Lit, Bernie & Ruth (pub.); Jack Sidney, Johnny Howard, Cholly "Shikey" Carson, George Browning (contributors)
Glen Burnie, MD: The Playboy Magazine, 1950-72. Collection of 17 issues of Baltimore's weekly [The] Playboy Magazine, published on Saratoga Street (Bernie Lit ran his Playboy talent agency there), and later in Glen Burnie, also with offices at the Isle of Wight Traler Park, where Mr. Lit advertised as a notary public. Main focus in the mag is city nightlife, surrounding counties, and even the Eastern shore towns of Maryland. No relation to Hefner's titular men's magazine, this "best of" Baltimore mag often featured Jazz Age illustration similar to those of John Held, and covered men's clubs, hotels, conventions, television, restaurants, politics, Baltimore Colts football & Bullets basketball, ethnic culture, and of course, adult entertainment, with copy writing throughout in the Mid-Antlantic's laughable vernacular (words like "ol'" and "looksee" are often seen). Copious ads ran in each issue, highlighting business like Club Charles, the 2 O'Clock Club (Blaze Starr haunt), the Hippodrome, Polock Johnny's, Tyson Place, the Ritz ShowBar, Wishing Well lounge, Sherrie's, Embers, Sea Scape, WISZ radio, 7-Up, various crab eateries, and more. The first issue was published in 1940 (1951 being the 11th year, stated), predating Hef's mag and Charm City's franchise location of his club by several years. The title lasted over 30 years, with a hard-boiled delivery and extensive coverage of some of the city's best strip joints, singers, entertainers, and offering an encompassing culture review. A high-class attitude continued even through Mobtown's infamous softcore adult line of "Vibra Color" magazines, paperbacks and novelties, published by Tudor House. with the downsizing of The Block, baltimore's famed hotspot, and burlesque now mostly relocated to hipster art galleries and concert halls, nightlife coverage in Bawlmer will fade back underground, leaving Playboy Magazine at the top of the game. Only a few libraries show holdings, including Enoch Pratt in Baltimore. All issues approx. 5 x 8.5 inches, color wrapper, b/w throughout. Most Good or better, w/ chips/tears/foxing/stains; later issues Near Fine. Full collation details available upon request. [Book ID 125483] [Magazines]