In the 1970s a number of well known male nude models and porn stars, both current and future, appeared in Mandate magazine. Some of the work of the best and most artistic photographers
of male nudes also appeared there. The publication's reputation for intellectual content
faded over the years, and it eventually became mainly a purveyor of racy images.
The issue from October of 1977 above is an example from its best days
with the cover promoting pieces on Von Gloeden, Andy Warhol,
and Vincent Price as Oscar Wilde. The handsome, hairy cover
man is Shon Dudas, and today is Mandate day.
George Mavety was the publisher of Mandate and other gay mags. Esquire did a story about the rise and fall of his publishing empire, the article can be read through the Hot Type Club website….:)
ReplyDeleteIt was the gay mans Playboy, intellectual articles, good photography etc. Over the years it succumbed to just nude layouts and not much more. Too bad, it was a great mag for the lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteArticles have been written about the descent of Mandate from being first rate into being just another nudie mag.
DeleteMandate was a great magazine at its beginning, in a way it was like a companion and continuation of After Dark magazine. Then gradually over the years Mandate went downhill with content and changes in public tastes or lack there of.
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