Magazine Week, Day 4 - Physique Pictorial, Vol. 20

 

Volume 20 of Physique Pictorial was one of the first editions to feature full frontal nudity.  It was not, in my opinion, one of Bob Mizer's best artistic efforts, but it is worth presenting here in full.  First, an editorial note.  Mr. Mizer's page layouts in some cases forced the viewer to turn the small format magazine sideways to see the photos while the text at the bottom of the page ran the other way.  To avoid this, I have cropped and pasted some of the images and text so they are both visible at the same time in this online format.  The cover man above is Joe Valiant.

The original paper version of this publication was donated to me 

by Bill D., and I am tremedously grateful for his generosity.

Pages 2-3

There is the beginning of a running editorial at the bottom of page 3.

Pages 4-5

 That's Bill Cable on the right in case you didn't notice.

Pages 6-7

 

Pages 8-9

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Pages 10-11

 

Pages 12-13

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Pages 14-15

 

Pages 16-17

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Pages 18-19

 

Pages 20-21

 

Pages 22-23

 

 

Pages 24-25

 

Pages 26-27

 

Pages 28-29

 

Pages 30-31

 

Rear Cover

My thanks again to Bill D. for donating the hard copy for today's series.

 

Magazine Week, Day 3 - Superman

We've done the Germans and the French, so now we move to the British in the 1930s.  Superman was a physical culture monthly published between 1930 and 1941.  Like others of its era and type, there were not frontals, but there were some fine derrieres and good posing strap teases, as on the January 1939 cover above.  And you could have it for just six pence.

 

Jockstrap?

Is that a jockstrap, a loincloth, or something else?

 

Average?

Are you an average man?  We'll never quite know about

this model because the key goods are covered.

 

Art Supplement

Like several of today's other photos, this tree pusher

was from a Superman Art Supplement section.

 

Bill Hillgardner

I kept thinking this model from the January 1939 issue looked familiar, and then I read the insert.

It's Brooklyn's Bill Hillgardner, a deservedly popular bodybuilder in another art supplement.

 

Eric Magor

In a third image from the January, 1939 edition of Superman we see Eric Magor.

 

Frank Parker

Here we see Frank Parker.  I've never understood what modesty

was preserved by a derierre view posing strap.

 

Cover II

Despite apparent water damage and fig leaves,

this 1931 Superman cover looks pretty good.

 

Reader Submissions

This twofer is supposed to be from a viewer submission feature.

Not at all bad for amateurs, eh?

 

1935 Art

Closing out the Superman series with another item from one of their art supplements.  This one is called "Strength in Subjection," and the model was Leo Saxone of London.  Suddenly I'm thinking of Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company at Monterrey Pop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE

Having seen Janis in person, I can only say she was a tortured soul and a genius.

 

Magazine Week, Day 2- La Culture Physique

Jointly founded by Professor Edmond Desbonnet and author/publisher Albert Surier, La Culture Physique was published from 1904 to 1967.  Today we will look at some photos and pages from the first five  years of its history, beginning with a cover featuring the great Eugen Sandow.  We will see Mr. Sandow again later in today's set.  LCP never showed full frontal nudity, but they did show derriere shots regularly.  Their latter years were not nearly as open as the early in terms of nudity.

 

Octave Paquit

Although the image quality isn't the best, I really like this photo

of Octave Paquit, amateur wrestling champion of France.

 

Louis Haider

Here we have Louis Haider and his Kaiser Bill mustache.

I'm sure he lost it after 1914.

 

Montmartre

Where's the beef?  Montmartre, that's where.

These beautiful burlies are the men of the Montmartre Athletic Society.

Their motto should have been "We're sexy, and we know it."

 

Eugen Sandow II

As promised, here is a different and very special view of Eugen Sandow.

 

Launceston Elliot

Scottish champion strongman Lanceston Elliott appeared in both front and rear views.

 

Art

La Culture Physique didn't often feature art work, but when they did, it was interesting.

Perhaps surprisingly, most early issues included tourism infomation.

 

A. Lutz

I wish I could find more photos of A. Lutz.

 

Auguste Pernet

Well known athlete Auguste Pernet shows off his well built glutes here.

Oh, and his back is also worth mentioning.

 

Hans Schwarz

Classical scuptural references were common in the early years of La Culture Physique.

Although the caption and text don't mention it, we can see an Atlas influence 

in this photo of Hans Schwarz, a strong man with a big following.

This magazine is the only place I've ever seen this picture.

 

Richard Andrieu

Mr. Richard Andrieu won a medal for his hard work and physical development.

His pride shines through in this beautiful photograph, and I can't think 

of a better way to conclude our La Culture Physique series.