ELMER BATTERS Tip Top Magazines Garters & Hose

 

Tip Top was amongst the first standard size, specialized men's magazines in America. Starting in 1961 in Los Angeles published by the American Art Agency (later to become Parliament Publications) the legs, hose and heels featuring in each issue was the follow-up to the late 1950s magazines created and self-published by Elmer Batters. His earliest efforts, including Black Silk Stockings, set the stage for what followed in these marvelous Tip Top mags. Here, from deep in my archives are a selection starting at the top circa 1962 and the bottom circa 1968. 

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TIP TOP Elmer Batters Garter Belts Stockings 1960s

Tip Top was amongst the first standard size, specialized men's magazines in America. Starting in 1961 in Los Angeles published by the American Art Agency (later to become Parliament Publications) the legs, hose and heels featuring in each issue was the follow-up to the late 1950s magazines created and self-published by Elmer Batters. His earliest efforts, including Black Silk Stockings, set the stage for what followed in these marvelous Tip Top mags. Here, from deep in my archives are a selection starting at the top circa 1962 and the bottom circa 1968. 

click any image to enlarge

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Elmer Batters TOP OF THE HOSE Photographs late 1950s

The king of the Royal Order of the Garter, Elmer Batters one was one of the first truly talented photographers to train his camera on the female form. His trademark: gorgeous southern California models posed in panties, garter belts, stockings and high heels is unmistakable. Taschen books brought his name into pop culture but to collector's and lovers of "leg language" he was already the garter belt king.

He started his own publications circa 1958 with Black Silk Stockings and Leg-O-Rama and went on to work for Parliament Publications helping to create classic titles such as Tip Top and Nylon Jungle both which were synonymous with Batters' focus: "From the Tip of the Toes to the Top of the Hose". Here, from deep in the archives, are a handful of vintage 8x10" photographs featuring Batter's late 1950s photographs as well as some of his favorite models.

Click any image to enlarge

Note the Honeymooners on the TV Ralph, Norton and Trixie

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PARLIAMENT Publications: L.A. Hose & Heels 1960s

When Los Angeles got into the men's magazine game it, the publishers and photographers, never looked back, claiming the genre for their own. Let's say for argument's sake that the full size, adult bookstore type magazine (no advertising; restricted to non-newsstand sales to 18 and over) began in the late 1950s on the East Coast and migrated to Los Angeles as the precursors to Parliament publications began to appear around that same time. Elmer Batters started his own publishing company, circa 1958, with Black Silk Stockings, Sheer Delight and Leg-O-Rama. His influence upon Parliament Publications cannot be overestimated and in circa 1961 they started a line of magazines under the banner of the American Art Agency.

By 1963 Parliament had hired Batters and many of their groundbreaking publications, now classics for collectors, were filled with his photographs and layouts. Soon "from the tip of the toes to the top of the hose" would became synonymous not only with Batters work but with Parliament magazines in general. Here's a selection from the archives.

Click any image to enlarge

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Parliament Adult Magazines: Los Angeles 1960s

The major force in the world of men's magazines in Los Angeles came in the form of Parliament Publications. Starting in 1960/61, influenced by the independent photographer and publisher Elmer Batters, Parliament started publishing as the American Art Agency. By 1963 the list of titles (published quarterly) had grown significantly and the dominance of Parliament in the field was established. Above, the Batters' influence, circa 1963, in the third issue of Tip Top ~ "from the tip of the toes to the top of the hose". A selection of Parliament titles will soon be available in my eBay store.

Pussycat eventually became an "all black" magazine

The "jaybird" series was primarily a collection of titles that pandered to the interest in nudism. The bibliography is extensive and one of the more unusual and sought after issues is Jaybird Journal #10 featuring Anton Le Vey, of the newly formed Church of Satan, on the cover.

Click transsexuals transvestism gender

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