Nelson Frazier Evans (June 6, 1889 – October 17, 1922) was an American photographer during the days of

Old Hollywood Classical Hollywood cinema is a term used in film criticism to describe both a narrative and visual style of filmmaking which became characteristic of American cinema between the 1910s (rapidly after World War I) and the 1960s. It eventually b ...

. Evans was known for his portraits of film actors such as

Darrell Foss Darrell Foss (born Darrell Burton Foss; March 24, 1892 – September 15, 1962) was a film actor. He had a leading role in films including in '' The Loyalty of Taro San'', a Triangle Film Corporation production, and opposite May Allison in at ...

Marie Prevost Marie Prevost (born Marie Bickford Dunn; November 8, 1896 – January 21, 1937) was a Canadian-born film actress. During her 20-year career, she made 121 silent and sound films. Prevost began her career during the silent film era. She was d ...

Louise Glaum Louise Glaum (September 4, 1888 – November 25, 1970) was an American actress. Known for her roles as a vamp in silent era motion picture dramas, she was credited with giving one of the best characterizations of a vamp in her early career ...

and many others during the silent film era including director Philip Rosen. He is considered one of the creators of pin-up photography.

Biography

Evans was born in Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of a coal mine operator, who objected to Evans' choice to pursue a career in photography. Initially working in the eastern United States, Evans moved to the west coast in the 1910s to pursue a career as a

portrait photographer Portrait photography, or portraiture, is a type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective Photographic lighting, lighting, Painted photography backdrops, backdrops, and poses. A portr ...

in Hollywood, eventually establishing a studio at 6039

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...

in 1915. At the time, Hollywood studio photographers focused mainly on shooting movie still images of sets and scenes — actors and actresses were forced to find personal photographers to take portrait shots. This market niche was filled by professional photographers like Evans. Evans also did more traditional still photography for a number of prominent movie studios. Evans introduced several innovations to the photography scene of Old Hollywood; he avoided using fancy props, and rendered effects or backgrounds directly on photo negatives. Evans is also credited by author and film historian David S. Shields with creating the genre of "Cheesecake Photography", a forerunner to pin-up photography. Some of Evans' full body swimsuit photographs appeared in various media, such as in magazines and on cigarette packaging. During World War I Evans was drafted into government service and stationed in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. He was commissioned as a

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

, and was involved with the growing field of

aerial photography Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing airc ...

, for which he attempted to develop a new camera. In his personal life, Evans collected rare books; he was also noted as having been interested in religion and

metaphysics Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of conscio ...

. Evans died in October 1922 at the age of 33.

Legacy

Following his death, Evans' studio was converted into an art gallery. In 1929, his studio was damaged by a fire possibly set as part of a wider vendetta against still photographers operating in Hollywood. Evans' early death resulted in him fading from memory more so than his contemporaries, such as Fred Hartsook and Albert Witzel.

Gallery

File:Roxy McGowan and Mary Thurman in bathing suits, with one taking the other's picture on beach, posed for Mack Sennett Productions (3b43826).jpg,

Roxana McGowan Roxana McGowan (March 15, 1897 – November 22, 1976), born in Chicago, Illinois, was an actress in Mack Sennett comedies in the silent film era. Her screen career was brief, lasting from 1917–1919. Movie comic ''Her Screen Idol'' (19 ...

taking

Mary Thurman Mary Thurman (née Christiansen; April 27, 1895 – December 22, 1925) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early life Mary Christiansen was born in Richfield, Utah on April 27, 1895, one of seven children raised in the Church of ...

's photograph File:Muff in hand. Alice Maison.png,

Alice Maison Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

File:Jack Mulhall - Jul 1920 MP.jpg,

Jack Mulhall John Joseph Francis Mulhall (October 7, 1887 – June 1, 1979) was an American film actor beginning in the silent film era who successfully transitioned to sound films, appearing in over 430 films in a career spanning 50 years. Early years Mu ...

(1920) File:Tom Moore - Jun 1920 MP.jpg,

Tom Moore (actor) Thomas J. Moore (May 1, 1883 – February 12, 1955) was an Irish-American actor and director. He appeared in at least 186 motion pictures from 1908 to 1954. Frequently cast as the romantic lead, he starred in silent movies as well as in some o ...

(1920) File:Claire Anderson and Rose Carter.jpg, Claire Anderson and Rose Carter on the beach File:Sennett girls in serpentine confetti - Evans, L.A. LCCN2005688927.jpg, Sennett Girls in serpentine confetti File:Biron Reynolds Sampson bath.jpg,

Lillian Biron Lillian Biron (1898 – 1957), also known as Lillian Thompson, was an actress in American comedy films. She was in Vogue Comedies. She then featured in Gayety Comedies with George Ovey. She starred in '' Below the Deadline'' with H. B. Warne ...

Vera Reynolds Vera Reynolds (born Vera Nancy Reynolds; November 25, 1899 – April 22, 1962) was an American film actress. Early life and career Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1899, Reynolds first worked in films at age 12. She began as a dancer, worke ...

, and Teddy Sampson File:Doris Pawn - Feb 1920 Motion Picture Magazine.jpg,

Doris Pawn Doris Pawn (born Doris Alice Pahn; December 29, 1894 – March 30, 1988) was an American silent era film actress. Early life Pahn was born on December 29, 1894, to Louise Marie Hasse (1867–1925) and Martin Pahn. She had three sister ...

(1920) File:Alice Lake - Apr 1920 MPN.jpg, Alice Lake (1920) File:Doris May - June 1920 MP.jpg,

Doris May Doris May (born Helen Garrett; October 15, 1902 – May 12, 1984), was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 29 films between 1917 and 1927, generally as a leading lady. Most of her roles were in westerns and comedies, althoug ...

(1920) File:Dorothy Manners - Dec 1922 Screenland.jpg, Dorothy Manners (1922) File:Marie Prevost.jpg,

File:Alice Lake Evans1.jpg, Alice Lake File:Pell Trenton - Apr May 1920 MP.jpg,

Pell Trenton Pell Trenton (born William T. Baker; August 29, 1883 – March 3, 1924) was an actor in theater and Hollywood films during the silent film era. He was popular and had leading roles. Background Pell Trenton was born August 29, 1883, in New Y ...

(1920) File:Priscilla Moran.jpg,

Priscilla Moran Priscilla Moran (November 23, 1917 – November 11, 2006) was an American silent film actress. She was born in Sedalia, Missouri. She made her film debut in 1922, and retired from the silver screen in 1937 at the age of 20, having appeared in fo ...

File:Annette Kellerman - May 1920 MPN.jpg,

Annette Kellerman Annette Marie Sarah Kellermann (6 July 1887 – 6 November 1975) was an Australian professional swimmer, vaudeville star, film actress, and writer. Kellermann was one of the first women to wear a one-piece bathing costume, instead of the then ...

File:Edward F Cline - May 1920 MPN.jpg, Edward F. Cline File:Wanda Hawley Evans2.jpg,

Wanda Hawley Wanda Hawley (born Selma Wanda Pittack; July 30, 1895 – March 18, 1963) was an American actress during the silent film era. She entered the theatrical profession with an amateur group in Seattle, and later toured the United States and Can ...

File:Dorothy Dalton in Photoplay, November 1918.jpg,

Dorothy Dalton Dorothy Dalton (September 22, 1893 – April 13, 1972) was an American silent film actress and stage personality who worked her way from a stock company to a movie career. Beginning in 1910, Dalton was a player in stock companies in Chicago; Te ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Nelson 20th-century American photographers 1889 births 1922 deaths Artists from Columbus, Ohio Photographers from Los Angeles