"My Hustler"
Andy Warhol, 1965
(film still)
[Considered one of Warhol’s ‘sex-ploitative’ films that made the underground circuit in the late 60’s- also what the New York times reviewed as a “a typical Warhol rendering of a homosexual strip-tease with words” It was shot on Fire Island, New York in the Summer of 1965 and features Paul America who plays the tall, blonde, and handsome protagonist shown in the photo. Strangely, the lead star himself was not even made aware of what the film was about before filming. The feature was shot in one day and America claims to have been on the drug LCD the entire time. Surprisingly the film garnered some popularity despite being premiered in seedy venues (like the Hudson Theater with predominately male audiences) whereby theater ushers would patrol venues shining flash-lights on the viewers’ crotches to ensure they weren’t masturbating. My Hustler had relative commercial success considering the production cost of $500 (which was coincidentally the same amount of money Paul America was compensated for). Later he would get $1,000 in small installments for his contribution after soliciting the elusive and seemingly oblivious Warhol for more money. Two sequels, My Hustler: In Apartment and My Hustler: Ingrid, were filmed but never released.]
Andy Warhol, 1965
(film still)
[Considered one of Warhol’s ‘sex-ploitative’ films that made the underground circuit in the late 60’s- also what the New York times reviewed as a “a typical Warhol rendering of a homosexual strip-tease with words” It was shot on Fire Island, New York in the Summer of 1965 and features Paul America who plays the tall, blonde, and handsome protagonist shown in the photo. Strangely, the lead star himself was not even made aware of what the film was about before filming. The feature was shot in one day and America claims to have been on the drug LCD the entire time. Surprisingly the film garnered some popularity despite being premiered in seedy venues (like the Hudson Theater with predominately male audiences) whereby theater ushers would patrol venues shining flash-lights on the viewers’ crotches to ensure they weren’t masturbating. My Hustler had relative commercial success considering the production cost of $500 (which was coincidentally the same amount of money Paul America was compensated for). Later he would get $1,000 in small installments for his contribution after soliciting the elusive and seemingly oblivious Warhol for more money. Two sequels, My Hustler: In Apartment and My Hustler: Ingrid, were filmed but never released.]
"Flesh"
Andy Warhol 1968
(film still)
[“Flesh”, another of Warhol’s underground sexploitative films, features Joe Dallesandro (seen in the screen still above with baby), whose character turns tricks as a bisexual prostitute in order to pay for his wife’s girlfriend’s abortion. Warhol also casted two popular transvestites, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis, whom he had met on the streets for the film. Flesh was filmed in the Greenwich Village, NYC apartments during the weekends of August and September of 1968 with a production cost of 1,500.00 dollars. It premiered in London at The Open Space theater on January 15, 1970 to the reception of mostly negative reviews. Flesh was not well received in America and England (where it was censored), but garnered popularity in Germany- being among the top 5 grossing movies of 1970. The popularity of the film there lead to Warhol recasting Dallesandro in 3 more films, “Four Stars, "Trash", and Heat” in which gratuitous, full frontal scenes were displayed- taboo for it’s time. Dallesandro today regards the films as beyond their time, which explored topics mainstream cinema would never cover, such as male prostitution and sexuality. On that topic he maintains “Your sexuality is for yourself, not for the public, for you to enjoy”.]
Andy Warhol 1968
(film still)
[“Flesh”, another of Warhol’s underground sexploitative films, features Joe Dallesandro (seen in the screen still above with baby), whose character turns tricks as a bisexual prostitute in order to pay for his wife’s girlfriend’s abortion. Warhol also casted two popular transvestites, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis, whom he had met on the streets for the film. Flesh was filmed in the Greenwich Village, NYC apartments during the weekends of August and September of 1968 with a production cost of 1,500.00 dollars. It premiered in London at The Open Space theater on January 15, 1970 to the reception of mostly negative reviews. Flesh was not well received in America and England (where it was censored), but garnered popularity in Germany- being among the top 5 grossing movies of 1970. The popularity of the film there lead to Warhol recasting Dallesandro in 3 more films, “Four Stars, "Trash", and Heat” in which gratuitous, full frontal scenes were displayed- taboo for it’s time. Dallesandro today regards the films as beyond their time, which explored topics mainstream cinema would never cover, such as male prostitution and sexuality. On that topic he maintains “Your sexuality is for yourself, not for the public, for you to enjoy”.]
"Self Portrait" (In Drag)
Andy Warhol 1981
Photography /polaroid print
[This image is one of many in a drag or ‘alter ego’ polaroid series created between Andy Warhol and Christopher Makos. Warhol often enjoyed dressing for parties (such as Studio 54) in drag, and on several occasions, in his own designs. He also appreciated "the boys who spend their lives trying to be complete girls” (Or transsexual women). He was also fascinated with the “diva” archetype that embodied Hollywood glamour (such as in the starlets Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, and Liz Taylor). On the series Warhol has remarked in “Popism” (an autobiographical publication), “this is who I am but this is (also) what I can look like”. In “The Philosophy of Andy” he has also said, “I always hear myself saying 'she’s a beauty or he’s a beauty!’...but I honestly don’t know what beauty is.” His collaborator, Makos, (who Warhol regarded as the most modern photographer in America) has commented on the series, “It was important not to alter the body to support visually the ambiguity. It had nothing to do with transsexuality. There were hand gestures but the power is in the gaze and its not related to drag queens or drag aesthetic.” Putting these images in a social context, many have was speculated that Warhol (in his latter years) was self conscious of his own image (in particular his skin having owned a plethora of beauty products). Additionally, being surrounded by “all the young kids just budding” in a youth and beauty-centric environment may have had some bearing on the photographs.]
Andy Warhol 1981
Photography /polaroid print
[This image is one of many in a drag or ‘alter ego’ polaroid series created between Andy Warhol and Christopher Makos. Warhol often enjoyed dressing for parties (such as Studio 54) in drag, and on several occasions, in his own designs. He also appreciated "the boys who spend their lives trying to be complete girls” (Or transsexual women). He was also fascinated with the “diva” archetype that embodied Hollywood glamour (such as in the starlets Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, and Liz Taylor). On the series Warhol has remarked in “Popism” (an autobiographical publication), “this is who I am but this is (also) what I can look like”. In “The Philosophy of Andy” he has also said, “I always hear myself saying 'she’s a beauty or he’s a beauty!’...but I honestly don’t know what beauty is.” His collaborator, Makos, (who Warhol regarded as the most modern photographer in America) has commented on the series, “It was important not to alter the body to support visually the ambiguity. It had nothing to do with transsexuality. There were hand gestures but the power is in the gaze and its not related to drag queens or drag aesthetic.” Putting these images in a social context, many have was speculated that Warhol (in his latter years) was self conscious of his own image (in particular his skin having owned a plethora of beauty products). Additionally, being surrounded by “all the young kids just budding” in a youth and beauty-centric environment may have had some bearing on the photographs.]