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Scott Masters photography collection

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: Coll2013-002

Scope and Content

The bulk of the collection consists of medium format 120/220 black & white negatives, contact sheets, and color film transparencies of gay male erotic images along with a limited number of straight erotic images. The images were used for the production of erotic print material including magazines and sale catalogs. Copies of the black & white prints and "super size" color slides were sold through catalogs and used for promotion of concurrently produced erotic films. The collection includes images produced and distributed through HIS (Handsome IS Studio), the Stephens Agency, and Nova Studios.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1970-1985

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biography

Ken Albert, Warren Stephens, Robert Walters, and Scott Masters were all pseudonyms of the same anonymous erotic film producer and director. In the mid 1960s he sold unreleased still gay male erotic images from well-known studios in photosets and later compiled the images into magazines. Masters soon found it profitable to shoot and sell his own works including films, photographs, and slides. In the early 1970s he opened the Stephens Agency to distribute his works, but soon found the business of distribution unprofitable. Ironically, Masters was arrested for distributing erotic images through U.S. mail in Texas after closing the Stephens Agency. The case was transferred to Los Angeles and Masters was placed on probation; nevertheless, he continued to produce films. He went on to open Nova Studios as Robert Walters. After closing Nova Studios, he took the name Scott Masters. In 1987 Masters was hired by Catalina Video where he rose to the position of head of production. After leaving Catalina Video in 1992, he co-founded Studio 2000 with director John Travis. In 2006, Studio 2000 was sold to David McKay.

Douglas, Jerry. "Behind the Camera: Scott Masters, Part 1." Manshots. November 1997

Extent

70.3 Linear Feet (45 archives boxes, 8 flat boxes, 2 shoe boxes, and 1 binder box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The bulk of the collection consists of medium format 120/220 black & white negatives, contact sheets, and color film transparencies of gay male erotic images along with a limited number of straight erotic images. The images were used for the production of erotic print material including magazines and sale catalogs. The images document the work of an anonymous erotic film producer and director that utilized a series of pseudonyms including, Warren Stephens, Robert Walters, and Scott Masters.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1. Contact sheets, negatives, prints, and transparencies

Series 2. Contact sheet and negatives

Series 3. Negatives and transparencies

Series 4. Unidentified contact sheets, negatives, and transparencies

Series 5. Greystone studio

Processing Information

Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira with the assistance of Rachel Roque and Robert Graves.

Subject

Title
Finding aid to the Scott Masters Photography Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Michael C. Oliveira
Date
© 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Sponsor
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Repository Details

Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository

Contact:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771