The Man from C.A.M.P.

The Man from C.A.M.P. is a series of ten gay pulp fiction novels published under the pseudonym of Don Holliday. The original nine were written by Victor J. Banis between 1966 and 1968; a tenth by an uncertain author appeared in 1971. [Banis, Victor J. "Spine Intact, Some Creases: Remembrances of a Paperback Writer". Genova, Italy: ECIG, 2004, page 123. Munroe, Lynn. "The Man from C.A.M.P." e*I*6 (Vol. 2, no. 1), January 2003. http://efanzines.com/EK/eI6/index.htm] The series first emerged during a period when gay paperback titles began spoofing popular genre fiction, including detective stories and spy thrillers. As such, they are part of the great gay paperback explosion that "catered to most every taste in men's genre fiction," including detective stories and spy thrillers. [Stryker, Susan. "Queer Pulp: Perverted Passions from the Golden Age of the Paperback". San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2001, pages 115 & 117.] According to Banis, the series was inspired by the characters "Batman and Robin", by the James Bond series, and by the television show "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." [Banis, Victor J. "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause." Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004, page 327.]

The series is significant because it offers the first positive portrayal of a gay secret agent in fiction, Jackie Holmes. [Gunn, Drewey Wayne. "The Gay Male Sleuth in Print and Film". Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2005, page 166.]

eries Introduction

C.A.M.P., whose name references the camp aesthetic, is described as "an underground organization dedicated to the protection and advancement of homosexuals." [Banis, Victor J. "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause". Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004, page 8.] C.A.M.P. works in coordination with law enforcement agencies around the globe, including INTERPOL. The meaning of the acronym C.A.M.P. is never given, but the series' protagonist, Jackie Holmes, a gay, seductive and capable international secret agent, allows that "the C might stand for sucker." [Gunn, Drewey Wayne. "The Gay Male Sleuth in Print and Film". Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2005, page 19.] The general formula for each book involves Jackie being paired up with a homophobic government agent to investigate a suspicious crime. After any number of twists and turns, Jackie solves the mystery and seduces the formerly homophobic agent. [Banis, Victor J. "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause". Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004, page xix.] C.A.M.P.'s archenemy organization is B.U.T.C.H. (Brothers United to Crush Homosexuality) headed by the infamous Tiger Bey.

The Man from C.A.M.P. books were written quickly without significant editing, and sometimes were not published as written. As such, the original printings contain a number of typos and scenes reused from other works in the series. In the two recent compilations, the redundant scenes have been removed. [Bronski, Michael, ed. "Pulp Friction: Uncovering the Golden Age of Gay Male Pulps". New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2003, page 17.] The recent compilations are significant because the original copies, by virtue of their obvious sexual orientation, were often disposed of or destroyed so that they would not reveal clues about their owners and their lives. [Banis, Victor J. "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005, page 308.] Robert Bonfils produced the paperback cover art for a number of the novels in the series, including "The Man from C.A.M.P." [Kemp, Earl. e*I*6 (Vol. 2, no. 1), January 2003. http://efanzines.com/EK/eI6/index.htm]

Recurring Characters

; Jackie Holmes : Jackie is a witty, handsome and fabulous gay superspy sporting blond hair and a slight build with amazing strength and agility. Jackie is an even-keeled and capable detective with a strong libido, which comes in handy for gathering clues and seducing his more straight-laced crime fighting partners. He says, "I use sex as another weapon when I'm working." [Banis, Victor J. "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause". Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004, page 16.] Jackie occasionally appears in drag as a disguise and often has an obscure talent or gadget to get out of tight spots. Jackie is a millionaire who collects and repairs vintage automobiles; he also has a white poodle named Sophie who is trained to kill with her razor sharp teeth. (The depiction of the character was not influenced by the porn star John Holmes, who did not begin his film career until later in the decade.) [Gunn, Drewey Wayne. "The Gay Male Sleuth in Print and Film". Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2005, page 18. Banis, Victor J. "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005, page 306.]

; Lou Upton : Lou is an INTERPOL representative in his 40s who is by all appearances heterosexual. Lou acts as a primary contact who works to interest Jackie in potential crime cases. Lou introduces various government-based law enforcement members and assigns them to work on cases with Jackie Holmes.

