There were only five issues of Glamour Photography, but I am not sure if I should be grateful or not. Number one was from Fall 1954, back when, apparently, goons would drive around while photogenic opportunities literally fell from the trees or came stacked like cord wood in a trailer.
"Glamour Studio on Wheels" was an early incarnation of the "man with van" theme, and sure enough, in one issue photographers Duane Tasker, Harvey Turtz and Ben Willard embark on a cross country hunt with gear and gals stowed in a primitive U-Haul. Advice for photographers includes "The Art of Picking up Female Hitchhikers" and "Shoot me Tender" along with a map showing a route across the country.
California here we come!
The remarkable paintings were done by R. Pesoto, and as you can see, based (sorta) on reality. They are crammed in there like a Tokyo subway! Click to enlarge and give them some breathing space!
Models participating in the magazine were Jayne Mansfield, Mamie van Doren, Anita Ekberg (the usual suspects) and one Corky Silver.
Glamour Photography number three reprises the "beauty by the roadside" scenario, but adds a particularly brutal and misogynistic "Strange Case of the Dead Model" layout for those who might find that glamorous. Another issue is notable for having a model standing on her head (with the byline "Why Girls Flip for Photographers" and adding "Teenage Beauties" on the rear cover in "Tyco Label Maker" text just like the shutterbug would use on his shoebox of negatives.
Glamour GIRL Photography quickly filled the vacuum a year later with the cover story "How to Stalk Pretty Picknickers" as though they were game. Lasting only two issues, it was published by "Dingbat Publications" (!) on the West Coast, so maybe the photographers stayed out there after the drive?
There ARE some beautiful and striking photographs contained in these issues, but I do not think I have to go out of my way to "be fair" given the super sleazy editorial slant. Jeez...I hate to say it, (shudder) but Andrea Dworkin may have been right!
Dull Tool Dim Bulb / Vintage Sleaze books and download orders HERE
Tweet
