Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 186
Playtime Books
Today, we take a look at the few gay-oriented titles published as part of the Playtime Books imprint.
Most of these titles are lesbian-themed, but there is at least one absolute gay male classic in the bunch.
Playtime Books were published by Neva Paperbacks in Las Vegas, NV between 1962-1965.
At the back of the books, there was the typical advertising for additional titles, plus a sign-up page for something called The Playbook Club. What that exactly was, I'm not sure, as I haven't seen the actual page, but it has been noted in the on-line sales descriptions of several of these titles.
Most of the cover illustrations were done by Robert Bonfils. You may remember his rather striking work for a number of the Greenleaf Classics imprints we examined early in this series. His covers remain one of the zeniths of vintage pulp fiction artwork. I've noted the covers I was able to verify as his.
Neva Paperbacks, Inc. was known only as a P.O. Box - 2109, Las Vegas, NV.
The bulk of their output was heterosexual oriented fare for the key party set, dealing with insatiable women, studly men, orgies, and swapping partners.
I'm fairly certain that I haven't found all their gay-oriented titles. But here are the ones I did manage to find. The salacious tag lines on the covers are a must-read!
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Lesbian Hell
Author: Jane Sherman
Playtime Books
1963
654-S
Found a copy for sale: $165.
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Lesbian Lure
Author: Peggy Swanson
Playtime Books
1964
657-S
Illustration by Robert Bonfils.
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Twilight Lust
Author: Jane Sherman
Playtime Books
1964
662-S
Found several copies for sale: $60-195.
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Campus Lust
Author: Peggy Swan
Playtime Books
1964
667-S
Found several copies for sale: $12-85
Peggy Swan is a pseudonym for Richard E. Gei.
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Lesbian Lover
Author: S.V. Miller
Playtime Press
1964
676-S
Found several copies for sale: $70-120.
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Lesbian Queen
Author: Jane Sherman
Playtime Press
1964
682-S
Illustration by Robert Bonfils.
Found a copy for sale: $129
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The Queer Ones
Author: Toby Wills
Playtime Press
1964
683-S
Illustration by Robert Bonfils.
Found several copies for sale: $70-185
Publishers Page
Back Cover
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Dance-Hall Dyke
Author: Toni Adler
Playtime Books
1964
699-S
Illustration by Robert Bonfils.
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Stud King
Author: Adam Coulter
Playtime Books
1964
705-S
Found a copy for sale: $25.
I'm not sure if this one is gay-themed, but there is one type of betrayal I can think of which might make his clients upset!
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Hangout For Queers
Author: Lou Morgan
Playtime Books
1965
714-S
Found a copy for sale: $250.
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Author: Joe Caruso
Playtime Books
1965
743-S
Found several copies for sale: $44.50-75.
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Lesbian Nurse
Author: Frank Shield
Playtime Books
751-S
1965
Found a copy for sale: $150.
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And that's all for now.
Next week: another vintage gay pulp fiction imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung
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1 comment:
I had never seen lesbian comics & books!
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