1950's Day, Part 2 - the Male Nude Art of Don Wight

Don Emerson Wight (1924-1999) was an American artist who did quite a few male nude drawings and lithographs in the 1950's.  Today's art segment will feature his work, starting with this 

impressive young man looking past a newspaper with a cup of coffee standing by.

Pants around the ankles is not what I was expecting when I came across 

this Don Wight piece on a high end art resale website.

This somewhat faint drawing of a pensive young man is somehow engaging.

To call this Don Wight drawing from the 1950's advanced for its time is something of an understatement.  Wight was better known at that time as a fabric designer.

Don Wight did a number of simple line drawings of male nudes in the mid-1950's.

They remind me somewhat of similar work by Picasso from the 1930's.

1950's Day, Part 1 - Douglas of Detroit

Douglas of Detroit, aka Doug Juleff, was one of the artistic giants of 1950's 

physique photography.  Unfortunately he never resumed production after his 1958 arrest despite living into the 1990's.  So the first half of 1950's day will feature his work, starting with 

this unusual (for DofD) outdoor shot of Val Memecek.

Visible body hair and excellent lighting on this 

unknown model give the picture a special character.

Doug Juleff was known for his use of double exposures, 

but this one of Keith Maynard is unusual in that it has a light background.

Most Douglas of Detroit photos of this sort featured dark backgrounds and shadows.

An unknown model shows us some finely developed muscles in this Douglas of Detroit photo.

I'm not always fond of oiled models, but Doug Juleff 

got it right in this 1955 photo of Gene Staggs.

There's always this one guy . . . or sometimes two

Today I'm running some groups of swimmers in which nearly everyone is covered up in one 

way or another with a few strategic exceptions.  We start with a group where all but one guy 

has found a way to artfully hide the most private bits.

I think these are Germans at a lake resort.

Has this one been photoshopped?  The guy showing his package is grinning like he knows he being naughty, but there are traces around his crotch that make me wonder.  Far right looks fishy, too.

Too bad the big guy at left didn't leave his suit at home.

The man at far right seems quite content to let it all hang out,

while the others, with one possible exception, seem more demure.

Jim French/Colt Day, Part 2 - Sex Appeal without Nudity

One of the elements of Jim French's genius was his ability to capture palpable sex appeal even when no overt nudity was involved.  Part 2 of today's series shows five examples of that talent.  In this photograph, the details combine with the embrace in subtle ways to expand the impact.  The bracelet, the mirror, and even the checkerboard tile floor all add something to the overall effect.

Another Man was the 1973 follow-up to Man, a ground breaking coffee table book of male nudes by Jim French.  Both had some artistic non-nudes, as in this photo from the former title.

Jim French moved to Los Angeles in the early 70's, and the slightly shaggy 

blonde hairdo on this model makes me think 'surfer.'

Those muscles and the straight-on look of the model combine to make 

what I think is a powerful image from 1973's Another Man.

This image came to me undated, but I'm pretty sure it is late 70's or even 80's.  I'm including it anyway, though, because it exemplifies Jim French's artistic use of beefier models.

Jim French/Colt Day, Part 1 - the Cowboys

I got a note the other day reminding me that I had promised a cowboy themed series by the immortal Jim French of Colt, so that will be the first half of our Wednesday double feature.

This color image is undated, but I'm pretty sure it is early 70's.

This image is from "The Bunkhouse," a memorable photo series produced by Jim French in 1968.

I think this is the full cast of models in what was a truly outstanding set that still impresses today.

At first glance I thought this was "Butch Cassidy," but then realized it was only a clever play on the hit 70's film.  Jim French published Gallery from about 1973 to 1978 under the Colt brand, and it was a cut above most of the gay nudie publications of that era in thematic content and image quality. 

This image from Jim French's 1968 Bunkhouse series not only features some really great models, but the photographer's attention to details in props and costumes (such little as there were) shows some real consideration for authenticity.  The saddle is a classic, and the rifle at least resembles a period Winchester.  By contrast, Kris used a BB gun in one of it's western magazine spreads.

This doesn't seem to be part of the Bunkhouse series,

but it definitely is Jim French's style.
Edited to add:  Check out the comments for James IV's info on this model, Jim Cassidy.

World War I Signal Corps Photos Courtesy of Larry K.

