Kinky Comics

The following article appeared in Mayfair but for some reason I forgot to make a note of the date.

(* probably © Fisk Publishing Co., Ltd. but I'm not 100% certain)

Saucy Magazines of the 1940s: Utopian Press

Utopian Press was set up by Benson Herbert and Walter Gillings in 1944 to publish science fiction pamphlets. Herbert, already experienced in publishing through his work for Lloyd Cole, realised that the technique of selling the slim books was to adorn the covers with nude pin-ups. Eventually, he gave up on the science fiction entirely and published pin-up magazines and saucy fiction magazines which carried adverts for pin-up photographs, which was by then his main business. Gentlemen could come to his house by appointment and select pictures, or buy them through the magazines.

Because of the law still in force that no new periodicals could be published, the monthly magazine he produced had to have a new title every issue. Norman Firth was responsible for the stories, with occasional contributions by Herbert himself, and I believe the first numbers were produced under the Wesley Press banner. Firth lived in the basement of Herbert's Roland Gardens house but developed TB and moved back to Liverpool in 1949. Sydney Bounds then became one of the chief writers of the stories.

The stories were no more than saucy antics as mentioning stockings and suspenders and panties was about as far as you could get away with in a "gentlemen's magazine" at the time. There was something of a crackdown going on regarding pin-up magazines, hence the move away from photographic nudes and into painted covers. Herbert had the talented Reina Bull as his main artist, whose stylish artwork made these titles particularly attractive.

As more titles flooded the market from other publishers, Herbert again found a niche in the fetish market with the magazine Fads & Fancies, a poor-man's London Lite, in which readers discussed their fascinations for strict nannies and women in jodhpurs and corsets.

Herbert was eventually fined out of business and, as you can imagine, these magazines are nowadays quite scarce and collectable, so a complete checklist has proven difficult to compile. If anyone can add any contents or supply any of the missing covers I would be very grateful.

COVER NOT AVAILABLE
Paris Nite Life (1948) [[advertised, possibly in error for French Night Life, Wesley Press]]

Spicy Stories (1948) Cover by Bob Wilkin

2 * Coldron, Shirley * Strip Tease * ss
7 * Verell, Lance * Sucker for Scanties * ss
12 * "Masher" * I'll Say She Has * ss
16 * Anon. * Another Guy's Wife * ss
20 * Adams, Morley * Three in a Bed * ss
27 * Croft, Alison * She Wore Black Panties * ss
30 * Shannon, Mabelline * A Walk in the Park * ss

Risky Stories (1948) Cover by Ramon

2 * Delmont, Mazie * French Girls Can Can! * ss
7 * Donaldson, Macarey * Good Girls Go to Hollywood * ss
11 * Bellingham, Alice * Lulu Takes a Bath * ss
18 * Vernon, May * A Dance Hostess's Secret * ss
21 * Penton, Larry * Eet Ees the Custom! * ss
24 * Trent, Miriam * A Very Lovely Dame * ss
28 * Allan, Dana * Love in Any Language * ss

College Capers (Sep 1948) Cover by Reina

2 * Lawton, Rip * For the Sake of Cranston * ss
5 * Devrine, May * Campus Orgy * ss
8 * Timper, Al * Pantie Parade * ss
12 * Morley, Olive * His Name on Her Panties * ss
17 * Bright, Jive * Rubiton * ss
22 * Rymers, Ritzy * It Had to Happen * ss
25 * Honiton, Max * Dangerous Curves * ss
29 * Tanya * Girdle Girl * ss

Zippy Stories (1948)
(contents not known)

Harlem Hotspots (Nov 1948)

* Jordan, Consuclo * Harlem Experience * ss
* Brown, Washington Amos * Skin Like Brown Velvet * ss
* Brown, Jnr * She Wore Pink Panties * ss
* M’coy, Edfe Martin * Wonderful Baby * ss
* Hathway, Godge * Silken Limbs * ss
* M’grew, Lester * Hypnotic Seduction * ss

Cowgirl Capers (Dec 1948)

