MAN'S, BRIGITTE BARDOT, JAMES JOYCE, MAU MAU

LURID COVERS, PROVOCATIVE TITLES THAT OVERSOLD ALLEGEDLY TRUE STORIES THAT WERE USUALLY FICTIONAL. THESE WERE THE TRADEMARKS OF THE MEN'S ADVENTURE MAGAZINES (SIZE 8 1/2" X 11") OF THE POST-WAR ERA. BESIDES THE "TRUE STORIES" OF WAR (MAINLY WWII), DEMENTED RULERS, LOVE-STARVED AMAZONS, ETC. THE MAGAZINES USUALLY HAD PIN-UP TYPE PHOTOS, LOVE-LIFE ARTICLES AND EXPOSES OF VICE IN CITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THE MAGAZINES, DESPITE THE TITLES AND COVERS WERE SOLD OPENLY AT NEWSTANDS AND DRUG STORES - WHICH IN FACT WAS A KEY REASON FOR THE COVERS AND TITLES THAT WERE THE HOOK AIMED AT THE POST-WAR MALE POPULATION AND BY TODAY'S STANDARDS WERE ABOUT AS POLITICALLY INCORRECT AS COULD BE. THEY SPOKE THE LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD WAR 2 VETERANS OR VETERAN WANNA-BES.

BE AWARE THAT THE PAPER THESE WERE PRINTED ON WAS CHEAP. TODAY MANY OF THE INITIAL PAGES OF THE MAGAZINES  ARE UNDERGOING AGE BROWNING (40-50 YEARS OLD) BUT SURPRISINGLY MANY OF THE COVERS ARE STILL QUITE VIVID.

EACH MAGAZINE PROVIDES SOME INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO AMERICAN CULTURE OF THE 1950's - 1970's.