The two photos to the right and left feature boys swimming nude while clothed girls swim with them.
#Vintage gay men swimming movie#
Bear in mind this movie was intended to be seen by the entire family thus, seeing boys completely naked at a river bank was considered a normal experience for anyone regardless of age or gender as late as 1960. In the second part of the three-part video documentary presented on our "YMCA/Schools Videos" page, the opening scene from the 1960 Walt Disney movie "Pollyanna" shows a group of boys skinny-dipping in a river showing them completely naked from the back side. Ultimately, it lead to the creation of ordinances that prohibited it altogether.īoys Swimming in the Outdoors with Girls (date unknown) (Click on photo to enlarge)A number of the stories posted in our "Stories" section recount times in the early-to-mid 20th century wherein the writer talks about days wherein all boys that swam in nearby creeks, rivers and ponds did so in the nude. Of course the girls always wore their suits." Some objected to such "indecent" exposure and called for laws banning such practice whereas others, including many of the same females that witnessed it, were in favor of letting the men and boys enjoy it nude. In one such story an adolescent boy said "the girls were upset because they couldn't play in the river under the bridge with the boys because we didn't wear trousers, but when we told them they could swim with us and they joined in, there was never anymore fuss.
![vintage gay men swimming vintage gay men swimming](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/61/f8/66/61f8664204df98225b759a8e3fe2face--male-photography-vintage-photography.jpg)
There are many newspaper accounts and stories that told of how women and girls would often walk by such lake fronts and rivers as boys of all ages and even sometimes grown men swam in such state with the general response being the boys were unconcerned of their presence. Vintage Photo - Date Unknown (Click on photo to enlarge) Another photo of boys swimming on a lake shore in the early 20th Century. But a century ago, it was both acceptable and normal for boys to be seen au natural at many beaches and watering spots throughout our western societies. Of course, such display of nudity today, including any photographer that would photography the boys in such a way, would immediately be assailed upon by the authorities and the "morality police" of our politically correct society. The boys are enjoying the fountain in the same manner they would have enjoyed any river or seaside beach, fully nude and while in the immediate presence of girls their age. The girls are wearing the ultra-conservative dress that evolved during the previous Victorian era, which marks a high degree modesty and concealment of most of their bodies. The photo below shows Trafalgar square a few years prior to the above photos.
![vintage gay men swimming vintage gay men swimming](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flS3E_uCdGo/TjL66uknteI/AAAAAAAAC40/ojZKbXIgPBE/s1600/23-Four+male+swimmers%252C+%2528Noel+Ryan+3rd+from+left%252C+Sam+Herford+far+right%2529%252C1930.jpg)
In the photo on the right, the older boy on the right who appears to be about 11 years in age is surrounded by girls as he dresses, and it can be seen that he is fully nude.
![vintage gay men swimming vintage gay men swimming](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/30/5e/6c/305e6c434295f20e70ee1905243681e4.jpg)
The crowd watching attests to how even in large urban settings, boys swimming and playing naked with female siblings and friends was both common and expected. If one looks closely to these photos, it is clear that the many boys enjoying the water are almost all nude whereas the girls are all clothed. Trafalgar Square, London - 1919 (Click on photos to enlarge) In the two photos to the left and right, we see young kids playing in the cool waters of the famous Trafalgar Square in 1919. Although the frequency of females being present can be debated, this photograph suggests that if such a scene could take place in public, then in at least some of these institutions, sisters and coed students may indeed have been allowed to be in the pool areas while the boys swam and competed naked, as well as providing some evidence that female instructors may have taught the boys their swim lessons in some cases. It also should be considered when debates emerge about whether during the early 20th century females were allowed in the pool areas when public schools or boys associations conducted swim classes for the boys while requiring all boys to be nude. This provides indisputable proof that in many communities, not only was it standard that all boys swam and played completely nude, but that it was also not uncommon for girls of their age (although clothed) to swim and play with them. As can be seen, every boy is completely naked whereas the girls wear their bathing costumes.
![vintage gay men swimming vintage gay men swimming](https://www.tias.com/stores/stev/pictures/pr0918a5-2011a.jpg)
The age of the boys appear to range from about 8 through 13, and the two girls present appear to be a bit older. In it we observe 17 boys and girls frolicking in a river as they are watched by family and friends. Vintage Photo - Early 20th Century (Click on photo to enlarge)The photo to the left is of unknown origin, probably taken in the late Edwardian period.