GUIDED MUSCLE

Only the strong connive.

The novel Muscle Boy appeared in 1958, courtesy of author Bud Clifton, aka David Derek Stacton, and concerns a nineteen year-old bodybuilder who gets involved with a shady photographer. The photographer sells racy pix to private customers and, as we all know quite well, when photographs are involved (see the previous post) trouble is sure to follow. The story was inspired by an actual crime ring based in San Francisco, but Clifton transplanted the action to Muscle Beach and populated it with an assortment of flamboyant party boys and hustlers. The book sold well, and today it’s a bit of an underground classic, which probably explains why we saw it on Amazon for $80. We love a trashy tale, especially when it comes with Robert Maguire art like this one, but what’s the point spending that much to read about bad decisions, humiliation and regret when we can live those things ourselves simply by putting the same amount of money into alcohol? We’re nothing if not logical around here.

Ace Books, Bud Clifton, David Derek Stacton, Robert Maguire, gay, cover art, literature

Vintage Pulp

March 11 2009

FRIENDLY SKIES

We'd like to introduce you to some old Quaintances.

This stylized cover painting of bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves, as well as the covers below, were painted by the late George Quaintance, who was a pioneer of male physique art during the 1950s. Quaintance’s work was considered “beefcake” art, and appeared mainly on bodybuilding magazines. He never had an official gallery showing, for the obvious reason that mid-twentieth century America would not have tolerated public display of his Greek god figures with their prominent bulges. But he earned a measure of cult fame anyway, and undoubtedly must have gotten a real charge out of expressing his sexuality right under the noses of the establishment. You can see more of his stunning pieces here.

Body Beautiful, Adonis, Your Physique, George Quaintance, Steve Reeves, Clarence Ross, magazine art, lgbt

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HISTORY REWIND

The headlines that mattered yesteryear.

December 3

1964—Mass Student Arrests in U.S.

In California, Police arrest over 800 students at the University of California, Berkeley, following their takeover and sit-in at the administration building in protest at the UC Regents’ decision to forbid protests on university property.

December 3

1968—U.S. Unemployment Hits Low

Unemployment figures are released revealing that the U.S. unemployment rate has fallen to 3.3 percent, the lowest rate for almost fifteen years. Going forward all the way to the current day, the figure never reaches this low level again.

December 2

1954—Joseph McCarthy Disciplined by Senate

In the United States, after standing idly by during years of communist witch hunts in Hollywood and beyond, the U.S. Senate votes 65 to 22 to condemn Joseph McCarthy for conduct bringing the Senate into dishonor and disrepute. The vote ruined McCarthy’s career.

December 1

1955—Rosa Parks Sparks Bus Boycott

In the U.S., in Montgomery, Alabama, seamstress Rosa Parks refuses to give her bus seat to a white man and is arrested for violating the city’s racial segregation laws, an incident which leads to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott resulted in a crippling financial deficit for the Montgomery public transit system, because the city’s African-American population were the bulk of the system’s ridership.

November 30

1936—Crystal Palace Gutted by Fire

In London, the landmark structure Crystal Palace, a 900,000 square foot glass and steel exhibition hall erected in 1851, is destroyed by fire. The Palace had been moved once and fallen into disrepair, and at the time of the fire was not in use. Two water towers survived the blaze, but these were later demolished, leaving no remnants of the original structure.