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Circa 1905. "A life guard. Brighton Beach, New York." He looks like someone who knows the ropes. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size.
I had to do a quadruple take -- this gent looks exactly like my father! Same structure, muscles, even the mustache! Had the scenery (and his bathing togs) not depicted the time period, I would almost swear it is him. My dad was a surfing bum in the 60s, and a furniture mover in his adult life (how the muscles were formed!). I wonder what this fellow's life was like...
isn't he indexed under "handsome rakes?" You sure put enough women under the heading of "pretty girls" for all your male viewers.
[Done. - Dave]
Today's man would need a rowing machine or a Bowflex to get those arms. I wonder what he did for a living (other than a life guard). I wanna go back in time and find this guy! Rooooooowwwrrr...
Never saw a guy look as good as him in one of those wool bathing suits. Not enough tattoos for a 1905 Navy dude, though.
Shades of Freddie Mercury
I can't say I think too much about the electric lamp and wires strung directly over the swimming area!
Maybe he uses it to filter-feed.
I plan on jumping in the surf and floundering hysterically in about 5 minutes. Resuscitation would be nice. I love a nice mustache.
And to quote Randy Newman, "You can leave the hat on."
Was there no tradition of mustache care in 1905?
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was nice of the guy to take the cigar out of his mouth for the photo. I wonder if he'd keep it clenched in his teeth as he rescued some floundering swimmer.
Yes, he's a "manly man," but what really "stands out" about him is that vital part of the bather's wardrobe: The Belt. Would that swimwear designers of today return to the wonderful feature of a leather belt on every swim suit! Never mind drawstrings or elastic - hold your drawers up the way God intended with a strip of cowhide.
or women too would wear their veins on the outside like this jamoke.
Check out the gun show! Love it!
Re: Anon Tipster "Satisfying the Ladies:"
Amen to that sistah!
In an emergency, I hope he didn't jump into the water wearing that hat and I hope the damsels in distress didn't go into the water with those umbrellas.
My old stomping grounds as a kid. And memories of sand in my shorts riding the BMT home with my folks.
I think that this might be Popeye before the unfortunate eye injury, pre-pipe and pre-Olive Oyl.
...the early years. It's fun to play on Brighton Beach at Parkway!
I wouldn't mind checking out all that man. He is gorgeous, and I just love a man in uniform!
Something tells me this guy was In the Navy.
In an era when porcelain skin was very much de rigueur, I wonder what a deep tan like that would do for one's social standing.
Oh Dave, you sweet thing you. Always keeping the ladies satisfied with a little sample of eye candy for us womenfolk after we've had to witness the male Shorpyites transform from men to wolves after the posting of such a lovely flower of a girl several photos down.
As for the handsome bit of cheesecake in the photo, a bit of CPR from him could jump start any heart as well as quite a few other things.
That is one beautiful man! And what a tan! I don't think the hat is dorky though -- rather jaunty if you ask me. Don't you have a "handsome rakes" category? This guy is a candidate without a doubt.
Wearing those outfits.
[The woman are no doubt checking out all the man. - Dave]
BAYWATCH! This guy was a hardbody long before the term was coined. And none of the females are even glancing at him, what the heck's wrong with them? Maybe it's the dorky hat.
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