Edmund Leja (U.S. photographer).

**Joszka** · July 6th, 2015, 06:36 PM

Edmund Leja, also known as Ed Leja (1919-2002) started in Detroit, in the mid 40's

and mainly after 45 his first attempts as "semi-pro" photographer.
He moved to California in 52 and increased his activity in photography and began hiring models
on weekends to shoot on location and in and around his home.
For his artistic figure work, Leja often preferred the great outdoors,
just like one of his colleagues, Andre de Dienes.

Based in West Hollywood and Studio City, at the heart of the early Southern California
nude photography industry, de Dienes and Leja shared several model contacts.
They both photographed two-time Playmate of the Month Diane Webber
(Miss May 1955 and Miss February 1956),
Collette Berne (Playboy cover model, July 1960), as well as Sue Snow and Tammy Saunders.
Leja discovered and photographed three Playmates for Playboy magazine
(one of these Playmates, Donna Michelle, had actually been discovered by one of Leja's daughters).
He photographed Teddi Smith, Miss July 1960, Donna Michelle, Miss December 1963
(and 1964's Playmate of the Year), and Lori Winston, Miss June 1964.

A leading pioneer in the fields of glamour, pin-ups, nudes and erotica,
Edmund Leja photographed over 200 models between the 1940s and the early 1980s.
His body of work encompasses more than 100,000 images.

This thread is dedicated to his work.
But pics of models with their own thread have to be posted on the respective threads.

Index of Leja pics or sets on VEF, or posted on this thread, to be updated :

Alice Roles
Aprille Lytell 2
Araya Emery 2
Barbara Caron
Barbara Peckinpaugh
Betty
Beverly Standley 2
Bonnie Clarke 2
Brandy Case
Brigette Baum 2
C. Amsterdam 2
Candy Walker 2 3
Carol McBee
Carol Weisskopf
Carole Wooley 2
Cecile Allain
Celeste Rauschert
Charlotte Stewart
Cheri Enid 2
Cheryl Stewart 2
Christmas Mitchell 2 3
Colette Berne 2 3 4
Concert Mayol, Paris 2 3
Cynthia Gaede 2 3
Cynthia Gant
Cynthia Simpson
Daisy Hellman
Damian Zish
Dee Matteson
Denise Daniel
Diane White
Donna Michelle 2 3 4 5
Donna Rogers 2 3 4 5 6
Donna Scott
Donna Stanley 2
Doris Ayala 2
Freddi Robbins
Gail Vandermost 2
Gigi Frost 2
Glenda Graham 2
Gloria Knight 2 3
Gloria O'Cana 2
Goldie Gibson
Greta Saffell 2
Helena Clayton
Jeani Mack 2 3 4
Jessie Baker
Jetta Salling
Joan Kress
Judy Moore 2 3
Kathy Knowblock
Kathy Price
Keli Stewart 2 3
Kellie Everts 2 3 4
Kitty Randall 2
Koval Crane
Laine Carliss aka Honey Harmon 3 4 5 6
Laura Stevens 2
Laurene Dulac 2 3 4 5 6
Lee Lane 2
Leona Uris
Linda Curry
Linda Smith
Lois Bishop 2 3
Lori Winston aka Julie Cron 2 3
Lorie Armbrust 2 3
Lovie Harris 2 3 4
Luana Chilton
Lynde Redden 2
Madeline Castle 2 3 4 5
Marcella Brooker
Margie Fisco
Marguerite Empey aka Diane Webber 2 3 4 5 6
Marian Bartta
Marilyn Wesley 2 3
Mary Beth Meaky
Mary Vallade
Maureen Cross
Maya Malbasa 2
Mickey Jines 2 3 4 5 6
Millicent Hutson
Monica Smith
Mykt Gaber 2
Nan Burns
Natasha Pidgue
Nell Bedell
Niki Sharrock
Pat Connely 2 3 4 5
Pat Larsen
Pat O'Connell 2 3
Patti Conley
Patty Barrick
Peggy Cochran 2
Rita Ritman
Robin Caulkins aka Jacqueline Brooks
Ronnie Powers 2
Sandra Henderson 2
Sandy Dempsey
Sarah Hardenburg
Sharon Matt 2 3
Sharron Myers 2
Shawn Daley
Sherry Everett 2 3 4
Shirley Kilpatrick 2 3 4 5
Shirley Skates 2 3
Sue Parker 2
Sue Snow 2 3 4 5 6 7

Susan Szaley
Susan Temmer 2
Sylvia Hand 2 3 4
Sylvia Wright
Tammy Saunders 2 3
Teddi Smith 2 3 4 5
Teresa Malloy 2
Terri Dolan aka Teri Hannon
Terry Knight
Toni Webster 2 3 4

Unknown model 2
Vici Larraine
Vincene Cradduck aka Vincene Wallace 2
Vivian Gursten
Wendy Wyatt 2
Yvonne Pellicano

**Joszka** · July 6th, 2015, 06:37 PM

Unknown model, mid 40's.

