Ted Starkowski

Although his photographic modeling for PaJaMa with Chuck Howard is perhaps better known, 

Ted Starkowski did pose for George Platt Lynes.  I think this is from 1953.

Ted by Paul

This drawing of a reclining Ted Starkowski by Paul Cadmus is from the early 1950s.

 

Through the spindles

This one brings some interesting thoughts to mind.

 

Together

And here are Ted and Chuck together.  I posted a similar photo of the two in the same spot in the stairwell a few years ago, but this one is different and more charming in a way.

 

Ted

This 1954 drawing was one of several Bernard Perlin did of Ted Starkowski.  Ted was involved with Mr. Perlin's ex, Chuck Howard at the time.  Between Bernard and Ted, Chuck was also involved romantically with George Platt Lynes.  Now that's an interesting love life.  And if that wassn't enough to keep them busy, all of these men were hobnobbing at the same time with the PaJaMa group of Jared French, Paul Cadmus, and Margaret Hoening French.

 

Ted and Chuck at Fire Island, Part 1 - Outdoors

Over the years I have posted several photos of Ted Starkowski and Chuck Howard together.  Today I am posting my entire collection in three parts.  The photos are said by some to have all been made in 1951, while others say they were made over the course of their tumultuous love affair from 1951 to 1953.  Whichever is correct, they are truly remarkable.  When they began their relationship, Ted had been modeling for George Platt Lynes and others for several years.  Chuck had initially been Bernard Perlin's lover, but when Mr. Perlin got a fellowship to study to Paris in 1950, he literally handed Chuck off to Mr. Lynes.  When they broke up in 1951, Chuck moved on to Ted.  Mr. Howard had an interesting life before and after Ted, and he will get his own series in the future.  Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these truly remarkable photos, even though several are repeats.  All are by PaJaMa.

 

Composition

I find this one to be beautifully composed.

 

A personal favorite

I have definitely posted this one before, and it's probably my favoriter of the whole group.

They both look as though they know their relationship is doomed, but they're hanging on.

  "We both know we're never gonna make it,

          But when we touch, we never have to fake it."

                                        Donnie Iris

 

Ted and Chuck, Part 2 - In the Bedroom

Our second grouping of photos of Ted Starkowski and Chuck Howard shows them in the bedroom at Fire Island.  I have arranged these from cool to hot, using the usual gay scale.

They start out looking at each other fully clothed.

 

Touching

Still fully clothed, Ted and Chuck are at least touching in this picture.

 

Warming up

The two lovers are out of their clothes and warming up.

 

Less tentative

This one is less tentative than the preceding,

and Ted is looking straight at us.

 

The kiss

Even something as benign as this could never have been published in 1951-53,

and that leaves me wondering who, if anybody, got to see these.

 

Hot and heavy

The photo which follows this one is a bit more risque',

but neither approaches anything we'd call pornography today.

 

Racy

Our final bedroom photo is about as racy as any of these photos get.

 

Ted and Chuck, Part 3 - The Stairwell

Most observers believe that all the photos of Ted Starkowski and Chuck Howard were made on Fire Island.  There are three shots made in a stairwell, however, that made me question that.  We usually think of Fire Island as a place of beach bungalows and cabins rather than two storey houses. 

Google is our friend, though, and there indeed were and are such houses on the beach.

 

Embrace

I have to be honest and say this shot looks a bit contrived.

 

Still interesting today

While their love affair didn't last, the social significance of these photos remains important.

Even in 1951, gay men were brave enought to have relationships

and to be beautifully photographed doing it.

 

Ted Starkowski

George Platt Lynes took this photo of Ted Starkowski around 1953.

 

Sleeping beauty(ies)

Throughout his long career, Paul Cadmus often used sleeping male nude subjects for his work.

This example makes me think Ted Starkowski might have been the model.