Clarence Ross

Clarence "Clancy" Ross was known as the King of Bodybuilders not only because of his numerous titles - Mr. America (1946), Mr. Canada (1947), Mr. USA (1949), Mr. World (1953) and Mr. Universe (1955) - but also because he helped other bodybuilders in their fitness and helped to popularize the sport of bodybuilding through his writings, operating a gym for many years and even putting the American troops through fitness training during World War II.

He appeared in a few Hollywood movies, but didn't become a household name like Steve Reeves and Richard DuBois. I will post movie stills from his films once I've tracked them down.

Russ Warner might have taken all three of these images, though I only have confirmation that Warner took the one of Ross standing with his arms flexed over his head.

Don Fuller

As you can plainly see by jumping here, here, here, and here on the blog, Don Fuller is one of my favorite beefcake models.

I have never seen a full frontal nude image of Don, so I am always excited when I come across a teasing photograph like this one.

He looks great - and a bit cornball - here as a cowboy missing most of his clothes.

I only wish I had a larger file of this image.

David Gregory Photographed by Bruce of Los Angeles

These great images of David Gregory were taken by Bruce of Los Angeles and appeared in his magazine, Kensington Road, after the demise of Bruce's more famous magazine, The Male Figure, which featured many of the top bodybuilders of the 1950's.

You've probably noticed by now the distinctive sunburst design on the boots worn by the men modeling for Bruce of Los Angeles.

Abe Goldberg by Lon

Lon took this photograph of Abe Goldberg most likely sometime in the late 1940's or early 1950's.

Abe was a very muscular bodybuilder.

Jim Stewart Photographed by Pat Milo

Pat Milo took these two images of Jim Stewart.

I know nothing more about the model, but am fascinated by the puma tattoo on his lower leg.

Dick Buckholts

Here's another great image of Dick Buckholts.

I received a note that Douglas of Detroit took this image and the other studio images you can see on the blog when you jump to this post. I'll update the blog once my research confirms this.

John Curtis

UPDATED January 22, 2011: A reader rightly identified the photographer of this great images of John Curtis as John Arnt of Seattle.

Arnt photographed male nudes in the 1940's. He is best known for his sepia-toned printing.

Unknown Models

Here's another photograph featuring nude wrestlers. I especially like that the models are grinning.

Robbie and Richie Conklin Photographed by the Western Photography Guild

These photographs taken outdoors by the Western Photography Guild of Robbie and Richie Conklin are outstanding.

I especially like the one of the brothers looking over their shoulders in the same direction.

Jerry Debry

Jerry Debry looks fantastic against these landscapes.

I can't decide whether his physique, tan lines or smile is his best feature.

Kurt Lewis Photographed by Joe Weber

UPDATED January 22, 2010: I recently acquired these great images of Kurt Lewis.

With my preoccupation for fair-haired men, you know I did an extensive search for more information on this handsome model, but I failed to find out anything.

A reader sent me several more images of Kurt and revealed the photographer as Joe Weber, of whom I am tracking down more information.

Forrester Millard and John Tristram Photographed by the Athletic Model Guild

Forrester Millard and John Tristram are hugely popular beefcake models.

I was given a massive collection of photographs of John Tristram by an avid collector, and I plan to load these to the blog once I've sorted through them. I've also tracked down several more outstanding images of Forrester that I will add to the blog in due course.

I live in San Francisco, California, where men sunbathing nude together is commonplace. If you've seen the PBS mini-series, Tales of the City, based on Armistead Maupin's books, then you've seen one of the nude beaches still very popular to this day in the city.

I think these two images of Forrester Millard and John Tristram must have been astounding to their closeted fans in the 1950's, there being little gay culture then as we know it today.

Rod Bauer and Bill Proper Photographed by Champion Studio

Here are two more photographs by Champion Studio of Rod Bauer wrestling Bill Proper.

Please jump to this post in the blog to see more of these handsome models.

Bill Edwards Photographed by David Martin

David Martin took these great images of Bill Edwards in the desert near Arizona State University.

Martin kept extensive records of his models, and his notes on Bill says he played basketball and football and ran track while attending the university.

Ford McLaine Photographed by Bruce of Los Angeles

I have made an extensive search but have been unable to find any more images of Ford McLaine, who was photographed by Bruce of Los Angeles.

Cliff Dollard Photographed by Champion Studio

Cliff Dollard was photographed by Champion Studio in the early 1960's.

I think he makes a strong argument for handsome, dark-haired men to wear nothing but red briefs.

Bob Mucci

Denny Denfield took the color photograph of Bob Mucci outdoors.

I am trying to track down more images of this popular bodybuilder photographed in the 1950's.

Joe Leitel

Joe Leitel didn't seem able to take off his clothes for the physique photographers without becoming partially aroused.

Jump to this post on the blog to learn more about this handsome, virile model.

Bill Grant

I do not know who took this image of Bill Grant, but am tracking down more images of this handsome model.

Doug Troy Photographed by Hombre Studio

Hombre Studio took this outstanding photograph of Doug Troy, of whom I know nothing but would not be surprised if told he were a talented athlete.

Eddie Williams and Steve Wengryn

I think these four images of Eddie Williams posing with Steve Wengryn are outstanding. I really like the one of Eddie kneeling behind Steve and pointing to something, but I especially enjoy the one of Eddie with his back to the camera and Steve reaching in front of the man. Since we must assume both of these popular models were heterosexual, as were most of the beefcake models, I suspect Steve is clasping Eddie's hand, though our modern sensibility easily leads us to imagine it is something else.

More than one source indicates these images were taken by the Western Photography Guild, but others point to different studios, so I am going to leave unidentified the photographer of these images.

Please jump to this post in the blog to view another image of Eddie posing with Steve.

Jack LaLanne and Jack Thomas by Russ Warner

These are some of the most famous of all beefcake photographs. They were taken by Russ Warner, who had a knack for getting his models to undress for the camera.

The two models, of course, are Jack Thomas and Jack LaLanne, who was on the cusp of becoming famous when these images were taken.

After he'd become the household face of the fitness craze in 1950's America, LaLanne tried unsuccessfully to have these photographs confiscated by a court and destroyed.

Today, these sort of lovely, sun-drenched images would likely enhance a celebrity's stardom.

John Miller Photographed by the Athletic Model Guild

The Athletic Model Guild took this outstanding photograph of John Miller, who appears with Forrester Millard in several more amazing photographs by this studio. I'll add those to this blog once I've tracked them down.

Stuart Bloom by Lon

Lon took this outstanding image of Stuart Bloom, of whom I hope to find more images. He exudes confidence in this photograph.