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Finding aid to the Scott Masters Photography Collection Coll2013.002
Coll2013.002  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Biography
  • Arrangement
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Scope and Content
  • Processing Information

  • Title: Scott Masters photography collection
    Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013.002
    Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 70.3 linear feet. 45 archives boxes, 8 flat boxes, 2 shoe boxes, and 1 binder box
    Date (inclusive): circa 1970-1985
    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.
    creator: Masters, Scott, 1934-

    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

    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

    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.

    Preferred Citation

    [Box/folder #, or item name] Scott Masters photography collection, Coll2013-002, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

    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.

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira with the assistance of Rachel Roque and Robert Graves.
    Graves will continue to update the finding aid with models' names and the title of the works as this information becomes available.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Nova Films.
    Stephens Agency.
    Gay erotic photography
    Photographers--California.
    Photographs