Acquired Tastes LXIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 20 - Pleasure Reader / Phase IV

Acquired Tastes LXIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 20

Pleasure Reader / Phase IV

Today, we enter a  new phase in Pleasure Reader's ever-evolving rebranding efforts. All these changes, all the time? Well, it makes sense, considering this particular imprint's impressive catalog of 297 titles (1967-1973), 180 of which were gay-oriented. Times were changing and so was the porn industry. The shift in cover art reflects these changes. Initially, standard, somewhat garish, gay-pulp art was utilized, but as the industry became more hard-edged, black and white photos took their place, and those were soon replaced with black ink drawings and black and white illustrations (possibly in an effort to save costs). 

Phase four finds a return to form of sorts; the beautiful color illustrations of the old period return with a great deal of modernization. This reflection of the times can be seen in the emphasis on the eyes, which have now become the cover's visual focus, along with the composition - which is now primarily a head shot (upper torso/shoulder and head). 

When I first saw the covers that comprise this phase of Pleasure Reader's rebranding, it brought to mind these two album covers...

...Bread's 1972 album, Guitar Man, featuring an illustration by Bob Ziering and the 1985 re-release (on CD) of their Anthology album.  The former just happens to occur in the same year as Pleasure Reader's switch back to color illustrations (1972), featuring this softer look.

Where did the inspiration for this latest phase come from? I think we need look no further than the music industry.

The dawn of 1972 found the U.S. culturally immersed in two distinct waves in the music industry: The singer/songwriter era and the sugar pop phenomena. The former is best exemplified by the popularity of Carole King's Tapestry album (1971) and the music of James Taylor (along with the legions of like-minded artists; Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens), while the latter is represented by the likes of The Partridge Family, The Jackson 5, The 5th Dimension and The Osmonds. 

This correlation is mere speculation on my part, however, given the rather innocent, family-oriented focus of pop music and the soft, introspection/confessional tone which imbued the singer/songwriter movement, it seems only natural that graphics of the time reflect these shifts. 

This phase contains 36 novels featuring this particular style and we will spend the next four posts taking a look at them. The illustrator of most of these covers is unknown, however, Greenleaf Classic regular, Robert Bonfils, is also responsible for a number of them. On first glance, one would assume that Bonfils is responsible for all these covers, but, when cataloging their vast history, Greenleaf Classics made a point of asking Bonfils to lay claim to the covers he drew, and the ones credited to him here, are the only ones he claimed.

Let's take a look, shall we? Here's the first nine...

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This is the only title credited to Greg Foster.

Say Mister

Author Greg Foster

Cover Art: Unknown

Hmm, given my previous cultural assertions, is it mere coincidence that our first cover embodies the idea of songwriting? It is (but...?). Note the eyes, and the soft, watercolor-like like nature of the illustration. That hair (that forehead!). He reminds me of Gilbert O'Sullivan and Leo Sayer. Now, I ask you... what mother would object to you bringing this into the house? 

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Ah, Frederick Raborg. We just learned a whole lot about him, here.

The Judas Match

Author: Frederick Raborg

Cover Art: Unknown

1971 brought about the following technological advancements: the microprocessor, the pocket calculator by The Sharp Company, e-mail, thanks to Ray Tomlinson, the floppy disk by IBM and liquid crystal displays (LCD) from Switzerland.

So, small wonder that such technology was utilized to improve the world of computer dating and, subsequently, find its way into the world of gay pulp fiction. Although, I must say, these men appear awfully young to be so 'tech' savvy (especially the one in the foreground). But then, this emphasis on the young and pretty could be seen as a reflection of the male pop idols of the time - David Cassidy, Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond, and Bobby Sherman. Again, this is pure speculation on my part, but these illustrations do mark a sharp departure from the harder-edged, graphic, hyper-masculine images that accompanied the writings of the likes of Larry Townsend. 

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We've come across Peter Tuesday Hughes in the past, here,  here, and here.

I Am Dying, Egypt

Author: Peter Tuesday Hughes

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

I must say, Peter Tuesday Hughes can certainly come up with some interesting titles! 

Please take note of the differences between this cover, credited to Robert Bonfils, and the previous two. While it is done in the same style, telling differences exist, particularly the lack of emphasis on the eyes. The skin tone is remarkably more rugged and, the man pictured, less boyish. I think these differences can simply be chalked up to Bonfils' long history as an illustrator - one whom was always adapting to changing tastes. I suspect that the unknown illustrator responsible for the previous two covers is a much younger person and more in-tune with the times.

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Hollingsworthy, Llewellyn is the pseudonym of Lyal H. Stevens.  