**Joszka** · July 7th, 2015, 05:56 PM

Yvonne Pellicano, circa 1950.

**Joszka** · July 11th, 2015, 11:07 AM

Cecile Allain, 1963.
ps : there's lot of other pics in the Vintage Nudism Pictures, especially here or here. Thanks to Jism Jim & Jerquer !

**Joszka** · July 14th, 2015, 08:08 AM

Susan Szaley, 1980.

**Joszka** · July 22nd, 2015, 09:20 AM

Vivian Gursten, 1950.

RickGT351 · January 25th, 2020, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joszka

Yvonne Pellicano, circa 1950.

I would put it as late 60's or early 70's

John Hand · September 30th, 2015, 04:22 AM

Joszka, how did you gain access to Ed's photo files? Just wondering because you might also have many of the photo sets that I did for him for the magazines. Sylvia Hand was my wife. 1964 American Sunbathing Association queen for 1964.

**Joszka** · September 30th, 2015, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hand

Joszka, how did you gain access to Ed's photo files?

I simply was a member of their site for a month or 2. And I'll try to share all I have gleaned there.
About Sylvia Hand, I already posted on her thread all what I had.

John Hand · October 1st, 2015, 02:56 AM

Hmmm, I wonder who has access to his photo files now. I left nude photography full time and got into car and motorcycle magazines around 1970. I was the staff photographer of ROAD TEST MAGAZINE, CYCLEGUIDE and some others.

I was going to use Ed for the magazine layout of CUSTOM CHOPPER Magazine of which I founded and was the editor. You don't mention it but Ed was a great layout artist for magazines and did many of his own nudist magazines.

Ed wanted too much money for the motorcycle magazine so the publisher (Motorsports Publications) went with another guy. That was my last contact with Ed as we were now in different fields.

July 6th, 2015, 06:36 PM	#1
Joszka Farmer Stiff Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17,818 Thanks: 233,878 Thanked 554,188 Times in 17,868 Posts	Edmund Leja (U.S. photographer). Edmund Leja, also known as Ed Leja (1919-2002) started in Detroit, in the mid 40's and mainly after 45 his first attempts as "semi-pro" photographer. He moved to California in 52 and increased his activity in photography and began hiring models on weekends to shoot on location and in and around his home. For his artistic figure work, Leja often preferred the great outdoors, just like one of his colleagues, Andre de Dienes. Based in West Hollywood and Studio City, at the heart of the early Southern California nude photography industry, de Dienes and Leja shared several model contacts. They both photographed two-time Playmate of the Month Diane Webber (Miss May 1955 and Miss February 1956), Collette Berne (Playboy cover model, July 1960), as well as Sue Snow and Tammy Saunders. Leja discovered and photographed three Playmates for Playboy magazine (one of these Playmates, Donna Michelle, had actually been discovered by one of Leja's daughters). He photographed Teddi Smith, Miss July 1960, Donna Michelle, Miss December 1963 (and 1964's Playmate of the Year), and Lori Winston, Miss June 1964. A leading pioneer in the fields of glamour, pin-ups, nudes and erotica, Edmund Leja photographed over 200 models between the 1940s and the early 1980s. His body of work encompasses more than 100,000 images. This thread is dedicated to his work. But pics of models with their own thread have to be posted on the respective threads. Index of Leja pics or sets on VEF, or posted on this thread, to be updated : Alice Roles Aprille Lytell 2 Araya Emery 2 Barbara Caron Barbara Peckinpaugh Betty Beverly Standley 2 Bonnie Clarke 2 Brandy Case Brigette Baum 2 C. Amsterdam 2 Candy Walker 2 3 Carol McBee Carol Weisskopf Carole Wooley 2 Cecile Allain Celeste Rauschert Charlotte Stewart Cheri Enid 2 Cheryl Stewart 2 Christmas Mitchell 2 3 Colette Berne 2 3 4 Concert Mayol, Paris 2 3 Cynthia Gaede 2 3 Cynthia Gant Cynthia Simpson Daisy Hellman Damian Zish Dee Matteson Denise Daniel Diane White Donna Michelle 2 3 4 5 Donna Rogers 2 3 4 5 6 Donna Scott Donna Stanley 2 Doris Ayala 2 Freddi Robbins Gail Vandermost 2 Gigi Frost 2 Glenda Graham 2 Gloria Knight 2 3 Gloria O'Cana 2 Goldie Gibson Greta Saffell 2 Helena Clayton Jeani Mack 2 3 4 Jessie Baker Jetta Salling Joan Kress Judy Moore 2 3 Kathy Knowblock Kathy Price Keli Stewart 2 3 Kellie Everts 2 3 4 Kitty Randall 2 Koval Crane Laine Carliss aka Honey Harmon 3 4 5 6 Laura Stevens 2 Laurene Dulac 2 3 4 5 6 Lee Lane 2 Leona Uris Linda Curry Linda Smith Lois Bishop 2 3 Lori Winston aka Julie Cron 2 3 Lorie Armbrust 2 3 Lovie Harris 2 3 4 Luana Chilton Lynde Redden 2 Madeline Castle 2 3 4 5 Marcella Brooker Margie Fisco Marguerite Empey aka Diane Webber 2 3 4 5 6 Marian Bartta Marilyn Wesley 2 3 Mary Beth Meaky Mary Vallade Maureen Cross Maya Malbasa 2 Mickey Jines 2 3 4 5 6 Millicent Hutson Monica Smith Mykt Gaber 2 Nan Burns Natasha Pidgue Nell Bedell Niki Sharrock Pat Connely 2 3 4 5 Pat Larsen Pat O'Connell 2 3 Patti Conley Patty Barrick Peggy Cochran 2 Rita Ritman Robin Caulkins aka Jacqueline Brooks Ronnie Powers 2 Sandra Henderson 2 Sandy Dempsey Sarah Hardenburg Sharon Matt 2 3 Sharron Myers 2 Shawn Daley Sherry Everett 2 3 4 Shirley Kilpatrick 2 3 4 5 Shirley Skates 2 3 Sue Parker 2 Sue Snow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Susan Szaley Susan Temmer 2 Sylvia Hand 2 3 4 Sylvia Wright Tammy Saunders 2 3 Teddi Smith 2 3 4 5 Teresa Malloy 2 Terri Dolan aka Teri Hannon Terry Knight Toni Webster 2 3 4 Unknown model 2 Vici Larraine Vincene Cradduck aka Vincene Wallace 2 Vivian Gursten Wendy Wyatt 2 Yvonne Pellicano Last edited by Joszka; September 29th, 2023 at 01:37 AM.. Reason: Corrected

