Since we've been discussing the 'out of bounds' gay venues of the 1940s and 50s,
I thought I'd post about Bob Mizer's AMG (Athletic Model Guild) Studio.
AMG (note the fake grass)
http://www.bigkugels.com/content/AMGMizer.html
Surprisingly, his studio was located at his mother's residence in Los Angeles.
I finally found her address (along with Bob and his younger brother Joseph) in the 1942 L.A. City Directory.
lapl
Here mother Delia Mizer is listed just below the Athletic Model Guild in the 1956 directory.
1834 W. 11th Street today
GSV
...but what intrigued most about the AMG photographs was that many were taken on a rooftop, often with fake grass-like carpeting and faux rocks.
Here are some examples:
astro turf?
https://physiquepictorial.wordpress....c-model-guild/
in vivid color
https://physiquepictorial.wordpress....c-model-guild/
high rooftop walls (it's difficult to see, but the top of the wall is near his arms)
http://bobmizerfoundation.org/4h2z2o...nvufyc7meak8hg
At first I was perplexed & disappointed that 1834 W. 11th didn't have a roof-top that would accommodate these photographs.
until I looked again at Delia's address.
google_earth
I then noticed that the flat-roofed building next to 1834 W. 11th is located on the
same property.
google_earth
The flat-roof 'rental' seems to have built in front of the original garages for Delia's home. (the curb on 11th also shows this)
(the cement with squares makes it fairly obvious that this is one property)
I believe the spartan building next door is the location for these roof-top muscle fantasies.
In the 1942 directory Delia was listed as
h1834, while Bob and Joseph were at
r1834.
-so the
h meant home, and the
r meant rental? (you guys probably already knew this)
another example of the high wall
http://bobmizerfoundation.org/4h2z2o...nvufyc7meak8hg
with faux rocks
And here's the photograph with the most clues. (it's from a transparency...so there's a possibility it could be flipped)
I've been trying to locate the turret that appears behind the model.
-the other great clue is the utility pole (it's visible in the current street view), and the shadows along the wall. (a rather tall vent)
There are many turrets in the area (thanks to Bonnie Brae)
I've circled (what I consider) the location of these AMG photographs.
gsv
further on the same block of B. Brae
gsv
on 11th..
very close to the flat-roof building (the turret is difficult to see)
gsv
the shadow in this aerial shows that the perimeter wall was/is quite high. (I've marked it with an arrow)
-a few more examples...
roof-top
http://malemodelsvintagebeefcake.blo...9888955b6cad14
note where he's standing
http://malemodelsvintagebeefcake.blo...9888955b6cad14
and here is the 'key' photo
flipped. (so is this correct? at this point I've confused even myself
)
http://malemodelsvintagebeefcake.blo...9888955b6cad14
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