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Absolute Naturists Comparing the Old and the New
| Please scan through the "ASA Days" group topics/pictures of nudist history and then tell us how you think that compares with how social/recreational nudity is practiced today. | |
| Thanks for this topic, Sunbunny, and kudos to Andy Bee for starting the ASA Days group in the first place! As a long-time collector of many of the nudist magazines that these pictures were taken from, and a nudist history buff, a couple of comparisons are interesting to note between nudism then and now. The first thing one has to realize is that there was no such thing as the internet back then, so these nudist magazines were the primary source for information on social nudism at the time. They were the general public’s first and most accessible vehicle for information about everything from club listings to the questions and topics many of us still wrestle with here in Absolute Nudists, and on NCH. In 1958, after a long protracted legal battle, Ilsley Boone won a Supreme Court decision in which his publication, “Sunshine and Health” along with its depiction of nudism, were declared not to be “indecent or pornographic”, and could legally be sent through the US mail to subscribers. This opened the floodgates for the production of nudist magazines, and by the early 60’s there were hundreds of titles, with many legitimate titles vying for space with a slew of salacious “faux nudist” girlie mags. Besides trying to promote nudism to the general public as a healthy recreational alternative and/or lifestyle choice, the men and women producing the legitimate titles were also in the business of selling magazines, and long before they had to compete with the girlie mags, they all realized that nothing sells magazines like photos of beautiful women. The added bonus of them being nude, whether airbrushed or not, certainly didn’t hurt either. The post-WW II years thru the late 60’s, maybe 70’s, are considered nudism’s “Golden Age”. The first thing that’s quite different is that there were many more landed clubs throughout the US in which a person could go to experience social nudism, than exist today. Even though social nudism was not a new idea in the US, during this period it seems that more people became aware of it, and were open to trying it out. Until the 70’s there was no such thing as a nude cruise, and there were very few, if any, high-end nudist resort destinations. Most of the clubs were rustic and rural camps. Although at this time, the rules and regulations were much more restrictive at most clubs than they are now, you’d never know that by looking at most of these pictures. Everyone seems to be having FUN! Beauty pageants at the clubs were a big thing at the time, but have since become passé. Again, even though it was a more socially restrictive time, children and families were present and depicted a lot more than they are now. Of course there was, and still is, a camp that believe this was due to some of the publisher’s surreptitious appeal to the pedophile crowd in selling magazines, that eventually became the basis for later legal prosecutions brought against them. When reading through the magazines I’m always amazed by how many of the questions and topics remain the same between now and then. The issue of single men at the resorts (although you’d never know that was a problem by just looking at the pictures), nudist etiquette in different situations, raising a nudist family, first-time stories, how to get a non-nudist spouse involved, the question of what was considered pornographic or “inappropriate”, the acceptance of nudism in a textile society, etc. are just a sample. Some of the topics that were beginning to be more openly discussed in the magazines during the turbulent 60’s, were also a reflection of the social upheavals that were taking place in general society at the time. The issue of race at nudist clubs, the liberalization of sexual morals and how they were affecting nudism, the greying of the nudist leadership, and how young people were not being attracted to the resorts were just beginning to be brought out at the time. Although I don’t have hard numbers to back it up, from reading these magazines, and talking with some of the old timers who went through this period, it seems to me that there were many more clubs, and many more people were involved in social nudism despite the overall conservative social milieu of the late 50’s, and early 60’s, from whence most of these pictures and stories in the ASA days came. | |
| There were pluses...and minuses. I think we've lost - for the most part - the physical expression aspect of nudism. I've seen many 50's/60's pictures depicting nudists doing anything from bodybuilding to volleyball to pageantry...and even acrobatics! As a nation we have gotten lazy...and that has spread to the nudist community. Not a good way to attract the younger generation either. As far as nudist publications, there is obviously a focus on attractive people. Diane Webber, amongst others, was a frequent nudist model. Who also happened to be an actress and pin-up model. We have gotten away from that: I think it's a good thing a broader array of nudists is represented. But in this process we've also lost the "icon" figures that existed in the 50's-60's: distinctive people that inspired and caught your attention. But what disgusts me a bit about that time period is the blatant racism some resorts exhibited. One famous resort (Lazy K) stated in no uncertain terms that people of color were not welcome. I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I read that. | |
| Nudony, not to get into a protracted debate on racism, but you have to remember that segregation was practiced in this country, until the Civil Rights Act was passed. Segregation was a fact, in all aspects of life, so why would nudist resorts be any different? Resorts, the people who ran them, and the people who attended, were a reflection of the time. However, it is now 50 to 60 years later, and mindsets have changed. | |
| Nudony, in Graniteville, SC, there was a wonderful park that limited admittance to not only married couples only but to only those who were Caucasian. Uncle Henry's park started in the 1950s in the South just across the street from a KKK building. Had he not been so restrictive...that and not allowing visible alcohol, they would have burned out the park. It's unfortunate, that it's fallen into disarray. Uncle Henry's widow now allows ALL Travelites members including singles and those of color when we have events there. | |
| I really do yearn for the simpler times of the past. The nude business seems to have gotten very complicated nowdays. Sombody is sueing, somebody is complaining, somebody wants high quality, somebody wants a pool and jacuzzi,somebody does not want kids around, somebody wants wants wants wants...geez, all this BS sometimes takes the enjoyment out of social nudity. I am sure there were struggles back then but people seem to enjoy the ability to just be nude with folks that enjoyed social nudity. This is what I find most interesting when I compare the two. To me we have traveled so far yet so wrong in so many ways. | |
| I think the "Golden Age" was a better time. In trying to compete for your nudist dollar, resorts are all trying to offer the same thing. There's very little originality out there, and the resorts all seem homogenized. I think if I opened a resort, it would be a throwback to the old days. Nudity required (unless the weather is an issue), more rustic. Wouldn't be for everyone, but that's fine by me. |
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