terminer d'écrire un livre sur la base de l'histoire d'un homosexuel célèbre qui a été persécuté et même assassiné car il était homosexuel, Alan Turing. C'est 50 ans après sa mort que l'Angleterre l'a reconnu comme héros national. Il a contribué à anéantir le nazisme et a racourcir la guerre d'au moins 2 ans et sans doute évité qu'il y ai 2millions de morts supplémentaire...S vie a été un enfer, il est mort à un peu plus de 40 ans...tué par injection de cyanure chez lui.
ReplyDelete***************************
I just finished writing a book based on the story of a famous homosexual who was persecuted and even murdered because he was a homosexual, Alan Turing. It was 50 years after his death that England recognized him as a national hero. He helped to annihilate Nazism and shorten the war by at least 2 years and probably avoided that there were 2 million more deaths ... S life was a hell, he died at a little over 40 years ... killed by cyanide injection at home
Thanks for reminding us of Turing, Albert. There were so many who suffered needlessly.
DeleteMr Sottiaux , ce livre est-il disponible sur Amazon ou autre et quel est le titre ?
ReplyDeleteD'avance merci .
For those of you interested in a wonderful dramatization of Turing's sad, heroic story, check out "The Imitation Game" with Benedict Cumberbatch.
ReplyDeleteGood recommendation. Thanks!
DeleteWhat association, if any, did DOD have with Dave Martin? I thought that I read that the 2 of them may have worked together in some way.? That DOD sent Joe Marcy to Martin to photograph. Do you know anything about this?
DeleteNot aware of any link between those two, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
DeleteDouglas Juleff est incomparable. L'eclairage et le contraste creent une telle ambiance a chaque image. Les modeles qu'il a choises etaient exceptionelles dans leur masculinite. La finesse que Monsieur Juleff avait avec un appareil photo fait de lui en veritable artiste de l'image. On serait fier de poser pour un tel artiste photographe. J'ai regarde ses images sur votre page et elles sont TOUTES superbes.
ReplyDeleteGentilhomme a Paris
Doug Juleff was a true artist whose skill was transformative of the genre.
DeleteUn artiste photographe sans exception.
DeleteJ'aurais adore poser nue pour lui et etre sa muse amicale. Poser pour lui aurait ete un honneur. Horrible comment il a ete trait en 1958, si j'avais ete la, j'aurais protege cet homme doux.
Gentilhomme a Paris