Colt Studio Group

{{Short description|American pornographic film studio}}

{{More citations needed|date=February 2011}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Colt Studio Group

| logo = Coltlogo.png

| logo_size = 200px

| type = Private

| foundation = New York City, New York (1967)

| location = San Francisco, California, USA

| industry = Gay pornography

| products =

| homepage = [http://www.coltstudiogroup.com Official website]

}}

Colt Studio Group is an American independent pornography company. Colt has produced gay pornography since 1967. Colt started in New York City, moved to Los Angeles for 25 years, and is now based in San Francisco, California.

Colt photographed some of the most famous gay stars of the pre-AIDS era, including Bruno and Al Parker.{{Cite web |last=Harrity |first=Christopher |date=2019-11-07 |title=Gay/Bi Men and Mustaches, a History in Photos |url=https://www.advocate.com/comedy/2019/11/07/gay-men-and-mustaches-history-photos |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=The Advocate |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Al Parker |url=https://www.coltstudiogroup.com/profile/365-al-parker |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Colt Studio Group |language=en}}

In 2007, Colt Studio Group celebrated its fortieth anniversary. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring February 23, 2007 as "Colt Studio Day" in celebration of this anniversary. This proclamation attracted criticism from conservative commentators including then–Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/03/BAGJ2OEMTH1.DTL|title=Policy changing after gay porn studio lauded. Mayor was unaware of proclamation, now wants oversight|date=3 March 2007|first=Cecilia M.|last=Vega|website=San Francisco Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Communications, Inc|access-date=2008-05-19}}

Colt was discussed in a 2014 article in the academic journal Fashion Theory by Shaun Cole, who argued that the characters in the company's pornography are "constructed through their clothing and costuming", and noted that it was famed for its "presentation of hypermasculine

images". He also observed that the choice of the name "Colt" by the company's founders, Jim French and Lou Thomas, reflected a "gun theme"; a previous company founded by French had been called "Lüger", after the German pistol. According to Cole, French's use of the pseudonym "Rip Colt" was "inspired by an amateur photographer in San Francisco" named Rip Searby.{{cite journal |first=Shaun |last=Cole |title=Costume or Dress? The Use of Clothing in the Gay Pornography of Jim French's Colt Studio |journal=Fashion Theory |date=April 2014 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=123–147|doi=10.2752/175174114X13890223974461 |s2cid=194000980 }} {{subscription required|via=[https://www.ebsco.com EBSCO]'s Academic Search Complete}}

Image:COLT guys (San Francisco Gay Parade 2006).jpg) at a 2006 San Francisco parade.]]