2 * Hyers, Laramy * Silk Stockings in the Saddle * ss
__Note: Larry Hyers on Contents page.
5 * Adams, Fraser * Sex Shooters * ss
8 * Graham, Slate * Premeditated Honeymoon * ss
11 * Stevens, Betty * Nude Ranch * ss
14 * Melisand, Gregg * The Voluptuous Outlaw * ss
18 * Clovelly, Roger * Cowgirl Curves * ss [Hiram Kibble]
23 * Welling, Sprim * Arizona Godiva * ss
26 * Willard, Ross * Seductive Cowgirl * ss
29 * Dane, Clark * Childhood in Vermont * ss

Peppy Stories (Jan 1949) Cover by Janine

* Clovelly, Roger * Nylons, Suspenders and Black Lace Panties * ss [Hiram Kibble]
* Taylor, Chase * An Innocent Girl * ss
* Anders, Matt * Unfaithful Floozie * ss
* Bradley, Jean * A Picture in Panties * ss
* Dale, Cliff * A Case of Mistaken Identity * ss
* Mason, Willard * The Legs Have It! * ss
* Gardner, Alan * Bursting with S.A. * ss
* Cook, Randall * One Pair of Pants Between Them * ss
* Moitle * The Dumbest Blonde in Brooklyn * ss

Hula Hotcha (Feb 1949)
(contents not known)

Studio Frolics (Mar 1949) Cover by Janine

* Thornton, Marlyn * Girl on a Ladder * ss
* Woodville, Herman * The Naked Truth * ss
* Anson, Maybell * Genius at Work * ss
* Clovelly, Roger * A Helluva Time * ss [Hiram Kibble]
* Lanning, Hildegarde * It's Only Natural * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Gun Moll * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Taxi, Sister? * ss
* Morrell, Marcus * Twin Delights * ss

Sultry Stories (Apr 1949) Cover by Janine

* Rogers, Rocky * Harem Hideout * ss
* Ames, Marylin * A Picker Up of Panties * ss
* McHay, Jordan * Tele-Tease * ss
* Brook, Cleg * Bedroom Folly * ss
* Canute, Nick * Kilroy Was Here * ss
* Clovelly, Roger * Rip Tease * ss [Hiram Kibble]
* Donovan, Ted * All Females are Fickle * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Beauty Parade * ss
* Clarence, Jane * A Very Hot Buggy Ride * ss [Helen in Hollywood]

Taboo Tales (May 1949) Cover by Janine

* Jackson, Dorothy * When West Meets West * ss
* Bromley, Jan * Indian Evening * ss
* Braddock, Owen * The Englishman Abroad * ss [The Englishmen Abroad]
* Bradley, Jean * Prince's Pleasure * ss
* Frost, Al * Beautiful Spy * ss
* Dee, Robert van * The Reluctant Princess * ss
* Brent, Julie * Slave Ship * ss
* Kassim, Abdul * Sleeping Draught * ss
* Clarence, Jane * In Camera * ss [Helen in Hollywood]

Prairie Pranks (Jun 1949) Cover by Janine

* Fisher, Jake * Prairie Wolf * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Cherchez La Femme * ss
* Red Eagle * Red, White and Black * ss
* Cameron, Rod * In Off the Bed * ss
* Braddock, Owen * Indians Without Reservations * ss [The Englishmen Abroad]
* Clements, Jane * Helen Makes a Nice Plaything * ss [Helen in Hollywood]
* Bradley, Jean * Caught Out * ss

Footlight Follies (Jul 1949) Cover by Janine

* Jackson, Rod * Judy Learns How * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Doctor's Orders * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Black for Danger * ss
* Dalaney, Don * Folies' Model * ss
* Braddock, Owen * Suckers for Strippers * ss [The Englishmen Abroad]
* Daunt, Helen * Burlesque Babe * ss
* Miller, Reed * Imperfect Alibi * ss
* Gilmore, Jerry * Happy Hunting Ground * ss
* Bradley, Jean * Producer's Pet * ss

