A sweet little peek inside Irving Klaw’s very first CARTOON AND MODEL PARADE catalog, 1950!

Welcome back, Fet History fans!

Picking up from last week, we stated that the 29th edition of Movie Star News would morph into issue #30 of Cartoon and Pin-Up Parade, then finally by issue #31, Cartoon and Model Parade.

Now if we look inside this very first edition of Cartoon and Model Parade what do we find?

Peeling back the cover we discover (on the first page) mention of the “New CC-1” series. (Remember previously the “BB” series was advertised?)

And what do we see with the CC-1 series, other than the archaic roots of bondage fantasy, underscored by one word: “melodrama.”

Not only does the stock villainess here dress in black, she even wears a mask.

These photos, by the way, underscore Irving Klaw’s great efficiency as a businessman. His innovation—later widely imitated—was to kill two birds with one stone: To take marketable still photographs (various photographic sets) while shooting 16mm films, thereby creating two product lines simultaneously. In this case the film (advertised further along in this same catalog) is titled, “Captive Girl Foils A Thief,” by which we can assume Cocoa Brown (the captive girl/damsel in distress on the couch) gets “even” by act 3. "Turnabout" is the basic plot formula of many such photo-play fantasies—and a favorite narrative device of Irving Klaw ace, Eric Stanton.

 

Moving along, let’s see what else we have—as part of this “CC” series:

Three of my favorite pre-Bettie Page models: Joan Rydell, Cocoa Brown, and Shirley Maitland. But what's going on here?

The D-400 series, also highlighted in this very first edition of Cartoon and Model Parade, seems to introduce more theatrics (below)—not to mention an early favorite Klaw model, Shirley Levitt.

“D-530” looks devious. Last week, we took a sneak peek. Shirley Levitt is the masked one, holding down the girl’s head.

Here’s Shirley Levitt (below) without a mask. She cleans up nicely wouldn’t you say?

Is that all that’s inside Cartoon and Model Parade, issue #31? Hardly.

By 1950—even before the arrival of Bettie Page—Irving Klaw had already accumulated an impressive “damsel in distress” catalog of photographs. Like the F-500 series (featuring Shirley Maitland, Shirley Levitt, and Cindy Heller). Here’s an example below:

And the K-600 series (featuring, among others, former Robert Harrison model, Vicki  Hayes).

The classic T-200 series (featuring Chris Triplet).

 The 4000 series (featuring Aimee, Frances Adams, and Lilli Dawn).

Not to mention the artist, John Willie, who by then had already licensed artwork to Klaw. The W-1 series (below) represents his early work (photos, as stated in the ad, “taken in Australia”)—and some of these photographs even feature his wife, Holly.

As for his artwork: both of Willie’s highly influential chapter Serials—“Sweet Gwendoline” and “The Escape Artiste”— are also featured in this first Cartoon and Model Parade catalog.

Not bad, huh?

Whew! That’s enough. I could go on and on.

Tune in next week for an Irving Klaw “damsel in distress” series I may have missed.

Bye, for now!

—Richard Pérez Seves

=> Index ~ of FetHistory ~ From the Beginning:

http://fethistory.blogspot.com/p/1.html

>> Peek inside the Charles Guyette tribute << 

Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art 
** 2018 Expanded Second Edition **  

>> HERE <<

 *     *     *     *     *     *

Peek inside with Dita Von Teese:

==>> HERE <<==

Reviews:

 "If New York collector, writer and fetish historian Richard Pérez Seves had not decided to assemble what he knew about Charles Guyette (along with a substantial selection of images) into this paperback, this influential forerunner of the genre's better known exponents would have continued a lot longer as the great unsung hero of American fetish art."—Tony Mitchell, thefetishistas.com

"If you're at all a fan of fetish art ... then this book will be right up your alley." —kinkweekly.com

"I've often cited John Willie's gals as my biggest fashion inspiration but I'll have to start tipping my hat to Guyette as well."—Dita Von Teese

+
 
NEW RELEASE!

> Available Now! <

Bondage Enthusiasts Bound in Leather  [*Expanded Edition*]

=================================

 

Also Available (Worldwide)!
GENE BILBREW REVEALED

>> Learn More <<

Also Available Now (Worldwide)!
Sweeter Gwen, The Return of Gwendoline
by Eric Stanton
>> Learn More <<

 

*     *     *     *     *     *

Thanks for checking in. Hope you'll join me next time....

Cheers. —Richard Pérez Seves

=> Index ~ of FetHistory ~ From the Beginning:

http://fethistory.blogspot.com/p/1.html

_________________________

* * * * * * *

FetHistory - Home | Instagram

www.instagram.com/fethistory

CARTOON AND MODEL PARADE & the Pre-Bettie Page Days of Irving Klaw, circa 1950

If you’ll recall from last week, we left off with a brief look at remnants of some very early Irving Klaw bulletins. Today I thought it might be fun to trace the earliest Irving Klaw catalogs. What’s the difference between Irving Klaw’s bulletins and his catalogs? Well, for one, the catalogs are much thicker. They also generally represent “the best of” his bulletins (or what, most likely, was his “best-selling” material. Let’s not forget that Irving Klaw, first and foremost, was a businessman).

