Lon and his Columns

Alonzo Hanagan, aka Lon of New York, may have used columns as props in his work before he moved into Mae West's Manhattan apartment.  That is said to have increased after the move because Ms. West had done the place up in a riot of Rococo columns, cherubs, and other stuff.  So today's set will feature Lon's columns, starting with George Paine in a shot where one can barely be seen.

 

Danny Maffia

Even in a posing strap, Danny Maffia looks good next to that column.

 

Sal Severino

We get a great smile from Sal Severino, sometimes spelled Saverino.

 

Theseus George

Theseus George was a Greek immigrant who won Mr. New York in 1954.

Sadly, this is the only photo I could find of him.

 

Howard Hunter

Howard Hunter was a successful bodybuilder in an era when 

African-American men had a hard time breaking into the field.

 

Unknown

It's unfortunate that this handsome and well built model is unknown.

This is a good example of how subdued oiling can work.

 

Steve Wengryn

Steve Wengryn's stiff pose isn't the most inspiring,

but it does show off some muscles.

 

Melvin Wells

This picture of Melvin Wells looks like it was pulled from an old type album.

 

Jerry Rocco

Never one to be shy about posing frontally nude, Jerry Rocco doesn't appear in many 

posing strap photos.  (He is more likely to be seen in trunks than a strap, fwiw.)  

This shot fits today's theme, and that smile absolutely makes me melt, so here it is.

 

Raul Pacheco

One of Alonzo Hanagan's favorite models was Raul Pacheco, so it's appropriate 

to close the columns sereis with Raul and Lon's favorite prop.

 

Lon of New York Day, Part 2 - Columns

We are more likely to see Classical columns in the work of Lon of New York than just about any other physique photographer.  Although it was common motif in many settings at the time, some folks say that in Lon's case it was at least partly because he moved into Mae West's old apartment in NYC. The place held quite a few of them, along with a riot of Rococo cherubs and the like.  We start part two with the finely muscled Luis Santiago and the most frequently used of Lon's columns.

 

Jerry Rocco

I need to give Jerry Rocco a series of his own, even though most of them would be repeats.

This fine model was always comfortable being nude in front of a camera.

 

George Paine

The muscle definition is excellent in this shot of George Paine.

 

Vince Taffaro

We get a very nice smile from Vince Taffaro.

 

Felix Gedraites

Closing out the columnar half of our Lon set with Felix Gedraites.

 

Unknown

Today's last Kovert of Hollywood model is an unknown 

man who posed with a Classical column.

 

Columns Day

It's columns day, and I will be posting fourteen models with that classic prop.

We start with an unknown by Dave Martin.

 

Ralph Kelly

Don W. Cogan struck a modified pinup pose for Ralph Kelly.

 

Bruce of LA

Bruce of LA's trademark grass floor mat shows up in this photo of an unknown.

 

Kovert of Hollywood

The model is unknow for this Kovert of Hollywood photo from the 1940s.