Hayride Antics (Aug 1949) Cover by Janine

* Forster, Clem * A Jane and a Heel * ss
* Stevens, Jean * Double or Nothing * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Corner in Corn * ss
* Braddock, Owen * Holiday at Home * ss [The Englishmen Abroad]
* Knight, Ken * Hay Fever * ss
* Webster, Marion * Haytime in Hamilton * ss
* Conroy, Steve * Love Nest * ss
* Lorrimer, Jack * Curvy Cutie * ss

Racy Stories (Sep 1949) Cover by Janine

* Gold, Lawrence * L'Amour is for Suckers * ss
* Holman, Russ * Stable Girl * ss
* Edwards, Art * Field Day * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Death Wears Black Chiffon Part 1: Vi Seeks Vengeance * sl
* Gordon, Bess * Jockey in Scanties * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Horse Play * ss
* Kenton, Hank * Dangerous Curves * ss

Cuban Capers (Oct 1949) Cover by Janine

* Renolds, Wilson * Juanitta Gets Her Man! * ss
__Note: Wilson Reynolds on Contents page.
* Brooks, Anne * A Lonely Wife * ss
* Cameron, Rod * Voodoo Love * ss
__Note: Rod Cameroon on Contents page.
* Dale, Cliff * Death Wears Black Chiffon Part 2: Blondes Are Dangerous! [Part 2 of ?] * sl
* Fisher, Jake * Honeymoon for Three * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Trouble With Twins * ss

Reno Revels (Nov 1949) Cover by Janine

* Stevens, Jean * Jane Borrows a Flame * ss
* Richards, Lloyd * Alimony Alice * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Lemon for Sam * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Death Wears Black Chiffon Part 3: La Femme Fatale [Part 3 of ?] * sl
* Andrea, Anita * A Bedroom in Reno * ss
* Lord, Raymond * A Helluva Honeymoon * ss
* Ford, Lewis * The Famous 'Bust' * ss
* Braddock, Owen * Floozies and Bruises * ss [The Englishmen Abroad]

Hubba Hubba (Dec 1949) Cover by Janine

* Rosetti, Al * Don't Trust a Dame * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Dames Do Care * ss
* Weston, T. R. * Nude in Jade * ss
* Dale, Cliff * Death Wears Black Chiffon Part 4: On the Spot [Part 4 of ?] * sl
* Bosworth, Eddie * You Gotta Keep Your Wife Happy * ss
* Miller, Reed * It Could Happen to You * ss
* Vernon, Diana * Heat Waves * ss
* Daunt, Helen * Sea Wolf * ss

COVER NOT AVAILABLE
Sporty Stories (Jan 1950) Cover by Janine
(contents not known)

Carnival Capers (Feb 1950) Cover by Janine

* Gilmore, Jerry * Crystal Clear * ss
* Fisher, Jake * The Love Itch * ss
* Bradley, Jean * The Cop on the Corner * ss
* King, Jenny * Pages from My Diary * ss
* Braddock, Owen * Love and Money * ss
* [Misc. Material] * Fads & Fancies * rl
* Bradley, Jean * Queen Daphne * ss
* Kenton, Hank * Lift That Skirt, Baby * ss
* Stevens, Jean * It's in the Air * ss
* Cameron, Rod * Sheep in Wolf's Clothing * ss
* Lord, Raymond * The Amorous Ghost * ss

Blue Stories (Mar 1950)
(contents not known)

Salty Stories (Apr 1950)

(contents not known)

Outdoor Antics (May 1950) Cover by Janine

* Braddock, Owen * A Hitch in the Hike * ss
* Miller, Reed * Dividends for Doris * ss
* [Comic Strip] * The Adventures of Delia * cs; illus. Janine; scr. Aubrey Lamonte
* Weir, James * The Naked Truth * ss
* King, Jenny * Pages from My Diary * ss
* Rogers, Maxwell * Night in the Forest * ss
* Weston, T. R. * Smoke Gets In Your Eyes * ss
* [Misc. Material] * Fads & Fancies * rl

Fads and Fancies v.1 no.6 (Jun 1950)

Heebee Jeebee (Aug 1950) Cover by Janine

* Weston, T. R. * Wide Open Spaces * ss
* King, Jenny * Pages from My Diary * cl
* Pascal, Peter * The Case of the Missing Garter * ss
* Delaney, Don * Wolf Trap * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Model for Murder [Part ? of ?] * sl
* Braddock, Owen * Uncover Charge * ss
* Ford, Lewis * Black Skin & White Curves * ss
* Stubbs, F. T. * Bait for a Bachelor * ss

