The Men of Old Reliable

[creoleblanche]

This topic is very old school, vintage, retro, etc. I don't really have a sense of how widespread the cult status and/or knowledge of the work of David Hurles is. I won't go into the whole history and description of his genre here. Easy to Google, but in a nutshell, Hurles "documented" the hustlers, ex-cons, & general low-lifes of L.A. in mostly the 80s, but into the 90s. He must have done thousands of photographs, video tapes, & audio tapes of hundreds of guys over many years. A handful, who appeared multiple times in Hurles' work, became "underground legends", & made it clear that they were available and could be reached through Old Reliable, which meant sending a letter to O.R.'s P.O.Box in L.A. Or you could probably track them down at hustler bars, or on the street where trade would hang out.

 

My question is, if anyone out there ever had the pleasure of meeting any of these folks back in the day. Of particular interest would be, CHAMP!, (Gentleman) Dan, Rick (of I, Rick), & Springer. I know we lost Champ long ago, but I would also be curious if anyone knows what became of these or any other O.R. men.

'

[+ Hoover42]

I was a big fan of David Hurles' work back in the day and bought dozens of his VHS and audio tapes; all of which, except one audio tape, now long gone.

 

Never did get to meet any of the guys though.

[+ PapaTony]

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http://vintageoldreliable.blogspot.com/?zx=ead07647a101f714

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[Pepper Young]

I loved those guys! Back in those pre-Internet days, I would whack off to them all day long. Ah, misty, water-colored memories of the way we were...

[+ robear]

Hurles was friends with fellow-traveler Bob Mizer (Athletic Model Guild) and often shared models. I, too, have often wondered what happened to some of those guys. I still pine for crazy "Pete Kreig" (who, if still alive, is now in his seventies).

[bobchitown]

Hurles was friends with fellow-traveler Bob Mizer (Athletic Model Guild) and often shared models. I, too, have often wondered what happened to some of those guys. I still pine for crazy "Pete Kreig" (who, if still alive, is now in his seventies).

 

I'd forgotten about old reliable. My first thought was to wonder if they were related to AMG in some way and they are? Mizer started off with homo-erotic pics but in an R rated way to keep ahead of the the censors. Over time the barriers fell and first we got demure frontals and later raging hard on. Much of AMG has been republished, in three volumes, I think. Likely now out of print.

[creoleblanche]

I was a big fan of David Hurles' work back in the day and bought dozens of his VHS and audio tapes; all of which, except one audio tape, now long gone.

 

Never did get to meet any of the guys though.

 

I bought quite a few too. Transferred to DVDs years ago along with everything else I had. Just too much to lug around. Still have them, & tapes too. Most tapes not so great, but a couple are fantastic. Still have the catalogues also. If I get a response from anyone who ever met any of the guys, I'll be really surprised, but doesn't hurt to ask. Thanks for responding.

[Tonyko]

I met the very short blonde dude pictured in the very last catologue page under OUT OF ORDER VT208 print too small to read his name, guy in the first two photos on the L, VERY cute little blonde muscleboy, when I met him he was in a band, real headbanger music, and had huge blonde curly hair and a mullett (sic). He had done some posing for a guy I knew who sold photos to bookstores that had "priv" photos for sale, he took me to see the dude's band he was in. (in LA, The Valley, late 80's ish) My friend said he was str8 but would let dude's suck his dick for enough $$.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xr6Glm-0phg/VE1BtLqlEWI/AAAAAAAAGXc/8Z2vufMWf-0/s1600/C2+-+PG56.jpg

DIRK CALDWELL I just his name witten bigger in another photo.

[creoleblanche]

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http://vintageoldreliable.blogspot.com/?zx=ead07647a101f714

.

 

I check in periodically

[creoleblanche]

Hurles was friends with fellow-traveler Bob Mizer (Athletic Model Guild) and often shared models. I, too, have often wondered what happened to some of those guys. I still pine for crazy "Pete Kreig" (who, if still alive, is now in his seventies).

