The only thing better than a hilarious picture from the ’80s is a hilarious picture from the ’80s with a hilarious caption.

Thanks, Brad Elterman. You made my day.

Eddie Behind The Beverly Hills Hotel No. 3 1977:

Ithink John Rockwell invited me to this party. Directly behind theBeverly Hills Hotel is a huge mansion owned by David Lane. I knew manyof the guests, although an older crowd because I was about 21. It was awarm sunny afternoon, I was standing next to the bar trying to get adrink and all of a sudden this lovely girl started to strip down rightin front of me. I only had a wide-angle 24 mm camera lens, not reallywide enough, so I backed up as far as I could, almost knocking over thebar.

You have to do the best you can in these situations. Take a closelook at the guy on the left of the photograph walking towards the girl.That is Burt who was and still is, almost thirty years later, apermanent fixture on the party circuit. I am sure that he was on hisway to get this girl’s telephone number. Back then, I did not think ittoo much of a big deal going to a Mega Mansion party in Beverly Hillswith nude girls because I attended three or four of these a week! Thiswas the only photograph worth taking at the party and now is one of myfavorite photos. It truly captured a moment from that incredible erathat I will never see again.

Duran Duran at the Riot House 1977:

Iwas a really big Duran Duran fan. I read about them in the Europeanpress and of course heard their records. A couple of days before theirdebut showcase at the Roxy, I called up their road manager at the HyattHouse (we used to call it the Riot House) and asked for a photosession. I probably told him I was shooting for Music Life and Rock Show,which were amazing magazines in Japan that would regularly publish mywork. I piled them into my old Mercedes and gave them a tour of theSunset Strip.

What was amazing was that they knew who I was by seeingmy photo credit in the Japanese press. John Taylor made sure I was onthe list for the gig that evening. A couple of years later they wereback in town and staying at the Chateau Marmont Hotel. I heard thatAndy Taylor was getting married and I just kind of showed up and joinedthe bash. Took some photos and sold them everywhere. If it was onlythat easy today!

Joan Jett At The Tropicana Motel 1978:

WhenI took this photograph, I remember thinking to myself that it would bea memorable photograph. All the up-and-coming bands stayed at theTropicana Motel. It was a real dump, but they all loved it. Joan and Iwould meet at Duke’s and devour huge sandwiches. I wanted to captureJoan in her hovel. That is John Wayne on the black and white TV.

Leif Garrett And Nicolette Sheridan 1980:

Ihad been photographing Leif Garrett for years at sessions and concertsall over the place, including Japan. I was home one weekend afternoonwhen he called me to get to his house. The call was short: “Get overhere and bring your camera. I have a new girlfriend.” Boy, did he havea new girlfriend! I do not think I ever saw such a beautiful girl. Shewas Nicolette Adams, who now goes by Nicolette Sheridan. They had justgotten out of the pool and wanted to get dressed for the photos. Getdressed??!! Naw, let’s just take the photos. Well, the photos made thecover of magazines all over Europe and were published in “People.” Thephoto still sells today. Nicolette is so hot and enjoyable on”Desperate Housewives.” I have not seen Leif in years, but I seeNicolette all the time at my local Starbucks.

Ali And The Sea Of Faces 1979:

Muhammad Ali was and is still today the most famous and recognizableperson on the planet. I vividly remember when he walked to his seat atthe Forum because the entire 18,400 guests and VIPs at this event stoodup and applauded him. It was truly a moving experience. I stood nearbyfor as long as I could to get this shot. It was not easy with all thesecurity guards around. Seated next to Ali is his wife Veronica, Dr.Jerry Buss and his lovely date and the former Mayor of Los Angeles, TomBradley and his wife. Many years later I was invited to a boxing matchat the Forum by Jerry Buss. Seated near me at ringside was Ali, mucholder and now ill. I shook his hand and for the first time in my life,asked for an autograph. I still have it to this day.

Boogie Nights at Brad’s House 1980:

Oneof the fringe benefits of being a photographer covering the scene backin the eighties was that you got to meet some really beautiful girls.Well, I had my share of a steady stream of young and beautiful talentcoming to my pad back then. During this time, I rented a really coolhouse on Canton Drive in Studio City. It was just over the hill fromMulholland Drive and I could make it down to the Starwood or Art’s Deliin a flash.

I think I paid about $1,200per month for this house with an incredible pool, and it had aspace in the living room to set up a studio. I had relationships with acouple of Playboy Playmates, but for the most part I was fairly lowkey. I did throw one incredible party where I had two girls making outon my living room floor in front of a hundred friends. It isinteresting that to this day, I meet people who were at that party andthey ask me when I am I going to throw another one.

Fromtime to time I would transform my pool to a photo set and that is whereI made this photo of Kari Klark. I met Kari through my friend andfellow photographer, Julian Wasser around 1980. Kari was an actress andmodel and Julian was photographing her for something on the SunsetStrip on a warm sunny day. She was wearing a mini-skirt and I wasshocked that she was not wearing any panties. On that note, we becameinstant friends and I invited her to my home for a few photo shoots.She never had a problem with taking all of her clothes for the camera.That is the way it was back then — you would just see a pool on a warmsummer day and off came the clothes! Kari, if you are reading this, donot flip out that I am using this photograph. Remember, I still havethe signed photo release.

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1. It is very important to get model releases.
2. There’s something very funny about Leif Garrett. But I can’t put my finger on it.

as ever, thanks jc.