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From the Museum's Archives is a weekly section of local history columns written by the Manistee County Historical Museum. 

In 1934 the issue of men’s topless bathing suits became a hot-button topic in Manistee between those who embraced the new swimwear and those who felt that it was too inappropriate of a display for local beaches. Thus, the battle of the trunks ensued.

Throughout the 1920s, the popularity of Manistee’s beaches began to grow because of a variety of factors, including: a paved tarvia stone road to First Street Beach; the removal of sand dunes that had once blocked access to the beaches; and on the north side of the city the formation of the Northside Improvement Association, which played the leading role in beautifying Fifth Avenue Beach. 

In the 1920s, men’s typical beach attire was a tanktop-like shirt to cover their chest with a pair of low-kneed boxer shorts covering a segment of their legs.

However, by the early 1930s, a new style of men’s beach wear had begun to spread across the country. This new look focused on the upper portion of the male body showing off a topless look, which in addition to a new style of lower wear called swim trunks, placed the greater emphasis on the male chest.    

While trunks were reportedly seen in town during the summer of 1933, it wasn’t until 1934 that the topic of topless men at the beach began to be discussed in Manistee. With the summer beach season commencing, local stores began selling trunks but the city police quickly made it known that the new style would not be allowed on local beaches. A brief mention published in the Manistee News Advocate on June 4, 1934 outlines the conflict:

"The male human body, tanned a deep bronze from shoulder to waist, may be a thing of beauty to some people but to the city police it is just cause for warning that topless bathing suits will not be allowed at the local bathing beaches this summer.

“The state park commission, however, in lifting its ban on topless suits, make available a retreat at Orchard Beach State Park for those young men who have purchased the new type suits.”

Two days later, outcries of those who were pro-trunk and those who were anti-trunk began to be voiced throughout the city, thus providing the Manistee News Advocate naming the exchange of opinions as “The Battle of the Trunks.” Details on this “battle” were published on June 6, 1934:

“The battle of the trunks is being waged today among several factions and it is believed that the conflict will soon move to the city’s bathing beaches where someone will undoubtedly say, ‘We’ll fight it out along this line if it takes all summer.’

After the battle of the trunks ended, local stores such as Billie’s Clothing Shoppe, 387 River St. began advertising them.

“The whole thing started when Chief of Police Frank Kruse issued a warning that the new men’s topless bathing suits would not be allowed in use here this season.

“Immediately cries of protest were raised, by the merchants who had stocked the suits, by those who had purchased them and by others who were just opposed to any further curtailment of their liberties.

“Chief Kruse cited an ordinance in his warning, but those interested asked City Clerk John Watson to pry among the city files and find out what was what about the city law. The results of his probe are startling, inasmuch as the present city law passed in 1914; classes as a violator any person who appears on the beaches without being clothed in ‘dark material from waist to knee.’

“Inasmuch as few of the bathing suits in use nowadays extend to the knee, blankets probably will be pressed into service this summer.

“Proponents of the topless suits point out that the matter of covering the upper portion of the body apparently rests with the discretion of the swimmer. “The battle is not over yet, by a long stretch. The Northside Improvement Association intends to bring up the question at a forthcoming meeting.

George Kruse, former president, took his stand, saying:

“‘We did not improve the beach for the benefit of hairy apes,’ and cited instances where men in the abbreviated suits have driven modest members of the fair sex from the beach.

“Meanwhile those owning the suits say: ‘We’ll wear ‘em as long as the law permits it.’”

On the basis that trunks would offend beachgoers the Northside Improvement Association was strongly opposed to men being able to wear the new fashion on their beach. In the June 7, 1934 issue of the Manistee News Advocate, the association let its opinion be known:

“Believing that men attired only in trunks on the bathing beach are repulsive to women and children, the association went on record as being opposed to the wearing of trunks only by bathers at the municipal beaches and playgrounds.

"A committee was appointed to appear before the city commission at the next regular meeting, June 19, and request ‘that an ordinance be passed to regulate and compel all bathers within the city limits to wear either a two-piece bathing suit of a full length one-piece suit.’”

Almost two weeks later, the matter was taken to the city commission with the outcome being in favor of those against having the trunks be allowed on the beach:

“Skirmishes in the city’s battle of the trunks resolved into a major engagement at the city commission meeting last night. The conflict was short, the trunkers being vastly outnumbered, and after a feeble flanking movement, the flag of victory was unfurled for the anti-trunkers.

“The flag might well have been the top of a bathing suit, but in reality it was an order, given approval by all the commissioners, for the city attorney to draw up an ordinance prohibiting men’s topless suits on playgrounds at both city beaches and at the beaches proper. The only concession made to vanquished was the assurance that trunks only may be worn on all beach areas save those termed as public.

“George Kruse, appearing as a citizen interested in the further development of Fifth Avenue Beach and playground, presented the plea for the prohibitory ordinance. He stressed the fact that the Northside Improvement Association has worked long and hard to make the beach what it is today and that the group is continually trying to develop it for all citizens and make it as pleasant as possible.

“On seven occasions last year, he declared men with trunks only appeared on the beach and caused others to leave.

“Commissioner John Voigts suggested that the matter be left up to the city police, but Mr. Kruse replied that since the newspaper has brought out that there is no ordinance prohibiting the use of the suits and the police are powerless.

“Commissioner Carlson then suggested that an ordinance be drawn up as requested.

“Com. Hal Peterson said he did not believe the restriction should apply to all places. The state parks allow the suits, he said.

“Mr. Kruse replied that the information concerning lifting of the state park ban on the suits was without foundation in fact.

“‘Well, all right then,’ Com. Carlson said. ‘Let’s draw up an ordinance telling us where we can wear ‘em and where we can’t.’

“Mayor Harold Hill said he doubted whether the city could go very far in regulating affairs on the shoreline, since, under the meander line law the shore is public property and does not belong to the city.

“George O. Nye, Board of Commerce Secretary, joined in the plea that in recognition of the work done by the Northside Improvement Association at the beach, if the association asks for an ordinance, the city should feel obliged to draw one up.”

While the city attorney and George Kruse, president of the association drafted an ordinance for the “no trunks” ban, the issue, however, never came to pass as at the next meeting the commission finally decided to allow men’s trunks to be worn on the local beaches. 

Mark Fedder is the executive director of the Manistee County Historical Museum. He can be reached by email at manisteemuseum@gmail.com, or by phone at 231-723-5531.