The following exclusive interview with Scotty Cunningham comes from
OUTCOME Magazine #9 © 1991 Man-Age Press. All rights reserved.
All photos ©Bruce of L.A. All rights reserved.
Nothing may be used in any way, shape or form in any manner or media without written permission.

Bruce of LA."s most famous model SCOTTY CUNNINGHAM. Scotty was a bit surprised that he was being sought after all these years and very, very pleased that his mentor and friend Bruce (who tragically died in 1974) is remembered and is recognized as a great artist (something that hustler Mapplethorpe isn't). Scotty was kind enough to give OUTCOME some of his valuable time for this his first interview:

OUTCOME: How did you meet Bruce?

SCOTTY: I met him through another amateur photographer, I don't remember the gentleman's name. He introduced me at Bruce's house.

OUTCOME: This was when?

SCOTTY: It was in the spring of  about 20 years ago something like that.

OUTCOME: Had you ever modeled before?

SCOTTY: No, that was the first time. By the way the first modeling was many months after that, it wasn't an immediate session.

OUTCOME: What was it like?

SCOTTY: Bruce made it very pleasant. He certainly had a definite professionalism. I have photographed with other people and they've been understandably less so. His was very relaxing. There was music in the background which makes the model feel quite accommodated, so it was pleasant overall. No anxiety or anything like that. He knew full well I had zero experience. And we became subsequently quite good friends.

OUTCOME: I know you did a number of sessions with him. How many years did you pose for him?

SCOTTY: Probably off and on, John, 6 to 7 years. I worked for him as you may know

OUTCOME: No I didn't

SCOTTY: Yes, l worked for him in his darkroom and around the house. It was at a time when he had some break ins so I worked in a bodyguard capacity too. So there were multiple employment levels.

OUTCOME: What was it like being around Bruce of Los Angeles. It was a whole different period than it is now with more repression and less freedom?

SCOTTY: He had repeated visits with a lawyer he had on retainer to see if his work, which you know was quite in good taste and conservative, but if he tried to be daring he would take that session to the attorney and try to find out if he would have any legal problems. The attorney always said no and he had other more risqué publications domestic and he would say, - here, your work is tame compared to this'. So that's part of the way I can answer that. So even though he was a pioneer, he always kept everything polished. He took, as you may know, more revealing shots with the hope that censorship would loosen up a little bit and indeed it did into the 70's and he released those photos. Did that help you?

OUTCOME: Well things weren't as free at that period as they are today. Things were more repressed. So I'm asking in those terms what was it like?

SCOTTY: Well all of his models had a basic 2 hour "G-string" session with various types of props. Then if he sensed the model had the appeal he would do the complete nudes, certainly he did back nudes. So there was that, so as you know there were others in this area who not only wanted but shot exclusively and didn't want any G-string in the way Bruce's physique magazine was well known and distinguished itself due to that element of good taste in the late 50's on into the 60's. So he was certainly relieved to see the 60's come along shall we say so he could let go some of the previous models nudes which a lot of his clients were wanting. By the way I understand you'd like some info on Toby and Chipper?

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