Let Us Start with a Flashback: Brad Elterman

Eddie Behind The Beverly Hills Hotel No. 3 1977:

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

You have to do the best you can in these situations. Take a close
look 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, a
permanent fixture on the party circuit. I am sure that he was on his
way to get this girl’s telephone number. Back then, I did not think it
too much of a big deal going to a Mega Mansion party in Beverly Hills
with nude girls because I attended three or four of these a week! This
was the only photograph worth taking at the party and now is one of my
favorite photos. It truly captured a moment from that incredible era
that I will never see again.

Duran Duran at the Riot House 1977:

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

What was amazing was that they knew who I was by seeing
my photo credit in the Japanese press. John Taylor made sure I was on
the list for the gig that evening. A couple of years later they were
back in town and staying at the Chateau Marmont Hotel. I heard that
Andy Taylor was getting married and I just kind of showed up and joined
the bash. Took some photos and sold them everywhere. If it was only
that easy today!

Joan Jett At The Tropicana Motel 1978:

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

Leif Garrett And Nicolette Sheridan 1980:

I had been photographing Leif Garrett for years at sessions and concerts
all over the place, including Japan. I was home one weekend afternoon
when he called me to get to his house. The call was short: “Get over
here and bring your camera. I have a new girlfriend.” Boy, did he have
a new girlfriend! I do not think I ever saw such a beautiful girl. She
was Nicolette Adams, who now goes by Nicolette Sheridan. They had just
gotten out of the pool and wanted to get dressed for the photos. Get
dressed??!! Naw, let’s just take the photos. Well, the photos made the
cover of magazines all over Europe and were published in “People.” The
photo still sells today. Nicolette is so hot and enjoyable on
“Desperate Housewives.” I have not seen Leif in years, but I see
Nicolette 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 recognizable
person on the planet. I vividly remember when he walked to his seat at
the Forum because the entire 18,400 guests and VIPs at this event stood
up and applauded him. It was truly a moving experience. I stood nearby
for as long as I could to get this shot. It was not easy with all the
security guards around. Seated next to Ali is his wife Veronica, Dr.
Jerry Buss and his lovely date and the former Mayor of Los Angeles, Tom
Bradley and his wife. Many years later I was invited to a boxing match
at the Forum by Jerry Buss. Seated near me at ringside was Ali, much
older 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:

One of the fringe benefits of being a photographer covering the scene back
in 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 talent
coming to my pad back then. During this time, I rented a really cool
house on Canton Drive in Studio City. It was just over the hill from
Mulholland Drive and I could make it down to the Starwood or Art’s Deli
in a flash.

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

From time to time I would transform my pool to a photo set and that is where
I made this photo of Kari Klark. I met Kari through my friend and fellow photographer, Julian Wasser around 1980. Kari was an actress and model and Julian was photographing her for something on the Sunset Strip on a warm sunny day. She was wearing a mini-skirt and I was shocked that she was not wearing any panties. On that note, we became instant 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 warm
summer day and off came the clothes! Kari, if you are reading this, do
not flip out that I am using this photograph. Remember, I still have
the signed photo release.

—

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.