Clarence Ross
Clarence "Clancy" Ross (1923-2008) won the Mr. America contest in 1945, above.
He also won the Mr. USA contest in 1948, above.
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He was featured in several of the "beefcake" magazines that started coming out in the 1950s. Above, the cover of the December 1954 issue of Muscle Builder. The photo is by Russ Warner.
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Here he is on the cover of the March 1955 issue of Body Beautiful. Again, the photo is by Russ Warner.
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There are many photos of Clarence Ross showing him wearing briefs. However, he did pose nude for photographer Russ Warner, including the two magazine photos, though they don't show much, and the photo above showing a nice rear view.
This photo is the only photo of Ross I have ever found that shows frontal nudity, even if the view is oblique. It was unattributed, but it looks to me like it came from the same studio session with Russ Warner.
Clarence Ross died in 2008 at age 84.
5 comments:
The 4th photo of Clarence on the cover of "Body Beautiful" is Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1955. Joe Weider was the publisher.
Adore those physiques.
@2ndWave - Thanks. I have updated the photo caption.
Clancy Ross was a product of Ed Yarick’s gym in Oakland CA that produced several Mr America title winners in the 40’s and 50’s, among them Ross, Steve Reeves, Jimmie Payne, Jack Delinger and Roy Hilligenn. Other bodybuilders out of Oakland were Jack LaLanne, Norman Marks and Jack Thomas. Oakland was the bodybuilding capital of California before Muscle Beach in Santa Monica became the epicenter. Bodybuilders were known to workout and display their muscles at Lake Merritt in Oakland, and Washington Park and its nearby beach in Alameda. (California’s first Muscle Beach)
Most bodybuilders of the golden era were straight and knew their physique photos were aimed at a gay audience.
-Rj
As a young kid I remember going with my grandfather to a drug store every morning, where he'd have coffee with his buddies. I'd wander the store and found myself attracted to the magazine racks, and had a great interest in these physique bags...I didn't know why, as I'd not hit puberty yet, but the interest was certainly there!
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