Followers

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Dick Dene by Request


I had an anonymous request a few weeks ago for a series on Dick Dene, and the only question that occurred to me was why I hadn't thought of it myself.  He signed on with Bruce of LA in 1961, and appears to have had about four sessions with him between then and 1965 when he did a short posing strap movie called "Cowboy Washup."  Some stills from that film appeared the same year in Manual magazine.  We start today's series with Dick on his horse, as mentioned in the request.  From what I've pieced together, it seems that Bruce took some frontal nudes of Dick in cowboy gear that weren't part of either the movie or the magazine piece, but were privately distributed or saved for later.

 

10 comments:

  1. I guess he looks so grim because that horsehair is scratching his magnificent maleness.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Jerry. It was my suggestion to feature Dick Dene so thank you so much for this wonderful series of photos. I presume that this picture was taken at the same time as the Cowboy Wash-Up film - although he's not nude in that. Big Dude may be right as to why he's not smiling here! One thing I felt from watching the film is how natural he looks as a cowboy but given your background you're much better placed than me to comment on whether or not he measures up in the saddle. Clearly he measures up everywhere else! Thanks again, Peter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Peter! It was a great pleasure to put this series together, and you're more than welcome. As for my opinion on Mr. Dene's possible real life cowboy skills, lets just say that he looks a lot more authentic than 95% of the other models one sees in this motif.

      Delete
  3. Hi Jerry. Pleased to hear that you enjoyed putting this series together. Needless to say, I love it and was impressed by the number and range of photos you found. I agree that Mr. Dene looks more authentic and natural as a cowboy than most models in this particular motif.

    I wondered if you or anybody else has any more information about Dick Dene? In an earlier post somebody mentioned that he was born in the USA but grew up in Beirut through his Lebanese parentage before returning to America to "have a fling at a showbiz career".You also mentioned a rumour that he had a bit part in 'From Here to Eternity' but couldn't find any evidence of this. Intriguing stuff and I'm curious to find out more. I appreciate, however,that there is often little or no information about the personal and later lives of many of the models featured here.

    Thanks again for your work on this wonderful site. Peter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, my other hobby is genealogy, and I have access to some pretty good vital statistic and other databases. All I could find on anyone with a name that might work was a Richard R. Dene who married twice in Los Angeles, 1960 and 1968. The appearance in 'From Here to Eternity' may have been as an extra or walk through, and as such wouldn't appear on the usual movie websites, where you and I have both apparently looked. I really appreciate your kind comments on the blog.

      Delete
  4. I remember from previous posts that your other hobby is genealogy. I guess the dates and location for Richard R. Dene could be a possibility but it's probably nigh on impossible and very time consuming to follow up on. As 'From Here to Eternity' was released in 1953, there is quite a gap until his photo work from 1961 onwards so his 'showbiz career' must have been very low-key or never took off. At least we have his glorious photos and the Cowboy Wash-Up film to enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. If I had owned a movie studio back then, Dick Dene would have been in everything I could put him in ... on and off set.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can see it flash across the screen now . . . "A Douresseaux Production featuring Dick Dene." Actually sounds pretty good.

      Delete