 

David Hurles/Old Reliable should have a Foundation like Athletic Model Guild

[creoleblanche]

I met the very short blonde dude pictured in the very last catologue page under OUT OF ORDER VT208 print too small to read his name, guy in the first two photos on the L, VERY cute little blonde muscleboy, when I met him he was in a band, real headbanger music, and had huge blonde curly hair and a mullett (sic). He had done some posing for a guy I knew who sold photos to bookstores that had "priv" photos for sale, he took me to see the dude's band he was in. (in LA, The Valley, late 80's ish) My friend said he was str8 but would let dude's suck his dick for enough $$.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xr6Glm-0phg/VE1BtLqlEWI/AAAAAAAAGXc/8Z2vufMWf-0/s1600/C2+-+PG56.jpg

DIRK CALDWELL I just his name witten bigger in another photo.

 

Dirk Caldwell, aka Keith Panther, aka Eric Dahl did quite a few videos other than Old Reliable. He got more buff as he got older. I think he was actually pretty open sexually. I always had a big crush on him. Just missed an opportunity to hire him when he was dancing at the Show Palace in NYC. He already had an appointment set up after the show. Regret not going back another night. You should check out his vids. Their really pretty hot.

[+ Timsbud]

This topic is very old school, vintage, retro, etc. I don't really have a sense of how widespread the cult status and/or knowledge of the work of David Hurles is. I won't go into the whole history and description of his genre here. Easy to Google, but in a nutshell, Hurles "documented" the hustlers, ex-cons, & general low-lifes of L.A. in mostly the 80s, but into the 90s. He must have done thousands of photographs, video tapes, & audio tapes of hundreds of guys over many years. A handful, who appeared multiple times in Hurles' work, became "underground legends", & made it clear that they were available and could be reached through Old Reliable, which meant sending a letter to O.R.'s P.O.Box in L.A. Or you could probably track them down at hustler bars, or on the street where trade would hang out.

 

My question is, if anyone out there ever had the pleasure of meeting any of these folks back in the day. Of particular interest would be, CHAMP!, (Gentleman) Dan, Rick (of I, Rick), & Springer. I know we lost Champ long ago, but I would also be curious if anyone knows what became of these or any other O.R. men.

'

 

One of my all-time favorites from Old Reliable was Springer - handsome, hunky blond body, sexually both a tease and a showoff, photos and videos over the years from a curly mophead to a crewcut junior executive type, great equipment, did wrestling and showoff posing. Never met him, but even today, I find him very arousing. Recently found Ray Dragon SuperSite has a number of his videos, and a blog of photos over the years of this stud was created http://vintageoldreliable.blogspot.com/2014/05/springer-anthony.html?zx=dc5541c4802f11b5. Guess by now (his work was apparently mostly in the late 1980's- early 1990's) he has "matured" significantly - hope he has found a satisfying life.

[Blade9]

I met with a few of them. Some for years. Don't remember what names they went by. Found out about Old Reliable years after I had met them. Very surprised when I saw them in the videos. Threw those out years ago. Dumped all of my porn, the DVD's and VHS. Crazy, huh?

 

Blade

[+ Tygerscent]

There was a guy I came to know named John Palatinus~ I did a photography/performance arts show with him @ Rick Castro's Antebellum Gallery~

John was of east coast origins but, retired in Palm Springs~ He did male physique photography and those boys were listed in some publications with codes at the bottom describing what there personal interests, skills, services were for potential Clients~

To connect with the boys, you had to inquire thru a special representing agent~

I don't know the full details~

It was semi-underground and eventually the FBI confiscated those publications as well as most of John's photography work~ Much of that gay history was destroyed, unfortunately~

He was an awesome guy and you might enjoy reading up on him and seeing if there are some references to the gentleman your mention above~

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2014/09/26/photographer-john-palatinus-dies/16295811/

 

