Charles Guyette (August 14, 1902 – June, 1976) [1] was a pioneer of fetish style, [2] the first person in the United States to produce and distribute fetish art, [3] and regarded as the mail-order predecessor of Irving Klaw. [4] Later known as the "G-String King," [5] he is best remembered for his bizarre (i.e., fetish) photographs, some of which featured sadomasochistic content. [6]
Guyette worked as an innovative burlesque costumer and dealer in theatrical accessories, [7] [8] providing vintage corsets, [9] opera gloves, custom-made fetish boots, [10] and, most famously, G-strings. [11] Employed by National Police Gazette editor, Edythe Farrell, he later provided costumes, high heel shoes and boots, and occasionally photographs for publisher Robert Harrison, [12] [13] known for pin-up magazines such as Wink, Titter, Beauty Parade, Whisper, and Eyeful. He was also important in early fetish community social circles of the day [14] and in the careers of John Willie and Irving Klaw. [15] Guyette was a fetish fashion pioneer.
In 1935, Guyette went to federal prison, becoming the first martyr of fetish art history. [16] Later, he operated under a series of aliases and owned a costume shop on West 45th Street in New York City. [17] Largely uncredited in his lifetime, Guyette influenced key fetish art innovators, including Irving Klaw, John Willie, Eric Stanton, and Leonard Burtman. [18] The subject of a book tribute, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Art, [19] he is also featured in the independent biopic on Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston. The film Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, written and directed by Angela Robinson, [20] [21] features Guyette as the costumer for Wonder Woman's real-life inspiration, Olive Byrne. [22] Guyette is played by actor JJ Feild. [23]
Charles Guyette (August 14, 1902 – June, 1976) [1] was a pioneer of fetish style, [2] the first person in the United States to produce and distribute fetish art, [3] and regarded as the mail-order predecessor of Irving Klaw. [4] Later known as the "G-String King," [5] he is best remembered for his bizarre (i.e., fetish) photographs, some of which featured sadomasochistic content. [6]
Guyette worked as an innovative burlesque costumer and dealer in theatrical accessories, [7] [8] providing vintage corsets, [9] opera gloves, custom-made fetish boots, [10] and, most famously, G-strings. [11] Employed by National Police Gazette editor, Edythe Farrell, he later provided costumes, high heel shoes and boots, and occasionally photographs for publisher Robert Harrison, [12] [13] known for pin-up magazines such as Wink, Titter, Beauty Parade, Whisper, and Eyeful. He was also important in early fetish community social circles of the day [14] and in the careers of John Willie and Irving Klaw. [15] Guyette was a fetish fashion pioneer.
In 1935, Guyette went to federal prison, becoming the first martyr of fetish art history. [16] Later, he operated under a series of aliases and owned a costume shop on West 45th Street in New York City. [17] Largely uncredited in his lifetime, Guyette influenced key fetish art innovators, including Irving Klaw, John Willie, Eric Stanton, and Leonard Burtman. [18] The subject of a book tribute, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Art, [19] he is also featured in the independent biopic on Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston. The film Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, written and directed by Angela Robinson, [20] [21] features Guyette as the costumer for Wonder Woman's real-life inspiration, Olive Byrne. [22] Guyette is played by actor JJ Feild. [23]