Israel David Asnis was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1911, the son of Russian immigrants. When he was a teenager, his family moved to the Newark, New Jersey area where his father owned a candy and tobacco shop. By the mid-1930s, Mr. Asnis had taken up bodybuilding while working as a clerk at a brass foundry. A part-time job modeling men's fashions led to his meeting photographer Al Urban who was just starting his career. Physique photography folklore has it that it was David Asnis who suggested that Mr. Urban take up male photography full time. By 1937, photos like the one above of David Asnis began to appear, and the rest is history as they say.
I stared at the last picture and worked my way up, and in every full frontal, I notice Mr. Asnis' scrotum hangs good and low. And his musculature is splendid in every shot. A great post, Jerry. It gives us an opportunity to admire and appreciate a real male, well built and good looking. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, B.D.! I enjoyed putting this one together.
DeleteI STARTED at the last picture...
ReplyDeleteIn this photo the model’s body seems very wide and thick, but also sensual. And his head, especially his face, looks delicate and serene. A beautiful picture.
ReplyDeleteI agree on all points, and his facial features look like fine porcelain.
DeleteFar be it from me to fixiate on a face, but his face had that classical quality we see in Roman copies of Greek statues
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that. Classic Roman good looks on a Jewish guy from Jersey.
DeleteWhat a lovely man. Somehow forming a link from the world of strong men to the beefcake. He certainly knew how to pose. Stunning...so inspiring...many thanks for posting these Jerry.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, David!
DeleteRuski-Judje so Ameriki prispevali tako kot gospod Asnis s svojo mosko lepoto.
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