Yuri Gagarin, Space Cadet Under the Sea
The ever-weird EnglishRussia just posted a rare collection of Yuri Gagarin photos. I’m used to seeing this hero of my childhood, the first man in space, smiling like Superman while decked in Soviet bling, so the image above of Gagarin posing with a skeleton and his creepy friend, Russian Crispin Glover, took me by surprise. There are so many things to love about this image. I love the expression on the skeleton’s face! I love the buttons on that coat! This is definitely the kind of pin-up I’d put on my wall.
And below, we have… well, I’m not entirely sure what we have there. It appears to be Gagarin dressed as Neptune for a play. But if he’s Neptune, then who’s the guy in the turban? And doesn’t it look like they’re in a gym locker room? Someone help me decipher this mystery.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I will take one of each please.
No need to bag them up, I’ll just wear them home, thank you.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Quite the find…the skeleton pic is an instant classic.
The only thing that comes to mind for me with the second pic is the navel tradition of the Line-Crossing Ceremony…but who knows.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony
February 19th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
My guess for the turban guy is Captain Nemo. He’s the only aquatic-related person who wears a turban I can think of.
Also first post hi hello love the mag and blog.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Sterlingspider, amen sister.
Tequila, that’s genius! I forgot all about the Line-Crossing! But it makes perfect sense.
I love his pants.
Leah, welcome. Cute name. :)
February 19th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
heh, Stagger Leah.
These are cool pictures, thanks for the share. When I was a kid I was really into space exploration stuff. Gagarin is mos def a hero.
February 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I need a closeup of the Gagarin tattoo. Do you think it’s an orbit around the Earth?
February 19th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
my, thanks for the share. now ive more reason to hate being born in my genration . you older folks actualy had the best , as i think.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:05 am
I’m sorry, what did you say? I was completely distracted by Gagarin’s very nice bicep….
Oh, yes. I would say Captain Nemo, but that statement is only based on my viewing of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. A turban that big would certainly not be practical for seafaring.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Lol at Russian Crispin Glover
February 20th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
@MattSpong – that was my first thought too!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I’m late to the site but enjoying it immensely, so that also explains my lateness to post. I’m going to put my vote with the line crossing since you see he has a mike in his hand and the shower facilities would also make sense since these events often got messy.
October 13th, 2013 at 5:31 am
The guy in the turban in the second photo is Alexei Leonov, the first man to walk in space. He participated in the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.