COVER NOT AVAILABLE
Flip Flap (Sep 1950)
(contents not known)

Ritzy Stories (Oct 1950) Cover by Janine

* Forster, Clem * Working at the Ritz * ss
* Holden, G. J. * A Dog in the Park * ss
* King, Jenny * Pages from My Diary * cl
* Dee, Robert van * Should a Husband Tell * ss
* Curtis, C. Clyde * Model for Murder [Part ? of ?] * sl
* Gordon, Bess * Proposal of Marriage * ss
* Braddock, Owen * Holiday at Home * ss
* Pascal, Peter * Stage Fever * ss
* Nash, Doug * Mountain Madness * ss
* Brent, Julie * Sitting With Baby * ss
* Brand, Chrstine * Weekend Engagement * ss
* Donaldson, Mick * Playtime in Paris * ss

Snap (? Nov 1950) Cover by Janine

4 * Scott, Pete * The Poet & the Plumber * ss
6 * Monkhouse, Alexander * A Wolf for Wilhelmina * ss
9 * Fisher, Jake * Made of Money * ss
11 * Scott, Peter * Mother Knows Best * ss
15 * Curtis, C. Clyde * Model for Murder [Part ? of ?] * sl
17 * Kenton, Hank * A Blonde with a Brain * ss
19 * Gilmore, Jerry * Lonely Hearts Club * ss
21 * King, Jenny * Pages from My Diary * cl
24 * Ford, Leslie * Love Isn't Everything * ss
27 * Knight, Ken * The Pride of the Squadron * ss
29 * Rosetti, Al * Dames Are Voodoo * ss
32 * Richards, Lloyd * The Call of the Wild * ss

COVER NOT AVAILABLE
Can-Can Capers (? Dec 1950) Cover by Janine

4 * Knight, Ken * Christmas Cracker * ss
6 * Gold, Lawrence * L'Affaire Hogwash * ss
10 * Pascal, Peter * The Case of the Haunted Theatre * ss
13 * King, Jenny * Pages from My Diary * cl
16 * Brooks, Anne * Christmas Engagement * ss
19 * Gold, Lawrence * Skating Lesson * ss
22 * Curtis, C. Clyde * Model for Murder [Part ? of ?] * sl
24 * Forster, Clem * Santa on the Tiles * ss
27 * Nerb, Doug * Monkeys Have Tails * ss
32 * Moore, Kent * A Kiss in the Dark * ss

Fads & Fancies [No.2?] (Dec 1950) Cover by Janine
(contents not known)

Haywire (Jan 1951) Cover by Janine

4 * Brent, Julie * Homecoming * ss
7 * Wayne, Harry * Circus Rivals * ss
11 * Hughes, May * Garters Please * ss
13 * [Misc. Material] * Pin-Ups of the Past No.1: Boadicea * il; illus. Janine
14 * Donaldson, Mick * Cold as Ice * ss
16 * Gwendoline * Advice for the Lovelorn * ms
17 * Ford, Lewis * The Other Woman * ss
19 * Smith, Lucy * Letters from Lucy * ss
21 * Gordon, Bess * A Cure For Shyness * ss
23 * Foster, Gregory Charles * Murder By Mail [Part 1 of 2] * sl
30 * Gilmore, Jerry * The Easy Life * ss

Animal Crackers (Feb 1951) Cover by Janine

* Kenton, Hank * Love Takes a Fall * ss
* Courtfield, L. * Sacrifice of Love * ss
* Andrea, Anita * Monkey Business * ss
* Foster, Gregory Charles * Murder by Mail [Part 2 of 2] * sl
* Holman, Buss * Change for Better * ss
* Moreland, Jane * The Signal Went Green * ss
* Rosetti, Al * Local Custom * ss
__Note: as All Rosetti on Contents page.
* Gordon Bess * One Man's Fancy * ss

COVER NOT AVAILABLE
Turkish Delight (Mar 1951)

COVER NOT AVAILABLE
Delicious Stories (date uncertain)

(* A couple of the above covers are cleaned up versions of eBay scans; if anyone has replacements or can supply any of the missing covers and contents, please drop me a line.)

