Vintage Swimming
In the old days, men swam naked as a matter of course. Not just furtive skinny-dipping, but swimming at beaches and swimming pools. Women wore swimsuits, but men didn't, as long as there were no women present.
A good example is this scene from the movie A room with a View, an adaptation of E.M. Forster's 1908 novel. Forster, who was gay, wrote a scene where a young man, Freddy, invites George, a newcomer to town, for a "bathe" in the local pond. The two young men swim and frolic naked around the pond, joined by the local vicar, of all people, which underscores that for men in the Edwardian era, swimming nude was completely normal and not at all scandalous. This is definitely the best scene in the film.
The oldest reliably dated photo I have of naked men swimming (not counting the military, which is a whole 'nother story) is this one of "the new swimming baths at Collingwood," published in the Illustrated Australian News, March 1, 1895. Note that not only did the men swim nude, but it was perfectly acceptable to publish a photo of it in the newspaper. It wasn't scandalous; that's just what men did.
Swimming in Regents Canal during a British heatwave, Aug. 21, 1911.
Here's a group of guys in 1917 at the first swimming pool in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Photo by J.J. Dwyer. Swimsuits? Don't be silly!
A man about to dive into the Yrjönkatu swimming pool in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by Aarne Pietinen Oy, 1937.
Up until the 1960s, it was not only normal for men to swim naked in male-only environments, it was required in high-school and college gyms and in the YMCA. We'll show you some unashamed college swimmers another time.
6 comments:
Though, to be fair, males did swim naked even with girls and women present. Witness: swim meets of the last century. Newspaper articles across the country debated the issue in the 1950s and, eventually, sadly the practice ended.
In the country, there was a double standard: Women never swam in mixed company unless there was amorous intent. Even today, it's men naked, women with a bikini top and shorts, if they don't stay by the bank.
However, if women accidentally found you, they were entitled to steal your clothes.
When I was a kid in the 60’s guys of all ages swam nude during regular swim at the YMCA. Nothing strange except the mothers and wives sitting in the bleachers waiting for them.
I love watching! especially when coach is present
As I recall it in Australia back in the day, the swimming pool did not open to women until a certain time in the morning. Before that time it was men only and most chose to swim naked as in your pic. If any men stayed around after women were admitted they had to wear trunks.
Wonderful post and photos! And love the discussion afterwards also.
Good Stuff!
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