Harpo

This is Harpo, the only model in today's series for whom I do not have a first and last name.  Denny Denfield's work has been archived by the Bob Mizer Foundation, and even they couldn't find out any more about this great model.  His abdomen has been described as perfection.

 

Rick Wayne

Jean Ferrero joins our series with this attractive photo of Rick Wayne against a tree.

 

Tom Cowans

I've posted other photos of Tom Cowans by Chuck Renslow of Kris Studio in the past,

but I must have been saving this particular one for a special occasion.

Used by kind permission of the copyright holder,

Leather Archives and Museum of Chicago

 

George Paine

Lon of New York, aka Alonzo Hanagan, was the first physique photographer to present a truly racially representative sample of models, featuring Blacks, Latinos, an Asian or two, and just about every imaginable European-American type.  To top that off, he even went to London and photographed guys from the other side of the Pond.  George Paine, shown above, is a fine example of Lon's work.

 

Walt Jourdan

It will be no surprise to many of you that my favorite among todays photos is 

this one of Walt Jourdan by Dave Martin.  Mr. Jourdan looks like a fine statue, 

and even his hair looks sculpted.  It's so good, I don't even mind the oil.

 

David Deyne

A rather dour looking David Deyne posed for the only photo of an African-American 

in my Pat Milo collection.  There may well be more, but if so, I haven't any.

 

Earl Maynard

I recently came across this doubly rare (Black model and frontally nude) photo of Earl Maynard by Royale.  Disclosure:  I removed yellowing and increased contrast to make it more viewable.

 

Kenneth Pendleton

Kenneth Pendleton (1914-1971) was photographed memorably by Al Urban. He was one of the first African-American bodybuilders to make a name for himself, appearing on the scene about 1935.  Mr. Pendleton has been described as "born a cripple" and being only 5'1" (155cm) tall, yet he won out over the famous Dan Lurie to win the "Most Muscular" division of the 1941 Mr. New York contest.  After fighting in World War II, he dropped out of the bodybuilding scene.

 

Jim Jacobs

Russ Warner took this artfully done photo of Jim Jacobs.

 

Ronnie Moore

Our last African-American physique photo is Ronnie Moore by Western Photography Guild.

This is about as sexually suggestive as one gets with Don Whitman's work.

 

Early 20th Century Strong Men

Today's set features some early 20th C. strongmen and fitness gurus.

 

Jess Westergaard

The photo quality is a mess, but the man is not.  This is Jess Westergaard from 1910.

He started out as a boxer, switched to wrestling, but did best as a strong man.

 

Gus Lasser

Gus Lasser's act centered around bending metal bars with his teeth.  From 1920.

 

Netherlands, 1915

This unknown Dutch circus strongman was photographed in 1915.

 

Arthur Saxon

Arthur Saxon, aka Arthur Hennig, was a German strongman whose most successful work 

was done in the UK.  He also published several weightlifting instructional books in English.  

Saxon returned to Germany when World War I broke out, and although exempt from military 

service due to his age, he died in 1921 at age 43 as a consequence of wartime malnutrition.

 

Frederick Winters

Frederick Winters competed in the 1904 Olympics.

Did he compete in those gladiator sandals?

 

Lionel Strongfort

Lionel Strongfort was both a successful stage performer and a fitness 

and health entrepreneur whose books sold well.  The photo is from 1901.

 

Kaiser Bill

Kaiser Bill gave the mustache its name,

but he never looked as good as this guy.

 

Wrestling physique models

Ben R. of Lansing requested a wrestling physique model series, so here we go,

starting with brothers Scotty (left) and Chip Cunningham by Bruce of LA.

 

Unknown

I know nothing about this one except that I like it.

 

Tibor and Brian

I love it when they tell you right on the picture who's in it and who took it.

For the nearsighted, it's Tibor Urgay and Brian Lamprill by Royale.

 

Legitimate move?

This may actually be a legitimate competition move . . . or not.

 

Colt Beef

These beefy grapplers are from Colt Studio.  

I'm sure somebody will remember their names.

 

AMG

This one is a leftover from the sack of tumblr.  I think it's AMG.

 

Tim and Andre

Don Whitman of Western Photography Guild took this picture of Tim Richardson

 and Andre Belval.  This is what you call a "friendly" wrestling match.

 

Ordinary Average Guys

 

I keep a file called "Ordinary Average Guys," and I just noticed that nearly all of them appear to be amateur.  Anyway, we start the show with a man in a dry rocky stream bed with cool socks.

Pleasant

Sometimes average can be pleasant.

 

Polaroid?

Based on the curled up strips of paper on the floor,

I'd say this might have been a Polaroid session.

 

Dune man

Although the picture dates from several decades before the novel or movie(s),

this guy looks like he could be auditioning for a part in Dune.

 

Boots

This wiry fellow is keeping his boots on.  Must be snakes about.

 

Bath in the woods

This fellow is getting a bath out of a jerry can in the woods.

 

Ants

Don't you just hate it when ants ruin your picnic?

Our last ordinary average guy seems to have them.

 

Groundhog Day! Did he see his shadow?

It's no secret that a certain loyal viewer of this blog has a yin for shadows of certain male appendages.  Having already done a "The Shadow Knows" series, I held off for a follow-up until Groundhog Day.  And I'm not out of ideas yet, so expect more later.  Big Dude, this is for you!

 

Dominique

This rather charming early 19th C. painting is by Jean-August Dominique.

 

Ed Fury

Somehow I haven't managed to post this great picture of Ed Fury

 and his shadow until now.  How the hell did that happen?

 

German

The artist who did this 19th C. drawing is unknown, 

but it came from a German academic collection.

 

Happy and bouncy

This guy reminds me of Bill Cable, but I don't think it's him.

He can come bounding down the trail in my direction anytime.

 

Thomas Eakins

I recently found an article which authenticated this drawing as by Thomas Eakins.

The man was one for the ages.  After all this time, he still can amaze me.

 

And finally, going big

Our last Groundhog Day model came to me with no information,

but I'm sure somebody out there knows who he is.

 

Chuck Renslow/Kris Day

It's been too long since I did a full 10-piece set of Kris photos by Chuck Renslow, 

so here we go.  Our first model is the hirsute, hung and handsome Jimmy Martin.

 

Rocky

Rocky Lanz looks good hanging over the edge 

of Chuck Renslow's Mid-Century Modern sofa cushions.

 

Don and the soap

Oh, no!  Don Dunn (sometimes spelled Dunne) has bent over to pick up the soap.

His expressions makes me pretty certain he's in on the joke.

 

Daily Duo with Harry and Bob

Our pair of the day is made up of Harry Heflin and Bob Thompson.

I think the room may be about to warm up.

 

Bill

I've always wondered why some otherwise excellent photographers took shots (or cropped them) where the top of the model's head is cut off.  While I find that mildly disconcerting, it doesn't keep me from enjoying and posting them, especially when they are a good as this one of Bill Griffin.

 

Jock

Jock Valjean seems to be dealing with a knotty situation.  With a name like Jock, I'm left 

wondering why Chuck Renslow didn't have him pose in one instead of that posing pouch.

 

Steve

I can't tell if Steve Kotis is heading out the door or about to let someone in.

Imagine having him greet you at the door like that.

 

Tom

Our only reclining model in today's Kris set is a very good one, Tom Cowans.

 

Charming Kip

A charming Kip Behar is believed to have posed for Kris

 on one of Chuck Renslow's visits to Los Angeles.

 

Vic

Chuck Renslow posed Vic Janowicz with a sword and a slight smile.

All of today's photos are used with the kind permission of the 

copyright holder, Leather Archive and Museum of Chicago.