Foto- & Videocopyright: Fraser Watson
John Palatinus is one of the few surviving leaders in the fight for the freedom to
disseminate gayphotography and art during the 1950's and 60's. He is a legendary
photographer from an era now called the Golden Age of Physique Photography. At that
time in America, it was illegal to send even seminude photographs through the U.S.
Mail. From 1954 to 1959, Palatinus worked in his studios in Northern Indiana and
New York City, photographing young male bodybuilders. His photographs were
published in numerous bodybuilding magazines of the era, most notably Tomorrow's
Man, a pocket-sized publication featuring males with posing straps or other coveringsfor
their privates. In early 1959 his now classic photographs were driven from the market
by zealous US Postal Inspectors aided by the New York Police Department. in highly-
publicized raids. All of John's his cameras, equipment, photographs, negatives, and
mailing lists were confiscated and never returned. Now, after more than half a century,
his almostforgotten work has been re-discovered, thanks to the work of archivist and
curator of vintage physique photography Alan Harmon.
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