BUSTER CRABBE | KING OF THE JUNGLE (1933) Set of 5 beefcake publicity portraits

[Los Angeles]: Paramount Pictures, 1933. Set of five (5) vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white double weight matte finish photos. Very minor corner wear and some with tiny pinholes at corners, about fine.

When Buster Crabbe lost out to fellow Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller in playing Tarzan at MGM, Paramount came up with this competitive story. It was Buster’s first feature film and the studio photographers wasted little time in presenting photography of his physique, which bared nearly all and of which would not be tolerated once the Production Code was enforced.

This series of images introduced moviegoers to Crabbe. They are amongst the finest photos in male beefcake. Photos are coded P-1495-2, 3, 4, 6, 27.

Provenance: Kenneth Anger collection.