Howard Heidtmann Photographed by Pat Milo

I was thrilled to add to my collection these two photographs of Howard Heidtmann taken by Pat Milo.

Tom Mathews Photographed by Denny Denfield

Denny Denfield took this nice photograph of Tom Mathews.

Sam Mayo Photographed by David Martin

David Martin took this photograph of Sam Mayo, of whom you can see more images when you jump to this post on the blog.

Unknown Model

I suspect Russ Warner took this photograph of this unknown model, but I am seeking confirmation.

Cliff Cotter Photographed by Pat Milo

Here's another nice photograph of Chris Cotter taken by Pat Milo.

John Hamill

With his radiant smile and amazing physique, John Hamill never fails to be an inspiration.

Vincent Taffaro Photographed by Lon

I hope to acquire more photographs like these of leanly muscular Vincent Taffaro taken by Lon.

Unknown Model Photographed by Denny Denfield

Denny Denfield took this color photograph of this unknown model.

Bob Poling and Al Abajian Photographed by Bruce of Los Angeles

I am thrilled to add to my collection another outstanding photograph of Bob Poling wrestling Al Abajian taken by Bruce of Los Angeles.

Unknown Model Photographed by Kovert of Hollywood

I do not know the identity of this handsome model photographed by Kovert of Hollywood.

Ben Cartor Photographed by David Martin

David Martin's note says Ben Cartor stayed in shape by playing baseball at Stanford University in 1965.

Phil Lambert and Keith Lewin Photographed by the Western Photography Guild

Phil Lambert and Keith Lewin look like battling Titans in this photograph taken by the Western Photography Guild.

I hope to acquire more images from this series.

Don Silvas Photographed by the Athletic Model Guild

The Athletic Model Guild took these, er, unusual photographs of Don Silvas.

Bill Brinkley Photographed by Bruce of Los Angeles

With his thickly muscular physique, Bill Brinkley remains one of my favorite physique models who posed in the 1950's.

Bruce of Los Angeles took these images.

Unknown Model Photographed by Denny Denfield

 

Denny Denfield took these photographs of this unknown model.

Edmund Ariemma Photographed by Lon

Edmund Ariemma is nothing short of spectacular in this photograph taken by Lon.

The Wild Ones by Mel Roberts

On eBay, I recently sold this copy of The Wild Ones: Mel Roberts.

When you click here, you can see everything I am currently auctioning on eBay.

Johnny Connors Photographed by Vulcan

Vulcan took this photograph of Johnny Connors, whose abdomen is a work of art.

Vince Marino Photographed by Champion Studio

Champion Studio took this stellar photograph of Vince Marino.

Lionel Ravaute Photographed by Domenique

UPDATED March 23, 2015: Domenique took these photographs of Lionel Ravaute, who won the title Junior Mr. France in 1957.

When you jump to this post on the blog, you can read a bit about Domenique's disastrous business partnership with Lon.

Classic Male Nudes, Champion Studio and Walter Kundzicz

With the recent proliferation of blogs and websites featuring vintage beefcake photographs, even casual enthusiasts can very quickly acquire a massive collection of digital images.

If you're not a bibliophile like me - with books covering the horizontal surfaces of nearly every stick of furniture in the house - then the question must be asked: why purchase a photograph or book someone else has likely already scanned and made accessible online for free?

Goliath Books provides its answer with its "Goliath Wallpaper of Fame" magazine book, "Classic Male Nudes," the second in its series of very big, unbound books that open up into poster-size photographs.

This book features nine 16.5" x 23.4" color photographs taken by Walter Kundzicz, the man behind Champion Studio. Kundzicz also pens an autobiography that will fascinate anyone interested in the world of physique photography in the United States, when images of nude adults were illegal. Kundzicz writes of his encounters with police raids, court trials, crooked cops, mobsters, outraged religious and political groups and much more on his journey to becoming one of the most famous physique photographers.

The nine posters are of Chuck Steury posing outdoors with Ernie Mathews, Doug Jackson strumming a guitar, Walt Covert hunting shirtless, Bo Branden wearing scuba gear in a bathtub, Sven Holm fishing, John Eaton pretending to be a cowboy, Tore Lind wearing red sweatpants, Gale Harper holding hands with Mike Pohl, and Tore Lind wearing a posing strap.

When you flip over the posters, you can arrange them into a life-size poster of Patrick Berglund flexing and wearing a white posing strap.

If you are in the habit of reading what I write alongside the photographs I post on this blog, then you know I am a great fan of blonds and anyone with tattoos, so it's no surprise I especially like this magazine book for the clarity of its photographs of Tore Lind.

Digital images can be accidentally deleted, misfiled or otherwise lost forever. The stream of ones and zeroes comprising every digital image never appreciates in value.

We bibliophiles tend to be passionate collectors of books whose subjects interest us. We enjoy the tactile experience of paging through books. And we know great picture books can gain value over time.

I also like knowing each new purchase of this book directly benefits Kundzicz, who is one of the few vintage beefcake photographers alive today and who has sadly been separated from his vast archive of material - a subject he touches on in this book and whose final chapter I hope has yet to be written.

Joel Emmon Photographed by Pat Milo

Pat Milo took these photographs of Joel Emmon, of whom I hope to obtain more images.

I could stare at his tattoos for days.

Bob Kappel

I do not know who took these photographs of Bob Kappel.

Walt Needham Photographed by Kris Studios

Kris Studios took this photograph of handsome Walt Needham, of whom you can see in another image when you jump to this post on the blog.

Dave St. Dennis Photographed by David Martin

Here are two photographs of Dave St. Dennis taken by David Martin.

I hope to obtain more images of this model.