Original Eric Stanton & Steve Ditko art at the Taschen Gallery

"A Dull Day in The Neighborhood," the complete set of "Correspondence Letter B-1" and "Correspondence Letter B-2," which collectively would later be republished as "Confidential TV," 22 pages (out of 24) of "The Kinky Hook," 4 pages of "Divorce Agreement" — these are just some of the Stanton/Ditko art items owned by Benedikt Taschen, and much of the material passed through my hands this past week as I urged him to put as much of it on display as possible — and put it all in a separate room too.

Currently on display — and offered for sale — at the Taschen Gallery in Los Angeles is a selection of collaborative art produced by Eric Stanton and Steve Ditko between 1966 and 1967, just after Ditko walked out on Marvel. You may NEVER have another opportunity to see this original artwork again in your lifetime!

 

  

Here I am holding page 1 of the comic originally known as "On a Kinky Hook," 1966 (Stantoons Inc.; Stanley Malkin, Stanton) — for the Taschen Gallery in Los Angeles.

I was laying out these pages at the gallery about a week ago. Benedikt Taschen hardly understood what it was it. He just wanted me to assemble it in order.

 Dian Hanson and Benedikt Taschen went off to lunch as I was left alone with this. Just amazing. 

Just handling this art was an experience I'll never forget.

Pure Steve Ditko. I begged Benedikt to include it in the show, but he decided to put it back in the vault.

 This page from "Correspondence Letter B-2" made the show and is currently on display to the public — at the Taschen Gallery.

 

 This page from "On a Kinky Hook" (here, already framed) made the show and is currently on display to the public — at the Taschen Gallery.

 This page from "Divorce Agreement" (here, already framed) made the show and is currently on display to the public — at the Taschen Gallery.

This page made the show and is currently on display to the public. The inking is excellent! You can see Ditko (or Stanton) used Zip-A-Tone and what appears to be Wite-Out for the highlights. What do you think? It's also from "Divorce Agreement." 

This page from "Correspondence Letter B-1" made the show and is currently on display to the public.

I hope you'll check out the show in person. It's worth a visit. Also included in the exhibit are works by John Willie, Gene Bilbrew, Bill Ward, Bill Alexander, the artist known as "B&G," Robert Blue, Allen Jones, and of course Elmer Batters. The show features 85 gorgeously framed original pieces of Eric Stanton art never seen before in public + a huge collection of Stanton artifacts like his colorful '60s paperbacks, magazines, and interior art for Exotique and Selbee magazines — on display right now and FREE to the public — until May 24. 

This is truly a rare event!

TASCHEN GALLERY
8070 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 852-9098

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Thanks for tuning 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

>> 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

_________________________

* * * * * * *

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My Eric Stanton Timeline currently at the Taschen Gallery in Los Angeles.

 This is a massive display on the back wall of the gallery to give people an overview of Eric Stanton's life. As archivist, bizarre culture historian, and co-curator of the show, I contributed the Eric Stanton portion while Dian Hanson did the Elmer Batters' half. At first I was uploading image scans and correcting the timeline via the Internet (since I live in New York City), but when it was obvious that Dian Hanson was still having a lot of trouble, Benedikt Taschen flew me out to Los Angeles. (Twice actually.)

In the end, I think it came out nicely. And we can see the arc of his life.

That first photo of Eric Stanton as a sailor was provided courtesy of Amber Stanton (Eric's daughter), who by the way is also a uniquely talented artist. You can see her work here: http://www.amberstanton.com

I hope you'll check out the show in person. It's worth a visit. The Eric Stanton (and Elmer Batters) "Bizarre Life" exhibit, featuring subversive, sexually-oriented art you'll never see in a conventional gallery or museum is on display until May 24.

TASCHEN GALLERY
8070 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 852-9098

Thanks for tuning in!

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 Now (Worldwide)!
Sweeter Gwen, The Return of Gwendoline
by Eric Stanton

>> Learn More <<


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Tags: Charles Guyette, the "G-string King," vintagefetish,fetishfashion, Yva Richard, Diana Slip, Carlo, Franz Rehfeld,WeimarRepublic, John Willie, Robert Harrison, Irving Klaw, LeonardBurtman,EdwardMishkin, Eric Stanton, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, Wonder Woman, Secret History, Phantom Thread, My Beauty Mark, ultra high-heel shoes, boots, corsets,operagloves, Dita Von Teese, louboutin boots, Christian Louboutin,Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, Alexander McQueen, Dior, Elsa Schiaparelli, Bizarre, Bizarre Life, London Life, Weimar Republic

The Eric Stanton (and Elmer Batters) "Bizarre Life" exhibit at TASCHEN GALLERY, Los Angeles, CA

Hey, after a long hiatus, I’m back again.

