Honcho (October 1993), Part Two

Founded in 1978 by Modernismo Publications, Ltd., the same publishers as Mandate and Playguy, Honcho, akin to its peers, began with a wide selection of articles, interviews, and showcases which strove to establish and perpetuate a gay identity as the liberation movement continued throughout the decade; however, as time progressed, many of these elements, like those in similar publications, were reduced to grant more space to photo spreads. The October 1993 issue of Honcho, broken into two parts, exemplifies this factor. Although the magazine still possessed advice columns and erotic fiction, the majority of its pages were devoted to homoerotic imagery. In the second half (see the first half here), an article on the scientific research into the prevalence of homosexuality and the short story “Back Alley Love” (about a beefy bouncer’s chance encounter with a teenager in a London alleyway) are accompanied by the photo spreads titled “Bursting at the Seams with Desire,” “Free to Be,” “Out on the Lonesome Trail,” and “U.S.M. Top Secret Weapon.”

Honcho (October 1993), Part One

Founded in 1978 by Modernismo Publications, Ltd., the same publishers as Mandate and Playguy, Honcho, akin to its peers, began with a wide selection of articles, interviews, and showcases which strove to establish and perpetuate a gay identity as the liberation movement continued throughout the decade; however, as time progressed, many of these elements, like those in similar publications, were reduced to grant more space to photo spreads. The October 1993 issue of Honcho, broken into two parts, exemplifies this factor. Although the magazine still possessed advice columns and erotic fiction, the majority of its pages were devoted to homoerotic imagery. In the first half, the sexual advice of Larry Townsend and two short stories – “The Barman” (a tale of submission and spanking in a local tavern) and “Bedknobs and Bondage” (about a man’s encounter with sadomasochism in the French Quarter of New Orleans) – are accompanied by the photo spreads titled “Bear Cub in Training,” “Ranch Hand Seeks Ranch Man,” and “Workin’ Up a Sweat.”

Drummer (October 1982)

In 1975, John H. Embry and Jeanne Barney established Drummer. While major homoerotic publications – Blueboy, Honcho, Mandate, and Playguy – focused on the creation of a mainstream gay culture, Drummer concentrated on establishing and maintaining the leather subculture blossoming during the era. Although not the only leather magazine, Drummer’s popularity made it the only American version of its kind to see international release and, due to this factor, made it a major influencer in the spread of masculine ideals and the leather lifestyle. Both of these elements, in turn, can be seen within the October 1982 issue, which features a photo comic about sadomasochism in a bar, the butch Drum, and C.D. Arnold’s one-act play “Delivery” (a surreal exploration of bondage, inner turmoil, and sexuality).