Today we have a two part series on the work of Clifford Oettinger, a Chicago based photographer whose work can be hard to find. Based on the sheer number of photos of him in Mr. Oettinger's portfolio, I'd say that Glenn Bishop was one of his favorite, or at least most willing, models. Part one is all Glenn, and no, you won't be seeing him in one of his Dorothy Lamour lookalike swimsuits.
How did Oettinger go about selling full frontal nudes ?
ReplyDeleteThey couldn’t in anyway be sent through the US mail or published.
Bellas would only sell them in private to trusted clients, did Oettinger do the same ?…:)
Probably private sales. I haven't been able to find any record of him having legal issues, so whatever he did was discreet.
DeleteBishop was “discovered” by Chicago gym owner and Tomorrow’s Man publisher Irv Johnson when Bishop was a 15 yo bodybuilder. Bishop’s photo (credited to Johnson) was used in the contents page of TM in Dec 1952. Bishop’s photos were used until Dec 1954 as he was a TM exclusive. Johnson introduced Bishop to photographers Oettinger and Juleff, as they both contributed photos to TM. Johnson sold off TM in 1955, and sold his gym to Chuck Renslow in 1958 when he moved to Hollywood and changed his name to Rheo Blair. There were questions about Bishop’s relationship to Johnson as Johnson let some of the younger bodybuilders live with him when they trained at his Chicago gym.
ReplyDeleteRex in DC
thanks! Titillating about Johnson!
DeleteI love this type of history. Would like to learn more about this period and scene. Is there a way to contact you, Rex in DC? I’m at bushnstache@gmail.com
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