L. A. Knockers first photo session

Yana, Jennifer, Marilyn

June 24, 2010

I first saw the LA Knockers perform live at the Starwood in 1976, and I was – literally – knocked out by their exciting dance energy.

So I immediately asked Jennifer if we could do a photo sessions, because I had just started working as a photo-journalist and I was contributing to the theater section of the Italian magazines TEMPO and ESPRESSO. They wanted me to send photographs and text about visually interesting and risqué performers.

I didn’t even have a studio yet at the time, so a borrowed the space from my photographer friend Ave Pildas, and we did various set-ups for the layout: red tutus against a huge dark grey backdrop, white leotards against white, black costumes on red, also, in an outdoor location by the fire-escape, a cheerleaders theme, with football helmet and pom-pons.

Jennifer, Marilyn, Yana

Jennifer, Marilyn, Yana

Yana, Jennifer, Marilyn

Jennifer, Marilyn and Yana even posed for me in the costumes for their movie CINDERELLA, as the stepmother and stepsisters Marbella and Drucella.

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L. A. Knockers add guitars

Jennifer, Becky, Kimberlee

July 4, 2010

After that first photo session, I became the LA Knockers “official” photographer.  That is, when they needed photographs, I would take them in my studio.  By then I had rented a storefront space at 6340 Yucca, close to my apartment on Beachwood Drive.

In March 1977, I took black and white head-shots of the 3 dancers: Jennifer, Marilyn and Yana.  In November 1977, Jennifer needed a group shot with their guitar players, Arnold Schoonover and Phillip Truescroff, and the new dancers: Becky Jordan and Kimberlee Carlson.  Here’s a color slide from that session, which was mostly in B&W.