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Wednesday, June 3, 2026

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.

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

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.