Luke Halpin in Suit & Tie
Fans of Luke Halpin know how much the energetic teen actor loves sports, and it is not surprising that Luke is most often seen in athletic active wear, both on screen and off.
But in an interview published in 16 Magazine, Luke confessed to liking nice clothes:
 |
|
|
16 Magazine: How do you like to dress?
Luke Halpin: In Continental-cut clothes, wearing a shirt and tie. |
|
|
| ("Luke Halpin Answers 40 Intimate Questions," 16 Magazine, Feb 65) | |
|
|
And while this handsome teen star would certainly look good in a suit & tie, in actuality, he rarely gets the chance to wear them in the TV series.
In the TV series, there are only two episodes where Luke gets to put on a suit & tie:
 |
Episode 4 - The Gulf Between |
|
Episode 66 - Cupid Flipper |
In both these episodes, we get to see Luke not only in a suit & tie, but also dressed down to just his cutoffs. This allows us to make a rather interesting comparison:
|
Luke's formal wear |
|
Luke's muscles |
Luke Halpin in Formal Wear
Here are screenshots of Luke in a suit & tie side by side with scenes in the same episode where he is dressed down to only cutoffs:
| Ep 4 - The Gulf Between | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ep 66 - Cupid Flipper | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
This early publicity photo is also a good example of Luke in a suit. Note how it compares to his dressed-down look in an episode made at about the same time as the photo (Season 1, Ep 2, Red Hot Car):
| Early Publicity Photo vs TV Series (Ep 2 - Red Hot Car) | |
 |
 |
Here is a later publicity photo (scanned from an unidentified print periodical) taken around the time of Season 3. Luke's formal wear now includes a handsome vest. The TV comparison is from Season 3, "Dolphin For Ransom":
| Publicity Photo (unknown source) vs TV Series (Ep 80 - Dolphin For Ransom) | |
 |
 |
The next example is not a suit per se. However, Luke chose to wear a stylish outfit for the "Singing Star" article in 16 Magazine, published in the April 1966 issue. The TV comparison is from an episode that aired about the time of the magazine issue's release (Ep 53 Gift Dolphin, aired Feb 26, 1966):
| 16 Magazine Photo (April 66 issue) vs TV Series (Ep 53 - Gift Dolphin) | ||
 |
 |
 |
Luke Halpin As Model
As these pictures show, Luke Halpin cuts a dashing figure in formal wear.
So has this popular teen actor ever worked as a model? Has Luke ever modeled for magazines or newspapers?
So far, we don't know.
Luke's numerous publicity pictures lean heavily toward casual photos of Luke in casual t-shirts and shorts. This emphasis on informal wear may be a consequence of the athletic nature of his TV role. There doesn't seem to be any record of Luke doing a formal modeling shoot; The Luke Halpin Gallery is still trying to locate such pictures.
But while the search for actual modeling shoots is still ongoing, it can be safely assumed just from these few examples that Luke would certainly be ideal as model material.
The Choice Between Suits and Cutoffs
The question remains: does Luke Halpin look better in formal suits or dressed down to just his cutoffs?
The answer is that Luke looks equally good in both.
The above pictures show that Luke looks quite impressive in suits and ties. And while pictures from modeling shoots have yet to be located, it is certainly probable that Luke would be considered prime candidate for any respectable fashion photographer.
But Luke will be the first to remind you that he is every bit as athletic in real life as he is on screen --
"I think I get more exercise in the course of a day than anybody I know," says the seasoned swimmer/diver (Teen Life, Jan 1966).
Luke not only loves water sports, he also plays baseball, football, and golf. On the TV show, he has even demonstrated his skills in swimming, diving, and running.
Thus sports modeling would be very much in tune with this active teen's interests. Luke Halpin would be ideal for shorts, t-shirts and all kinds of athletic gear.
|
||||||||
Luke looks good in most types of attire. We have seen that this teen star is equally comfortable in both formal wear and casual.
But there is a more important point to be made here: Luke doesn't need to dress up to look good.
There are lots of people who can't seem to look good unless they cover themselves with expensive attire and plaster their faces with elaborate makeup. Sadly, many are trying to cover up poorly developed bodies and hide physical flaws.
Luke, on the other hand, has something that a lot of people don't have -- MUSCLES!
Luke Halpin doesn't need to hide himself under waistcoats or suits, and he definitely does *not* need fancy attire to look good. This athletic teen keeps his muscles in good enough shape that he can put aside the costly outfits for a simple pair of shorts and still cause a sensation.
Is it possible to create an outfit that could look just as good as Luke's muscles? Fashion designers who think so have their work cut out for them if they watch Luke in his TV role and find out just how big and hard his muscles are. In fact, the best cover outfit may just be the one that covers the least and just lets the power of these muscles shine through.