Chippendales. Men stripping for women. It was quite a phenomenon starting in the early 80’s. On one of their opening nights at a club in NYC, I went with a group of friends to photograph it. I was curious about how women were going to react and respond to muscle-bound men like “The Perfect Man” (one of the characters). How would they handle the opportunity to “manhandle” these guys for a kiss in exchange for putting a dollar bill into their thong? It was time to switch roles, for men to be the sex objects who stripped for women rather than the other way around! It took a long time from the beginning days of “women’s liberation” for this idea to become a reality.
The phenomenon continued into the 90’s, and little did any of us know about the scandal going on behind the scenes, with contracts for murder being taken out, an FBI international sting, and a jail suicide. This entire over-the-top story has been the subject of podcasts and TV documentaries that include some of my images.
Front of the house at Chippendales was fun, flirty, and fantasy. Watching and photographing the excitement and sexual energy that filled the room along with seeing the women out with their girlfriends having a great time sharing a naughty secret was a great way for me to spend the night. I’ve documented behavior of all kinds, including sexual, with my camera. Chippendales, while relatively tame compared to other clubs I have photographed, created an open space during a time of loosening inhibitions.
These photos were taken with a clamshell Olympus XE, the perfect camera for exactly this sort of situation. The small size allowed me to blend in discreetly. Other photographers in the group brought their larger cameras with flash and were forbidden from taking pictures. In my years of a full range of freelance jobs and covering demonstrations I’ve learned to figure out a way around the rules—a good skill to have as a photographer.
This series documents the zeitgeist of a more freewheeling period. The sense of enthusiasm among the crowd and the performers is very evident. Looking back at these photos feels far removed from our current environment.
Barbara Alper
