Vintage Ephemera #1 (NSFW)

A Peek Inside The Early "Adults Only" Industry

Long before OnlyFans—where seemingly everyone and their mother poses in their birthday suits—there was an underground cottage industry of artists, designers, models, photographers, and publishers creating photography for guys interested in seeing other guys...in various states of undress.

From the 1940s through the 1970s, artistic physique pictorials weren’t just risqué—they were revolutionary. And could get you arrested. These photos and publications offered a lifeline to a generation of queer men, though their creators often paid a steep price for coloring outside the lines and challenging the status quo.

Let’s take a brief dive into the fascinating world of beefcake, biceps, and bravery.

ARTFUL COVERS = HIDDEN DESIRES

The first thing that strikes me about vintage physique magazines is their often artful presentation. Most early beefcake magazine covers were beautifully composed and featured statuesque men posed like Greek gods.

Whether they were flexing on a sunny beach or brooding in dramatic studio lighting, these men quickly became icons of masculinity and sensuality.