; Rich : Rich is a 6 foot 5 inch tall man, rugged and built like a bull. He looks out for Jackie's interest by running the local C.A.M.P. office and providing, at the least, administrative assistance in Jackie's cases. Rich and Jackie have sexual relations, but the romantic aspect is mutually "held at arms length" due to the demanding and dangerous nature of Jackie's spy work.

Original Books

The "Man from C.A.M.P." series includes nine original books written by Victor J. Banis. [Munroe, Lynn. "A Victor J. Banis Checklist." e*I*6 (Vol. 2, no. 1), January 2003. http://efanzines.com/EK/eI6/index.htm Banis, Victor J. "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005, pages 308-310 (checklist compiled by Drewey Wayne Gunn).]
# "The Man from C.A.M.P." (1966): Lou Upton pairs Jackie with the U.S. Treasury Department investigator Ted Summers to foil a Los Angeles gang of gays headed by the lesbian Big Daddy, who are counterfeiting such fine diamonds even experts are fooled. ["The Man from C.A.M.P." San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Leisure Books 1154), 1966. Reprinted in "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause". Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004.]
# "Color Him Gay" (1966): Jackie fights B.U.T.C.H. in Los Angeles and San Francisco, when it seeks to blackmail the closeted British rock superstar Dingo Stark. ["Color Him Gay". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Leisure Books 1158), 1966. Reprinted with a foreword by Victor J. Banis. Wildside Press, 2007.]
# "The Watercress File" (1966): After Jackie and Treasury Agent Rex Winter's initial effort to uncover the international criminal organization Butterfly fails, Jackie is summoned by his Aunt Lily to Washington, D.C., where he teams up with CIA agent Craig Mathews and his aunts and a male cousin (who form W.A.T.E.R.C.R.E.S.S., Women Acting Together, Enlightened, Righteous, Courageous, Responsible, Enterprising, Strong and Sensible) to stop an assassination plot. ["The Watercress File". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Leisure Books 1168), 1966. Excerpt "The Elusive Butterfly" in Banis, Victor J. "Come This Way". Nederland, Texas: Regal Crest Enterprises, 2007, pages 120-123.]
# "The Son Goes Down" (1966): Working with Irish agent Jerry Shannon to stop a ring kidnapping blond teenage American boys who are fans of the dead actor Dean James, Jackie heads to Tijuana and Lisbon, accompanied by the adopted son of an old friend, a male-to-female transsexual. ["The Son Goes Down". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Leisure Books 1177), 1966. Reprinted in "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause". Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004.]
# "Gothic Gaye" (1966): After Jackie falls in love with Baron Max von der Gout and leaves C.A.M.P. in order to live with him in the supposedly haunted Castle Gaye, B.U.T.C.H. makes various attempts on his life; at Rich's instigation Summers, Stark, Matthews, and Shannon show up to help. ["Gothic Gaye". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Leisure Books 1184). Reprinted in "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005.]
# "Holiday Gay" (1967): During the Christmas season the Swallows, a gang of midgets under the direction of Birdie Wing, engages in a series of jewel heists before Jackie, and an unexpected white-bearded gentleman dressed in a lavender suit stops them cold. ["Holiday Gay". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Companion Books 545), 1967. Reprinted in "That Man from C.A.M.P.: Rebel without a Pause". Edited by Fabio Cleto. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press (Southern Tier Editions), 2004.]
# "Rally Round the Fag" (1967): Jackie is called upon to impersonate a female double-agent who has become part of a plot to begin World War III; the case leads him to Stockholm, where he dallies with Swedish agent Sven and Russian agent Boris, and for a brief moment to Spain, where he has to put his bullfighting skills to test. ["Rally Round the Fag". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Ember Library 367), 1967. Reprinted in "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005.]
# "The Gay Dogs" (1967): A vicious gang under the leadership of the dominatrix Anna Lingus dognaps Lady Agatha's Yorkshire terrier, causing Jackie chivalrously to go to the rescue. ["The Gay Dogs". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Ember Library 386), 1967. Reprinted with a foreword by Victor J. Banis. Wildside Press, 2007.]
# "Blow the Man Down" (1968): When Atlantic ships start disappearing just before a Summit Cruise, Lou Upton calls on Jackie and U.S. Agent Andy Parks for help; they are sucked into the domed city of Atlantis, ruled by the emperor Machas Fruche, a.k.a. Mother Schmucker, where Jackie's musical skills saves the day. ["Blow the Man Down". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Late Hour Library 763), 1968. Reprinted in "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005.]

