Sensation, November 1939 / Should Wives Be Spanked?

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Ooh, boy, vintage magazine fans, you're in for a treat tonight. I admittedly began my hunt for this magazine based solely upon my curiousity about this salacious cover (purple, yellow, red and green -electric!) from Charles Overman (?) and was lucky enough to stumble upon a stunning little magazine. Sure the paper is pulpy and the content veering towards the titillating, but the design is just gorgeous. Printed with blue, red, and black inks and containing all sorts of cartoons, illustrations, and photos, this magazine has a very unique feel.

I think this was a one-shot publication but am unsure. The Aleister Crowley article promises more in the next issue, but I've seen no evidence of another issue (or really any information on this one for that matter).

But on to the issue at hand. Should wives be spanked? Mine gave me a cross look for the smirk on my face when I showed her this cross lass rubbin her bum and a-pouting, but the article inside, like many of the articles in this magazine, seems to take an approach different than you might expect. A peek into the sexual politics of 1939, yet the battle of the sexes rages on - perhaps there's some advice for the modern man in here as well. Or perhaps this line of thinking can get you in a lot of trouble with the Mrs. I'll go ahead and post the entire bit. The writer is Lawrence Gould, "Well Known Consulting Psychologist" who did some work for King Features. A google news search for "Lawrence Gould Psychologist" will lead you to some more of his opinions on the psychology of the day from the Milwakee Sentinel.

To lead the cover article, the cover artist returns for an encore. A quick web search didn't reveal anything about this Overman. I love the expression on the happy couples' faces.


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But John Barrymore looks downright menacing in this photo!


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I had to raise my eyebrow at the last paragraph, it seems that some standards of behavior just don't pan out when it comes to the bedroom.


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Anyways, enough discipline, on to the rest of the mag. Delish contents page:


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I'm going to try and be judicious here, but, really, almost every one of the articles in here is intriguing in one way or another, and there is great variety in subject matter. A nice rotation of hollywood gossip, sports icon examination, true crime, parenting and relationship advice and a brisk (lots of splash pages followed by short continuations in the rear of the mag will have you flipping all around) layout keep this magazine entertaining front to back.

A companion piece to the spanking article? A convincing examination of the modern American woman and her changing views, from George Jean Nathan, who with H.L. Mencken edited both The Smart Set and American Mercury. Otto Soglow cartoons adorn.


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Locked-out daughters! I think the writer comes to the compassionate conclusion. I like the look on the worried daughters face...


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Are these questions from a bygone era? The old custom of travelling from the city to the beaches for the hot season probably died with A/C, but I know some couples will take Summer vacations from each other. Watch out says this author! A great spread:


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I've already posted so many pics, but I'd be remiss not to post the centerfold, a creepy and intriguing article on mystic Aleister Crowley. Heck, I'll just post the whole article for web browsers.


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All props to McCoy for the fantastic edit work he did with this issue. All the ink colors turned out just right, it turned out is pulpy but elegant at the same time, just like the magazine, sensational!

Get the scan.

Ooh, one more pic. The femme fatale from "The Crimson Camera Case", she looks like one of those girls in the noir movies to die/ kill for so be on the lookout for this type - - -