Acquired Tastes XLIII
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 115
HIS69, Part 44 of 44
This is it, folks! The last of the HIS69 book covers.
The HIS69 imprint was active from 1971 thru 1988, delivering an astounding 531 titles. Surrey House, Inc. / Surree Ltd, Inc. of San Diego and Santee, California are responsible for this imprint which was distributed by the same company as Trojan Books, Manhard Books, Gay Books and Gay Way Books; the Zorro Distribution Company, also operating out of San Diego.
It should be noted that many of these titles, with original artwork included, were simultaneously republished under the Gay Books imprint and then, later, minus the artwork, were also republished under the ManPower imprint.
The artwork for the HIS69 books would go through only two minor shifts with all the covers featuring ink drawings by various uncredited illustrators - artwork quite similar to what we saw with the Manhard imprint.
We end on a disappointing note - only nine out of thirteen covers found.
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Cops In Training
Author: Arvie
HIS69640
Hmm. Looks like that young cadet is about to get a bit guidance.
Sigh.
Truth be told, given how racist and despicable most police forces throughout this country have turned out to be, I have to say, the whole 'sexy thing' is a lot more work than it used to be. There used to be an allure, however... this is a case where reality has reared it's ugly head, and I, for one, just can't get all too excited about the boys in blue anymore.
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Body To Body
Author: M. Raye Richards
HIS69641
That's why, when the mechanics are gay, it's non-stop action at the local body shop. But then again, if you've ever seen the 1976 movie Grease, you know just how much testosterone is zooming around in such an environment... and just how very gay it can quickly become!
Go Greased Lightin', indeed!
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Virgin Island
Author: Lee Ryder
HIS69642
Another from one of my favorite men from the golden age of gay porn, Lee Ryder.
I, for one, have never been to the Virgin Islands... but if I ever do get there, I hope it doesn't live up to it's name. That whole 'virgin' thing? I tell you what, I'll happily leave it to Elizabeth Báthory and her ilk. I don't have the time or energy to guide young minds, let alone young hands and other various inexperienced body parts. In fact, the idea kind of creeps me out. Though, from what I understand, these days, young people typically have popped most of their cherries before they're out of high school - whatever cherries there may be.
Well, good. That way, by the time they get to the bars they know better than to mess with an old queen like me.
Oh, and check out that subgenre: Young Boys Adventure Book.
Eek. Pass.
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David’s First Time
Hugh Johnson
Author: HIS69643
(Cover Not Found)
Look, I'm all for doing my fair share of community service. So give me your less than beautiful, your less than young, your less than buff...as long as they know what to expect, I'm more than happy to do a bit of charity work. But a first timer? Uh-uh. I have, in fact, turned them down, telling them that there are people out there who cherish such an opportunity, but that person is not me.
What's that? I was a virgin once? Oh, yes... and, as I remember the asshole who was my first quite well, I do recall him expressing disbelief that I'd never 'done it' before. He said I was a natural.
Fuck him. (And I did.)
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Cock Sharing
Author: Tony Moore
HIS69644
So, I know the concept of 'sloppy seconds' applies to bottoms - but what about tops? If you're shimmying your hole down a pole that's just come out of another hole... doesn't the same term apply to that dick?
I must confess, there was a time, not all that long ago, when I was fascinated by the concept.. but today? In this age of monkey pox and Covid-19, to say nothing of the other STI's that have become standard in our community? I'm opting out of this scene... possibly permanently. It no longer appeals to me in theory, let alone practice. Maybe it's a sign of maturity. Or maybe it's simply a matter of self-preservation!
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Gama Sigma Nu’d
Author: Derek Olson
HIS69645
I wonder if there are any nude fraternities?
I know fraternities serve some purpose... as in, providing future networking opportunities or how to become a supreme court justice without actually attending class (or having any), but fraternities simply leave me cold. If you want to know just how ugly things are in the typical fraternity, check out photographer Andrew Moisey's The American Fraternity: An Illustrated Ritual Manual. Any romantic notions you have about modern fraternities will be thoroughly crushed for good. Most are disgusting pig holes... and not the gay kind.
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Clothes Make The Man
Author: Andrew Martin
HIS69-646
I was thinking this would be about the fashion industry, a topic this particular imprint has not taken on, other than one opus about 'models' - not necessarily the fashion kind. But, no... this is A College Awakening Book.
Now, what did I know about fashion back in my early college days? About as much as I knew about how money and the world worked - which is to say: not a damn thing. I was clueless, not having been born with the fashion gene like our Miss Maddie or Sixpence. For me, at the time, clothing was nothing more than things one threw on one's body in order to get to rehearsal. Needless to say, in my case, clothes did not make the man... in fact, they didn't make much of a boy, either.
