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Friday, July 31, 2026

Von Gloeden Day


Today's series features the work of Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden, the notorious German who photographed a lot of Italians.  We start with a guy standing atop a stone in a corner.



 

No Clue


I have no idea what this fellow is doing, but I like the photo.

 

Ankle Deep


I found this guy ankle deep in water on a poorly curated website, 
but the familiar model tells me that it's by Von Gloeden.

 

Looks Greek


Although I'm certain that the gentleman here is Italian,
the picture has a Greek philosopher vibe.

 

Eyes Closed


I don't know if the closed eyes were intentional,
but this isn't the only instance of such in today's set.

In something of a rarity for Von Gloeden, a name was attached to this photo on a reputable website.  He apparently was Pasquale Stracuzzi

 

Contrast


I find the contrast between these two models to be interesting.

 

Cave


This is one of about half a dozen photos in my Von Gloeden collection
which appear to have been shot in and around a cave entrance.

 

Lanky


Von Gloeded employed two lanky models for this one.

 

That look


Every picture I've seen of this particular model makes 
me think he's looking right into my mind.

 

Steps

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Thursday, July 30, 2026

California Desert Day

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Bert by Pat


Pat Milo may have been the least likely photographer to visit the desert,
but this great shot of Bert Callinder makes up for the small numbers.

 

Bruce II


A German collector sold this print online, but had no name for the model.

 

John Miller by AMG

This is John Miller as photographed by Bob Mizer of AMG.  Mr. Mizer 
eventually built his own version of the California wilderness in his 
central Los Angeles compound, but it wasn't always convincing.

 

Bruce III

Both of these unknown Bruce models look mighty fine to me,
but the beefy guy at left really caught my eye.

 

Denny Denfield


Bryan B sent me this Denny Denfield photo of another unknown model.
Thanks, Bryan!

 

Bruce IV


Here we have Jerry Debry with a sword by Bruce.

 

Mel Roberts


Mike Kelly posed for Mel Roberts beside a dead tree in a small dry stream bed.

 

Bruce V


Our fifth and final Bruce photo of the set features the handsome John Weidemann, 
one of my favorite models.  Maybe I need to give him his own series soon.

 

Dave Martin


We close with John Julian by Dave Martin with a nice cactus in the foreground.

 

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Early 20th Century Day


We return yet again to the early 20th Century for today's series.  We start with 
an example of the nature boy genre where atavistic scenes play out.
I have to say nature was kind to this fellow.

 

Shower


Modern communal showers were introduced in 1872 by French physician François Merry,
but they didn't become common until World War I.  The concept really took off
when the YMCAs made them a routine part of physical culture.



 

Wrestlers


Here's your allotment of beef for the day.

 

1900

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Nicely developed


The muscular development of this man approaches what I would consider the ideal.

 

Acrobats or wrestlers?

I can't decide if these two are acrobats or wrestlers.
Either way, I like the picture.

 

Group


I would really like to know the story behind this photo of eight men.

 

Ring Pull


I don't think this fellow succeeded in pulling that ring out of the rock,
but he certainly showed of some nice muscles while trying.

 

Backside


Sometimes a simple pose gets the job done.

 

Glare


Finishing the set with a photo that works despite the glaring light.

 

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Odds and Ends


It's time for another round of leftovers, hard to categorize photos, and just plain misfits.  We start 
with a happy physique model cropped at an odd angle.  I think he's adorable.

 

Off for a swim


This one was left over from my last skinny dipping series.

 

Driftwood

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Kovert?


This trio looks very much like Kovert of Hollywood's style.
Note the foggy patch at lower right.

 

Grease


Was all that grease necessary for the model to contort himself like that?
I think it may be dribbling down the front of the block he's on.

 

Lifeguards?


Even though at least one guy's swim suit doesn't match the rest,
I think this is a group of 1970s California lifeguards.

 

Boots on the Beach


Those boots and the rope don't really go with the beach, but whatever.


 

Sports team?


I can't figure this one out.  Maybe a sports team?

 

W.F. Archer


It took some work, but once I decyphered the signature, I got the story on this photo. The gentleman is W.F. Archer winner of Britain's Best Developed Man contest.  Started by Eugen Sandow in 1901,
 it was the first and biggest physical culture contest in the UK in the early 20th Century.

 

Tan Lines


I really should have saved this last photo for a tan lines series, but it seemed just odd enough to go here.  The high waisted bathing suit that produced those lines was 1940s at latest.

 

Monday, July 27, 2026

Models Named Bob


Today we look at ten models named Bob, starting with Bob Lann by Jean Ferrero.



 

Bob Pistol


Frequent commentator Pat sent me this photo of Bob Pistol, which I believe was shot 
on one of the AMG roof terraces.  That would make it the first of several 
Bobs photographed by Bobs in today's series.  Thanks, Pat!

 

Bob Gibe


The amazing Doug Juleff, aka Douglas of Detroit, took this exceptional picture of Bob Gibe.

 

Bob Storm



 
We get a nice smile from Bob Storm in the backyark photo by Bruce of LA.




Bob Gentry


This Ralph Kelly photo of Bob Gentry was featured in a pre-liberalization magazine.

 

Bob Welk

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Bob Taylor


This is Bob Taylor by Bob Anthony.

 

Bob Brown


Bob Mizer of AMG used his mother's punch bowl to make this picture of Bob Brown.

 

Bob Delmonteque


Bob Delmonteque went on from modeling to become a competent photographer, but this isn't a selfie.  Most sources attribute it to Douglas of Detroit, while a few say photographer unknown.

 

Bob Meinhart


Our final Bob is Bob Meinhart as photographed by Bob Mizer early in his career.