Saucy Mags of the 1940s: Wesley Press

The following titles were all printed by "The Wesley Press", based in Bebington, in the Wirral, Liverpool, which I believe was a front for Norman Firth, who wrote dozens of stories and short novels under the name N. Wesley Firth and various pseudonyms and was almost certainly the author of these magazines. Indeed, Firth seems to have been a front for Benson Herbert's Utopian Press as Utopian advertised Snappy Stories as being amongst their "Utopian 75 cents magazines" and another entitled Paris Nite Life which may be French Night Life.

Breezy Stories (c.1948)

2 * Carlson, Fay * She Wouldn’t Say Yes * ss
7 * Webster, Tex * Room For Two * ss
9 * Lemans, Marcel * Who Kissed Mimi * ss
13 * Lee, Judy * Dancing Angel * ss
16 * Tempest, Vale * The Night Was Made For Love * ss
23 * Brook, Clifton * What’s In A Name * ss
27 * Fitzroy, Spencer * Broken Date * ss
29 * Garrick, Wilton * Hungry For Love * ss

French Night Life (c.1948)

(contents not known)

Saucy Stories (c.1948)

2 * Gordon, Gordon * “Mmmm” said the Countess * ss
8 * Harding, Clem * Midnight in Kansas * ss
12 * Croft-Cooke, Alistair * She Found the Wrong Bed * ss
16 * Kenyon, Gary * There’s a Mouse in My Room * ss
20 * Penge, Miriam * Grabbing Greta’s Garter * ss
24 * “Masher” * They Met in the Fog * ss
28 * Saville, Wilton * The Girl who Failed * ss

Silky Stories (c 1948)

2 * “Masher” * Silk Stocking Babe * ss
8 * Menton, Myrtle * The Way to Live * ss
11 * Magrew, Len * He Spept in Her Room * ss
15 * Bayman, Marylin * Something in Common * ss
22 * Anderson, Matt * Unfaithful * ss
25 * Ferguson, Milt * No Other Man * ss
29 * Corbett, Alistair * What a Woman * ss

Snappy Stories (c 1948)

2 * Fairleigh, Wetherley * Campus Strip * ss
7 * Grace, Miriam * The Wolf Rampant * ss
10 * Rhodes, Ann Alina * Beauty and the Brassiere * ss
14 * Honeybelle * The Best Curves of my Life * ss
17 * Dallas, Anfield * A Girl’s Gotta Live * ss
19 * Isherwood, Sherman * How to get into the Movies * ss
22 * Ashley, Renee * Susie Steps Out * ss
26 * Merton, Gideon * This Cutie has Legs * ss
29 * Croft, Alistair * The Modern Venus * ss

(* scans are from eBay.)

Lucifera

Recently launched at ROMICS 2009, Lucifera is a collection based on the Italian adult pocket comic published between 1971 and 1993. The volume contains all the covers—over 240—the majority as full page images. The majority of these were drawn by Averardo Ciriello, best known as a movie poster artist but no slouch when it comes to erotica. He's now 91 but still attending conventions, as can be seen from the photo below.

A quick search of the web will turn up more information about Lucifera and her ilk. I'm not sure where you'll be able to find the book, but it is published by Edizioni AG Press and, I'm told, there's an English text version. More information (in Italian) and some additional pictures can be found here.

(* My thanks to Romano Felmang for sending along the photos.)

Angus McBride Mayfair cartoons and illustrations

Angus McBride is better known for his military illustrations but, in his time, he also drew cartoons and comic strips. Here's a small selection of his cartoons and illustrations for Mayfair from 1974.
(* probably © Paul Raymond, but I'm not sure.)

Adam's Eves by Angus McBride

Angus McBride began illustrating the comic strip "Adam's Eves" for Mayfair in August 1975. I've no idea how long it ran. Here are the first five episodes.

(* probably © Paul Raymond, but I'm not 100% certain)