David Hurles (aka Old Reliable), a longtime friend of AMG, needs your help. Last October, David suffered a massive stroke, rendering him unable to speak, eat, or even breath on his own. He has improved greatly since, but is still unable live independently. To contribute to David’s recovery, and maintain his archives, a group of David’s friends have established the Old Reliable Fund – a blog, where you can donate to David’s recovery, and keep track of his progress, and an online store, where you can buy original vintage fiber prints of such Old Reliable (and AMG) favorites as Tico Patterson, Powerful Pierre, Little Phil and big Mike Adams.
Old Reliable and AMG shared many a model in the early days of hardcore pornography. While Bob Mizer always claimed to be an artists, not a pornographer, David considered himself the exact opposite. However, today, as we look back on the history of the gay community, David’s photographs of California’s street trade take on an entirely new importance. They trace the underground world of the gay sex trade through the Stonewall riots, the sexual revolution, the AIDs epidemic, and finally the birth of the digital age. Whether he likes it or not, David’s work is now far more than mere pornography. So make your way over to the Old Reliable Store, and get your hands on a piece of historical rough trade.
I have been a fan of Dave Hurles since the late 70s.
I am a huge wrestling and boxing fan, so naked matches with
young combatants are a must for me
I have sent Dave models and talk to him on the phone several times
in the 80s. I found him one of the most unique photographers of the era.
He was among the first to get his models to shave their pubes, chomp on
cigars, before interviews and matches. Dave smoothly mixed all races and
classes into quality books and movies He brought ‘rough trade’ to the
mainstream in an intelligent, erotic style
I suggested he should do winner fucks loser matches, but at that time he
felt that might border on rape if not played out right. I said that if
the scenes came out that way, don’t release them.
To this day I am not sure if he ever used this theme, but I thank him
for the break thru work he did. No one photographed or interviewed
rough trade better than he did.
Jeez… I remember the Old Reliable name from when I was first coming out in the late 70’s! Who could forget images of Phil, for one. And Tico Patterson, Mike Adams, Wolf, and the rest.
If there is anything that I can do to help preserve the archive, please feel free to contact me. Preserving our gay photographic past is of utmost importance to me and I would be willing to help in any way I am able.
Thank you
Bareback Jack
Los Angeles
The online store you mentioned doesn’t have too much to offer.
I’d like to download photos and films directly from his website and I’m sure that a lot of other gay men would, too.
Is this possible? There are many men out there like myself who appreciate rough trade and what Dave has done.
Get back to me at your convenience.
thanks,
rrready@comcast.net