Categories | Physique magazine |
---|---|
Format | digest |
Publisher | Gayboy Publishing |
First issue | July 1964 |
Final issue | July–August 1966 |
Country | Canada |
Based in | Toronto, Ontario |
OCLC | 65217138 |
TWO, subtitled The Homosexual Viewpoint in Canada, was a Toronto gay magazine published between 1964 and 1966. It combined physique photography with a variety of editorial content including articles, reviews of local gay nightlife, and fiction. TWO was one of Toronto's first gay magazines [1] (preceded by Gay by just a few months), and was among the first magazines to combine the pictorial content of the physique genre with overtly gay editorial content. [2]
The title is thought to be inspired by a supplement to the earlier homophile magazine ONE which used the same title as an initialism for "Truth Will Out". [3]
TWO was published by Gayboy Publishing (later renamed Kamp Publishing Company). Its location was listed as 457 Church Street, then the site of a club called the Melody Room in Toronto's gay village. [3] The magazine and club were both owned by Richard (Rick) Kerr, a Scottish-born entrepreneur. [3] Kerr also owned two physique studios, R.A. (Rik Art) Studios and Can-art Photographers, which provided much of the magazine's physique content. [1]
The first three issues were edited by Clifford Collier, under the pseudonym Claude Collier. The remaining eight were edited by Kerr, under the pseudonym Alex Edmond. [3] The magazine's final issue was dated July–August 1966. The Melody Room went out of business in the same year. [1]
The magazine was sold for 75 cents and mostly distributed through the Melody Room and the Music Room, another club owned by Kerr. [3]
Approximately half of the magazine's pages were devoted to physique photographs of teen models. [4] It increased its emphasis on physique photography following the departure of Collier as editor. [3] It did not feature frontal nudity; where necessary, genitals were obscured with inked-in posing pouches. [4] In addition to Kerr's R.A. and Can-art studios, the magazine featured photos from the studio of Frank Borck. [2] It sometimes included inserts showcasing the photos of a particular studio. [3]
Aside from physique photography, the magazine included a variety of editorial content including: [3]