Juan Ferrero

Photo by Arax.  

At the age of 34, Juan was named Mr. Universe in 1952.  Sadly, he died in a car accident just 6 years later.  His son, Rodolpho (Rod) would follow his father's footsteps into the bodybuilding circuit.  

A Bit of Bush

I'm surprised I've never posted any photos of Roger Chaverouche to this blog.  His ill-fitting pouch made this a favorite photo of Roger.  I call it a teaser pouch. 

Dare to be Different

Unknown Arax model.  

Solid

Unknown model by Gregor Arax. 

Gregor Arax Part Deux

The second and final installment of photographs from Gregory Arax. 

Arax took this photo of Charles Klejniak (left) representing Belgium and Hubert Thomas representing the United Kingdom at a competition held in London in 1954. 

Hubert posed for this studio photo in 1949.  Two years later he was named Mr. Wales. 

Handsome Charles in 1950.  Check out those thighs! 

Jean Merlier

Jean Merlier in 1946/47. 

I've posted other photos of this guy in the past.  It appears he made several trips to the Arax studio. 

Bernard Chateau

Bernard Chateau was named Best Athlete of France in 1947.  Although this photograph is not dated, we can assume that it was taken around that time.  

Paul Nash

Paul Nash was named Jr. Mr. Britain in 1960.  It's possible Arax took the top photo at that competition.  If not, then shortly after he got the title.  Paul would go on to win Mr. Britain in 1964 and Mr. Europe in 1966.  I believe the bottom photo is from the Mr. Europe contest.  

Jacques Weinsberg

French bodybuilder Jacques Weinsberg took 1st Place in the Athlete of Ille-de-France competition in 1948.  This photo was taken the same year.  

The End

It seems appropriate to end the Arax series with this photo.  Unfortunately I am unable to identify the model. 

Gregor Arax

I'm featuring Gregor Arax in today's posts.  Arax photographed (mostly) European bodybuilders from the mid 1930s to the mid 1970s.  

Born in Armenia in 1897 and named Krikor Djololian, he moved to Paris in the 1920s, changed his name and opened his first studio on Rue Papillon.  He frequently attended bodybuilder contests throughout Europe photographing many of the contestants on or behind stage.  He  invited many of them to his studio for a more complete portfolio, which often included full nudes.  Arax quickly developed respect from the bodybuilding community.   He made the men look good and his photos often appeared in magazines such as Strength & Health.  

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Henri Moolenaar was a contestant in the Mr. France bodybuilding contests from 1947 through 1953.  Here he is in 1952 when he took third place.  

Marcel Guillou

Marcel Guillou was photographed in 1950.  

Yann Larvor

Yann Larvor was a French bodybuilder competing in the early 1950s.  His good looks landed him a few roles in some Italian sword and sandal flicks in the 1960s.  

I don't have a date for this studio photo. 

Yann at a competition in Touville, France in 1959.  Arax made the rounds to many European contests. 

Yann played Ursis in Samson & The Mighty Challenge (Giorgio Capatani, 1964). 

Joao Baptista

Joao Baptista in 1951.  As usual, Arax used a simple background and floor, with no distracting props.  This, and a couple of other photos from this session, appeared in many of the trade mags at that time. 

Charles Kassapian

An early photo of Charles Kassapian wearing a pouch at one of his first visits to Arax Studio in 1952.  The other photo shows Charles in 1954 without a pouch, but holding the rarely seen prop.  Personally I don't think Mr. Kassapian needed any props.  

It would probably surprise few readers to learn Charles got a couple of supporting roles in French cinema.  I know I wouldn't mind seeing him on the big screen. 

Part 2 of Gregor Arax coming tomorrow.  

Time For Some French Abs

Jacques LeClerc by Arax.

Teutonic Muscle

A young Helmut Reidmeier by Gregor Arax.  I guess he had no problem going full nude from the start. 

Nice Shoulders

Jean Millet by Gregor Arax.  

Nice Abs

 The pensive looking Jean Merlier by Arax. 

Helmut Has A Helmet With A Hood

Helmut Reidmeier by Arax.  

His bodybuilding career opened doors to several photographer's studios.