Screenies Magazine, April 1937 (reconstructed cover) artist: Jacques Real. Probably an American pulp resold in the UK before wartime restrictions came into effect (the cover displays prices in both US and English currency). The style and format is reminiscent of Film Fun and similar "girly" titles, though Screenies seems to have been comparatively short lived by comparison.
It's truly amazing what an experienced artist can express with just a few well placed lines:
Even with the color removed, this simple pen-and-ink sketch tells us everything we need to know about both the dancer and the review she's performing in.
British comics at their finest - John M. Burns' Eartha (News of the World, 1982). A recognized veteran whose credits ranged from Modesty Blaise to Judge Dredd, Burns was a master of the female form, never hesitating to kit out his frequently reluctant heroines in stockings and garters whenever the opportunity arose.
Italian hosiery ad inspired by the cancan (and yes, the slogan means exactly what you think it does). Typographic elements removed via photoshop. Brand: Calze Fer; seems to date from the mid-fifties.
Look Magazine, 22 November, 1938: with Germany re-arming and war looming on the horizon, Claudette Colbert still managed to steal the cover spot :) The image seemed to be based on a publicity still from Zaza (odd, considering the film wasn't released until 1939; no doubt Paramount was eager to cash in on the spectacle of the talented Ms Colbert revealing her frilly underthings).
It's interesting to compare this cover shot with stills and posters from the same movie (both B&W and color). Unfortunately, the Hays Code didn't allow for garters and stocking tops back in the day...
Tried to "clean up" some of the images I came across on BB's tumblr site; once again, I'll leave you to judge the results:
So, are you ready for another trip to The Judas Hole? Yes, that's right, it's time to review our favorite moments from The Haunted Strangler (Amalgamated, 1958):
Loosely based around the Whitechapel murders of the 1880s (with a dash of Jekyll & Hyde thrown in), the movie contains two extended cancan sequences set in a Victorian music hall. Like Jimmy Sangster's Jack the Ripper (Tempean Films, 1959), the movie was shot in black & white and contains virtuoso performances by professional dancers. According to some sources, the cancan scenes were choreographed by Joan Murray, a former Windmill Theatre alumnus.
Seriously, I still can't understand why nobody's come up with a color version of this masterpiece. Judging from these screencaps alone, the cancan number would be nothing short of spectacular!
OK, so let's see if this AI program works on a hand-drawn image we found on the web...
Actually...not too bad at all for a free online converter...
Seems to work best at smaller sizes, but it definitely has great potential for the future...
Following Jane's phenomenonally successful run in the 1940s, the Daily Mirror attempted two revivals of the character over the next three decades, first with the short-lived Jane, Daughter of Jane in the 1960s (Alfred Mazure, 1961-1963):
...followed by a mid-eighties reboot which updated the original heroine for a contemporary audience (1985-1990). Veteran cartoonist John M. Burns added an espionage parody recalling Jane's homefront adventures of the war years:
While both strips were initially well-received , neither managed to recapture the charm of Norman Pett's wide-eyed ingenue. Despite some truly knockout artwork from Burns and Mazure, the revivals simply couldn't match the patriotic fervor of their predecessor. Apparently, the key to success involves more than just a pretty blonde running around in her lingerie :)
For 'Age Regression' enthusiasts: in an illustrated story, would you prefer to see the protagonist dressed in:
A. Traditional frills.
B. Feminine but modern.
C. Sexy and exotic.
D. All of the above.
Modern
For those of us with a yearning for those sentimental days of yore: here's a quaint piece of vintage ephemera from the classic gentleman's magazine, French Frills:
Ah, nostalgia...
With Christmas swiftly approaching, Reverend Chapel is keen to raise money for Miyamae General Hospital. Knowing that two of his parishioners are members of The Fabulous Five, the good minister asks Sarah and Anna if they can throw a charity performance on December 24. Both girls agree that the event is worth staging and promise to discuss the idea with their dance company.
Love those frilly panties!
Artwork by Tisa. Click these links for the animated videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-pKWp9vB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g78FKi_PEL4
