George Platt Lynes (1907-1955) was an intimate of many of the gay writers and artists of Paris between the wars, such as Gertrude Stein, Thornton Wilder, Rene Crevel, and Jean Cocteau, as well as the gay literati of 1940s New York, such as Paul Cadmus, Jared French, and Gore Vidal.
He photographed any number of luminaries, many of them his lovers, as well as a stable of young musclemen, many of them his lovers, too.
But his most beautiful and homoerotic photos were taken in 1943, featuring the lithe, muscular, very well hung Charles "Buddy" Stanly.
Most involve a partner, Charles "Tex" Smutney.
We are told nothing more about them except they were gymnasts, and sexologist Alfred Kinsey expressed surprise that they never got erections, in spite of their intimate poses. In his memoirs, Lynes' lover, novelist Glenway Wescott notes that they did get erections, off camera.
Who were these icons of homoerotic art?
I find no further mention of Buddy Stanley, but Charles Smutney moved far afield from Texas, to become a choreographer and dance instructor at Smith College in Massachusetts.
All we have are the photographs, a memory of a long-ago summer day