Tyger~

Tygerkink@yahoo.com

971.400.2633 (phone calls must be scheduled in advance thru texting or email. thx)

https://rent.men/AAATygerscentXXX

http://www.daddysreviews.com/venue/usa/oregon/tyger_portland

[body2body]

Oh Lord, does his thread bring back memories. I had Old Reliable tapes too. Back in the late 80s (maybe the early 90s), I was looking for a "fun massage" and found an ad in Frontiers. There was no photo, just a description. I called the phone number and set up an appointment. I arrived at the apartment in Hollywood knocked on the door, and when it opened there was Eric Ryan standing there in a jock strap. I had a couple of Old Reliable wrestling tapes with him. The rate he quoted for the massage was $60, low even then. As the massage went on I inquired if he was open to more. He was, he said it would cost 80 to be more interactive. I saw him for about a year, and then the phone was disconnected.

Nostalgia.

http://vintageoldreliable.blogspot.com/2014/04/eric-ryan.html

[+ Charlie]

Oh Lord, does his thread bring back memories. I had Old Reliable tapes too. Back in the late 80s (maybe the early 90s), I was looking for a "fun massage" and found an ad in Frontiers. There was no photo, just a description. I called the phone number and set up an appointment. I arrived at the apartment in Hollywood knocked on the door, and when it opened there was Eric Ryan standing there in a jock strap. I had a couple of Old Reliable wrestling tapes with him. The rate he quoted for the massage was $60, low even then. As the massage went on I inquired if he was open to more. He was, he said it would cost 80 to be more interactive. I saw him for about a year, and then the phone was disconnected.

Nostalgia.

http://vintageoldreliable.blogspot.com/2014/04/eric-ryan.html

OMG! I hired Eric Ryan in NYC exactly 30 years ago next month. I have never seen those photos before (the brown plaid Old Reliable couch is a talisman of authenticity). He was one of the 3 or 4 sexiest men I ever hired, and the only one who ever called me the next morning and invited me to come back over to his place for breakfast. Unfortunately, he later became a mess from drugs, and made some sleazy films that were painful to watch.

[Tonyko]

OMG! I hired Eric Ryan in NYC exactly 30 years ago next month. I have never seen those photos before (the brown plaid Old Reliable couch is a talisman of authenticity). He was one of the 3 or 4 sexiest men I ever hired, and the only one who ever called me the next morning and invited me to come back over to his place for breakfast. Unfortunately, he later became a mess from drugs, and made some sleazy films that were painful to watch.

As a teen I had an older BF who lived in the W70's west of Columbus av there was a Deli (chain, they're still around, a guy's name, Dave's ? Deli) on the corner and I used to see him in there ALL the time, running in and out. (once, hand to God, he ran in just for a giant tub of vasoline lol) Did he live around there?

[+ Charlie]

He lived on W. 74th between CPW and Columbus.

[Tonyko]

He lived on W. 74th between CPW and Columbus.

SAME as the guy I was seeing! Makes sense why I oft saw him there. (sadly he's no longer with us I believe correct?)

[+ Charlie]

Correct. He would be 70 if he were still alive.

[creoleblanche]

One of my all-time favorites from Old Reliable was Springer - handsome, hunky blond body, sexually both a tease and a showoff, photos and videos over the years from a curly mophead to a crewcut junior executive type, great equipment, did wrestling and showoff posing. Never met him, but even today, I find him very arousing. Recently found Ray Dragon SuperSite has a number of his videos, and a blog of photos over the years of this stud was created http://vintageoldreliable.blogspot.com/2014/05/springer-anthony.html?zx=dc5541c4802f11b5. Guess by now (his work was apparently mostly in the late 1980's- early 1990's) he has "matured" significantly - hope he has found a satisfying life.

 

I remember reading somewhere on the net, referring to his life when he was still doing OR vids & there after, that he was happily married, and a great dad. This would have been a long time ago, but given the histories of most of the men Hurles filmed, it was nice to hear. In one of the audio tapes he did, he openly admitted that he was bisexual. He sure blew my skirt up too.

