The small images on this page may be clicked on to open their larger counterparts. The covers were scanned at 300 dpi, cleaned up in Photoshop and converted to JPG for inclusion here.
"Thrilling Detective" - This issue is from October, 1942. The cover art is by Rudolph Belarski, who was better known for his aerial covers on pulps like "Warbirds" and "Wings". The interior art, of course in B&W, is good. As far as I can tell, it is the work of more than one artist.
"Five Western Novels" - This issue is from 1948. The art (unsigned) is, IMHO, kinda crude, but the scene itself carries the day. The interior art is done by M. Line (?), and is quite nice but limited to one illustration per story. This became more often than not the case toward the end of the pulp era, I presume to keep costs down..
"Spicy Detective Stories" - This issue from October, 1936. H.J. Ward provided the cover art. Ward did many covers for the whole "Spicy" line, including Spicy Western, Spicy Adventure and Spicy Mystery - all produced by, get this, Culture Publications. These publications, tame by today's standards, were sold from under the counter and were priced at 25 cents when all other pulps in the 30's were 10 cents. The interior art features partially draped damsels in various threatening situations.
"Detective Fiction Weekly" - This issue from October 16, 1937. One again the cover artist is Rudolph Belarski, challenging my statement above that he was better known for his aero-oriented covers - oh well, I'm sure he didn't turn down any assignment in the middle of the depression. Note the cast shadow's slight departure from its source. DFW was one of the earliest pulps and actually grew out of the "Police Gazette" type of publications that were around at the turn of the century and earlier.
"Detective Tales" - This issue is from March, 1942. This publication billed itself as "America's Most Unusual Detective Magazine". The cover art is by an unsigned artist. The interior art (see next image), of course in B&W, is good. The interior art, like the cover, is uncredited.
"Interior Art" - This interior art is from the pulp pictured directly above, Detective Tales from March, 1942. It is a classic of the typical bad guy, thug, menacing the young woman - in this case an attractive nurse from Mercy Hospital.
"Weird Tales" - This issue is from November, 1937. Weird Tales, calling itself "a magazine of the bizarre and unusual", was one of the earliest pulps, beginning in 1923 and still available today (different publisher, format, etc.). The cover art is by M. Brundage. Love that "Yellow Peril" stuff. This issue also contains Robert Bloch's "Secret of Sebek". Bloch is the gent who gave us, among many other things, Psycho. Everybody had to start somewhere.
"Intimate Confessions" - Yep, women read the pulps as well. Intimate Confessions, this issue from July of 1938, claimed Daring Stories from Real Life.I do wonder just who these women readers were. The titles of the stories in this issue include Unkissed Bride, Gambler's Gal, Roadhouse Pickup, The Past I tried To Forget, (subtitled Love!- It's just a four letter synonym for Hell!) and the unforgettable tale I Escaped From a Moorish Harem, the true story a girl who braved death to find her first love. Hot stuff - and included in every issue advice from Marlene LaMour's Friendly Hearts Club.
This page last updated 2/16/02