Tasteful nudes

It doesn't feature much these days, but during the 1950s, and through I think, to the 1990s, photographic magazines were keen to get their readers into nude or glamour work. Practical Photography for example would include several pages of adverts for either models for hire, or studios for rent (or both). I remember a vicar who complained that he would not let his son read the magazines because of their smutty content. 

These pictures were published as part of an article in the February 1958 issue of Popular Photography magazine, the models not named.

Jilly Johnson 

The actress and model graced the cover of Amateur Photographer, issue dated 18 May 1977, posing amid a mouth-watering collection of contemporary (now classic) film cameras.

 Mala Powers

In the 1950s, you were never far from a pin-up, even in the more mundane publications. This is Mary Ellen Powers (1931-2007) in the May 1952 issue of the Rootes Group Review magazine, apparently modelling a bloomer playsuit. She acted in many US films from the age of ten, until 2002.

Wish you were here?

My general rule of thumb as to whether something is old enough to qualify for inclusion into Vintage Stuff is that it must be at least 25 years old. As I have estimated that the postcard above originated around 1990, it just slips in under the wire to be the most modern item on here so far.

Published by Coastal Colour Ltd., about whom I can find little, it illustrates the delights to be savoured at the Essex seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea. Presumably she will be there to greet you personally as you step from the train. I seem to remember similar cards being sold at the likes of Brighton and Southend, perhaps even using the same model, alongside the more traditional 'saucy postcards'.

Bought recently at Oxfam for the princely sum of 49p.

More Vargas

Another pin up from the brush of Alberto Vargas (1896-1982), this from Playboy magazine, January 1965.

Gingham Style

A Quick Polish

Quite why Lord Fotherington -Thomas's maid is buffing up the headlamps on his Alvis in this fashion is unclear, and what is she wearing?

Having a devilish Halloween

Playmates of '64

A review of the previous year's Playmates, as featured in Playboy magazine, January 1965.

Sheba the Queen

Sheba Britt from Eve magazine, 1962

Frank's Girl

Nancy Sinatra was born to Frank and Nancy Barbato on 8 June 1940. I knew of her pop songs, These Boots are made for Walkin' being the most famous, along with Somethin' Stupid, which she performed with her father, both records reaching number 1 in the UK in February 1966 and April 1967 respectively. The first song was a favourite of my dad, although the vision of Nancy wearing go-go boots and a mini skirt may have had something to do with it.....

She also did some modelling in the 1960s, this little selection being from the pages of King magazine, issue dated September 1967. King ran from 1964 until taken over by Mayfair in 1968.

My dad was right!

Nearly thirty years later, Nancy appeared in Playboy, still lookin' good........

Bloody Mary

Illustration by Alberto Vargas (1896-1982), from Playboy magazine, March 1967.

Raphael Kirchner & Georges Leonnec

A little while ago, a friend was having a clear out and sent me a bundle of old postcards. Several French-looking pin ups were soon weeded out for further investigation. They were by two artists, Raphael Kirchner (1876-1917) and Georges Leonnec (1881-1940), who were Austrian and French respectively. Both sets of cards were produced during the First War, although by this time, Kirchner was living in the USA. His cards in particular found their way into the trenches, suggesting that he was one of the first 'pin up' artists. Indeed, all my cards have a tiny pin-hole at one end, so may well have bought a little entertainment to a soldier far from home. All were in rather poor condition, despite being postally unused and were a bit grubby (dirty postcards, indeed!). I have done minimal work in Photoshop as I felt that this would lose some of their character if I tidied them up too much. The first three are by Kirchner, the rest by Leonnec;

Birds & Dollies

Three Spick & Span Extra covers from the early 1970s.

Model girl makes a start

This little photo-feature appeared in Lilliput magazine, issue dated May 1954.

Three little Jems

Eva Meyer, Jayne Mansfield and Lili St Cyer, from Jem magazine, November 1956.