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Hollywood Cheesecake: Sixty Years of America's Favorite Pinups
Gathers publicity stills and pinup photographs for hundreds of Hollywood actresses
286 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1981
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December 8, 2017
Madison S. Lacy (1898-1978) was a Hollywood publicity photographer. He spent much of his life capturing images of glamorous Hollywood actresses showing off their legs. As an aficionado of “leg art” his final project was to produce this book bringing together some of the best examples from the silent era onwards. Almost all the photos are uncredited. Some are Lacy’s, but he shares the anonymity of his fellow photographers. Lacy finished preparing the book during the last days of his terminal illness. It was published posthumously in 1981 under the title Leg Art. Ten years later it was republished in paperback as Hollywood Cheesecake.
Lacy’s commentary on the history of Hollywood glamour photography is playful and informative. There are some cheeky personal anecdotes and opinions mixed with a guide to sex symbol titles - who was “America’s Sweetheart” and who was “The Oomph Girl”? - and a behind-the-scene account of the photo-session which may have changed the outcome of World War II, producing as it did an iconic image of Betty Grable that did much to raise morale. As Lacy points out : “Wherever the GI went during World War II, carrying the battle to the enemy, Betty Grable went with him.”
The book contains hundreds of black and white images. Some of the women are major stars, but many are bit players largely forgotten. There is a chance to observe the changing face of fashion and the many different styles of glamour, from the vamp to the girl next door. There is also the occasional comedienne doing a goofy parody of sexy.
There are some very beautiful photos included and many of the best are presented in full page format. The only way in which the book falls down a bit is that this wasn’t possible with all the photos. If only there could have been more pages, so that none of the photos had to be presented any smaller than postcard size and more could have been given the full-page treatment.
Lacy’s commentary on the history of Hollywood glamour photography is playful and informative. There are some cheeky personal anecdotes and opinions mixed with a guide to sex symbol titles - who was “America’s Sweetheart” and who was “The Oomph Girl”? - and a behind-the-scene account of the photo-session which may have changed the outcome of World War II, producing as it did an iconic image of Betty Grable that did much to raise morale. As Lacy points out : “Wherever the GI went during World War II, carrying the battle to the enemy, Betty Grable went with him.”
The book contains hundreds of black and white images. Some of the women are major stars, but many are bit players largely forgotten. There is a chance to observe the changing face of fashion and the many different styles of glamour, from the vamp to the girl next door. There is also the occasional comedienne doing a goofy parody of sexy.
There are some very beautiful photos included and many of the best are presented in full page format. The only way in which the book falls down a bit is that this wasn’t possible with all the photos. If only there could have been more pages, so that none of the photos had to be presented any smaller than postcard size and more could have been given the full-page treatment.
Displaying 1 of 1 review