“Too hot again today,” Mike said. “You can pose instead if you want—I’ll pay you double.”
Scott shrugged. “Alright.” Not his first time.
A minute later—bench, dumbbell in hand.
“Lean back… elbow in. Squeeze—good. Don’t look at me… look at your bicep.”
Mike raised the camera. Scott held it. This beats pushing that mower.
Image 1 - Scott McCoy (curling a dumbbell)
Weightlifting was closely tied to athletics, but it was also one of the most common forms of male bonding. When I was growing up, nearly every dad, uncle, or neighbor seemed to have a weight bench somewhere in the house—usually in a garage or basement. On summer afternoons you’d see the garage door open, music blasting on the radio, and a couple of guys lifting together in the heat.
Image 2 - Buddy Hollands (in similar pose except looking into the camera - by Champion)
Image 3 - Jack Stanford (on rot iron bench with two dumbbells)
Image 4 - Rick Alexander aka Rich Sternberger by Sunshine Beach Club (posing with weight bench)
We boys did the same thing. Shirts off, checking each other’s definition in the mirror, spotting one another on the heavier lifts. Sometimes we’d even work out in our underwear so we could see our leg muscles better. Of course we talked about girls, cars, and football to keep things properly macho, but looking back, the whole scene was undeniably intimate.
Image 5 - Helmut Riedmeier (on Swedish ladder)
Image 6 - Buddy Reagan (on leg press machine)
Image 7 - Darryl Powers (using chest expander for bicep curls in a field)
Image 8 - Johnny Stumps ( from Tommy's Christmas Surprise, an AMG-Bob Mizer photo set with models Tony Perry and Tom Scott just out of frame--thank you vintagemusclemen for the info!)
Physique photographers understood this world very well. The images fit neatly into the long tradition of “physical culture” promoted by figures like Bernarr Macfadden, where strength training and healthy bodies were celebrated as part of everyday life. Photographers like Edwin Townsend, known for his elegant images of Tony Sansone, helped turn the weight room into a kind of stage—framing strength, balance, and muscular definition in ways that were both wholesome and quietly sensual.
Image 9 - Mario Garza (resting between reps on weight machine)
Image 10 - Barry Tuck (stacking the weights in jockstrap and towel)
Feedback?
Please send info, ideas, or any other comments on the theme, "Lifting Weights." There's a lot here to unpack.
The picture of Johnny Stumps is from Tommy's Christmas Surprise, an AMG photo set. Two other models, Tony Perry and Tom Scott, appear with him, and the hand in this photo no doubt belongs to one of them, but I don't know which. FWIW, the cropping appears to be original by Bob Mizer because I have the photo set, and there doesn't appear to be a full version of the scene.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the context! I’ll add it to the post. This is exactly what I’m looking for. Mr. bushnstache
DeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteSome very interesting photos...new to me...refreshing to visit your blog each day. It is a nice challenge to try and offer more information on each photo. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement. Glad you’re liking my blog so far. I’m having fun with it. Mr. bushnstache.
DeleteI greatly like your introductory story leading into the photos. The images you post are great. Since hearing about your blog from Vintage Muscle Men I have been checking every day and enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for tuning in and letting me know, Thomas. I did some modeling myself in grad school, so fun to try to imagine the scene around the photos…all fiction of course. Your feedback is appreciated. Mr. bushnstache
ReplyDelete