In the heart of West Hollywood during the early 1960s, AH MEN clothing store emerged as a beacon of fashion, attracting a devoted clientele within the gay community. Beyond its flamboyant fashions, AH MEN found its unique identity in the men who wore its creations. These men, many of them iconic physique models, added an extra layer of charisma to the catalog’s pages.
AH MEN pioneered one of the first gay mail-order businesses, targeting its advertisements in physique magazines. Over time, the company expanded, employing a workforce of over fifty individuals. While early AH MEN clothing lines may appear relatively conservative by today’s standards, by the 1970s, the designers embraced a bold aesthetic, introducing see-through mesh underwear, short-shorts, caftans, and dazzlingly loud prints.
Spike Adams, a popular physique model, became a fixture in early AH MEN ads, previously modeling for Bob Mizer’s AMG during the 1960s. Adams, whose versatility extended beyond modeling, transitioned into the realm of adult entertainment towards the end of his career, making appearances in a couple of gay adult films.
Monte Hanson, another sixties physique model, made a daring move by transitioning from physique modeling to hardcore adult entertainment. Hanson’s images tell a story of a different era, where models like him crossed boundaries in pursuit of their careers.
David Keith Miller, an AH MEN model in the late sixties, combined his popularity as a physique model with explicit photoshoots. Although he ventured into risqué territory, Miller never crossed over into the world of adult films. Instead, he later posed for Playgirl, a magazine known for featuring nude male centerfolds for female readers.
Jimmy Hughes, a prominent model in the early seventies, left his mark on early gay adult films. He adamantly denied the label of ‘gay for pay,’ asserting that anything he did on film was a reflection of his private life. However, his later actions tarnished his image, as he faced convictions for assaulting and raping women.
Bob Noll, although remembered for posing for nude photographs and a solo video, never made the transition into hardcore adult entertainment. He is perhaps best known as the ‘older brother’ of Kip Noll, one of porn’s earliest twink superstars.
Gordon Grant, a popular seventies gay porn star and AH MEN model, left behind a legacy of approximately ten adult films before vanishing from the public eye. The exact circumstances of his life and his fate remain subjects of speculation, with some believing he succumbed to AIDS in the nineties, while others maintain that he found happiness with a longtime partner.
Bill Cable, also known as Stoner, was a fascinating figure with a diverse career. While he identified as straight, he appeared in both gay and straight adult films, though his performances were limited to simulated sex scenes. Beyond his adult film work, Cable lived in a treehouse with his then-lover, Cassandra Peterson, and featured in some of her Elvira movies. His unique journey in entertainment also included appearances in Pee-wee Herman movies and a memorable role in the opening scene of Basic Instinct.