TWO, subtitled The Homosexual Viewpoint in Canada, was a Toronto gay magazine published between 1964 and 1966. It combined physique photography with a variety of editorial content including articles, reviews of local gay nightlife, and fiction. TWO was one of Toronto's first gay magazines[1] (preceded by Gay by just a few months), and was among the first magazines to combine the pictorial content of the physique genre with overtly gay editorial content.[2]
 Cover of the third issue of TWO | |
| Categories | Physique magazine |
|---|---|
| Format | digest |
| Publisher | Gayboy Publishing |
| First issue | July 1964 |
| Final issue | July–August 1966 |
| Country | Canada |
| Based in | Toronto, Ontario |
| OCLC | 65217138 |
The title is thought to be inspired by a supplement to the earlier homophile magazine ONE which used the same title as an initialism for "Truth Will Out".[3]
Publication history edit
TWO was published by Gayboy Publishing (later renamed Kamp Publishing Company). Its location was listed as 457 Church Street, then the site of a club called the Melody Room in Toronto's gay village.[3] The magazine and club were both owned by Richard (Rick) Kerr, a Scottish-born entrepreneur.[3] Kerr also owned two physique studios, R.A. (Rik Art) Studios and Can-art Photographers, which provided much of the magazine's physique content.[1]
The first three issues were edited by Clifford Collier, under the pseudonym Claude Collier. The remaining eight were edited by Kerr, under the pseudonym Alex Edmond.[3] The magazine's final issue was dated July–August 1966. The Melody Room went out of business in the same year.[1]
The magazine was sold for 75 cents and mostly distributed through the Melody Room and the Music Room, another club owned by Kerr.[3]
Content edit
Approximately half of the magazine's pages were devoted to physique photographs of teen models.[4] It increased its emphasis on physique photography following the departure of Collier as editor.[3] It did not feature frontal nudity; where necessary, genitals were obscured with inked-in posing pouches.[4] In addition to Kerr's R.A. and Can-art studios, the magazine featured photos from the studio of Frank Borck.[2] It sometimes included inserts showcasing the photos of a particular studio.[3]
Aside from physique photography, the magazine included a variety of editorial content including:[3]
- book reviews
- coverage of local drag revues
- a gossip column, "Grapes from the Vine"
- a column on local affairs, "Very Much Out... and About"
- a serialized novel, Wrong Road to Happiness, written by Kerr under the pseudonym Edmond Kaye
References edit
- ^ a b c McLeod, Donald W. (2017). "Tabloid Journalism and the Rise of a Gay Press in Toronto". In Stephanie Chambers; Jane Farrow; Maureen Fitzgerald; Ed Jackson; John Lorinc; Tim McCaskell; Rebecka Sheffield; Tatum Taylor; Rahim Thawer (eds.). Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer. Coach House Books. ISBN 9781770565197.
- ^ a b Waugh, Thomas (1996). Hard to Imagine: Gay Male Eroticism in Photography and Film from Their Beginnings to Stonewall. Columbia University Press. p. 251. ISBN 0-231-09998-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McLeod, Donald W. (2003). A Brief History of GAY (PDF). Homewood Books. pp. 28–31.
- ^ a b Doyle, JD. "TWO". Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
External links edit
- Queer Music Heritage - TWO (includes 6 complete issues)