Dian Hanson's The History of Girly Magazines: 1900-1969

by Dian Hanson

Pin-ups from the 19th century to the 1960s

It all started around 1900, and wouldn’t you know the French were the first? Whether you call them men’s sophisticates, nudie books, or girly magazines, this long-ignored art form has a rich international history. Author Dian Hanson, a girly magazine editor for 25 years, follows the evolution of the genre from 19th century France through the Jazz Age, two world wars, the breast-centric 1950s to the end of the swinging 60s. Along the way you’ll see hundreds of vintage magazines from Argentina, England, France, Germany, Mexico, and the US. Some covers are exquisitely painted by top pin-up artists Enoch Bolles, George Quintana, Earl Moran, and Peter Driben. Others are posed by Hollywood stars like Jane Mansfield, Tina Louise, and Marilyn Monroe. All are fascinating artifacts of their time, including La Vie Parisienne, the first men's lifestyle magazine from 1900; jazz-infused Sex magazine from 1926; legendary fetish digest Bizarre from 1949; Hugh Hefner's Playboy from 1953; up to hippie-inspired Nude Rebellion from 1967.

In 33 chapters and 676 pages you'll see these and many, many more, accompanied by a fact-filled, informative text sure to give you a new appreciation for the magazines once kept hidden under the mattress.

Each page has parallel texts in English, French and German.

Genres: Art, Photography

669 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Dian Hanson (born November 2, 1951) began her publishing career as an American pornographic magazine editor, historian, and occasional model, helping found the 1970s hardcore journal Puritan, then moving on to Partner, OUI, Adult Cinema Review, Outlaw Biker and Big Butt, among others. She was most famously the editor of Juggs and Leg Show sexual fetish magazines from 1987–2001.

Reviews

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un repaso a las revistas para adultos - previas al apogeo de la pornografía dura - que revela de paso el tabú que el sexo ha representado en la idiosincracia occidental y cómo ha reaccionado a su arremetida en el siglo XX. Sin un glamour nostálgico ni reivindicación alguna, Dian Hanson ofrece un vistazo de una industria al desnudo.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that's over 670 pages in length, and is written in three languages, one column for each language on each written page. It's also incredibly crammed with cover and interior photographs.

Chapter 4 refers to the Spicy Pulps with lots of images of covers from pulps like Snappy through Spicy Detective.

The rest of the book covers girly magazines from various countries and various periods in time.

Definitely an interesting book.