Nelson Evans

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 in Hollywood, eventually establishing a studio at 6039 Hollywood Boulevard 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. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant, and was involved with the growing field of aerial photography, 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. Evans died in October 1922 at the age of 33.

• Illustration — Roxana McGowan taking Mary Thurman's photograph • Illustration — Alice Maison • Illustration — Jack Mulhall (1920) • Illustration — Tom Moore (actor) (1920) • Illustration — Claire Anderson and Rose Carter on the beach • Illustration — Sennett Girls in serpentine confetti • Illustration — Lillian Biron, Vera Reynolds, and Teddy Sampson • Illustration — Doris Pawn (1920) • Illustration — Alice Lake (1920) • Illustration — Doris May (1920) • Illustration — Dorothy Manners (1922) • Illustration — Marie Prevost • Illustration — Alice Lake • Illustration — Pell Trenton (1920) • Illustration — Priscilla Moran • Illustration — Annette Kellerman • Illustration — Edward F. Cline • Illustration — Wanda Hawley • Illustration — Dorothy Dalton