Elysium Institute
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The Elysium Research and Development Institute was founded by Ed Lange in the mid-1960's. It was located in Topanga Canyon, California, and at the time it was the only nudist resort in Los Angeles County. Ed Lange used money from the sales of his nudist publications to finance Elysium, and it was his involvement with the courts in getting the old Comstock laws repealed that made it possible for him to publish in the first place. Those court decisions made it legal to send nudist magazines through the mail.
At the time, some felt that nudist clubs adopted an almost puritanical attitude about sexuality in order to deflect much of the criticism of government officials and keep their doors open. At the time, many nudist clubs had “no touching” rules, and you were not allowed to look at another person lower then their neck. Elysium went against the conventions of the time by having a policy of being clothing optional, which at the time, was a very controversial thing to do in the nudist community. Traditional nudists thought that wearing clothes was more sexual in a nude environment. Elysium also offered nude massage on the lawn, another aspect that shocked traditional nudists. [link]
The Elysium institute no longer exists, but part of the organization developed into a mainstream naturist club which ended up moving to Florida in the early 2000s.
A description from a 1968 Ankh magazine, reflecting the free love ideals of the organization, reads:
"A new social concept, promoting: -Improved self-knowledge and understanding -Positive ways to a fear-free sexual life -Greater sense of responsibility to others -More satisfying interpersonal relations -Sound moral values for today's world -Relief from oppressive standards governing sex -Enlightenment, brotherhood and growth"
Ankh magazines were published in the late 1960s by Elysium Inc. as a part of the Elysium Research and Development Institute (previously located at 5436 Fernwood Avenue, Los Angles, CA 90027).
See also
- The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR)
- Clothes free organizations
- Clothes free people
- Gymnophobia
- List of public outdoor clothes free places
- Naturism
- Nudism
- Nudity in sport
- Public nudity
- Skinny dipping
External links
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