#302303 - Wink 10 5 1955 Harrison

Wink, Volume 10, Number 5
Wink, Inc. [Harrison]
New York, New York
April, 1955

digital replica

In the 1940s and 1950s, Robert Harrison published “girlie” magazines on pulp paper with titles like Beauty Parade, Flirt, Titter, and Eyeful. The models included chorus girls, strippers and burlesque entertainers, with text and comic images frequently referring to Broadway.

The original layouts were often like burlesque presentations, with an accent on jokes and gags, often involving puns. This issue of Wink has innuendo-driven silliness that's all about the allure of women in lingerie.

Many pictorials have alliterative titles, such as
• Fizz Fight — In their undies, Peggy and Margie spritz each other with seltzer bottles
• Tan Torrid and Terrific — Ethel Butler, a tall dancer from the West Indies
• Lass Laughs — two pages mix photographs, cartoons and gags

Battle of the Bosoms pictures Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Tempest Storm and Evelyn West on two pages. Described as the “latest storm to hit Broadway,” sexy Dorian Dennis poses in fishnets and ecdysiast regalia.

Zoftig models show off in a nice assortment of panties, bras, nylons, and garter belts. Lace, ruffles, fur, bows and sassy attitudes spice photos.

Ads offer a magic cap, stage-undies, theatrical footwear, correspondence club romance, foot cream, party records, French-style bikini's, vitamins, private investigator badge and rupture-easing appliances. Cartoon booklets, studies in beauty, comic booklets, peek-a-boo eyefuls, girlie photos, and pin-up photos are promoted.

One ad by Irving Klaw advertises his model photos and features Bettie Page, who also appears once in the magazine. Other products promise to teach song writing, piano tuning, locksmithing, how to loose weight, radio-television repair, and how to be a detective.

The digital replica shows all content of the 48-page magazine (plus covers) in the original page sequence. Picture tonality was adjusted and shadows reduced in pursuit of clarity. Except for the splendid Peter Driben cover painting, all photos and illustrations are monochrome.

All new scans.

The product is a convenient digital volume that serves dreamy cheesecake wrapped in silk, nylon, satin, lace and leather. Light and cheery, this 1950s Wink issue laughs at the irresistible appeal of female beauty for men. The ebook version provides the best mechanism to enjoy this post-war, pin-up fun for regular guys.

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