As I grew older, I came to appreciate fabric and lines and form. I like classic lines... clean. Like Jill Sanders' stuff. With the right tailoring - she allows her stuff to hang too long - that's the look for me.
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Pick The Right Road
Author: Peter A. Neuse
HIS69647
(Cover Not Found)
Anyhoo - back to the concept. I feel like being gay IS the road less traveled. Well, not based on the number of condom wrappers I've had to pick up off said road during my lifetime, but... you get the idea. In a way, being gay is a road we get to map ourselves any way we see fit. Want to obsess about collecting something or living in a certain style? That's your gay way. Want to be a whore obsessed with truck stops and getting you some strange? That's another gay way. Whatever makes you happy, darlings. Just be kind. And respect nature - especially when it keeps giving you the same STI's over and over again. Take the fucking hint, Helen. Maybe try collecting Precious Moment Figurines, instead?
Ironically, of course. You'd have to be insipid to do so otherwise.
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Hey, Coach!
Author: Lee Ryder
HIS69648
Another by Lee Ryder. (Yes, I'm going to get you to read that profile one way or another, dears.)
I do love vintage porn from the golden age where there is a special relationship between coach and athlete. Yes, I realizes it raises all sorts of red flags on that play, but if we simply view it as fantasy for fantasy sake... well, it gets my motor running.
Something about jock straps and locker rooms will always capture my imagination, even if the relationship is a bit power imbalanced. Now, this is listed as A Family/Jock Book - an odd distinction. I would have hoped it was A College Awakening Book. Given it's 'family' designation, I guess we can assume there is an element of incest involved... not my favorite porn, but... as fantasies go, I guess I understand the appeal.
I don't even know why I bother making such distinctions. It's fiction, so it's all fantasy. To split hairs otherwise? Well, that's what the conservative right continues to do when it comes to gay folk; confuse fantasy with reality. Reality? Incest is wrong, as is seducing underage minors. Fantasy, on the other hand? Why, it's in the eye of the beholder, now isn't it? I think it really comes down to not confusing porn for reality.
As fiction goes, it's all a matter of taste. I don't read action adventure novels or most westerns. I don't like guns in my fiction. Same applies to porn; it's a matter of taste. Find incest distasteful? Then don't buy it. These books only existed because that's what the market demanded. So, don't blame the book - blame the market.
But the far right? Oh, yes... blame them for confusing pornography with reality.
But then again... that explains a lot about their world view, doesn't it?
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Special Friends
Author: Paul J. Simon
HIS69649
I think I did when I was really young. However, after seventh grade, my concept of friendship changed quite a bit, more so, as I lost my innocence. I think my self awareness - my otherness - destroyed the possibility of having 'special' friends. As soon as that concept was defined within, well, a lot of the magic went away.
I think that's why The Boyfriend appeals so much to me. He is my 'special' friend these days. We share something no one else gets - and it was instantaneous. I recognized how rare that was right away, which is why I was so willing to throw my life in the air and grab on with both hands. He's a return to that more innocent time; a time when friendship held a magical component.
I cherish it... and will never take it for granted.
What a strange title. And stranger still? This is designated as A Professional Jock - apparently 'book' is now implied.
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Gay Mighty Mouse
Author: B. J. Trip
HIS69650
The quality of the illustration? Quite good. Lots to like. But... make sense of it for me, will you?
Still another by Lee Ryder. He, apparently, became quite prolific. He wrote ten titles for this imprint, and it was not the only imprint he was writing for. Imagine getting them all together and publishing The Lee Ryder Collection! I do like me a nice box set. Leather bound, for sure.
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Make Mine Mayan
Author: Lee Ryder
HIS69651
Well, it would seem someone is enjoying an excursion, visiting Mayan ruins with the help of a guide. Something tells me he's going to be enjoying that guide, as well. Brings a new meaning to 'jungle love,' now doesn't it?
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Jock Tester
Author: Tony Moore
HIS69652
(Cover Not Found)
'Jock Tester,' huh? Sounds like a job I would love to apply for. Imagine the audition process? I wouldn't even mind not getting the job... as long as I could apply over and over again.
Our final book for this imprint. And, sadly, I was unable to locate the cover. Such is life.
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And that's all for now.
One more post to go, and we say good-bye to this imprint... sort of. I have one extra surprise, thanks to our friend, Timon, over at Hommi Publshing. I just haven't quite figured out how or how much of it to share.
I'll figure it out by next week.
Until next time, as always...
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
Body 2 Body - MK
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