#439 - High Heel Annual 1939 Lex
High Heel Annual, Number 1
Lex Publications,
New York, New York
1939
digital replica
Although this annual appears to be a compilation from a monthly named High Heel, the heels are generally three inches or less. The footwear consists of main street shoes, not custom-made, fetish heels. As nylon was invented in 1938, some of the models in this magazine are wearing silk stockings, some cotton.
The models average a somewhat smaller stature than the post-war divas found in Burtman and Klaw publications. Pretty ladies show off their legs and ankles in stockings, lingerie, bathing suits, garter belts and assorted shoes. Cheerful and friendly, they do not appear to be professional models.
Of 64 pages plus covers, the magazine consists mainly of two-page pictorials, each titled with a pun or play on words. Most pictorials are four photos of one model taken outdoors. Two pictorials show two models pretending to wrestle. One or two pictures accompany a couple of romantic short stories.
The original paper has become brittle and yellowed, although ebook pages are bright black and white. On some pages, the rough texture of the pulp stock appears in the scanned photos.
The ebook preserves the original page layouts, but some of the peripheral empty margins have been cropped. Every word and picture of the original is in the ebook, including all advertisements. Many books are offered on diverse subjects ranging from male troubles to sheet music. Advertisers tempt readers to buy cartoon books, pinup pictures, watches, jewelry, pills, training programs, a typewriter and a kit for making metal plates that duplicate Social Security cards.
The pictures reveal less skin than a silver-screen musical of the period. The outdoor settings probably show the places where photographers found their subjects — in advantageous sunshine and with a bit of privacy. The laughing pinup on the cover introduces light-hearted, pre-war fun for regular guys.
One digital replica ebook, delivered by download from your 30th Street Graphics account.