Joe Leitel

Joe Leitel was another popular beefcake model of the 1950's less massive than the typical bodybuilders. He was photographed by most - if not, all - of the famous photographers. I suspect some of these images were taken by Pat Milo, but haven't identified them as such because I'm not certain.

I do know the image of him and Don Hawksley sharing a moment in a bathroom was taken by the Athletic Model Guild, as was the tinted image of him leaning against the roof wall of the Athletic Model Guild's original studio.

Bruce of Los Angeles took the photograph of Joe wearing white briefs and leaning back, as well as the one of him resting his hand on the white column.

In literature, I make no distinction between erotica and pornography - it is all porn to me - but I do believe there is a very clear line separating images of adult nudes from images of aroused adults engaged in sexual behavior.

After Bob Mizer's death, I briefly worked at the Athletic Model Guild and just missed meeting in person Joe Leitel, who returned to the studio nearly five decades after his photographs were taken. He was thoroughly, happily heterosexual and thought doing nude photography was fun and no big deal. I find it humorous that most of the nude images I have found of him are of him aroused.