Beach Boys

Click to make fig leaves disappear (obviously NSFW)

Before there was Herb Ritts, there was Mel Roberts.

Roberts was a prolific photographer of the male form.  In the 1960s and 1970s, he focused on many of the beach bums and surfers who were discovering the sexual revolution on and off the sands of Southern California.  He was profiled on a recent episode of "Sexplorations" on the "Here! TV" network.

Many of the models were friends and lovers of Roberts, a World War II veteran and gay activist who founded California's chapter of the pioneering Mattachine Society.

In the late 1970s, the L.A. Police Department raided his home twice and confiscated prints and equipment, which were eventually returned.  (Frontal male nudity was generally considered obscene at the time.)  In 1981, he hung up his camera for good, but he helped pave the way for other notable photographers who celebrated male beauty.

His photographs have been collected in books including "California Boys" and "The Wild Ones."

The video of the segment follows, and some very much NSFW photos are after the jump.

[Watch video – 5:37, WMV format, high bandwidth]

[Watch video – 5:37, WMV format, low bandwidth]

Comments

[MT]

Vintage erotica is always so interesting. It somehow manages to combine innocence with sexiness. It's something that is lost in today's world. Everyone is so busy being hyper masculine that they lose those softer qualities that can be so romantic. Thanks for sharing the images.

[MT]

P.S. for all interested Beefcake is available on YouTube. How that got past the rules I'll never know, but there you have it.

[hendri]

maybe the pictures no need to be sensored

[Great news]

Thanks buddy. Great submissions you got here. Got some more websites to direct to which have more information?

[green drink]

Hahahha. These guys are so freaking funny.