| Vintage Pulp | Feb 2 2023 |
They won't be playing by themselves for long.
Above are two 1950s-era Technicolor lithographs featuring a pair of models with playing cards. Only the second is playing solitaire. The first seems to be spokesmodeling: “Call now and you can win a deck of enormous cards!” The first litho is called, “Ace of Hearts,” and the second, which has been retouched to the extent that it has the look of a painting, is titled, “No Cheating.” We don't know who the women are. That's true of about half the lithos we share. Occasionally, though, someone emails us with an identification, so feel free. We're always around.
| Vintage Pulp | Dec 6 2022 |
Fashion accessory or rift in the space-time continuum?
These two Technicolor lithographs feature the one and only Evelyn West, model and burlesque dancer extraordinaire, bearer of interesting nicknames, and pioneer in erotic craft. The top litho is called “Soft and Lovely,” and the one where it looks like a hole has opened in the fabric of space-time is called “Cleo,” for some reason. And while we know what we're seeing in that second litho is a hat, it's weirdly and disconcertingly featureless. But whether dangerously large fashion accessory or voracious cosmic gullet, bystanders would have needed to stand well clear. It's a great shot, though. Both lithos probably date from late 1950s.
| Vintage Pulp | Oct 17 2022 |
Is this an example of that pulp stuff you read all the time? Geez, it scared the pants right off me.
Above: an unknown model stars on a Technicolor lithograph titled “Solid Comfort,” which we think was printed around 1950. This has happened with the Pulp Intl. girlfriends a few times when we left an interesting book sitting around, but now they don't open them because they assume someone will be betrayed or murdered in short order. We'll try to get them to read David Dodge's To Catch a Thief. If there's such a thing as gateway drugs for crime fiction that's certainly one of them.In another case of vintage art being shoddily repurposed for modern usage, we found this litho for sale on a few websites as a poster, which you see above. The reproduction is absolute crap, but “so many books, so little time” is a sentiment we can get behind. A book definitely makes an afternoon more enjoyable, and we'd add that a nice glass of wine is a further improvement. Which is why we always have (at least) one close by when we read. We have a lot more Technicolor lithos in the website, so just click the keywords and have a look if you're curious.
| Vintage Pulp | Sep 4 2022 |
It's a woman's prerogative to change her backdrop.
Above are two Technicolor lithos of popular model Terry Higgins, who we also saw years ago in the Goodtime Weekly Calendar of 1963. You've noticed that these two shots are from the same session, but that the background color has miraculously changed. That was common with pin-up lithographs. We suspect they did it in pre-press, rather than in the photography studio with lighting, but either way it's a neat trick. Higgins made appearances on the covers of men's magazines such as Adam (U.S.A.), Candid, Tip Top, Folies de Paris et de Hollywood, and many others. She also starred in some nudie loops and had an uncredited appearance in 1963's The Nutty Professor. The above shots are by famed lensman Ron Vogel, and date from around 1960.
| Vintage Pulp | May 15 2022 |
You ever get the feeling the game is rigged?
Above is a 1950s Technicolor lithograph with an unknown model losing her shirt and more in a poker game. The litho is titled “Out of Luck,” and it came from the company KLM. There are about eighty of these in the site, but we have a few favorites. See if this selection doesn't grab you: here, here, and here.
| Vintage Pulp | Feb 21 2022 |
I asked for a double room so we can use one bed for action, and the other for recovery.
Above is a 1960 Technicolor lithograph starring Jayne Mansfield. It's called, “Good Morning,” which we suppose it might be if you woke up with her. The shot originated from 1956 and was first used on a cover of Cabaret Quarterly. It was later used on Modern Man in 1960, Beau magazine in 1966, and even—with the background changed to pink—Mark Gabor's 1984's Illustrated History of Girlie Magazines. It probably showed up elsewhere too, and why not? It's one of Mansfield's best shots.
