This gym has everything: studs in singlets pumping iron, shirtless hunks working the ropes, a cacophony of grunting and groaning. And no, this is not an advertisement for the local bathhouse–though the sauna is free on Sundays.
Those are the defining scenes and sounds of the newsreel, “You Too Can Lift Weights,” which was released to British audiences in 1965. The short film only contains shots of ripped bodybuilders working out next to each other in BDSM dungeon-like rooms, or doing their best power clean on stage at competition.
In other words, it’s a hidden gay gem from Postwar Britain. Even better, there is also an upbeat and affable-sounding narrator, whose lines are filled with delicious innuendo.
Here is how he describes weightlifting at the top of the reel: “The sport at which even strong men can turn pale if they ever do it flourishes all over the continent, where international stars show what mighty muscle can achieve.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Strong men turning pale?
International stars showing what mighty muscle can achieve?
Yeah, their achievement is they turn us on. Next question, sweetie!
Much like the absurdly homoerotic 1950s workout video we recently discovered, this instructional film that is ostensibly about professional bodybuilding is filled with gay sexual imagery. To kick off the video, the narrator says weightlifters “aim to develop every muscle in the body to the highest pitch.”
Then over the next 90 seconds, we see adonis-looking men squatting in their singlets. And, honey, their muscles are certainly developing! Those veins are popping out in real time.
About 30 seconds in, we see a gorgeous, shirtless blonde man lifting at the bench press. Tragically, he doesn’t have a spotter. We’re offering to be one!
Then we go right to a jacked-up twink working the leg press. His calves are coming along nicely.
The climax really starts to build when we seven mostly shirtless men working those pulleys in one small sweaty room. Up and down, up and down.
Shortly thereafter, we begin to hear loud, cartoonish-sounding groaning. We are heading towards the big finish.
The last competing weightlifter is a hunky little blonde in a dark singlet with tree-trunk legs. The grunting and groaning is only getting louder.
And then — BOOM! He drops his massive barbell and hits the ground.
It must be hard to stand after you… show what mighty muscle can achieve.
A YouTube commenter identified the cute weightlifter as Jaakko Kailajärvi, a Finnish bodybuilder who competed in four Olympics. He’s still alive today, and works as a strength coach for a hockey team.
Maybe someone can track him down and ask?
Watch.
ddmtl
When men were real men! The hell with LGBT2+, drag queens and the rest non sense
henare
show us on the muscle man where the drag queen touched you … /s
inbama
@henare
If it weren’t for idiocies like “Drag Queen Story Hour,” there wouldn’t be that “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida.
joshcatchur
@inbama Did you just say the equivalent of “She was asking for it, look at how she’s dressed!”? Your statement sounds an awful lot like victim-blaming. There is nothing wrong with costumed performers reading to kids.
inbama
No.
That’s your IDIOTIC interpretation.
Just dig in your high heels, honey. it’s people like you who put the target on all our backs.
AuntieXhrist
An aggressively Horny busted Baptist YM.
dbmcvey
Because there are no guys with muscles anymore. It’s not like Queerty regularly posts muscleguys from Instagram thirst traps.
DBMC
@joshcatchur
That’s exactly what inbama is claiming and it’s ridiculous. The right were coming after us no matter what. They were coming after marriage equality the same as they came after bodily autonomy. They were coming after us whether a drag queen ever read a children’s book or not.
connor larkin
Cut back on the estrogen Tarzan, it’ll help your attitude.
dbmcvey
Men are still men. There were drag queens in 1965 too. This is pretty pathetic.
@inbama
The Republicans have been coming at us for decades and especially since Obergefell. The “Drag Queen Story Hours” were an excuse, and no one was harmed at these story hours. They were in public libraries with parents and multiple participants.
Matthewnow
AMEN and Hallelujah. Be who you are but i don’t need RuPaul 24/7
SUPREME
always appreciate lots of man skin.
BGreen1963
*INBAMA you need to learn your gay history & your KKKonservative history. Drag Story Time is just like the Stonewall Riots, Drag Queens doing the work that you are too frightened to do in BAMA.
inbama
“Drag Queen Story Hour” is just an unnecessary provocation. It accomplishes nothing except to hand the right wing loons an issue.
I was at the Stonewall riots although not until the second day which is even later than Marsha P. Johnson who is falsely credited for starting them. That you would compare the ridiculous story hour to the Stonewall riots shows everyone that you’re the one who needs to learn history – and possibly engage a shrink while you’re at it.
dbmcvey
@inbama
You were at the Stonewall Riots? Were you one of the cops?
DBMC
@inbama,
No one credits Marsha P Johnson with starting the Stonewall Riots. She certainly never made that claim. Are you experiencing senile dementia?
ShaverC
I’m tired of the false “drag queens and trans people started the gay revolution” narrative. Drag queens & trans people could never have gotten any respectability, and it was mostly gay men to organized and marched and talked about acceptance by saying “I just want to be allowed to work and get an apartment and live like anyone else”. The problem now is that the letter mafia is demanding people respect them and never question them.
Ronbo
We should have the right to do “Drag Queen Story Hour”; however, do we want to trigger an avalanche of anti-gay laws by CHOICE? I don’t think that giving right-wingers ammunition seems the best idea. We have the right to carry guns EVERYWHERE; but, only nuts do it. Right? Do you?
Remember when Queerty’s own editor CHOSE to attack progressive Democrat, Alex Morse, falsely claiming he was indoctrinating straight students and being predatory? As with this story, FOX ran with the “grooming” story and now has a queer site substantiating (falsely) that we are a threat. I guess an editor got a HUGE paycheck; but. we all suffered from the smear. FOX continues to quote that Queerty editor who has never apologized or recanted the false stories. I see the drag queens doing the same thing – seeking fame while putting us all at risk.
That editor here, never apologized and did not give back any of the profits. Greed, wealth and fame destroy humanity and corrupt even good people. Admitting that you were wrong, used and manipulated would be the first step, Graham Gremore. Or are you waiting to go on camera at FOX spewing other lies for a paycheck?
dbmcvey
So, allowing parents to decide they want to take their children to a story hour where a drag queen reads a children’s book is “ammunition.”
They were going to come for us whether there were drag queen story hours or not, because that’s what conservatives do. After they outlawed abortion they were always going to come for marriage rights and any other rights we’ve gained.
Bosch
The attack on drag queens is just a diversionary tactic to distract us from actual child abuse in the GOP, the church, the boy scouts, etc.
Perpetuate this faux outrage, and you’re helping them protect the abusers.
MDWolf12
@inbama
Have yoever bee nto drag queen story hour? do yo have children? As a gay parent, I have been. In my eyes these drag queens are tantamount to clowns. when in a childrens environment hte only difference is drag queens dont usually do magic tricks. outlandish makeup, over the top colorful clothes, and big hair.
Attacking drag queens and doint say gay and banning books, is an easy way for conservatives to distract by fear mongering and the accomlishments of the progressive. we would have dont say gay laws with or without drag queen happy hour.
abfab
Thanks for bringing back the crazy GOP TROLLS today, Q. Well, at least they can use this a reminder of how fukkked up thier views and politics are, and you know who you are. The enlightened ones!