#300318 - Exotique 18 Burmel Bettie Page

Exotique, Number 18
Burmel [Leonard BURtman/Ben HimMEL] Publishing Co.
New York, New York
1957

digital replica

At the age of 36, Mr. Burtman candidly describes his sexual interests in his nationally-distributed Exotique publications. He provided the magazine's direction and created content as well, writing some of the prose and taking many of the photographs.

While Mr. Hefner produced images of his own female ideal (innocent beauty), Mr. Burtman's dream goddess knew more about his sexuality than he did. She understood how to tease a measurable response from a nearby male (i.e., a fetishist) — dress in long stockings, tight gloves, high heels and a figure-shaping corset.

Exotique, Number 18, teems with fashion accents that a certain kind of man would characterize as intensifying the femininity of the wearer. Photo models appear to get a kick out of their fetish heels, corsets, hosiery and gloves. Nanette Rockwell and Tana Louise appear on a couple of pages and Betty Page on the back cover, in fishnets and pumps.

About half the pages in No. 18 are occupied by the fiction piece TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY by H. Zucca. I think it's likely that this individual identified himself as author of Ultra magazine, which also appeared in 1957.

Mr. Rogers invites pretty Jane and Lana to a party for men. They dress in corsets and high heels. At his classy digs, he tells them that they are the entertainment and gives them corsets and footwear to model. The girls decide that it's time Mr. Rogers experience corsets and high heels for himself — the turnabout. Careful descriptions of figures, fetish fashions and dress-up progressions. Three Eric Stanton illustrations picture the text.

Carlson Wade contributed an essay about male chastity belts and lists the U.S. Patent Office numbers of devices he describes. They are intended to cause discomfort and pain and thereby obtain husband obedience to wifely wishes.

Stanton and Bilbrew filler illustrations and photos show pretty posers in corsets, stockings and high heels. The issue ends with an episode of Gene Bilbrew's “Mistress” comic serial.

As many photographs and illustrations fill the original pages from top to bottom, the digital replica provides the visual value of an optimized ebook. This ebook presents models full-size or a bit larger. The few small pictures were enlarged on ebook pages. Tonality adjustments enhance clarity.

The original page sequence was retained.

All new scans.

In Exotique, 18 we find a fetishist's vision of femininity on 68 pages of prose and pictures. The digital iteration offers the best mechanism for enjoyment of all the sensuality the law allowed in the middle of the 20th century.

One e-book, delivered by download from your 30th Street Graphics account.