By this time, the late 1940s, Klaw had been selling movie star pin-up photos and Hollywood memorabilia for about a decade. He was a seasoned businessman with mail order experience. Although Irving Klaw was married (also for about a decade), his real partner in crime was his sister Pauline (aka “Paula”).

Irving Klaw’s earliest catalogs were called Movie Star News. Since I own a few of these I can say they’re pretty bland: just straight listings of mainstream Hollywood material with very few pics, except for the occasional celebrity PR shot.

By the mid-to-late '40s, “borderline” material would be introduced in these catalogs. This was a natural progression (following Darwin's Law, we might say), as what sold would be featured more and more.

Already by issue #27 of Movie Star News, for instance, there’s mention of “Girls in Extreme High Heels,” “Dominant Female Sirens,” “Curvaceous Corset Girls,” “Fighting Girls,” “Slave Girls,” “High Laced Boots Poses,” “Gagged Model Poses.” Many of these same ads, which are actually quite innocent, can also be seen in issue #29 (below):

The 29th edition of Movie Star News would morph into issue #30 of Cartoon and Pin-Up Parade, then finally by issue #31, Cartoon and Model Parade, which you see below.

Not only is this the first Cartoon and Model Parade, it’s also the first catalog not to be printed on newsprint. This accounts for the paper not browning so much, the smoother texture, and the better image quality. Although this item has no publishing date, an accurate guess would be 1950.

Since I own this particular issue, would you like to take a peek inside? If so, tune in next week!

But here’s a special preview (click to enlarge)!

—Richard Pérez Seves

=> Index ~ of FetHistory ~ From the Beginning:

http://fethistory.blogspot.com/p/1.html

>> Peek inside the Charles Guyette tribute << 

Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art 
** 2018 Expanded Second Edition **  

>> HERE <<

 *     *     *     *     *     *

Peek inside with Dita Von Teese:

==>> HERE <<==

Reviews:

 "If New York collector, writer and fetish historian Richard Pérez Seves had not decided to assemble what he knew about Charles Guyette (along with a substantial selection of images) into this paperback, this influential forerunner of the genre's better known exponents would have continued a lot longer as the great unsung hero of American fetish art."—Tony Mitchell, thefetishistas.com

"If you're at all a fan of fetish art ... then this book will be right up your alley." —kinkweekly.com

"I've often cited John Willie's gals as my biggest fashion inspiration but I'll have to start tipping my hat to Guyette as well."—Dita Von Teese

+

NEW RELEASE!

> Available Now! <

Bondage Enthusiasts Bound in Leather  [*Expanded Edition*]

=================================

 

Also Available (Worldwide)!
GENE BILBREW REVEALED

>> Learn More <<

Also Available Now (Worldwide)!
Sweeter Gwen, The Return of Gwendoline
by Eric Stanton
>> Learn More <<

 

*     *     *     *     *     *

Thanks for checking in. Hope you'll join me next time....

Cheers. —Richard Pérez Seves

=> Index ~ of FetHistory ~ From the Beginning:

http://fethistory.blogspot.com/p/1.html

_________________________

* * * * * * *

FetHistory - Home | Instagram

www.instagram.com/fethistory

The Mystery of The Spanish Irving Klaw Bulletins: 1949, 1950

Since I mentioned advertising bulletins in my last post—tracing examples from Eric Stanton back to Irving Klaw—this time around I thought I'd list my earliest bulletins, which I found quite by accident on a Spanish Internet trading site, much like eBay, which I can no longer recall the name of. These bulletins date way back, as you’ll see. Included in the lot were 4 double-sided pages and one original envelope with a post-marked date.

Let’s begin with the envelope addressed to Francisco Gonzalez (whose address I’ve obscured).

As we can see from the postmark (click to enlarge), it states April 6 1950.

Now we are presented with a mystery, as some of the bulletins (below) appear to date from even earlier … shall we say 1949?... But it’s anyone guess as the bulletins themselves are undated.

Are all 4 pages part of the same bulletin? It doesn’t appear so. But I can’t be sure.

PAGE ONE, ARTIFACT 1:

 

As you can see, the “BB” series is being advertised, which as the bulletin states “features models Barbara Leslie, Loraine Durane, Barbara Buchanan and Louise Sabo.” 36 B&G poses, 8 TBNG (“Tied But Not Gagged”) 4 spanking poses, 11 “fighting girl poses,” and 15 “miscellaneous High Heel poses.” So, as we can see, there are 5 distinct fetish categories (including the group that likes their models “tied but not gagged”).

Let’s take a look at the back of this bulletin, since it’s beautiful and features samplings from others series: “CC,” even “DD.”

The difficulty in dating these bulletins, as you might imagine, stems from Klaw often repeating or recycling previous ads. So as this bulletin advertises samplings from others series—“CC,” “DD”—why does it appear that the “BB” series is being advertised for the first time? And how does that date the bulletin?

While you’re busy pondering that question, let’s take a closer look at what’s on what on this page, because it’s fun and educational. (My idea of educational, anyway.)

