Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221 - Rough Trade, Part 4 of 19

Acquired Tastes XLIII: 

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221

Rough Trade

Part 4 of 19

Today, we take another look at the Rough Trade imprint.

Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Rough Trade imprint published 224 titles, from 1974-1990. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City.

The imprint's numbering system begins with RT-401, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.

All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Rough Trade logo in the upper left of the book's cover.  The books cover design consists of an all-caps (typically) title in a banner of orange or baby blue near the top. A frame is created by two white stripes descending from the top banner to a thin banner (orange or baby blue) containing the word 'Illustrated' - for the books are, with drawings throughout. At the center of the cover there is an explicit illustration - some ink/pencil, some woodcut/etching - all by various popular gay artists of the time, including Craig Esposito, Adam, Michael, etc.

Oddly, the early books in the series do not have a publisher's page. Price point for the books began at 2.25 and increased (by various increments) to $3.95. Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-45.

The back covers sometimes feature a synopsis of the book to entice readers or advertisement for one of Star Distributors' other imprints. Ads also appear at the front or back of the book - offering books, videos, and sex toys.

Here are the next dozen titles. I lucked out and found something for all twelve this week. And please note, as advertised on the cover, the series addition of personal ads with pictures, starting with RT-441.

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Leather Bound & Beaten

 Author: John Davies 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-437

--- ---

Hot White Suckers

 Author: Charles Speare 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-438

--- ---

Trucking Sucker

 Author: Jason Darren 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-439

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Sex Slave Boys

 Author: William Cooper  

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-440

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Boot Licker

 Author: Bill Cooper 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-441

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Sucked-in Sailor

 Author: George Wilson 

Rough Trade

 1975 

RT-442

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

 Hot Hard Comers

 Author: Charles Speare 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-443

--- ---

Hard Truckin’ Sucker

 Author: Milt Baron 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-444

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Roped and Broken Cowboy

  Author: Manuel Colon 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-445

One of my favorite pseudonyms ever: Manuel Colon. 

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Backdoor Slave

  Author: L. K. Bart 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-446

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about "S&M with a bike gang".

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Hard Horny Cowpokes

 Author: Kevin Courage 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-447

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

 Man-Handled Man

 Author: Kevin Courage 

Rough Trade

 1976 

RT-448

--- --- 

And that's all for now.

Next up: Twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

Man Handled - Brandi Harvey

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Flip The Frog Part 5 of 5

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole: 

Flip The Frog

Part 5 of 5

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a final look at the Depression era cartoon, Flip the Frog.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

Flip the Frog is an animated cartoon character created by American animator Ub Iwerks. He starred in a series of cartoons (38 total) produced by Celebrity Pictures and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1930 to 1933.

Ub Iwerks was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios and a personal friend of Walt Disney. In 1930, after a series of disputes between the two, Iwerks left Disney and went on to accept an offer from Pat Powers to open a cartoon studio of his own, Iwerks Studio Iwerks was to produce new cartoons under Powers' Celebrity Pictures auspices and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The first series he was to produce was to feature a character called Tony the Frog, but Iwerks disliked the name and was subsequently changed to Flip.

Ub Iwerks planned to release the series in both color and black and white versions through Celebrity Productions, Inc. The series attracted public attention in England by being the first color sound cartoon series. After four shorts had been produced MGM picked up the series. MGM decided to produce the series entirely in black and white, releasing the ones produced in color in black and white versions only.

After the first two cartoons, the appearance of Flip the Frog gradually became less froglike. This was done with the encouragement of MGM, who thought that the series would sell better if the character were more humanized. Flip's major redesign is attributed to Grim Natwick, who made a name for himself at the Fleischer Studios with the creation of Betty Boop. Natwick also had a hand in changing Flip's girlfriend. In earlier films, she was consistently a cat, but Natwick made Flip's new girlfriend, Fifi, a human who shared distinct similarities with Betty Boop. The series had a number of recurring characters, including Flip's dog, the mule Orace, and a dizzy neighborhood spinster.

The frog's personality also began to develop. As the series progressed, Flip became more of a down-and-out, Chaplin-esque character dealing with everyday conflicts in poverty-stricken atmosphere of the Great Depression. The shorts also became increasingly risqué due to an influx of animators from New York City.

By the autumn of 1933, Flip the Frog had worn out his welcome at MGM. His final short was Soda Squirt, released in August 1933. Subsequently, Iwerks replaced the series with a new one starring an imaginative child named Willie Whopper.

Here are the last eight cartoons.

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Funny Face

(1932)

Coo Coo The Magician

(1933)

Flip's Lunch Room

(1933)

Techno-Cracked 

(1933)

Bulloney

(1933)

Chinaman's Chance

(1933)

Pale Face

(1933)

Soda Squirt

(1933)

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Weekend Onesie: Women's Land Army

Weekend Onesie: 

Women's Land Army

People who check in on this blog on a regular basis know that I am a huge fan of graphics. Some of the finest? From various government agencies around the world. I adore their big, broad use of color and presentation of iconic ideals, characters and images.

I've thrown in a few magazine covers, too.

Government agencies are responsible for any number of initiatives - suggestions brought home to the people by use of posters. Today, we'll take a brief look at the various campaigns to recruit women into direct service during wartime - as part of the Women's Land Army. This was a matter of great importance in order to ensure military success. It was a case of all hands on deck - as men fought overseas, women were needed on the farm to feed not only our fighting forces, but those at home, as well. To facilitate that success, governments got their messages out, boldly, colorfully and patriotically via brilliant posters.

 

Simple and direct...

These graphics have become iconic.

And part of history.

- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Women's Land Army Recruitment - UK

Women's Land Army Recruitment - UK

Friday Fun: Make Your Own Head Day!

Friday Fun: 

Make Your Own Head Day!

Oops.

Like Britney in her prime...

I did it again!

Apparently, this day is actually reserved for arts and crafts, using whatever medium you wish in order to create a likeness of your own head.

Well? I can't help it if I am 'gay' literal.

Anyhoo... I guess my interpretation passes as a kind of 'performance' art. The artists certainly enjoy the fruits of their labor, as do we!

I know there are many of us who wish we were so talented. If I were? I'd certainly put it on display.

So here are a bunch of guys who are making their own head in the gayest way possible. 

And I say, kudos to them! Bravo! Great job (hee, hee)!

And thanks to the internet, for sharing their amazing achievements. 

Personally? I can think of way worse ways to spend a Friday night.

Nice work, if you can get it...

And if you get it?

Then come sit by me!

- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeah

Head On - The Jesus And Mary Chain