[creoleblanche]

I'd forgotten about old reliable. My first thought was to wonder if they were related to AMG in some way and they are? Mizer started off with homo-erotic pics but in an R rated way to keep ahead of the the censors. Over time the barriers fell and first we got demure frontals and later raging hard on. Much of AMG has been republished, in three volumes, I think. Likely now out of print.

 

Mizer & Hurles knew each other well & shared quite a few models. Their styles, of course, were very different, almost opposite. AMG actually has a foundation preserving all of Mizer's work. Many have been remastered and can be purchased from their site.Hurles deserves the same, imo. I'm glad Ray Dragon, I assume, now owns the rights, but the films they offer seem to trickle out. There are mountains of works over such a long time. It's such an important part of gay erotica, I hope someday his work will have an org like Mizer's as stewards of his collection.

[creoleblanche]

He lived on W. 74th between CPW and Columbus.

 

If it was in the late 80s, that's where I lived a few blocks away. I do remember seeing adds somewhere, & he was on the Robin Byrd show sometimes. HA, Robin Byrd, now there's a memory. Loved that show. Actually, she gave out the # in the studio, & you could call to "speak with" the performers. Those were the days.

[creoleblanche]

Curious how any of you discovered Old Reliable. Speaking of memories, I first saw the tapes when I moved to the West Village about 1990. For you New Yorkers, does anybody remember Mrs. Hudson's on Hudson and Perry, Charles, 10th St? Their video library was huge. I can't even guess how many hours I spent in there looking through the binders. Oh lawd.

[Tonyko]

Curious how any of you discovered Old Reliable. Speaking of memories, I first saw the tapes when I moved to the West Village about 1990. For you New Yorkers, does anybody remember Mrs. Hudson's on Hudson and Perry, Charles, 10th St? Their video library was huge. I can't even guess how many hours I spent in there looking through the binders. Oh lawd.

 

I'm hoping this will jog someone's MEMORY lol I used to go to this bookstore right on Hudson, this was when I was a teen, in the back they had these big glass showcases filled with like shoe boxes of private photos you could paw thru ask for a specific box to look thru and buy pics for like 50 cents or a buck each, polaroids and reg photos etc multiples of each, all young dudes posing naked etc.

I had a buddy a kid he was like 17 and I always had my brother's (then photo-les) school ID that said I was 17 but I was actually 15. this was '85-86'. Don't even remember how I met him, i think just on the street, but we would hang out I suspect he was homeless, prolly a hustler on the side, he'd panhandle for cigarette money etc, I was fortunate in that my parents always gave me spending money (so did my grandparents) so I was always buying him smokes or clean socks, or feeding him at that old coffee shop The Pink Teacup with those great old black southern lady waitressess, he was from the South he told me and he turned me on to Grits there which I'd never had, he'd eat like 3 meals at once suppose he never knew when he'd eat again.

Anyway I'd always noticed that many of the photos in those boxes seemed to be taken in the SAME place (ala O.R) same couch and often the dudes were even sitting on the SAME towels lol, and this bud tells me the guy who takes the photos pays young dudes like 60 bucks a shitload of money back then lol, and he lived (can't remember) either right above the bookshop or right near there. He said HE was going to go pose for him and did I want to come with, maybe even pose myself for the $$. *I also remember him telling me the guy was "gross" (his words) very obese or something. Long story short I said I WOULD go with him (I was way curious he looked like Matt Dillon so yah I wanted to see his junk lol) ) but I said I would not pose etc. BUT I pussied out, right inside the bldng lol. I was young lol. I waited on the street he was up there about an hour. Lost track of the buddy soon after that, looked for him a few times around the hood in the other coffee shops like Tiffany, even left a message on that board they had by the bathrooms there for messages and room mates etc but never heard from him again never found him so I've no idea what became of him.

I DID check out those boxes several times over the next few months for HIS photos but never saw any.

*I tried googling some of this but found nothing.

Anyone have ANY idea what I'm talking about lol???