In the 1950s, the world of physique photography was dominated by Walter Kundzicz, who photographed the male form as a sex object rather than a mere objet d’art. Among Kundzicz’s most popular models was Jim Stryker, a blonde, blue-eyed 18-year-old who would go on to become a sex icon of the era.
Stryker’s first encounter with Kundzicz is the stuff of legend – the photographer reportedly found him naked in a tree, urinating on a friend below. The two struck up a friendship and went on to collaborate on 21 photoshoots, many of which took place on Fire Island, a popular gay vacation spot.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Kundzicz did not shy away from depicting his models in provocative poses that accentuated their sexuality. He also sometimes became romantically and sexually involved with them. It is rumored that Stryker was bisexual and even worked as a hustler at times.
Stryker’s appeal went beyond just his physique. Future best-selling author Alan Helms, who worked as a model and actor in the 1950s, once encountered Stryker as a “trade of the night” and was so awestruck that he was unable to perform. Stryker also recorded a spoken-word record, ostensibly to promote his modeling work but with heavy sexual innuendo that suggested more than mere modeling.
Like many of his peers, Stryker disappeared without a trace in the 1970s. However, his legacy as a sex icon lives on, and his provocative photos continue to captivate audiences to this day.