It's been a while since we shared one of these Technicolor lithos, so as a reminder we'll mention that they were made as a potential market replacement for the painted pin-ups of earlier years, such as those produced by Gil Elvgren, Art Frahm, and Zoe Mozert. That's why these have such painterly compositions. You can see for yourself, because we have a bunch of examples going back years, and some of them are amazing. Just click here and scroll.
| Vintage Pulp | Jul 20 2021 |
I'm wearing Cartier jewels, a Borbonese fur, and Halston opera gloves. Am I mesmerizing or what?
Above, a 1955 Technicolor lithograph featuring an unknown but very beautiful model. A piece of well known fashion advice states that, in order to avoid overdressing, a woman should face away from a mirror, then turn quickly and see what catches her eye first. Remove that item and she's good to go. That must have been one garish blouse.
| Vintage Pulp | May 31 2021 |
We'll get to the bottom of this even if it takes forever.
Above you see a Technicolor lithograph titled “The Right Exposure.” We're still seeking the identity of this buttcrack flashing model, who we have on half a dozen lithos, including this one we posted back in 2014. Even more so than paperback cover artists, these lithos are our most difficult sleuthing jobs. We've had many successes and we won't quit until we put this model's case to bed too. Have any ideas? Let us know. But be forewarned, here's who she isn't—Marilyn Waltz. We mention that because a couple of readers have suggested this is her, but we're positive she isn't Waltz. We know because, like we said, we have six more images that remove any doubt, but of course we haven't shared those on the website because we're hoping to write posts on them. So you'll have to trust us that she's not Waltz. While you're ruminating over who she really is, consider clicking the keywords “Technicolor pin-up” below, and you'll be taken to see many more beautiful mid-century models.
| Vintage Pulp | Apr 20 2021 |
Since you obviously don't get the point of why I'm wearing this, it's not so we can go outside.
This Technicolor lithograph is entitled “Prepared,” but while the model is prepared for hot fun and games, her off-frame male friend seems to want to go for a wet walk. Well, men can be dense. Once, the Pulp Intl. girlfriends dressed up sexy and gave us homemade coupons that said “Tonight—redeemable for anything you want,” and we made them watch the NFL division championships with us. Not what they had in mind, but anyone could make that mistake. Circa 1960 on this litho.
| Vintage Pulp | Mar 16 2021 |
Answer me honestly. Do men actually like this kind of cumbersome lingerie? No? Me neither. Ahh... that's better.
For a couple of years we were mystified by the identity of the above model, but recently learned that she's Virginia De Lee. There's actually some information out there about her, some of it quite interesting. For example, in June 1957, according to Hollywood columnist Erskine Johnson, she walked into his office dressed as a harem girl, accompanied by a "225-pound giant of a fellow and a four-foot [little person],” unrolled a rug, served him a cup of Egyptian coffee, and announced, “We are here to remind you that the Tyrone Power movie Suez will be on television tomorrow night. It's the premiere performance of a series of Twentieth Century Fox movies on KTTV.”
That's what's called an old fashioned publicity stunt and as far as we know stuff like that doesn't happen these days. De Lee also popped up in the press when famed Hungarian sculptor Sepy Dobronyi said she had a perfectly formed body, so it's possible she modeled for him at some point. She obviously sought stardom, but her only movie role was a minor appearance as a stripper in the b-drama Hell Bound. Whatever fame she has these days mainly derives from the many collectible Technicolor lithographs in which she and that quirky right eyebrow of hers were featured. We showed you a few lithos already, and we have one or two more sitting around. You may see them later.
That's what's called an old fashioned publicity stunt and as far as we know stuff like that doesn't happen these days. De Lee also popped up in the press when famed Hungarian sculptor Sepy Dobronyi said she had a perfectly formed body, so it's possible she modeled for him at some point. She obviously sought stardom, but her only movie role was a minor appearance as a stripper in the b-drama Hell Bound. Whatever fame she has these days mainly derives from the many collectible Technicolor lithographs in which she and that quirky right eyebrow of hers were featured. We showed you a few lithos already, and we have one or two more sitting around. You may see them later.
Twentieth Century FoxHell BoundVirginia De LeeTyrone PowerSepy DobronyiErskine JohnsonTechnicolor pin-uptelevisionnudity
