Nude or Lewd:
The Story of Nudism in America
a documentary film by
Michael T.Fitzgerald, Jr.
Since the turn of the 19th century, men and women of all ages have been gathering together in the nude for fitness and leisure in a non-sexual, social environment.
This documentary investigates the history of social nudism in America, its struggles and achievements, its relationship to freedom in the USA, while examining its current state of affairs.
ABOUT
The Story of Nudism in America
Like every significant movement in history, there were prominent figures who followed their convictions, made extraordinary sacrifices, and influenced the direction and expansion of the cause. In our documentary, we will explore the history of nudism through the personal journeys of these influential leaders...
A German immigrant who brought his love of Freikörperkultur (Free Body Culture)
to America and organized gatherings in a NYC gymnasium which would be raided by police.
to America and organized gatherings in a NYC gymnasium which would be raided by police.
An Economist and Professor of Sociology who worked for the State Department during both World Wars who wrote the first book on nudism by an American and was ultimately railroaded by the House of Un-American Activities during the Red Scare of the 1940s.
A stringent, forward-thinking minister-educator from New Jersey who would seize the reigns of power of the American Nudist movement, challenge decency laws and the First Amendment in the Supreme Court while fighting the USPS, forcing revisions to the postal code.
An Ohio school teacher would lose her job after an illegal police raid and continue to battle for nudist rights, subsequently finding her home ablaze from a fire-bombing.
The son of a printer who would inherit his family business and use his printing press for the propagation of nudism and go on to join forces with the South Florida Free Beaches, Inc., create The Naturist Society, and build an archive library to preserve the history of nudism in America.
This documentary investigates the history of nudism in America, its struggles and achievements, its relationship to freedom in the USA, while examining its current state of affairs.
Producer/Director: Michael T. Fitzgerald, Jr.
Michael earned an MFA in Directing Motion Pictures from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, CA, and has been involved with the motion picture industry for over two decades. He has written, produced, directed, and edited numerous projects, including the editor of five feature-length films. He is an award-winning filmmaker (Best Film - Director’s View Film Festival, Best Editor - Beverly Hills Film Festival, Best Short Nominee - Hollyshorts Film Festival), creator of “Pranks in Paradise,” and co-creator of the hit web series, “Cookin’ with Coolio.”
Michael is also the current manager of a clothing-optional resort located in “The Nudist Capital of America,” Pasco County, Florida. His experience living and working in a nudist environment for over three years has provided real-life insight of the people, the politics, the history, and the inner workings of this unique lifestyle. Michael believes the struggles, persecutions, and triumphs of this vastly misunderstood subculture need to be explored, documented, and yes—exposed to the world.