This time as archivist, Eric Stanton biographer, and fetish/bizarre culture historian for the "Bizarre Life" gallery show, happening right now in Los Angeles. I essentially contributed the Eric Stanton portion while Dian Hanson handled the Elmer Batters' half. The Eric Stanton (and Elmer Batters) "Bizarre Life" exhibit, which features fetish art you'll never see in a conventional gallery or museum is on display until May 24. TASCHEN GALLERY 8070 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048 (323) 852-9098

This was just 3 days before the opening of the show in sunny CA. 

Don't miss it! --> The Eric Stanton (and Elmer Batters) "Bizarre Life" exhibit is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime event ... and it's happening right now until May 24. 

TASCHEN GALLERY
8070 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 852-9098

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Thanks for tuning 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

>> 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

How Robert Harrison helped shape Irving Klaw: Part 2

Welcome back! First up, some eye-candy!

Now, last week, in considering how magazine publisher Robert Harrison influenced Irving Klaw, we examined a particular issue, Titter, Nov. 1946, and took note of what amounted to a catalog of  borderline material. There were images of "Shackled Sirens," "Corset Cuties," "High Heel Honeys," "Booted Babes," "Dominant Damsels," "Fighting Girls," even "Long Haired Ladies."

These subcategories were even more clearly defined in Harrison's own mail order business, Fem Fotos, which existed (if we are to trace the ads) for at least two years prior to 1950. Such subcategories would undoubtedly serve as an example for Irving Klaw in his evolving pin-up photo business, which by the end of WW II would attract some heavy competition. The advertisement below, for example, is virtually identical to Klaw's, offering (in the very same issue: Titter, Nov. 1946) the same deal: twelve pin-up photos for $1 + a FREE catalog (below, left).

Such competition, we might assume, served as an incentive for Irving Klaw to step up his game. After all, less than a decade earlier, he had already watched his first attempt at running a business—that time, in the fur trade—fall to ruins.

FEMME MIMICS:

Another subcategory of borderline material we failed to mention last time, which appeared with regularity in Harrison's magazines, relates to burlesque/vaudeville and the blurring of gender lines -- as well as gay culture. (In fact, it may have been the only acceptable manifestation of gay culture in mainstream America at the time.) Such material would continue to find a market in the coming decades, becoming a staple not only for Irving Klaw, but those that followed in Klaw's footsteps: Leonard Burtman (the father of commercial fetish publishing) and Edward Mishkin (Times Square operator/publisher). This of course was the subcategory of "female impersonation." Here's a typical spread from the Harrison publication, Wink:

Years later, in the Burlesque-themed feature films he would produce—Varietease, Teaserama—Irving Klaw also included female impersonation. And Klaw also offered female impersonator photo sets.

How else did Harrison influence Irving Klaw? By first featuring this artist (below), whose seminal  serial, Sir d'Arcy d'Arcy, renamed Sweet Gwendoline, originally ran in the publication, Wink, starting in 1947.

John Alexander Scott Coutts (a.k.a. John Willie), as we can see, also participated in photo-shoots for Harrison's magazines, early on.

In 1949, Klaw commissioned his own damsel-in-distress serials inspired by Willie, starting with Zaza’s Perilous Adventure, illustrated by a family relative (either Irving's cousin or his sister-in-law). "Zaza," by the way, was the name of a maid in Sweet Gwendoline.

Klaw also licensed the publishing rights of Sweet Gwendoline and another serial, The Escape Artiste, from Coutts in 1949. And Klaw even advertised both in Harrison's magazines.

Those following this blog might recall that both serials were advertised in the first issue of Cartoon and Model Parade:

How else did Harrison influence Irving Klaw? We might say by providing the models. Take, for instance, Barbara Leslie:

Who you might recall from an earlier blog looking like this:

Then there's adorable Vicky Hayes:

Who you might remember from a former post looking like this:

Then there's Harrison star model "Eve" Rydell:

Who appeared as Klaw star model "Joan" Rydell:

Other Harrison models that crossed over to Irving Klaw included, among others, "the Hedy Lamarr of burlesque," Lili Dawn, "Cici" Maitland (better known as Shirley Maitland), Kevin Daley, and, by 1951, Roz Greenwood. Last but not least you might recognize this lady (below). It was Robert Harrison who initially misspelled her name "Betty" instead of "Bettie"—a misspelling that Klaw simply adopted and never corrected.

Thanks for tuning 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

>> 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