In the Beginning . . .

Today we go back to some of the earliest physique photographers.  Al Urban, Edwin Townsend, and Alonzo Hanagan, aka Lon of New York, all began their careers in New York before World War II.  Earle Forbes is also in this category, but having recently done a full set of his work, I will focus on the three first mentioned artists.  We start with Henry Karczewski by Al Urban.

 

Unknown Townsend I

Edwin Townsend was best known for his many amazing photos of Tony Sansone.  My usually impeccable source says this is an unknown, but I do see a resemblance to Mr. Sansone.

 

Everett Sinderhoff

I've seen this photo of Everett Sinderhoff attributed to both Lon of New York and Al Urban.

The use of the column behind Mr. Sinderhoff makes me think it was Lon.

 

Charles Whitlock

A reclining Charles Whitlock posed with a cigarette for Al Urban.

 

Leon Nole

Leon Nole autographed this 1930 Edwin Townsend picture 

for his friend and fellow bodybuilder/model Sig Klein.

 

Chick Deutsch

Lon did an artistic photo of Chick Deutsch,

a cover man from Your Physique.

 

Henry Degroot

The pose in this photo of Henry Degroot by Al Urban

reminds me of a Koloman Moser painting.

 

Unknown Townsend II

Here is another unknown (to me, anyway) Edwin Townsend model.

 

Henry Hojel

Lon of New York took this photo of Henry Hojel and a bamboo staff.

 

Unknown by Al Urban

I wish we knew something about this unknown Al Urban model.

 

Raymond Van Cleef

This is Raymond Van Cleef by Edwin Townsend.

 

Don Brown

Our last model from the early days of physique photography is Don Brown by Lon of New York.

 

Hairy Derriere Day

I promised anothe hairy derriere day quite some time ago, but better late than never, 

I always say.  We start the show with an unidentified guy who kept his shirt on.

 

Muddled

The shading in this one makes the hairy bottom a bit muddled, but it's there.

 

Unconventional

This guy is bent over backwards and had dice tattooed above his left knee.  

 

No info

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Pushing my limits

This is about as close as you'll get to action porn on this blog.

It feels like a Colt photo, but that's just a hunch.

 

Bedroom

Something tells me that a certain Belgian may need to turn on a fan after seeing this one.

This gives me a strong Colt vibe, and it may be Ledermeister, who appears later today.

 

Nudist

This hairy nudist is waiting for a cup of coffee at the camp canteen.

 

Very unconventional

This is not a pose most of you were expecting in a hairy bottom set,

but there is hair, a bottom, and something else to look at.

 

Dave Allen

Mr. Scumbeast sent me this one labeled only as "Bottoms Up."

I later identified him as Dave Allen by Kris Studio.

 

Ledermeister

Closing out the hairy behind set with a golden oldie repeat 

post of Paul Gerrior, aka Ledermeister by Colt Studio.

He was a friendly, decent man and a great model/actor.  RIP

 

Paul Richer Day III

It's Paul Richer day again, and we start with a whimsical self portrait.

 

Rear view

This is a plate from one of Paul Richer's many books.

I think he is the same model who appears in several other images today.

 

Unknown Athlete 871

 Paul Richer took hundreds of photos of nude athletes in the early 20th Century, only about half of whom are labeled with names.  Today I will post several of those unknowns.  This is No. 871.

Drawing

Paul Richer's anatomical drawings are quite good, but for some reason he very rarely drew in the genitals.  He had no problem photographing them, however, as we will see.

 

Favorite model, pulling roller

This model appears over and over in the work of Paul Richer, especially in his 

collaborations with Albert Londe.  He will appear several more times today.

 

Unknown model

These two panels are cropped from a larger group of photos

of an unknown artists' model from late 19th C. Paris.

I'll say it first.  That bush is prodigious.

 

Page 303

This drawing was page 303 in one of Paul Richer's books.

 

Unknown Athlete 1013

 Number 1013 looks good from all angles.

Another view

I split this panel into two sections to show detail.

 

Anatomical

Mr. Richer went quite anatomical with this rendition.

 

Unknown Athlete 1025

 The exposure varies from image to image in this set of Unknown 1025.

That model, one more time

Here's another photo of my favorite Paul Richer model.

He looks quite good from any angle.

Deriaz Brothers

I spent half a day trying to find clearer versions of these photos 

which show three of the seven Deriaz Brother.  Anybody have any?

That's Adrien at right, by the way.

 

Familiar

If this drawing looks familiar, it's because you've seen photos of him today and in earlier series.

Paul Richer didn't miss an opportunity to draw this fine model.

 

Unknown Athlete 1338

Ending the Paul Richer series with an athlete known only as 1338.

He has a nice mustache and a happy trail.