History of Men's Magazines: Volume 4 (Dian Hanson's: The History of Men's Magazines) [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The definitive annotated and illustrated history of girlie periodicals (1958-1967) Volume IV concentrates on the emergence of California's specialty magazine industry and how it spawned the state's multi-billion dollar sex industry of today, but also includes fetish master Irving Klaw, the specialty magazines of England, and concludes with Sweden and Denmark's emergence as the new powers in European publishing. Together with Volume III, Volume IV gives a complete picture of this fascinating decade of rapid social change, but also stands on its own, covering a distinctly different, more risqu? side of 1960s men's magazine publishing. Volume IV contains over 400 full color pages of magazine covers and interiors with well-researched text profiling important publishers and artists, individual magazines, and specialty magazine categories. This hardcover volume is an instant collectable and is vital to completion of Dian Hanson?s: The History of Men's Magazines six-volume set.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 460 pages
• Publisher: Taschen; First Edition edition (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822836354
• ISBN-13: 978-3822836354
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #763,149 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Look what's under the counter, August 24, 2005

By	Robin Benson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dian Hanson's fourth history of adult magazines covers the stuff that wasn't on the newsstands. A whole range of titles (least in the US) was only for buying in the adult bookstore or the local liquor store. This rather restricted distribution actually enabled publishers to offer fairly explicit editorial content without worrying about who might be offended. The book has several chapters devoted to American titles with hundreds of covers and inside photos. I was rather impressed with the number of first issue covers shown though I expect many of them never got to a second edition.

Whether the titles were sold in adult bookstores or on Main Street (volume three covers that market) the cover lines were the same, suggestive come-ons and heavy use of the word 'Sexsational'. The titles could be a lot more explicit although there are only so many words to describe the contents: Raw, Pagan, Snap, Sheer, Boudoir, Pleasure, Sassy, Highball, Gusto, Vixen, Tip Top, Thigh, Slip & Garter, Nylon Mood oh and don't forget the old favorite, anything ending with ...O-Rama, like Leg-O-Rama.

Each chapter has a short essay (in English, German and French) followed by plenty of photos. Elmer Batters the leg connoisseur, Irving Klaw: Mister Bondage or Milt Luros, who gave the Californian slicks a lift, are some of the personalities of the period that get a chapter each. Europe has some coverage, especially Harrison Marks in England with his digest-size titles. Considering that Ms Hanson has worked in the adult mag business for some years and obviously knows the market I was surprised to find very little technical detail about the magazines, like their circulation, profitability or distribution.

I mentioned in my review of the first two volumes that I felt that the paper quality should have been better and this applies to this edition. The images are in 175dpi but they tend to soften when printed on this matt stock, especially the full-page color covers.

Still, this book covers a vibrant period of the adult magazine market with plenty of visual stuff to support the text.