Al Shapiro

Not to be confused with Allen Shapiro, American media executive.
Al Shapiro
Born
Allen J. Shapiro

(1932-02-07)February 7, 1932
New York State
DiedMay 30, 1987(1987-05-30) (aged 55)
San Francisco, California
NationalityAmerican
Known forGay erotic art
PartnerDick Kriegmont

Allen J. Shapiro[1] (February 7, 1932—May 30, 1987),[2] better known as Al Shapiro and by his pen name A. Jay, was a gay Jewish American[3] artist active from the 1960s through 1980s.[4][5] He is credited with the creation of the first-ever gay comic strip, The Adventures of Harry Chess: The Man from A.U.N.T.I.E.[5]

Shapiro is well-known for his erotic art, not only in Harry Chess, but also for Drummer magazine, the Caldron (a sex club in San Francisco), the Leatherneck (gay bar), and numerous gay bathhouses[5][2] (some of which he often visited).[1]

Shapiro was Drummer's founding art editor.[5] Jack Fritscher, Drummer's former editor-in-chief, described Shapiro as "the best of my pals and friends" and "one of the Original Drummer Daddies."[1]

Shapiro died from AIDS-related complications in 1987.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Fritscher, Jack (2000-04-06). "Drummer Interview: Al Shaprio, A.Jay, & Harry Chess". Jack Fritscher. Feature interview/article obituary written June 20, 1987, and published in Drummer 107, August 1987. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Morgan, Kyle (2010). "Finding aid of the Twice Blessed Collection, circa 1966-2000". Online Archive of California. Coll2010-003. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  4. ^ Stewart, Jim (2014-07-22). "BARchive: Perils of Pecs O'Toole". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  5. ^ a b c d "A. Jay Papers". Online Archive of California. Collection number GLC 117. Retrieved 2024-02-05.