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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Albert's Blog V


Today it's time for "Jerry Borrows from Albert version 5.0," and the pictures are all derriere shots, something close to Albert's heart . . . and maybe some other parts. We start with a fellow labeled 
as a loiterer.  He can loiter in my stairwell any time he wants.  Albert's blog is a edgier and 
more explicit than mine, but I know many of you enjoy the difference.  See more at:
Thanks, Albert!

 

Gavin


In the first of two Mike Arlen photos I borrowed from Albert for today's set, we see 
a Scotsman named Gavin.  As a kilt wearing Scottish American, I heartily approve.

 

Bob Stockman


A little research found that this photo posted by Albert 
is Bob Stockman by Champion Studio.



 

Way back


Albert went way back in time to find this one.   
 

Classic


I call this "Classic Albert."  Anyone who knows him knows why.

 

Rick


This is Rick from a Mike Arlen prison themed photo set.

 

Streakers


Albert has posted some great shots of streakers from the 1970s,
and this is one of my favorites.  I should do a series.

 

Darrell Chaney



 

This is Darrell Chaney who was known to have posed for Bruce of LA.
This photo did not have a photographer listed, however.

Car wash


I think a car wash where the workers looked like this would be very successful.
In the meantime, we have this photo of an amateur to look at.

 

And finally, a twofer


This last one looks familiar, so I may have posted it myself at some time.
If I didn't, I should have.  Thanks again to Albert for today's photos.

 

Monday, July 7, 2025

Strong Men . . . Again


Today we look at ten strong men (some of whom doubled as wrestlers) from the period of 1885 to 1930.  We start with an unknown who posed for Edwin Townsend in the late 1920s.

 

Flex


I have no information on this photo of an exceptionally built man.
The footwear dates it to the early 20th Century.

 

Unknown by Eisenmann


Charles Eisenmann was a late 19th Century photographer who worked in New York's Bowery district.  He was best known for photographing circus freaks and carnival acts, but fortunately 
for us, he also took the photo of an unknown strong man above in 1885.

 

Eugene Rapin


This photo of Eugene Rapin appeared in the magazine La Culture Physique.
The image was made by Albert Surier about 1904.

 

Unknown


Both the model and the photographer are unknown in this one.
I find the lighting and the pose both impressive.

 

Jaan Jaago


The fellow facing us is yet another great Estonial strong man and wrestler, Jaan Jaago.
The photo is said to have been made in Russia about 1913.

 

Charles Poire


The frilly spangled pants take nothing away from the masculinity 
of Frenchman Charles Poire.  The photo is from around 1895.

 

Hood Ornament


Henry Steinborn would have made a fine hood ornament for someone's Packard.

 

"Supermanity"

Australian Don Athaldo (real name Walter Joseph Lyons, 1894-1965) marketed his bodybuilding system in books and magazines in the 1920s.  While his personal story of being a sickly child who turned into a he-man was rather overused in his era, in Mr. Athaldo's case it was mostly true.  I love the title line in the photo caption above:  Don Athaldo -- Supermanity Personified.

 

Louis Cyr, Canadian Column Carrier


The last strong man of the set, Canadian Louis Cyr, has an expression that says,
"Yup.  That's what I do. I carry columns around."

 

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Bryan B's Lon of New York Photos


Today will be the second (with more to come) series of pictures by Classic era physique photographers sent to me by Bryan B.  This time we look at the work of Alonzo Hanagan, aka Lon of New York.  Nearly all of today's models are unknown, starting with this one purported to be the subject of the very first physique photo Lon ever took.  I did some research, and the man in the photo is believed to be a summer camp counselor fresh out of the shower photographed by a teenage Lon with a Kodak box camera.  There's some history for you, folks.  
Thank you Bryan for a phenomenal contribution.

 

Different


I included this photo of an unknown model because it is different
 from much of Lon's work in terms of pose and composition.





 

Chair


The chair in this photo of an unknown model shows up in several of Lon's photos.
One very much like it was used by Edwin Townsend to photograph Tony Sansone.
I think the geometry here is exquisite.

 

Art Ullrich


Art Ullrich was one of the most prolifically photographed physique models of the classic era, having posed for Denny Denfield, Bruce of LA, and Your Model Service in addition to Lon.
Leave it to Bryan to find a shot of him I'd never seen before.

 

Heavy fellow


No one seems to know who this hefty model is.  Lon didn't photograph 
many guys who were not in top shape, so this is a double mystery.

 

Statue


The model here looks like a fine black marble statue.
Like most of today's models, I have no name.

 

Group


I'm really miffed with Google Images search because their bots refused to look up this photo due to "content guidelines."  They've been doing this more and more lately, and it feels like a form of censorship.  That's Lon Hanagan at left, but I don't know who the other men were.  My best guess is that this was made at one of the Coney Island bath houses that had a nude sunbathing area.  Lon and his models were known to hang out there and I even have a few photos made there.



 

Hairy


This posing strap photo appears on half a dozen websites, but none of them seems to have 
a name for the hairy model.  The pompadour is a bit much, but I can't fault anthing else.

 

Playful

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Donovan

Instead of the usual Classical column, we get drapes and sconces 
in this photo of a model listed only as "Donovan."
Thanks again to Bryan B for providing today's photos!