Physique Pictorial/Bob Mizer

posted by: Kythonger

Anyone else here get their start on wearing thongs or gstrings from Physique Pictorial or other similar magazines from the 1950s? If you’re not familiar with them just search those two topics. They were way outside the boundaries of 1950s fashion and culture. My first experience was when I was about five years old and I came across a bodybuilding magazine that my dad had in his weight room. It was from the 50s and this would have been sometime in the late 70s that I saw it. I looked through the pages and was enamored with all of the men wearing gstrings (back then they were called “posing straps”). Who would think today that thongs and gstrings went back that far? I knew right away that I wanted to wear stuff like that but I was limited at buying anything like that since I was only five. So I did the next best thing…I made my own out of fishing line and some black material. The fit was terrible but I was hooked. I never stopped making stuff but I’m happy to say that the quality has improved. Ninety-nine % of the stuff in my pictures was made by me. Anyways, back to Bob Mizer. I find it interesting how men are so emasculated nowadays compared to what they were wearing in the 50s in these magazines. I also love the whole genre of pictures that came out of that era. This would have been late 40s to early 60s. They were campy and sometimes corny but they were so fun. They genuinely showed how beautiful men can be. That’s a lost art now. I’d love to hear similar stories if you have any. I sometimes wonder if I would be wearing thongs and gstrings now if I never came across that magazine. I’m sure I would. It would have just been a matter of time before I saw something similar that would get my attention. One picture that really stands out was a black and white photo of two guys leaning on a rail fence. They were both absolutely beautiful and both wearing gstrings. The caption said “Dueling Dalton.” I wish I could find it now. I remember my sister’s friend looking at the same magazine (as I peered over her shoulder) and made the comment to my sister that they were wearing “string bikinis” and there was “nothing in the back.” I was hooked!! I wanted to be a model in that magazine so bad. I wanted to live the life that was in the pictures, whether it be cowboys and Indians, or gladiators, or wrestling, or swimming or anything else that was the subject of the photo. Let me know if you have any similar experiences.

posted by: Tydenhose

Are you familiar with the name Jim Stryker? I understand he was a very popular model. I managed to put together an entire folder of photos of him that I found on the internet but like an idiot I didn't record where I found them. I've got another folder of photos I simply call Vintage Beefcake, though again I didn't record where I found them. I know I found some of them on eBay.