William Ritter

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Leave it to Bob to find this excellent photo of William Ritter that I borrowed a few years ago.

Bob, if you see this, please know I wish you the best.

 

Ritter Brothers Day

I wish I had more photos of (and by) the Ritter Brothers to post, but there has never been much 

to glean from the internet.  Fred and William began selling physique photos as early as 1934, 

and they did a substantial amount of nude work.  We start today's set with

 one of those photos I sometimes call "the best of both worlds."

 

Bill Hillgardner

The Ritter Brothers photographed Bill Hillgardner, a competitive

 bodybuilder who also posed nude for Lou Melancon.

 

Unnamed

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Wrestling

Here we see the brothers wrestling in a wooded area.

 

Scrapbook

This scrapbook owned by a Ritter Brothers collector was for sale on line.  The photos came 

out in 1934, and I'm not sure if the posingstraps were real or drawn on.  

They look like they may have been for ads.

 

Best of Both Worlds II

The mirror produces something of an art deco effect.

 

William

Based purely on my observation, it would seem that Fred took far more photos

 of William than vice versa.  Was Fred the better photographer?

 

Lynes

George Platt Lynes took this picture of Fred Ritter and Bobby Evans drying off.

 

Possible?

My source says this photo is a "possible Ritter Brothers," but it sure looks like them to me.

Perhaps they were uncertain as to whether it was by them or of them.

 

William Again

Closing out the set with William Ritter as photographed by his brother Fred.

 

The Ritter Brothers

The Ritter Brothers were pioneers of physique photography, having begun their business

 around 1935.  They photographed themselves, each other, and quite a few models, 

as well as posing for George Platt Lynes and Earle Forbes, shown above.

Disclosure:  I removed yellowing from this photo.

 

Ritter Brothers

This unknown model posed for the Ritter Brothers according to my source.

 

The Ritter Brothers

I was researching a series on the 1930s when I came across this photo labeled as "Lou Gararini by the Ritter Brothers."  I was able to verify neither the attribution nor the model's name, and I have to say I have my doubts about the brothers having done it as the setting doesn't resemble their known work.  Still, it's a great photo, and I'm including with nine photos of and by the Ritters.

Oh, and I will post a mixed set from the 1930s soon.

 

Unknown

This unknown model posed in the Ritter Brothers' home studio.

They were known for taking men home from the gym for photo sessions.

 

William by Fred

Multiple commemorative and resale websites attribute 

this lovely photo of William Ritter to brother Fred.

 

Lynes

The men, the shadows, and the patterns in the plywood all combine 

nicely in this George Platt Lynes photo of the Ritter Brothers.

 

Unknowns

These two unknown model posed somewhat suggestively for the Ritter Brothers.

 

Catalog Page

This apparent catalog page seems to have drawn in posing straps,

a common measure in the late 1930s and into the 40s.

 

Blurry Brothers

Google Lens was no help in determining who took this picture of the brothes in a 

countryside setting.  As you will see later today, George Platt Lynes did a great outdoor 

shoot with the pair.  They also, however, did the same on their own, and I think this is 

a duo selfie, mainly because Lynes' work was almost invariably more technically 

precise than this.  I could be wrong, though.  I've been wrong lots and lots of times.