Lyal H. Stevens was born on July 29, 1927, most likely in New Jersey, where his Social Security card was issued. Few biographical details on Stevens are available. By 1970, he had moved to Los Angeles, and had begun writing gay erotic fiction. His first published novel, Coq Le Grand , was published by Greenleaf Classics in 1970. The following year he sold seven other manuscripts to several other publishers. Although Stevens may have worked at the Mirish Corp. (the draft of one of his novels is typed partly on the letterhead of that company's publicity director) his erotic fiction appears to have been his chief source of income, and he wrote under a number of pseudonyms, including Peter Pepper, Sebastian Lamb, Llewellyn Hollingsworthy, E. Rex Dix (hee hee), and Lon Savage. 

He died in Los Angeles on April 15, 1995.

An archive dedicated to his writings can be found at:

Online Archives of California

ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007

The collection consists of carbon copy typescripts of 29 gay erotic novels (and a work copy of one additional novel) and three gay erotic short stories written by Stevens between 1972 and 1979 using a variety of pseudonyms. Most of the texts are accompanied by several title pages, each with a different title and author, suggesting that Stevens submitted the same text to different publishing houses. Each novel and short story was originally sealed in a cardboard container or envelope, with the title and a date printed on the outside.

Well, Mr. Stevens was certainly an organized little literary perv. And kudos to him for stealing office supplies!  File that under creative job benefits.

Son of Adam

Author: Llewellyn Hollingsworthy

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Bonfils seems to have found the groove with this one. Note the prominence of the eyes and the man's youthful looks. If you're familiar with the times, there was a bit of androgyny to be found in pop culture; everyone wore very similar clothing: the bell bottoms, boldly patterned shirts with bell or puff sleeves, and hip length vests. Small wonder that there is something rather feminine to be found in these illustrations; the color pallets, as well as facial features. 

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Another from Frederick Raborg.

The Gay Vigilante

Author: Frederick Raborg 

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Not surprised at all to see that this one is credited to Bonfils. It's very old school and unmistakably masculine. In fact, the main figure brings to mind James Dean in the film Giant.

And what's with the lone horse in the background? Just whom or what is this vigilante all 'gay' for? Hmmm?

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Carl Driver is a pseudonym of Philip H. Lee. He has a dozen titles to his credit.

The War Lovers

Author: Carl Driver

Cover Art: Unknown

Who knew that WWII was so... flirty? I'm not sure about all the interpersonal dynamics depicted on this cover (it appears quite complicated), but that big old swastika in the background? Sure is a boner killer for me.

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You'll remember Patrick Doyle, here, here and here. He has sixteen novels to his credit.

School For Lovers

Author: Patrick Doyle

Cover Art: Unknown

Remember I mentioned the androgyny prevalent at the time? If I remember correctly, pretty boys with what was considered long hair, were all the rage and the cause of quite a bit of outrage among the stalwarts still stuck in the 1950's and early 1960's. That battle had been going on since 1968 (remember the musical Hair?), but by 1972 it was totally mainstreamed and broadcast into living rooms, thanks to television shows like The Partridge Family. That didn't mean the old guard was happy about it, but, thanks to the sexual revolution, they were in the minority. 

I find this cover to be all kinds of disturbing. I don't know if it's the girlish look of the figure in the foreground or the naked kids running around in the background... but all sorts of alarms are sounding in my haunted head. At first glance? Looks like Jerry Sandusky and Penn State to me. Eeek!

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Chad Stuart is none other than William Maltese aka William J. Lambert III! He is quite the writer and, hmmm... perhaps worthy of his own post? We'll see. 

Synopsis, from the back cover:

"John Ballard is a very well-endowed old man. Architect Manning Drake is Ballard's fawning lover, and he's determined to turn the preposterously proportioned Ballard Building into the redemption of his floundering career as well as a tribute to the man he loves. Little do these two old queens know that their own sons, Adrian and Peter, are secretly lovers - and they will stop at nothing to sabotage the monstrous erection that threatens to wipe out the inheritance they plan to share."

The Erection

Author: Chad Stuart

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

What an apt title. Bonfils, again; still trying to find his footing, I think. Check out those pretty pale pink lips! And there's something not quite right about the anatomy. That armpit? Just... odd. Oh... and the pink hard hat! What?

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Another by Frederick Ragorg. Remember how prolific he was, well... I don't think there was a topic or style he didn't take a stab at. 

Purple Feather

Author: Frederick Raborg

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Another Bonfils, and this time on target. Very pretty. And the eyes are the focus, for sure. Now, since the previous covers feature startlingly blue eyes, I wonder, given the title, if they toyed with violet eyes for this one? Probably would have made him look like an alien from outer space. Good thing they stuck with brown eyes. 

Because, you know... cultural sensitivity? That was all the rage back then! 

Uh-huh! 

Well, it was at least dawning on us... very, very slowly. Sigh.

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Well, that's all for this week, kids. 

Next week, more Pleasure Reader / Phase IV; nine more very pretty covers to explore. Until then!

And as always... thanks for reading.

Brown Eyes - The Partridge Family