Men Only
Encyclopedia
Men Only is a British soft-core pornographic magazine
published by Paul Raymond since 1971. However, the title goes back to 1935 when it was founded by C. Arthur Pearson Ltd as a pocket magazine (115x165mm). It set out its editorial stall in the first issue:
Humour was at the heart of the title, though from the start it carried fiction, wide-ranging articles and plates of 'art' nudes. Covers were initially text-only, then carried caricatures of famous people and photographs in the late 1950s. It published colour illustrations of models by artists such as Dickens and Vargas (as published in Esquire
in the US), on a page labelled 'Let’s Join the Ladies'.
When Pearson closed the Strand Magazine
in 1950, it was castigated by The Economist
for concentrating its resources on London Opinion and Men Only.. Men Only had coloured frontspieces and rather trivial main pages
Another pocket title, Lilliput
, was better known but Men Only took over London Opinion and then Lilliput in 1960. All these titles were affected by the growth of television; C. Arthur Pearson was taken over by Newnes, which became part of International Publishing Corporation (and was later renamed IPC Media
) in the mid-1960s. It also lost readers to titles such as Haymarket's
Man About Town (later Town) and Playboy
. In response, Men Only adopted a larger format and more pin-ups but was still mainly in black and white with a colour pin-up centre spread. It was sold on to City Magazines.
In 1971, Paul Raymond, who ran night-clubs in London's Soho district, relaunched Men Only as the start of a 'top-shelf' publishing empire and it was the main competitor to Mayfair
during the 1970s and 1980s (Raymond latterly took over Mayfair).
Over the years, models featured in Men Only have also appeared in different photo-shoots in Club International (a title bought from IPC). The early issues of Men Only often contained serious articles and interviews, though since the 1980s these have largely been omitted. Photographers from the early years included Fred Enke and R.B. Kane, and more recently Bob Twigg.
Between January 2007 and December 2008 Men Only ran the full colour comic strip Brit Starr by writer John A. Short and artist Gabrielle Noble. The strip spoofed current celeb culture in one page erotic gags.
Pornographic magazine
Pornographic magazines, sometimes known as adult magazines, sex magazines or top-shelf magazines are pornographic magazines that contain content of a sexual nature. Adult magazines are mainly aimed towards men, and in some parts of the world, many men's first sight of a naked woman has been in an...
published by Paul Raymond since 1971. However, the title goes back to 1935 when it was founded by C. Arthur Pearson Ltd as a pocket magazine (115x165mm). It set out its editorial stall in the first issue:
'We don't want women readers. We won't have women readers...' It sought 'bright articles on current male topics'.
Humour was at the heart of the title, though from the start it carried fiction, wide-ranging articles and plates of 'art' nudes. Covers were initially text-only, then carried caricatures of famous people and photographs in the late 1950s. It published colour illustrations of models by artists such as Dickens and Vargas (as published in Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
in the US), on a page labelled 'Let’s Join the Ladies'.
When Pearson closed the Strand Magazine
Strand Magazine
The Strand Magazine was a monthly magazine composed of fictional stories and factual articles founded by George Newnes. It was first published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950 running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890.Its immediate...
in 1950, it was castigated by The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
for concentrating its resources on London Opinion and Men Only.. Men Only had coloured frontspieces and rather trivial main pages
Another pocket title, Lilliput
Lilliput (magazine)
Lilliput was a small-format British monthly magazine of humour, short stories, photographs and the arts, founded in 1937 by the photojournalist Stefan Lorant. The first issue came out in July and it was sold shortly after to Edward Hulton, when editorship was taken over by Tom Hopkinson in 1940....
, was better known but Men Only took over London Opinion and then Lilliput in 1960. All these titles were affected by the growth of television; C. Arthur Pearson was taken over by Newnes, which became part of International Publishing Corporation (and was later renamed IPC Media
IPC Media
IPC Media , a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc., is a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year.- Origins :...
) in the mid-1960s. It also lost readers to titles such as Haymarket's
Haymarket Group
Haymarket Media Group is a privately owned media company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore and the United States....
Man About Town (later Town) and Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
. In response, Men Only adopted a larger format and more pin-ups but was still mainly in black and white with a colour pin-up centre spread. It was sold on to City Magazines.
In 1971, Paul Raymond, who ran night-clubs in London's Soho district, relaunched Men Only as the start of a 'top-shelf' publishing empire and it was the main competitor to Mayfair
Mayfair (magazine)
Mayfair is a British adult magazine for men. Founded in 1965, it was designed as a response to U.S. magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse, which had recently launched in the UK. For many years it claimed the largest distribution of any men's magazine in the UK.-Fisk Publishing era:Mayfair was...
during the 1970s and 1980s (Raymond latterly took over Mayfair).
Over the years, models featured in Men Only have also appeared in different photo-shoots in Club International (a title bought from IPC). The early issues of Men Only often contained serious articles and interviews, though since the 1980s these have largely been omitted. Photographers from the early years included Fred Enke and R.B. Kane, and more recently Bob Twigg.
Between January 2007 and December 2008 Men Only ran the full colour comic strip Brit Starr by writer John A. Short and artist Gabrielle Noble. The strip spoofed current celeb culture in one page erotic gags.
External links
- Channel Four Real Lives series: The Real Paul Raymond