Tijuana Bibles

[Wifetheif]

I just finished "Dirty Little Comics: The Complete Collection: A Pictorial History of Tijuana Bibles And Underground Adult Comics of the 1920s -1950s" What, you may ask is a Tijuana Bible? it was a short comic book full of very adult material most often featuring comic figures like Popeye and Blondie but also spoofed celebrities. Clara Bow and Joan Crawford had reputations since way back when. (There is a persistent rumor that Joan appeared in an actual stag film early in her career and that the studio bought all existing copies and destroyed them) Radio stars featured too. Charlie McCarthy. (Insert wood joke here) as well as Amos and Andy. Why read ols smut you may ask. Well, to comb for ideas and because I'm a comic strip fan. I was amazed at how little the lingo has changed. The only difference is that now we use "dick" and no longer use "jazz" as a euphemism for intercourse. The artwork and lettering vary from super crude to almost professional and show that your great-grandma and great-grandpa were just as horny in their day as you were. Highly illegal these things were sold under the counter and in places like pool halls and barber shops. They were highly influential on Robert Crumb and the underground comics movement of the 1960s. I found the book and the subjects fascinating. Superman does Lois Lane at one point and Superboy helps a dansel in distress who intern helps out the lad of steel.
Really, this is an excuse to ask. What old-time pono "does the trick" for you? Big bush Playboy? Bettie Page? Vintage pinups?

 

[ronde]

I go back to those old days too, but with magazines such as "Adam", "Argosy", "True", and "For Men Only". Not much skin in any of them, but some really great writing by the likes of Ian Flemming, Ray Bradbury, and Mickey Spillane. I borrowed them from my dad when he wasn't looking.

Playboy came along much later in my life. Of course, I only looked at Playboy for the articles because most of them were really good writing.

I've seen a couple Tijuana Bibles though. I sort of borrowed them from my dad too. He was stationed in Brownsville, Texas during WWII and that's where he got them. Really poor art but kind of a cute story.

 

[PennameWombat]

Ah... on the same subject, I've had this one for years. "Tijuana Bibles: Art and Wit in America's Forbidden Funnies, 1930s-1950s," by Bob Adelman. ISBN 0-684-83461-8.

It has Tarzan, Betty Boop, Popeye and a whole selection of WWII ones. Including Stalin getting busy, as well as Hirohito and Gandhi. But no Superman. Clark Gable, and many other Hollywood stars make 'appearances.'

 

[AchtungNight]

I mentioned Tijuana Bibles as a precursor to today’s Celebrity Fanfic erotica in my How To advise work here. I’ve never read one before, though.

My favorite mainstream erotica from way back when are the soft core magazines Stuff and For Him. I’ve gotten a lot of material from their interviews of young 00s actresses like Busy Phillipps, Erika Christensen, and Rachael Leigh Cook. Vanity Fair has also provided similar material with its 2006 cover portrait of Keira Knightley & Scarlett Johansson.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Popeye fucked Blondie?

 

[Wifetheif]

Popeye fucked Blondie?

Among others. Popeye was the single most parodied character. Some of the celebrity takes are surprising, Esther Williams chases after a bit of Jungle Fever, and Myna Loy and William Powell do what movie viewers have always wanted. The later ones are really racy. The Archie Gang gets into some ... situations. Hiram Lodge gets it on poolside with Veronica for example.