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Bob Mizer Athletic Model Guild
BOB MIZER ATHLETIC MODEL GUILD 1950s Vintage 12 Photograph Series - Rome of Old

1950s

$1,800
£1,368.50
€1,579.30
CA$2,519.52
A$2,821.19
CHF 1,471.95
MX$34,374.09
NOK 18,678.05
SEK 17,757.85
DKK 11,788.41
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About the Item

Original vintage early 1950s set of 12 photographs by Physique Photography icon Bob Mizer - Athletic Model Guild - complete Series of 12 original gelatin silver photographs numbered on verso. Action scenes from Mizer's set 'Rome of Old' are included. Photographs are original early 1950s prints on lightly textured heavy paper in excellent condition, see accompanying images. Mizer's photographic work is include in the collections of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. Robert Mizer (Bob) Mizer was born on March 27, 1922, in Hailey, Idaho. At the age of 5 Mizer and his brother and mother moved to Los Angeles. He spent his early years taking photographs around Venice Beach. Mizer gained a mentorship opportunity with silent film actor and physique photographer Frederic Kovert in 1942. In 1945 he established his own studio Athletic Model Guild, or AMG, in the living room of his home. As per his diary, Mizer was extremely open about his sexuality with the models he photographed. Mizer began his business by taking pictures of men that he knew. His subjects would often pose for pictures which illustrated fitness tips and the like, but were also viewed as homoerotic material. Mizer was know for bodybuilding poses, pairs wrestling and short films of men in posing straps. During those post-war years, United States censorship laws allowed women, but not men, to appear in various states of undress in what were referred to as "art photographs”. Mizer did appear in court to face several charges over the years, including obscenity, drug use, and prostitution. Despite some legal setbacks, AMG survived its many trials. Mizer used his quarterly magazine, Physique Pictorial, to feature his models as well as controversial gay artists such as Tom of Finland and MATT. Several major bodybuilders and actors of the day got their start posing for Mizer at AMG including Joe Dallesandro, Ed Fury, Glenn Corbett of “77 Sunset Strip”, Alan Ladd and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is estimated that Mizer shot over 10,000 men throughout the course of his career. Mizer died in May 1992. He is recognized as a leading male-art photographer of the 1950s and 1960s who made a major contribution in establishing an athletic healthy image of gay men during the ‘beefcake’ era. Photographs are printed on lightly textured double weight photographic paper with a high quality low luster premium finish. Photographs measure 4"x5" inches which includes a standard 3/16 inch white boarder. All 12 photographs were together in a storage box previously owned by the late Broadway and Hollywood costume designer Noel Taylor.
  • Creator:
    Bob Mizer Athletic Model Guild (1922 - 1992, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1950s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 4 in (10.16 cm)Depth: 0.07 in (1.78 mm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Glenford, NY
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: Bob Mizer Athletic Model Guild 1950 Set of 121stDibs: LU2458215187012

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