Bulging Belgians

This photo's one of my all-time favorites. It comes from Belgium although it is undated and there's not much you can tell from the lack of uniforms.

War may be hell but there are moments of male bonding that just make it all worthwhile dammit.

2 Great Vintage Photos of Man Exercising

Hurry, these two photos, and a handful more, are currently available on eBay. See seller wolfchris or click here.

3 vintage photos of athletes

Short of giving him a cod piece, it's hard to see how a uniform could draw more attention to this football player's basket. Love the striped jersey too.













The back of this photo identifies the jock as Thurman Sanders, B.U.H.S. Basketball "34". Apparently this was when guys played lawn basketball. Whatever, he's sexy.











A bunch of nearly naked, sweaty athletes in the heat of competition. What's not to like?

Find these and lots more vintage gay photos at homobilia.com

Male Model

"Don, a young man with a perfect body, found love where he least expected it, but Ted loved no one but himself -- and money!"

A French Line novel by Win Haven, published in 1967.

Haven't read it, never will. But the cover art! Can't get enough.

PAJAMA photo of nude Tennessee Williams

Here's a rare find. Original PAJAMA (Paul Cadmus, Jared French, Margaret French) vintage gelatin silver print by Jared French (1905-1987) from the collection of Paul Cadmus (estate stamp to reverse).

A rare image of a nude Tennessee Williams (lower right) and Donald Windham to (upper left) dated 1943.
4 1/4" W x 6 1/2" H

You can bid on it now: http://www.ebthauctions.org/

Auction closes 8PM EST Saturday Oct 24, 2009.

Tejal Shah on Queer Arts Resource

Tejal Shah is a dynamic force in the art world today and her highly personal work which probes gay, feminist, and transgender issues with intelligence and wit has been exhibited in major cities in Europe, South Asia and the US.

We invite you to visit her new gallery and share it with your friends.
http://www.queer-arts.org/

2 guys at the beach

The Masculine Physique

Gotta love this cover photo. Rare 1935 issue of The Masculine Physique (only 3000 copies printed). Act fast. You can still bid on it at eBay.

Affectionate Soldiers

War is hell. That's why it is so important to enjoy some lighter moments, like bonding with your buddies. These Korean soldiers seem to be having a pretty good time. Do I sense perhaps a bit of an obsession with the crotchal area? Hmm.

Dorian Gray Movie Trailer

Ben Barnes will play Oscar Wilde's iconic character Dorian Gray in an adaptation of the author's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Release date September 9th.



Behind the scenes video.

Men in Swimsuits

Once again eBay has proven that there's a direct relationship between the size of a man's basket and the value of a photo. This nice but otherwise unexceptional photo from the 1920s sold for $151.49.

John Grimek photos

Sold recently on eBay for a whopping $480, this early photo of body-building legend John Grimek dates from around 1935 (based on the Strength and Health magazine cover photo) when he was in his mid-20s.

It inspired me to go on a search of more early Grimek photos and here are the best images I found.

My Social Security Statement

Dear Commissioner Asstrue,

Thanks so much for sending the Social Security Statement prepared "especially" for me. I do feel very special. But I really wish I was treated just like everyone else. That's why I support marriageequality.org and think you should too!

Sincerely,
Barry








p.s. you're hot!

Muscles Magazine: Dick DuBois

The magnificent Dick DuBois. He's always been a favorite of mine, [he gets extra points for a name that's a pun in two languages].

This photo, credited to Athletic Model Guild, appears on the back cover of the October/November 1961 issue of Muscles magazine.

While there are lots of familiar faces and bodies, this Brussels-based magazine has it's own stable of physique photographers including Europhoto, Ferrero, Photos Stan, and Photo Swede.

We have a handful of Muscles available at Homobilia.com, along with the great French magazines La Culture Physique and Sciences Culturistes.

Two Affection Men Swimming

Great photo from the 1930s on eBay. A little over 2 inches square but packed with acres of affection, or is that lust? And I don't see any bathing suit.

Gay Pride 1970s Style

Gay Pride 1977. Original black and white real photo postcard by photojournalist Marie Ueda. For those of you who weren't around back in the 70s, the pretty woman is Anita Bryant, singer, beauty queen and homophobe best known for her 1977 "Save Our Children" campaign to repeal Miami's anti-gay discrimination ordinance. (She suceeded).

On a lighter note, we have some vintage color photos from the Polk Street Fair, about the same time. See more at homobilia.com.

Von Gloeden photo on eBay

Luca, one of our collector friends in Italy has just posted a wonderful Von Gloeden photograph on eBay, Male Nudes Next to a Column (1900-1930).

If you're interested in Von Gloeden definitely take a look.

Although the listing itself is in Italian, be assured that Luca is a reputable seller. It comes from a private collection that he bought from a French library, with the catalog attached.

The auction ends June 24th.

50s Beefcake Like You've Never Seen It

Sexy. Funny. Clever. Did I say sexy? The 1950s never looked or sounded so good.

I've watched this video three times in a row. Can't get enough.

Make that four times.

The Japanese Penis Festival: It's Not About Dick

OK let me start by saying that I have never seen so many enormous dicks and felt absolutely nothing. So no, in spite of what looks a lot like cock worship, this doesn't qualify as homobilia. Far from it.

But it's truly fascinating from an American perspective. What would the "religious right" make of Hounen Matsuri, The Japanese Penis Festival which has been celebrated in Japan for about 1500 years?

The Japan Travel Guide sheds some light: "It is important to understand that the worship is not of the phalli, but instead a worship of the earth, of the power that nature has through renewal and regeneration. It is this context that provides the phallus with its significance."

"With everything from penis shaped candy to suck on, phallus keychains, ... dumplings in the shape of the male member, and small[?] wooden objects to take home as souvenirs, it is easy to think that it is the phallus that is being worshiped. This is not the case."

So the next time you see a guy on his knees sucking a penis, consider that he might in fact be worshiping the power of nature. But if he's sucking dick, well, all bets are off.

P.S. It's not too soon to plan your trip: the festival is held in Komaki, just north of Nagoya, every March 15th.

Gay Freedom 1970: The First Gay Pride Day

According to Elizabeth A. Armstrong in her book, Forging Gay Identities (I don't think she means "faking"), the idea of an annual Freedom Day parade was first proposed by activist Craig Rodwell (founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore, the first devoted to gay and lesbian authors).

The resolution passed at the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations in 1969 states:

We propose that a demonstration be held annually on the last Saturday in June in New York City to commemorate the 1969 spontaneous demonstrations on Christopher Street and this demonstration be called Christopher Street Liberation Day. No dress or age regulations shall be made....

By the time of the event, references to "demonstration" were replaced by affirmations of "celebration" and "pride."

These photos are from the Commemorative Essay, The First Anniversary Of The Gay Liberation Movement, by the Editors of QQ Magazine. It's an extraordinary piece of ephemera from a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for equal rights.

The purpose: "Serve as a permanent reminder of the greatest day in our history"... "ignite a feeling of gay pride" ... "come to know the true meaning of brotherhood."

You can find it at Homobilia.com.