From Trey Speegle’s post on WorldOfWonder.net:
James Bidgood revolutionized gay male erotic imagery by taking the pulp and glamour aesthetic of the 40s and 50s and applying it to male erotic fantasies, like no one before. From a NYC tenement in the 60s, he created photographs, like the one above using vibrant colors and exaggerated props and costumes to celebrate homosexuality. His works were first published in underground magazines, and he was also the “Anonymous” maker of the film Pink Narcissus (1971), an explosion of colorful eroticism that stands the test of time. The 82 year-old gay icon lives in New York City and is still working.
James Bidgood writes: ““I was a woman three shows and approximately nine hours a night when Christine Jorgensen first hit the news. I was at the time a female impersonator working at Club 82. I think most of the rest of the cast pondered if perhaps we might follow Miss Jorgensen’s example. I really enjoyed wearing lavish costumes and seeming way movie star glamorous. . .”