Bruce of LA Day

This rather ordinary looking man was Bruce Harry Bellas (1909-1974), better known as Bruce of Los Angeles.  Born in Alliance, Nebraska, he taught high school chemistry there until he moved to LA in the 1940′s.  He began working as a professional photographer of the growing post-war professional bodybuilder scene there, publishing “legitimate” or non-nude photos in a number of magazines. He managed to avoid getting arrested (as far as I can tell) by staying just inside the laws of the time.  When things loosened up in the 60′s he began doing whole series of male nudes, not all of whom were bodybuilders.  Also, he finally was able to publish some nudes he had done far earlier.  

Bruce of LA may not have gone to prison, but he was still a pioneer of our freedom.  

So today is Bruce day on the blog, and our R-rated set features his work in the desert.  Our G-rated photos will take us to the beach.