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Bruce of L.A. Original Vintage 50s Male Nude Signed Black & White Photograph

About the Item

Another original 8 x 10 black-and-white photograph by world, renowned photographer, Bruce Bellas AKA Bruce of L.A. we have sold many on 1st Dibs from our personal collection of 40+ years. Please note this is not a copy. It was printed while Mr. Bellis was alive from the original negative. This image even has the Model’s name “James Galbraith” on the back and signed “Bruce”. This well known series was shot in the Palm Springs are in the 1950s when it was illegal to shoot nude outdoors. It was framed over 30 years ago in a black frame with silver trim. Please see our other listibgs for more Bruce photos and many other Male Physique photos. All are original.
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  • Bruce of L.A. (Bruce Bellas) Original 50s Male Nude Photograph Handsome Model
    By Bruce of Los Angeles, Bruce Bellas
    Located in Palm Springs, CA
    From an important 25 plus year collection of Male Physique and Beefcake photography, image # 7 of handsome male model Bill Gregory. Printed in the 1960s and are all signed by the studio on verso when Mr. Bruce Bellas aka Bruce of LA was alive. Beautifully, professionally framed. Double white mat and simple black frame. All original photos are 8 x 10. Framed 16.50" W x 19" H. Please see other listings for more photographs from this collection available for sale for the 1st time. These listing photographs are very hard to shoot under glass. They are sharp, clear photographs printed the old fashioned way, by hand in the late 50s and early 60s. BIO: Bruce Harry Bellas (July 7, 1909 – July 1974) was an American photographer. He was influential in his work with male physiques and nudes. Bellas was well known under the pseudonym Bruce of Los Angeles. History and influence Bruce Harry Bellas was born in Alliance, Nebraska on July 7, 1909. He worked as a chemistry teacher there until 1947, when he began photographing bodybuilders in Los Angeles, California, beginning with taking pictures of bodybuilding competitions. In 1956, Bellas launched his own magazine, The Male Figure. Among physique photographers, Bellas' work was noted for having a distinctly campy, tongue-in-cheek sensibility. Bellas also produced a number of early homoerotic 8 mm films with titles such as Cowboy Washup and Big Gun for Hire. Bellas was known to travel around the country, finding new models to photograph and also personally delivering nude photographs to customers, since they were liable to be seized by postal inspectors if sent through the mail. An extensive archive of Bellas' nude male physique...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Photography

    Materials

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  • Bruce of L.A. (Bruce Bellas) Original 50s Male Nude Photograph Masculine Model
    By Bruce Bellas, Bruce of Los Angeles
    Located in Palm Springs, CA
    From an important 25 plus year collection of Male Physique and Beefcake photography, iconic image of masculine male model holding metal chain.. Printed in the 1960s and are all signed by the studio on verso when Mr. Bruce Bellas aka Bruce of LA was alive. Beautifully, professionally framed. Double white mat and simple black frame. All original photos are 8 x 10. Framed 16.50" W x 19" H. Please see other listings for more photographs from this collection available for sale for the 1st time. These listing photographs are very hard to shoot under glass. They are sharp, clear photographs printed the old fashioned way, by hand in the late 50s and early 60s. BIO: Bruce Harry Bellas (July 7, 1909 – July 1974) was an American photographer. He was influential in his work with male physiques and nudes. Bellas was well known under the pseudonym Bruce of Los Angeles. History and influence Bruce Harry Bellas was born in Alliance, Nebraska on July 7, 1909. He worked as a chemistry teacher there until 1947, when he began photographing bodybuilders in Los Angeles, California, beginning with taking pictures of bodybuilding competitions. In 1956, Bellas launched his own magazine, The Male Figure. Among physique photographers, Bellas' work was noted for having a distinctly campy, tongue-in-cheek sensibility. Bellas also produced a number of early homoerotic 8 mm films with titles such as Cowboy Washup and Big Gun for Hire. Bellas was known to travel around the country, finding new models to photograph and also personally delivering nude photographs to customers, since they were liable to be seized by postal inspectors if sent through the mail. An extensive archive of Bellas' nude male physique...
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    Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Photography

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  • Bruce of L.A. (Bruce Bellas) Original 1950s Studio Photograph Male Nude
    By Bruce of Los Angeles, Bruce Bellas
    Located in Palm Springs, CA
    From an important 25 plus year collection of Male Physique and Beefcake photography, an iconic image done by Bruce in the studio with model posing on the iconic black and white floor, showing off his masculine back.. Printed in the 1960s and are all signed by the studio on verso when Mr. Bruce Bellas aka Bruce of LA was alive. Beautifully, professionally framed. Double white mat and simple black frame. All original photos are 8 x 10. Framed 16.50" W x 19" H. Please see other listings for more photographs from this collection available for sale for the 1st time. These listing photographs are very hard to shoot under glass. They are sharp, clear photographs printed the old fashioned way, by hand in the late 50s and early 60s. BIO: Bruce Harry Bellas (July 7, 1909 – July 1974) was an American photographer. He was influential in his work with male physiques and nudes. Bellas was well known under the pseudonym Bruce of Los Angeles. History and influence Bruce Harry Bellas was born in Alliance, Nebraska on July 7, 1909. He worked as a chemistry teacher there until 1947, when he began photographing bodybuilders in Los Angeles, California, beginning with taking pictures of bodybuilding competitions. In 1956, Bellas launched his own magazine, The Male Figure. Among physique photographers, Bellas' work was noted for having a distinctly campy, tongue-in-cheek sensibility. Bellas also produced a number of early homoerotic 8 mm films with titles such as Cowboy Washup and Big Gun for Hire. Bellas was known to travel around the country, finding new models to photograph and also personally delivering nude photographs to customers, since they were liable to be seized by postal inspectors if sent through the mail. An extensive archive of Bellas' nude male physique...
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    Other

  • Vintage 1950s Original Male Physique Photograph by Bruce of Los Angeles
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    Located in Palm Springs, CA
    An original iconic male physique photograph by legendary photographer Bruce Bellas aka Bruce of Los Angeles. Our collection (soon to be available on separate listings are all original (not copied from negative). This iconic image with a beach ball was one of the props that became synonymous with a Bruce Bellas photograph. Printed in the 1950s, the stamped images were printed when he was alive. They are the rare, sought after photographs prized by collectors of the genre. 8x 10 photograph, white matt, beautifully framed in classic black. Bio: An icon of gay art and one of the most famous names in physique photography, Bruce Bellas is remembered today as a pioneer of beefcake. Beginning in the 1940s and continuing until his death in 1974, Bellas photographed some of the most important figures in the world of physical culture; bodybuilders Steve Reeves, Bob McCune, and George Eiferman, and models Joe Dallesandro, Mark Nixon, and Brian Idol...
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  • Bruce of Los Angeles Vintage Original Male Physique Photograph of Carl Venus
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    From an important 25 plus year collection of male physique and beefcake, printed in the 1960s, signed by the studio when Mr. Bruce Bellas aka Bruce of LA...
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  • Bruce of L.A.Original 1950s Male Physique Photograph Model Handsome Bill Gregory
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    From an important 25 plus year collection of Male Physique and Beefcake photography, image # 7 of handsome male model Bill Gregory. Printed in the 1960s ...
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