33 Photos of the Dangers of Posing Strap Wrestling

There was a time in the middle of the last century when photos of men wrestling in posing straps was about as stimulating an image as a gay man could find, legally. These perfect examples by Don Whitman with the Western Photography Guild (read the story of WPG below) capture the excitement and tension of a couple of maybe straight, maybe gay, maybe even mixed (!) guys, all oiled up in the warm sunshine trying to get a good hold on each other. Oh, but of the inherent dangers therein. Think of the possibilities: sudden cardiovascular congestion in the pouch area, unintended stimulation by the strap string in the fundamental area, sudden face-to-face action with a very full pouch sprouting with pubic hair from its bursting sides and top. God save us from that! But this is the way the Greeks did it in ancient times. Perhaps it was for the purity of the sport, perhaps it was for the assembled audience, either way, no one goes away unstimulated.

See more of WPG's fantastic photos on our previous gallery:

#TBT: A Trove of Physique Memorabilia for Collectors (Photos)
Western Photography Guild is a family business. In fact, the founder's nephew is still printing from the original negatives.

Western Photography Guild is a physique photography studio in Denver. It was established in 1947 by photographer Don Whitman. Don was also one of the original founders of the Mr. Colorado Body Building Contest, along with Lester Workman and Phil Dewald, in the early 1950s. This created a showcase for physical culture in the Rocky Mountain region. Today, Western Photography Guild is operated by Don Whitman's family -- Don's nephew Andy Dimler and his daughter Myra, assisted by Don's niece Elisa Townsend. Although models are no longer photographed, high-quality prints and photo sets are still produced.

We spoke with the very friendly Andy Dimler and he recounted the early days of helping his uncle in the studio and darkroom. He has kept in touch with as many of the Denver bodybuilders as he can and notes their passing on the company's Facebook and Twitter pages. The prints are available on eBay at very reasonable prices, and if you don't see what you want, you can call him and ask him. A rarity these days.

Ask him about the metallic prints. They sound beautiful and serve as a tangible experience you can't have with online photos.

For more information go to the website, and for a great interview with Andy, go to the Bob Mizer Foundation blog.