Speeding: The Old Reliable Photos of David Hurles.

Mitzel, John

Speeding: The Old Reliable Photos of David Hurles

Edited by Rex

Green Candy Press. 156 pages, $26.95

This book tells us a lot of things. First thought: it makes you contemplate how vast the Old Reliable catalogue must actually be. Second thought: all gay erotica is divided into three parts. There is Old Reliable. There is (or was) the Athletic Model Guild or AMG. And there is Colt. Colt is made up of the hypermasculine pretty guys, physical gods set against the great western skies. AMG were the Good Bad Boys, tough luck numbers, bus station specials, but most with a sweetness about them. Old Reliable specializes in the Bad Bad Boys. Hurles was born in the late 40's and raised in Cincinnati. In his teens he recognized his attraction to the bullies and bad boys, and later turned it into a career, documenting the world of male hustlers in L.A. and San Francisco. Some of these guys are pretty scary and others convey a sweetness through the tough-guy pose. Hurles took a personal interest in many of his models, often taping their conversations. The photos in this book were selected by the artist Rex, who has known Hurles for a quarter century. Rex made his selections from the 25,000-plus images in Hurles' collection. The text throughout is also by Rex. Hurles continues with his work to this day.