It's been years since I devoted and entire series to the great Eugen Sandow, so let's do it today.
We start with a grainy photo of him standing on a leopard skin working a dumbbell.
I promise you the quality gets much better going forward in the set.
Grainy but stunning. That expression is wonderful. What a man...
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteI was curious about his sexuality so I looked it up.
ReplyDeleteWhether Eugen Sandow was gay is not definitively known, but he is widely believed by historians to have been bisexual, with a strong gay following in the Victorian era. While he married a woman and had children, rumors of his attraction to men persisted, often masked by his celebrity image and rumored affairs.
Key Details Regarding Sandow's Sexuality:
Persistent Rumors: While he married Blanche Brooks in 1896 and had two daughters, reports suggested he was a bisexual philanderer.
Hidden Personal Life: Following his death in 1925, his wife and daughters burned his personal documents and letters, which likely hidden details of his personal life, allowing the rumors to remain unverified.
"Queer Icon" Status: Sandow is considered a "queer icon" or "problematic fave" by many researchers, due to his appeal as a sexualized body aimed at both male and female audiences.
Close Relationships: Some accounts mention his close companionship with a male associate, Martin Sieveking, which was reportedly a point of concern for his management at the time.
Theatrical Persona: His performance as a "muscle king" allowed him to cultivate a homoerotic appeal, attracting a large male audience that often met him backstage.
Thanks for posting this. I have read very similar (or perhaps the same) accounts.
DeleteI LOVE this man, and also read his bio. Think to yourself, "why else would those letters be burned?" Supposedly, Sieveking liked to play the piano while Sandow flexed....hot!
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