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Monday, December 30, 2024

Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 210 - Surree Stud Series, Part 7 of 8

Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 210
Surree Stud Series
Part 7 of 8

Today, we take yet another look at the Surree Stud Series imprint, also known as Surey Books.

The Surree Stud Series was an imprint brought to you by the good folks at Surree LTD, Inc. which operated out of offices at 9465 Mission Park Place in Santee, CA, 92071. Later, the company would become part of Star Distributors LTD., which operated out of a PO Box on Canal Street in New York City, NY. 



The books were distributed by the Zorro Distributing company.

In all, from 1975 to 1982, the imprint published 88 titles. The catalog numbering system began as SS-001. After the 55th title, for some reason, most likely due to Star Distributor's acquiring the imprint, the numbering system would restart at SSS-101. It is also at this time that the use of 'Surey' replaced 'Surree'.

The book's covers would undergo only one major design change. 

Initially, they appeared with an olive green border, a white background, with the imprint's distinctive wide read banner running at an angle near the top. The white space above the red banner held the distinctive Zorro 'mask' logo belonging to the Zorro Distributing company, the book's catalog number, and the book's price. The book's title would appear on the red banner in large, white block letters - all in caps, with the author's name in black in smaller print beneath it. Under the red banner, in the white space, an erotic ink drawing lending a clue as to what the book was about. 

The book cover's design would be altered after the 32nd title. At that point, the distinctive Zorro 'mask' logo and the book's catalog number would jump up to the upper left corner of the olive green border, with the price appearing in the triangular space between the border and the title banner. The red banner would become more of an orange-red, and a bit narrower, while the ink drawings were replaced by erotic color photos of a single male model, duo, or group of male models. Typically, these photos, while professionally done, appear rather generic in nature, having little relation to the subject of the actual book. 

The books were introduced on the market at $2.25. However, after the 12th title, the price was dropped $1.95, reverting to $2.25 when color photos replaced the ink drawings on the cover. Once acquired by Star Distributors, the price would rise to $2.95, and, by 1982, to $3.95. Many of the titles would enjoy 2nd and 3rd printings, and also be reprinted by other imprints.

The book's back covers would undergo several changes.

SS-001 to SS-032

SS-33 to SS-55

SSS-101 to SSS-119

SSS-120 - SSS-132

The books back pages advertised titles for the Blue Boy, HIS69 and Manhard imprints. Mail orders were sent to MMB at 9465 Mission Park Place in Santee, CA, 92071, or a PO Box in Santee, CA.


On the internet, these books are highly collectible and typically sell for between $30-125. The 2nd and 3rd printings of some of the titles make collecting these books a bit of a challenge.

Note: the changeover from Surree Stud Series to Surey Stud Series. Also, a third 'S' has been added to the numbering system, which has now started over, beginning at SSS-101.

Here are the next eleven titles. This week, I found all eleven covers!

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Boardwalk Chicken
 Author: Allen H. Todd 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-111

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Trapped and Tied
 Author: Jon Riggles 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-112

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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Wildboys!
 Author: Thumper Johnson 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-113
 
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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Hard Training
 Author: Jeff Kincaid 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-114

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Hunky Lifeguards
 Author: Dick Stroth 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-115

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Mouth Piece
 Author: Michael Scott 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-116

 According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, the Cover Models are Richard Locke and Clay Grant, from 1975's: Dreamer.

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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Growing Up
 Author: Clay Caldwell 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-117

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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Teacher’s Chicken
  Author: Carl Williams 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-118

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Family Secret
 Author: Roland Graeme 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-119

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about when "a very proper tutor gets a job at the incestuous household of a gubernatorial candidate."

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Small-Town Boy
 Author: Jon Hartley 
Surree Stud Series
 1981 
SSS-120

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, "on title page: Jaime Hartly starts his sexual education young".

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Street Lover
 Author: Mark Von Ritchie 
Surree Stud Series
 1982 
SSS-121

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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Small Town Boy - Bronski Beat

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: The Ronny Howard Show

Wonderland Burlesque's
Down The Rabbit Hole: 
The Ronny Howard Show

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 look at The Ronny Howard Show.

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Before directing Oscar-winning motion pictures, before Happy Days, before American Graffiti, and while he was still co-starring weekly on The Andy Griffith Show, Ron Howard appeared to also be hosting his his own variety show at the ripe old age of 11-years old! Complete with grade school hoofers ala The June Taylor Dancers, big name guest star, Danny Kaye, and pre-teen actress Donna Butterworth, The Ronny Howard Show was not exactly what it appeared to be.

Fact is, it was a show-within-a-show - a one-off segment on The Danny Kaye Show which appeared on CBS from 1963 to 1967.

By this point in his career, Howard had won America's hearts in The Music Man, a Twilight Zone episode which became a fan favorite, the film version of The Courtship Of Eddie's Father, and was well into his fifth season on The Andy Griffith Show. And, as with most things Ron Howard either appeared in or directed, his brother, Clint Howard (of Gentle Ben fame), can be spotted in as the chief during a spy spoof. Add Donna Butterworth, (who had appeared in the film Paradise-Hawaiian Style in 1966 with Elvis Presley) belting out a rousing version of Sitting On Top of the World, and it would appear you have the real deal.

The whole affair is presented in a rather canned style which positively screams 'summer-replacement' series - in other words - terribly realistic (with emphasis on 'terrible'). 

Who knows, maybe it was the network's way of telling Mr. Kaye - who had a reputation for being moody and difficult to work with - that they were looking about for his replacement? Not that such behavior was anything new to an old pro like Ronny Howard, who, having endured five seasons already, would go on to for an additional three season working opposite Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee. It seems Bavier was easily offended throughout the series, frequently clashed with the shows other stars, and had to be handled with kid gloves by both cast and crew. 

In any event, this is a must see to believe for any fan of the variety show format.

And, all in all, one of the oddest segments in television history. 

Enjoy!

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The Ronny Howard Show
(1966)

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Saturday, December 28, 2024

Weekend Onesie: It Floats (My Boat)!

Weekend Onesie: 
It Floats (My Boat)!

Ahh, the gently homoerotic nature of early Ivory soap ads.

Clearly, what they were selling was pure in more than just one way.

Cleanliness is next to something... that's for sure.

So, take a gander at these vintage ads from a more innocent time.

Or? Did they know exactly who they were appealing to?

They certainly 'float' my 'boat'.

In fact, we're at full mast and ready to sail!

Gentle Homoeroticism.
It should be required study for any artist.
But... you're free to draw your own conclusion.
- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Not so hidden...



























Ivory Soap Ad - Firefighters

Friday, December 27, 2024

Friday Fun: Happy National Fruitcake Day!

Friday Fun: 
Happy National Fruitcake Day!

I can't get over all the derogatory comments directed towards one of our most precious commodities...

Fruitcakes.

Honestly? What's not to love?

Mouthwatering! Delectable! Scrumptious!

I could eat one every day.

They're so beautiful. 

So, you? You can say what you please...

But for me? Fruitcake is a necessity!

Mmmm.
Eat 'em all up.
A truly sweet treat!
- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Fruitcake - Fred Schneider & the Superions



























 Fruitcakes - Jimmy Buffet