Charles Guyette (August 14, 1902 – June, 1976) Social Security Death Index Retrieved 10 October 2017. was a pioneer of fetish style,Robert V. Bienvenu II, The Development of Sadomasochism as a Cultural Style in the Twentieth-Century United States (PhD dissertation) Indiana: Indiana University, 1998. p.72. the first person in the United States to produce and distribute fetish art,Richard Pérez Seves, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art New York: FetHistory, 2017. p. 119. and regarded as the mail-order predecessor of Irving Klaw.J.B. Rund, The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline (Second Edition, Revised & Enlarged) New York: Bélier Press, 1999. p. 92. Later known as the "G-String King,"Rachel Shteir, Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, p. 201 he is best remembered for his fetish photographs, some of which featured sadomasochistic content.Richard Pérez Seves, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art New York: FetHistory, 2017. pp. 119 - 120.

Biography and legacy

Guyette worked as an innovative burlesque costumer and dealer in theatrical accessories,Pérez Seves, Eric Stanton & the History of the Bizarre Underground, pp. 33. Austin Sunday American Statesman Newspaper Archives, Oct 10 1948. Retrieved 10 October 2017 providing vintage corsets,"Charles Guyette in Robert Harrison Magazines: Wink, Flirt, Eyeful, Beauty Parade, Whisper, Titter.... Corsets, Stockings, Ultra-High Heel Shoes and Boots!.." fethistory.blogspot.com Retrieved 12 October 2017. opera gloves, custom-made fetish boots,"Charles Guyette, The G-string King, Vintage Boot Parade!" fethistory.blogspot.com Retrieved 10 October 2017. and, most famously, G-strings. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Aug. 3, 1944. Retrieved 12 October 2017. Employed by National Police Gazette editor, Edythe Farrell, he later provided costumes, high heel shoes and boots, and occasionally photographs for publisher Robert Harrison,"Edythe Farrell on Charles Guyette’s Lady Wrestling Amazon, plus Bettie Page’s Corset!" fethistory.blogspot.com Retrieved 10 October 2017. 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 dayRobert V. Bienvenu II, The Development of Sadomasochism as a Cultural Style in the Twentieth-Century United States (PhD dissertation) Indiana: Indiana University, 1998. p.78. and in the careers of John Willie and Irving Klaw.Richard Pérez Seves, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art New York: FetHistory, 2017. pp. 134 - 137. Guyette was a fetish fashion pioneer.

Guyette was also influenced by earlier fetish designs including those of Yva Richard.

In 1935, Guyette went to federal prison, becoming the first martyr of fetish art history.""Held As Exporter Of Obscenity"" Retrieved 10 October 2017. Later, he operated under a series of aliases and owned a costume shop on West 45th Street in New York City. The Brownsville Herald from Brownsville, Texas on June 16, 1950 Retrieved 10 October 2017. Largely uncredited in his lifetime, Guyette influenced key fetish art innovators, including Irving Klaw, John Willie, Eric Stanton, and Leonard Burtman."Charles Guyette: fetish pioneer who influenced Klaw, Willie & Burtman" The Fetishistas. 10 October 2017.

The subject of a book tribute, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art, 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,"Professor Marston & the Wonder Women" Retrieved 12 October 2017."‘Professor Marston & the Wonder Women’: Film Review" Retrieved 10 October 2017. features Guyette as the costumer for Wonder Woman's real-life inspiration, Olive Byrne. Guyette is played by actor JJ Feild. Retrieved 10 October 2017. In 2025 Guyette was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame.

See also

Gene Bilbrew Fetish fashion Irving Klaw Bettie Page Eric Stanton Dita Von Teese John Willie

References

Further reading Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art [*Cream Paper Edition*] by Richard Pérez Seves. New York: FetHistory, 2019. Charles Guyette’s High Heeled Shoes: Photographs circa 1940 by George Monk. Amazon Digital Services (Kindle), 2014. JOHN WILLIE: The Story of John Alexander Scott Coutts by Richard Pérez Seves. New York: FetHistory, 2024. Eric Stanton & the History of the Bizarre Underground by Richard Pérez Seves. Atglen: Schiffer Publishing, 2018. Possibilities: The Photographs of John Willie edited by J.B. Rund. New York: Bélier Press, 2016. The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline edited by J.B. Rund.(Second Edition, Revised & Enlarged) New York: Bélier Press, 1999. The Development of Sadomasochism as a Cultural Style in the Twentieth-Century United States (PhD dissertation) by Robert V. Bienvenu II. Indiana: Indiana University, 1998.

External links