Elmer Batters

Sheer Delight, Volume 1, Number 2
Batters Publications, Inc.
Hollywood, California
1958

digital replica

In the 1950s, Elmer Batters first presented his photographs in magazines he published, such as Black Silk Stockings and Leg-O-Rama. Possibly due to tax issues, those publications were discontinued. In the 1960s, he worked with American Art Agency on a number of magazines that focused on legs and stockings.

The page-3 editorial suggests —

“In order to derive SHEER DELIGHT from a pictorial magazine the quality of the pictures published have to stimulate great joy and pleasure to the reader. Without this print quality in the photographs it is impossible to stimulate the feeling of SHEER DELIGHT. It is with this Editorial Policy of extending great joy and pleasure to our readers that we are happy to present our No. 2 issue of SHEER DELIGHT for your SHEER DELIGHT.”

With a bare-legged cover girl, the attribution of dual meanings to the magazine's title has utility in this issue. The issue presents pinup photography by two skillful lensmen: Mr. Batters and Jerry Taylor. Pictorials accomplished by Mr. Taylor show lovely ladies without hosiery. For those images, sheer delight refers to the feelings generated by viewing, not stockings.

Mr. Taylor's subjects include Pat O'Day, Kelly Doran, and Ann Keller. Contemplative Kelly Doran's pictorial, Nature at Her Best, consists of two pictures taken outdoors. Wearing next to nothing (panties, negligee, fur, necklace), Pat and Ann pose separately on the same upholstery.

The critical value of the magazine are early leg art photos by Elmer Batters. Most include full-fashioned nylons but all reflect his explicit, distinctive rules for proper positioning and framing of the lyrical lines of curve-loaded legs. Brigitte Baum smiles in a playground. Lynn Lampert reclines in negligee and gartered RHT stockings. Marilyn Wesley poses nude on a barstool. On an outdoor stairway in full-fashioned nylons, Windi Holiday shows off precious ankles and arches as directed by Mr. Batters.

The magazine has two short stories that explore heterosexual interests. Full-page cartoons with raunchy captions were inked by Buster.

All content of the 44-page magazine are presented in the original sequence, including two pages of advertising.

Tonality was adjusted to present smoothness and clarity of models. Shadows were reduced and many specks retouched. On some pages, carpets, curtains, sofas and walls were excised.

All new scans.

Possibly the first photographer to use the expression leg art, Elmer Batters' long career as photographer and publisher of pinup, cheesecake and fetish imagery earned him international appreciation. Like most creative people, he developed craft and focus throughout his life. In the century after his death, ebooks present his female ideal and unwavering point of view.

One ebook, delivered by download from your 30th Street Graphics account.