I am not positive, but I believe that this series of pics was taken by J Brian. Both Markum and Ahern were models/escorts/hustlers during the J Brian heyday in the 1970s in San Francsico.
The thing that is unusal about the series is that both Markum and Ahern had issues with J over a variety of things. I have met both personally and have heard both sides of the stories.
As I have written in other areas, Markum and J were mostly friendly, but it was Markum’s testimony that got J arrested for one of his ground breaking early gay porn films. While a warrant from San Jose was issued, it never was served and J and my brother went to Hawaii for 3 years and simply waited out the statue of limitations, so nothing came of the arrest. Even after the incident J always spoke kindly of Joe Markum and did not seem bitter.
Steve Ahern, after his modeling days were over, attempted to get to the other side of the camera and opened his own studio and ran ads in the underground paper, the Berkeley Barb, much as J Brian had years earlier.
I took my live in companion and model, Little Bob over to Steve in response to the ad. There had been a preliminary phone conversation and I asked Steve what kind of models he wanted. What he described fit Little Bob to a T. It looked like a can’t miss situation.
When we got there, I made the mistake of mentioning I was the former partner of J Brian and after Steve uttered a few unkind, although harmless remarks, then we went through the coldest model interview I have ever encountered. Steve was professional and nothing he did was out of line, but considering I brought him the exact kind of model he asked for, it was an unpleasant situation. Steve was offering top dollar for the day and Little Bob needed the money.
Steve did take two trial nudes photos of Bob in a window silhouette situation and did return them to us when he declined to use Bob. The funny thing was the pictures were excellent, far better than any I had done, but Steve’s studio and photography never saw the light of day. If anyone knows anything about Steve Ahern the photographer or has any of his pics, I would be interested.
I have never forgotten or forgiven Steve for his opening unkind remarks about J, so it was a little surprising to discover two J Brian problems together in a shoot he apparently did, albeit in better times.
Great photos and fascinating story/ history.
Love the photos. Guys are so hot and old school.
And enjoyed the story too!
Bob is always full of stories
I’m curious if by chance I could contact you.
Steve Ahern, I’m presuming is Steven Dale Ahern? The name Steven Dale Ahern pops up in the book Behind The Mask of the Mattachie: The Hal Call Chronicles.
The Steven Dale Ahern mentioned in that book is likely the same Steven Dale Ahern who was a whistleblower back in the early 70s following the Houston Mass Murderers in regards to child pornographer Roy Ames.
Though, how Ahern had met Ames was through postings in the paper for sex. Similar to the book Behind the Mask of the Mattachie which mentions Ahern as an ex-marine, the same is said in the newspaper clippings I have found where he also mentions being an ex-marine.
Ahern was also mentioned as “Steve” in the book, though the name Steven was also used. Though in other publications such as The Serial Killers Apprentice, The Scientist and The Serial Killer, as well as Broken Glory: The Final Years of Robert F Kennedy he’s mentioned under Steven.
I guess I’m just looking to see if you might know if these are the same two guys, Ahern has also been involved in some other things such as the above mentioned RFK. So if you might be able to verify anything in regards to my research, that would be appreciated.
Thank you!