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Colt men (among them Carlo Masi) at a 2006 San Francisco parade.

Colt Studio Group is an American independent pornography company. Colt has produced gay pornography since 1967.[1] Colt started in New York City, moved to Los Angeles for 25 years, and is now based in San Francisco, California.

Colt photographed some of the most famous gay stars of the pre-AIDS era, including Bruno and Al Parker.[2][3]

History

In 2007, Colt Studio Group celebrated its fortieth anniversary. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring February 23, 2007 as “Colt Studio Day” in celebration of this anniversary. This proclamation attracted criticism from conservative commentators including then–Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly.[4]

Colt was discussed in a 2014 article in the academic journal Fashion Theory by Shaun Cole, who argued that the characters in the company’s pornography are “constructed through their clothing and costuming”, and noted that it was famed for its “presentation of hypermasculine images”. He also observed that the choice of the name “Colt” by the company’s founders, Jim French and Lou Thomas, reflected a “gun theme”; a previous company founded by French had been called “Lüger”, after the German pistol. According to Cole, French’s use of the pseudonym “Rip Colt” was “inspired by an amateur photographer in San Francisco” named Rip Searby.[1]

  1. Carlo Masi
  2. Pat Sutton[5]
  3. Steve Kelso[6]
  4. Owen Moore[7]
  5. John Pruitt[8]
  6. Big Max[9]

Awards

GayVN Awards

  • 2004 Best Renting Film: Reload, COLT Studio
  • 2006 Best Solo Video: Minuteman 23, COLT Studio
  • 2007 Best Solo Video: Minuteman 28, COLT Studio
  • 2008 Best Solo Video: Minuteman 29, COLT Studio
  • 2009 Best Solo Film: Minute Man Solo 31: Hangin’ OUT, COLT Studio

References

  1. ^ a b Cole, Shaun (April 2014). “Costume or Dress? The Use of Clothing in the Gay Pornography of Jim French’s Colt Studio”. Fashion Theory. 18 (2): 123–147. doi:10.2752/175174114X13890223974461. S2CID 194000980.  – via EBSCO‘s Academic Search Complete (subscription required)
  2. ^ Harrity, Christopher (2019-11-07). “Gay/Bi Men and Mustaches, a History in Photos”. The Advocate. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  3. ^ “Al Parker”. Coltstudiogroup.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  4. ^ Vega, Cecilia M. (3 March 2007). “Policy changing after gay porn studio lauded. Mayor was unaware of proclamation, now wants oversight”. San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications, Inc. Archived from the original on March 5, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  5. ^ “Lot – Vintage Colt Studios Nude Male Photographs”. Districtauction.com. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
  6. ^ “Steve Kelso Tattooed Hairy Hunk 1994 Smiling Flirty Colt Studio 5×7 Ji”. Oxxbridgegalleries.com. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
  7. ^ “Olympus Magazine 1989”. Amazon.com. Retrieved Jun 14, 2026.
  8. ^ Jack (2023-09-04). “John Pruitt by Colt – Collectors Realm 3”. Collectorsrealm3.net. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
  9. ^ “COLT MEN PRESENTING BIG MAX”. Worthpoint.com. Retrieved 2026-06-14.