July 6th, 2015, 06:37 PM	#2
Joszka Farmer Stiff Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17,818 Thanks: 233,878 Thanked 554,188 Times in 17,868 Posts	Unknown model. Unknown model, mid 40's. __________________ *PM for all dead pics & links, thx.* Last edited by Joszka; November 11th, 2019 at 10:06 AM.. Reason: Reup.

July 7th, 2015, 05:56 PM	#3
Joszka Farmer Stiff Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17,818 Thanks: 233,878 Thanked 554,188 Times in 17,868 Posts	Yvonne Pellicano. Yvonne Pellicano, circa 1950. __________________ *PM for all dead pics & links, thx.* Last edited by Joszka; November 16th, 2019 at 11:23 AM.. Reason: Reup.

July 11th, 2015, 11:07 AM	#4
Joszka Farmer Stiff Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17,818 Thanks: 233,878 Thanked 554,188 Times in 17,868 Posts	Cecile Allain. Cecile Allain, 1963. ps : there's lot of other pics in the Vintage Nudism Pictures, especially here or here. Thanks to Jism Jim & Jerquer ! __________________ *PM for all dead pics & links, thx.* Last edited by Joszka; November 11th, 2019 at 10:14 AM.. Reason: Reup.

July 14th, 2015, 08:08 AM	#5
Joszka Farmer Stiff Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17,818 Thanks: 233,878 Thanked 554,188 Times in 17,868 Posts	Susan Szaley. Susan Szaley, 1980. __________________ *PM for all dead pics & links, thx.* Last edited by Joszka; November 11th, 2019 at 10:32 AM.. Reason: Reup.

July 22nd, 2015, 09:20 AM	#6
Joszka Farmer Stiff Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17,818 Thanks: 233,878 Thanked 554,188 Times in 17,868 Posts	Vivian Gursten. Vivian Gursten, 1950. __________________ *PM for all dead pics & links, thx.* Last edited by Joszka; November 11th, 2019 at 10:54 AM.. Reason: Reup.

September 30th, 2015, 04:22 AM	#8
John Hand Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southeast Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 148 Times in 7 Posts	Joszka, how did you gain access to Ed's photo files? Just wondering because you might also have many of the photo sets that I did for him for the magazines. Sylvia Hand was my wife. 1964 American Sunbathing Association queen for 1964.

October 1st, 2015, 02:56 AM	#10
John Hand Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southeast Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 148 Times in 7 Posts	Hmmm, I wonder who has access to his photo files now. I left nude photography full time and got into car and motorcycle magazines around 1970. I was the staff photographer of ROAD TEST MAGAZINE, CYCLEGUIDE and some others. I was going to use Ed for the magazine layout of CUSTOM CHOPPER Magazine of which I founded and was the editor. You don't mention it but Ed was a great layout artist for magazines and did many of his own nudist magazines. Ed wanted too much money for the motorcycle magazine so the publisher (Motorsports Publications) went with another guy. That was my last contact with Ed as we were now in different fields.

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