Early 20th Century

Our photos today are early 20th Century, and we start with a guy standing at attention.

 

Beach handstand

These men are having a fun day at the beach.

 

Favorite

Although we might wish for a bit more clarity,

this is hands down my favorite of the day.

I'd love to know the story here.

 

Anatomical?

This one looks like it might have been part of an anatomical or motion study set.

 

Recliner

While the pose here is interesting, that board platform doesn't look too comfy.

 

Fishermen

This is how fishing should be done.

 

Accusation

"That's him, Officer.  That's the man who stole my clothes."

 

Little grin

We get just a bit of a grin from this athlete.

 

Double Derriere

We get contrasting skin tones in this double derriere item.

 

1910

The only information that came with the last image of the set was the year, 1910.

 

J. Wayne Higgs II

Today I am posting my second series on the work of J. Wayne Higgs.

We start with a male with staff from 1968.

 

Selfie I

This the first of five self portraits in today's series.  I've put 

them in chronological order, with this one being from 1965.

 

Vatican Statue

Scattered among all the selfies and impressive male nude art photos 

in J. Wayne Higgs' portfolio, one also finds a fair number of pictures

 he made of male nude sculptures.  This one is from the Vatican Museum.

 

Selfie II

Mr. Higgs made this self portrait in 1967.

 

1968

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Selfie III

This is the first of two 1979 self portraits in today's series and it includes a female model.

 

Mr. Higgs took this one for Guild Press in 1968.

 

Selfie IV

Here is another self portrait from 1979.

 

Reclining

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Selfie V

Our last post of the set is yet another self portrait, only a twofer this time from 1988.

 

Ritter Brothers Day

I wish I had more photos of (and by) the Ritter Brothers to post, but there has never been much 

to glean from the internet.  Fred and William began selling physique photos as early as 1934, 

and they did a substantial amount of nude work.  We start today's set with

 one of those photos I sometimes call "the best of both worlds."

 

Bill Hillgardner

The Ritter Brothers photographed Bill Hillgardner, a competitive

 bodybuilder who also posed nude for Lou Melancon.

 

Unnamed

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Wrestling

Here we see the brothers wrestling in a wooded area.

 

Scrapbook

This scrapbook owned by a Ritter Brothers collector was for sale on line.  The photos came 

out in 1934, and I'm not sure if the posingstraps were real or drawn on.  

They look like they may have been for ads.

 

Best of Both Worlds II

The mirror produces something of an art deco effect.

 

William

Based purely on my observation, it would seem that Fred took far more photos

 of William than vice versa.  Was Fred the better photographer?

 

Lynes

George Platt Lynes took this picture of Fred Ritter and Bobby Evans drying off.

 

Possible?

My source says this photo is a "possible Ritter Brothers," but it sure looks like them to me.

Perhaps they were uncertain as to whether it was by them or of them.

 

William Again

Closing out the set with William Ritter as photographed by his brother Fred.