pinoffs

In addition to the nine original books written by Victor J. Banis, three related texts by Elbert Barrow, a.k.a. "Lady Agatha," in which Banis had only partly a hand, a 10th novel, "Gay-Safe" (probably by Samuel Dodson, according to researcher Lynn Munroe), and a short story have appeared. [Munroe, Lynn. "A Victor J. Banis Checklist." e*I*6 (Vol. 2, no. 1), January 2003. http://efanzines.com/EK/eI6/index.htm Banis, Victor J. "Tales from C.A.M.P.: Jackie's Back!" San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 2005, pages 310.]
# "Sex and the Single Gay" by Jackie Holmes, That Man from C.A.M.P. as told to Don Holliday (1967): one of the first gay self-help guides to appear.
# "The C.A.M.P. Guide to Astrology" by Lady Agatha and Jackie Holmes, as told to Don Holliday (1967).
# "The C.A.M.P. Cookbook" by Lady Agatha in conspiracy with Don Holliday (1968).
# "Gay-Safe" (1971): Jackie suspects B.U.T.C.H. is behind the death of Dr. Perry Robert, a founder of the Church of the Homosexual Community; LAPD Detective Tom Lattimer and Agent Andy Parks show up to help. ["Gay-Safe". San Diego: Greenleaf Classics (Pleasure Reader 306), 1971.]
# "Jackie Returns" (2007): In an original short story by Victor J. Banis, Jackie's cousin Jamie appears to lure him out of retirement. [Banis, Victor J. "Come This Way". Nederland, Texas: Regal Cress Enterprises, 2007, pages 124-131.]

Related Works

In 1964 in the gay periodical Drum magazine, Allen J. Shapiro, writing as A. Jay, began a comic strip The Adventures of Harry Chess: That Man from A.U.N.T.I.E. (Agents Undercover Network To Investigate Evil.) The early strips were collected in The Uncensored Adventures of Harry Chess 0068 7/8: That Man from A.U.N.T.I.E. (1966). [Jay, A. The Uncensored Adventures of Harry Chess 0068 7/8: That Man from A.U.N.T.I.E. Philadelphia: Trojan Books, 1966. See Gunn, Drewey Wayne. "The Gay Male Sleuth in Print and Film". Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2005, pages 97, 176-177.] Later Harry Chess joined FUGG (Federal Undercover Gay Goodguys); most of the episodes were published in the Gay Meatmen series published by Winston Leyland out of San Francisco.

"The Man from Pansy," a novel very similar to "The Man from C.A.M.P.", appeared in 1967 and is the first in a short series of two gay-oriented pulp fiction novels written by Don Rico. The series' protagonist is hip secret agent Buzz Cardigan who plays gay to infiltrate an underworld of crime and blackmail. The second and final book in the series is "The Daisy Dilemma", also published in 1967." [Rico, Don [Donato] . "The Man from Pansy". New York: Lancer Books, 1967. "The Daisy Dilemma". New York: Lancer Boosk, 1967.]

The gay pornography novel "S.U.C.K." by Rick Cummings (1972) has nothing to do with secret agents. [Norman, Tom. "American Gay Erotic Paperbacks: A Bibliography". Privately printed, 1994.]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.victorjbanis.com/ 'Gay History Writer's Project Victor J. Banis webpage with The Man from C.A.M.P. Introduction]
* [http://www.vjbanis.com/ 'Victor J. Banis webpage with bibliography]
* [http://efanzines.com/EK/eI6/index.htm 'Victor J. Banis bio with The Man from C.A.M.P. checklist & paperback cover art]