Dian Hanson's: The History of Men's Magazines. Vol. 5: 1970s At the Newsstand

The emergence of pubic hair on American newsstands in 1970 was thanks to Penthouse magazine. In Northern Europe, censorship laws fell after Berth Milton confronted Swedish parliament with hardcore photos in 1967. Japan found release in bondage magazines, while Italy passed a law in 1975 exempting newsstand dealers from responsibility for the content of magazines. The Pill removed pregnancy fear and couples embraced swinging, with swing magazines in the U.S. and Europe helping to hook them up.

Format: Hardback
Length: 460 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Pubic hair made its debut on the American newsstand in 1970, courtesy of Penthouse magazine. Within a year, it had permeated society, and in 1975, Midwest redneck Larry Flynt took center stage by parting the hair and making it the focal point of Hustler. In Northern Europe, censorship laws began to crumble after Berth Milton presented hardcore photos to the Swedish parliament in 1967, daring them to take action if he published them in Private magazine. Surprisingly, there was no response. Denmark followed suit, producing magazines for France as well. England, known for its lagging stance, eventually lifted its censorship laws, but it retained its stringent regulations. Japan, long repressed, found solace in bondage magazines like New Roman Porno and SM Select, although pubic hair remained forbidden. Italy took a bold step in 1975 by passing a law exempting newsstand dealers from responsibility for the content of magazines. This law, reminiscent of Sweden's approach, resulted in a sudden surge of hardcore content, while just five years prior, divorce was illegal. The advent of The Pill brought about a significant shift in societal attitudes. It erased the fear of pregnancy, fostering a more liberated and open-minded approach to relationships. Couples embraced the concept of swinging, leading to the suburban sexual revolution. Swing magazines, both in the United States and Europe, played a crucial role in connecting individuals with similar interests. Behind this movement were a mix of politically motivated idealists and unconventional individuals. Peter Wolff and the "Love family" emerged as pioneers, empowering readers by creating reader-written magazines that gave them a voice in the publishing industry. Al Goldstein, with Screw magazine, challenged American censorship laws, while a Texas advertising executive attempted to preserve tasteless hillbilly humor with Sex to Sexty.

The History of Mens Magazines Volume 5 presents an extensive collection of over 600 hair-raising covers and photos from various countries, including Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, the United States, and more. As with previous volumes in the series, this edition features inspired text alongside the captivating visuals.

Weight: 2092g
Dimension: 225 x 287 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836592383
Edition number: Multilingual ed