Here are some High Heel poses of Barbara Buchanan, looking very lovely in a black satin top almost matching the glossy shimmer of her shoes:

Here’s Barbara Leslie (high heel s + leather opera gloves), having some fun:

Barbara Leslie, again (heels and a riding crop). The lower angle makes her legs look longer:

Here’s Shirley Maitland, Cocoa Brown, and Lois Meriden, posing charismatically:

PAGE TWO, ARTIFACT 2:

Now is this double-sided page part of the previous bulletin? I don’t know.

One side of it features mostly text for wrestling movies (#21, #22: not that interesting), but the other side is pretty cool:

Let’s take a closer look at the top, because it’s pretty dramatic. The model appears to be Barbara Leslie:

I’m not sure who the model is here, (although it may be several models):

We don’t know who the photographers are for any of these, by the way. Certainly not Irving Klaw or his sister Paula.

PAGE THREE, ARTIFACT 3:

Now this is pretty cool, as it features Irving Klaw cartoons (i.e. Chapter Serials). Three artists are featured: “C.W.” for “Gale, Girl Reporter,” “G.”(or “George”) for “Poor Pamela,” and Stanton for “Fighting Femmes.” I would date this bulletin at 1949. Why? Because it was prior to Stanton illustrating bondage Chapter Serials. At this time, Stanton (before he was known as “Eric”) was only depicting wrestling and fighting girls – his personal fetish. At this point, he had completed “Battling Women,” but only 10 of 11 episodes/pages of “Fighting Femmes.” Only the first 5 episodes/pages of “Poor Pamela” were available. (Stanton would eventually complete the rest.)  Concurrently, Stanton had completed the first 16 episodes of “Dawn’s Fighting Adventures” (as we shall see on the reverse side). So it was all fighting/wrestling girls for Stanton and Irving Klaw was yet to “corrupt” him with bondage themed material, although we might imagine that Klaw had already entertained the idea.

Eneg (Gene Bilbrew) and Adolfo Ruiz wouldn’t join Irving Klaw for several years. Bettie Page was not even modeling at this time. Steve Ditko had not arrived in New York City.

But let’s examine the bulletin:

On back, we have an advertisement for “Dawn’s Fighting Adventures” by Stanton; and at the very bottom, perhaps offering a clue to the date, it states that the “CC” Series bulletin will follow:

My favorite detail on this page is the set featuring 2 of my favorite Irving Klaw models, Joan Rydell and Jean Williams. The other model is Betty Price. (Who?)

PAGE FOUR, ARTIFACT 4:

Now for the last page.

The question remains: Is this last double-sided page related to those above? I don’t know. Maybe you can take a look, help me determine how it fits in with those pages above. If it does at all.

This page mentions movie #23, which might offer a clue to its date. It also states that “the first Ten Episodes of Miss Adventure” are available – again another possible clue. Did you notice the so-called “TA-Amateur”  bondage series advertised? Let’s take a look at that because it’s pretty amazing and seeing is believing:

Does this look like amateur work to you?

Aesthetically inspired, no? Dell Hunter is mentioned as the model in these.

Now let’s look at the back of this page and conclude our study for today.

 

Here we have the art of Mory; we have Joan Rydell and Betty Price. But who is that at the very top? Is it? Could it be?

It is.  Mr. John Willie.

 

Hope you enjoyed this week’s examination of artifacts. Take your time in looking them over again, and don’t forget to tune in next week.
Cheers!—Richard Pérez Seves

=> Index ~ of FetHistory ~ From the Beginning:

http://fethistory.blogspot.com/p/1.html

>> Peek inside the Charles Guyette tribute << 

Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art 
** 2018 Expanded Second Edition **  

>> HERE <<

 *     *     *     *     *     *

Peek inside with Dita Von Teese:

==>> HERE <<==

Reviews:

 "If New York collector, writer and fetish historian Richard Pérez Seves had not decided to assemble what he knew about Charles Guyette (along with a substantial selection of images) into this paperback, this influential forerunner of the genre's better known exponents would have continued a lot longer as the great unsung hero of American fetish art."—Tony Mitchell, thefetishistas.com

"If you're at all a fan of fetish art ... then this book will be right up your alley." —kinkweekly.com

"I've often cited John Willie's gals as my biggest fashion inspiration but I'll have to start tipping my hat to Guyette as well."—Dita Von Teese

+
 
NEW RELEASE!

> Available Now! <

Bondage Enthusiasts Bound in Leather  [*Expanded Edition*]

=================================

 

Also Available (Worldwide)!
GENE BILBREW REVEALED

>> Learn More <<

Also Available Now (Worldwide)!
Sweeter Gwen, The Return of Gwendoline
by Eric Stanton
>> Learn More <<

 

*     *     *     *     *     *

Thanks for checking in. Hope you'll join me next time....

Cheers. —Richard Pérez Seves

=> Index ~ of FetHistory ~ From the Beginning:

http://fethistory.blogspot.com/p/1.html

_________________________

* * * * * * *

FetHistory - Home | Instagram

www.instagram.com/fethistory

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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