Ed Lange

Ed Lange obit — From the June, 1995 edition of “The Bulletin”. John Wells

Biography

Ed Lange (1920-1995) was a fashion photographer and nudist photographer and advocate. ¹ He was first exposed to nudism through a copy Sunshine and Health magazine purchased at a drugstore. ² Lange was the founder of the The Elysium Institute in Topanga, California. He successfully battled zoning ordinances in Los Angeles County to keep the clothing optional retreat center open. Lange is reported to have spent over a million dollars in legal fees over 25 years to fight the anti nudity ordinance against which he ultimately prevailed. ³

Photography career

Lange was a photographer for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Life magazines. He also worked for Conde Nast and Paramount Studios shooting celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Nudist photography and publishing

He later turned his photography skills to nudist photography and literature and founded Elysium Growth Press. Through Elysium Growth Press Lange published books on health, self esteem and body acceptance.⁴

With his wife June Lange (née Poole) Lange sought to modernize American nudist magazines to reflect a more realistic portrayal of nudism that was less oriented towards the classical European style magazines. They wanted to share more of the family aspect of American nudism. Ed and June joined Ilsley Boone to fight the legal prohibitions of mailing nudist magazines. ⁵

Elysian Fields Nudist camp

Lange dreamt of owning a nudist camp to improve conditions for nudists after seeing a couple be forced to sell their camp. He and his then wife June Lange started a social group called the Sundial Club run from their Hollywood apartment. They advocated the benefits of clothes free living to others. Eventually, in 1968, he went on to start Elysian Fields in Topanga Canyon California. Elysian Fields was designed as a clothing optional family oasis, sex was forbidden on the grounds, though Lange broke several taboos of “puritanical” nudism. Touching and massage services were offered.

Elysian Fields became a target for the local sheriff who sought to use local laws and zoning ordinances to close the venue. This included a notion that the location was unsafe for occupation due to seismic dangers. After several judicial reversals, in 1993 the camp was granted the right to exist. ⁶

Working with Aileen Goodson , Lange introduced nude group therapy and other self help, health and well being practices at The Elysium Institute. He served as vice president of the American Association for Nude Recreation ( aka American Sunbathing Association) and the International Naturist Federation. Lange was an avid volleyball player and along with his wife June Lange visited nudists clubs to play in tournaments. In 1995 shortly before his death Lange was awarded the Citizen of the Year award by the Topanga Chamber of Commerce for his humanitarian work and contributions to the local community. ⁷

Ed Lange died in 1995 at 75 years old. His surviving daughters sold Elysium Institute after his death.⁸ Members of The Elysium Institute formed the Southern California Naturist Association (SCNA) to continue Lange work, ⁹ after the sale of the property and loss of their lease. ¹⁰

Ed Lange books

In 1961, Lange established Elysium Growth Press as a publisher of books celebrating the beauty of the naked human body in natural settings. Later, he rented a booth at the Frankfurt International Book Fair and displayed a handful of high quality, hardcover pictorial books which put Elysium Growth Press on the map.,Lange published several books and magazines with contributions from other famous photographers, authors and editors. ¹¹

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