Starry Eyed (Patreon)

On the evening of Friday, November 17, 1978 Gauntlet celebrated the Grand Opening of its first retail location at 8720 Santa Monica Blvd. This was the first step in the transition of piercing from subculture to industry. 

I meant to post this on the 17th- the 42nd anniversary of Gauntlet's grand opening. The photo was taken some time in the late 1970s/early 1980s and features Jim Ward performing a nipple piercing on a starry eyed client as friends watch on. 

From Jim Ward's Running the Gauntlet:
The grand opening was scheduled for November 17, Gauntlet’s third anniversary. There was a whirlwind of activity in preparation. Refreshments had to be purchased, champagne iced, everything put in order. A local photographer named Charlie Airwaves was hired to take photographs. It was one of the biggest days of my life.

You can buy Jim's memoir directly from him here: https://www.runningthegauntlet-book.com