My friend and collaborator Larry K., a resident of Hawaii like me, researched and shared today's World War I photos of American soldiers.  Thanks!  These men have been given their clothes after "sterilizing" at the 166th Field Hospital in Indian Village, France on May 14, 1918.

The American soldiers in this shower seem entirely nonchalant about being photographed nude.

Photo made at the 166th Field Hospital in Indian Village France on May 14, 1918.  I suspect delousing is going on due to the extremely short haircuts, a frequent delousing measure.

This photo was made at a delousing station on Jan. 18, 1919 by Sgt. Ryden.
We think that's Lt. Ford with his clothes on.

A German delousing station taken over by Americans was the site for this photo taken at Audenarde, Belgium on November 14, 1918.  The spiffy Signal Corps emblem in the lower left may have been added at a much later date because it is far more refined than the typical WWI version.
Taken by Sgt. J.T. Seabrook.

This Signal Corps photo was taken by Sgt. McGarrigle on April 26, 1919 at Debarcation Hospital #3 in New York City.  It isn't clear if these were sick or wounded soldiers or if everyone got a shower before being mustered out of the Army.  They look pretty healthy to me.
Thanks again to fellow Hawaii resident Larry K. for sharing the pictures in this series!

Splendor (and other things) in the Grass . . . or Ain't Nature Grand? - Part 2

Back in May, I posted some photos of men in the grass and put words in their mouths.

Now it's time for Part 2.

"Is that what I think it is?  At least I didn't step in it."
Edited to add:  Read the comment by James IV for some very interesting info on this model, Al Abajian as photographed by Bruce of LA.

"Why does the photographer keep saying "What a bush!" when we're in the tall grass."

"I wonder which of my fake names this publisher will use.  Rusty or Dusty?"
Edited to add:  This is Bobby Kane by RMX according to jsstrand in the comments.  Thanks!

"For 20 bucks all you get is a shot of my keester.  Pecker costs more, lots more."
Edited to add:  James IV says in the comments that this is Art Ullrich by Denny Denfield.

Guy on left says,  "I bet some guy comes along 50 years from now and calls us sluts or trollops."

Guy on right,  "For 50 bucks I don't care.  And besides, this photographer gives fringe benefits."

Boat Day, Part 2 - Rowing Crews

Our G rated boating set features some college rowing teams, 

starting with an early 20th C. Penn team.

The guy just right of center caught my eye for some reason.

Too bad this group of unknowns has their shirts on.

A few of them do seem to be showing off somewhere else, though.

This undated photo shows the Cal-Berkeley team.

This is the Harvard Freshman crew of 1934.

If they looked that good as Freshmen, I'd love to see them as Seniors.
Edited to add:  An anonymous comment correctly pointed out that
third from the right is Franklin Roosevelt, Jr., son of the president.

OK, so these guys aren't a college competitive rowing crew,

but I just couldn't resist throwing them in for the finale.

Boating Day, Part 1 - Naked Men

Since I live on an island, boats figure in the daily experience.  Our R rated set today features a diverse group of nude men in and around boats, while the G rated set will feature rowing teams.

We start with a pleasing young man and a glimpse of derriere in the background.

I was saving this for one of my "there's one guy in every group" sets,

but I decided the boating theme needed some diversity, so here it is.

This is supposed to be an AMG photo and one of these guys is supposed to be Dusty Haven, 

but I don't know which one or if any of that is even right.
Edited to add:  In the comments the_cham_cham says Dusty is the blond.  Also, check out James IV's comment with a great story about Dusty and 900 numbers . . . if you know what those were.

Our Bum Brigade derriere shot almost made a recent flattop haircut theme.

I get a Dave Martin vibe from this one, but that's just a hunch.

This young man seems to be comfortable straddling the back of a rowboat.

Hairy Derrieres

I have been disgracefully tardy in fulfilling a request from my Belgian friend Albert for some hairy derrieres.  So here we go, starting with a guy who's also showing us a boot.

There's a lot going on in this one,

not the least of which is that look.
Edited to add:  James IV lets us know in the comments
that this is 80's porn star. Cole Carpenter.

The color and the jockstrap provide some added interest in this one.

This is supposed to be a Colt model,

but I couldn't tell you which one.