20th Century Jockstraps, Part 1 - Early On

We have a two part series and an intermission today on the topic of 20th C. jockstraps.

We start with a fellow identified only as a Texan from 1928.

 

Russian

I have no info on this one, but I get a Russian feel from him.

 

Stagg

The photographer for these two photos was apparently someone named Stagg,

but I haven't been able to locate them despite several searches.

I had posted the photo below several years ago,

but only discovered the top one and the verso stamp recently.

 

Gladiator

The ubiquitous gladiator sandals are here yet again, 

but the pose has continued down even to the present.

 

Horizontal

This last one from early in the century is oddly horizontal.

 

Intermission - Interesting Ads

Only the Germans could invent this.  I wonder if it made you tingle down there?

I suppose it must have, or else what would be the point.

 

Yes, it was a real thing

Once upon a time there was a Trump Athletic Supporter, brought to you (of course) by Johnson & Johnson, the same folks famous for tainted talcum and overpriced pharmaceuticals.

 

Why was this included?

This World War II V.D. poster was included in an online sale lot where every other item had something to do with jockstraps.  Gee, I hope guys weren't getting the clap from dirty jockstraps.

The fire plug is what actually makes the picture special.

20th Century Jockstraps, Part 2 - The middle part

Our second group of guys in jockstraps features some Mid-Century men,

starting with two views of one from an art instruction book.

 

Not sure

I'm not sure if these guys were posing for an artist or doing their own installation art.

 

Adjustment

Mr. Scumbeast said this fellow was adjusting his jock.

 

Spillage

Although he's spilling out of his jockstrap, I don't think 

this guy needs to worry too much about his weight.

 

Saved the best for last

For the Mid-Century fellows, I saved the best for last.

 

Military Down Time Day

Today we look at a variety of ways 20th C. military men spent their down time,

starting with an elaborate swimming and diving platform in Finland about 1935.

 

Iwo Jima

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Tall and Short

This is the first of two contributions from Mr. Scumbeast in today's set.

It was part of his "Barracks Room Ballads" series, subtitled "Tall and Short."

 

Guadalcanal

I think this is cropped from a larger picture of American troops washing 

their vehicles and themselves in a shallow rover on Guadalcanal.

 

Gafsa

Here's another one from Eliot Elisofon's work at the Gafsa Roman Baths, 1943.

I don't know if the guy fully kitteed out is holding his friend's towel or waiting for his turn.

 

No info

I don't have any information for this one, but they make me think of World War II Germans.

If you look carefully, you can see military vehicles in the left background.

 

Truck Wash - 1944

Bernard Hoffmann took this photo of a GI washing a truck on the Ledo Road (Burma) in 1944.

I have four or five photos of this chunky guy from different angles.

 

1941

Mr. Scumbeast sent me this only noting, "Drying off, 1941."

 

Barracks

The barracks room in this one looks unfinished.

 

British 1917

 Our last photo shows British troops having a swim at Etaples near Calais in 1917 by Lt. Ernest Brooks.

Roger Pegram and Frank Bushong

Way back in June, I posted a Gay Pride series that included a Thanksgiving dinner scene at the home of Rober Pegram and Frank Bushong.  That particular photo evoked the biggest viewer response ever to a gay history themed picture.  I promised a followup series and have been disgracefully tardy in getting it on, but today is the day.  Roger and Frank were a romantic couple from about 1949 to 1964, but I think they had an enduring love as they remained very close lifelong friends.We start with Frank's birthday party in June 1955.  

Everyone seems to be having a good time.

 

Nantucket, August 1955

We have quite a few photos of Roger and Frank on beach vacations.

This one is Brant Point, Nantucket in August of 1955.

 

Intriguing caption

This photo is one that I find quite intriguing.  My source listed the men as (l-r) "Member," Roger Pegram, and Bill Happ at Andover in October of 1956.  Member of what?  Circle of friends?  Some nascent gay rights group? Literary society?  I really want to know more.

 

Frank and Fred

Here we see Frank with Fred Brahms (right), a close friend of the couple.

No date or location was given, but they're having a good time.

 

1949 Fixer-upper

Although my source did not give the location, I like to think that like many young couples, Frank and Roger bought a fixer-upper as their first home.  That's Roger working on the screen door in 1949.

 

Provincetown

Provincetown was already a gay mecca when Roger was

 photographed there at Race Point on August 28, 1953

 

Kitchen

It was January 29, 1956 when this kitchen conference took place at Frank and Roger's 

Andover home.  Frank has his back to the camera while Roger expounds on something.  

Maybe he's trying to figure out who's going to wash all the dishes.

 

Professional

The only photo listed as professionally taken in my collection of Roger Pegram and Frank Bushong images is this one of Frank presumably at a beach.  I think it is beautiful.

 

Sense of Humor

Never let it be said that these guys didn't have a sense of humor.  Frank took 

this snapshot of Roger at the Burlington, Vermont city limits on August 15, 1954.

 

Central Park

I'm closing out the series with this 1951 photo of Roger and Frank in Central Park.  It is said  to have been taken by their friend Fred Brahms who appears with them in many photos.  When I look at these pictures, I get emotional.  They lived in a world where their love could have cost them everything, yet they manifest a quite comfort and confidence when together and when with their friends.  Their love was enduring and eternal. They were fearless and blazed a trail for us to follow.  The best thing we can do to honor their memory is to keep moving forward no matter what.