In 1959, a magazine called “The Girl Watcher” hit newsstands, targeting a male audience with content focused on women. Marketed as a “Handy Handbook for Girl Watching,” it used playful language and illustrations to present itself as lighthearted and humorous. Beneath that tone, the magazine promoted stalking, predatory behavior toward women, upskirt photography, and the reduction of women to collections of body parts. The one notable exception in its pages is an interview with Earl Leaf, the photographer credited with helping launch Marilyn Monroe’s career.
Our adventure begins with an introduction to Girl Watching. The authority who provides our intro is Christopher C. Tinker, national president of AGWA (Ardent Girl Watchers’ Association). According to Tinker: “Applications for membership are pouring in by the mail bag.” Indeed, “Girl Watching Clubs are spreading like a brush fire across the nation.”
Clearly, the authors of this tome, The Girl Watcher: A Guide to Girl Watching, have their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. That being said, while they are being lighthearted about it, this isn’t satire — this is really a read for girl-watchers. Let’s read on.
THE FLUSHER: An intrepid watcher who rises above any situation to accomplish his aims. He’s been known to feign a drunken stupor and lie in front of the YWCA for hours watching the residents come and go. THE PEEKER: He catches every passing fancy even if it means missing part of his meal. THE STALKER: Resourceful and imaginative. Just when things are darkest he comes up with a brand new technique.
THE PERCHER: Prefers overarching limbs, but has been known to climb buildings, rainpipes, and statues to gain a unique vantage point. THE SWIVEL-HEAD: Says a new twist needs a new twist. The many varieties of girl watchers: The Legman, The Hipster, The Derriere Devotee, The Booze Mouse, The Lipsophile, The Nymphlover. Which is creepiest? It’s hard to say, but for some reason, if I were a woman, I’d be most afraid of the Booze Mouse. “After years of looking, Lester concocted his own recipe for an ideal girl. He took one head of A, two cups of B, a pinch of C and two stalks of D — Ergo, a perfect specimen fit for any Girl Watcher.”
In this article we are told of a perverted girl watcher who pretends to be a millionaire and goes to an orphanage (for young nubile girls, apparently) and picks his bride from a lineup.
It’s actually a bizarre story which has nothing whatsoever to do with girl watching. It’s just about this mentally deranged teenager who shoots her sweetheart because she’s nuts.
Dear June: When my steady girl married my best friend I thought that would be the last I would have to worry about her. But whenever we meet at parties she makes a dash for me, wraps her arms around me and necks with me for the rest of the evening. Golly, it’s embarrassing. What shall I do? B.K. Dear B.K.: You’re a big boy now, Buster. If you don’t know what to do by now maybe you’d better try out for the girl’s basketball team.
If you’re tired of your surroundings, why not move to Paris? You may have a room overlooking Madame Mal de Mer’s Ballerina School and believe me, you’ve never seen anything until you get a look at a leggy lass in leotards in the seventh position.
There are all kinds of artists, including those that work at the corner drugstore.
Say what you will about this bizarre little periodical, you have to admit — there are some damn good illustrations within. Who cares if this article is about a photographer with a creepy basement studio — the artwork is worthy of a look.
Predatory behavior has always existed and it’s something that must be constantly fought against but there’s also a sense of people now days confusing outrage with activism. It’s a good thing if you’re able to do both but I’m wondering how much energy you plan to spend defending active sexual predation today versus being titillated at breakfast by a random 70 year old advertisement.
How about something more current we can be outraged about?
Why choose? It’s good to see concrete examples of older perspectives that influenced opinions, behavior, actual laws, and pretty much all facets of daily life for everyone.
I agree but I also worry that we spend a lot of energy being habitually outraged in place of focusing on current problems facing society.
It’s really, sincerely possible to care about more than one thing at a time. It’s also worth noting that current problems are influenced by older problems.
It is but there’s a lot of outrage to go around these days and it’s prob best to focus on today’s problems and not get addicted to daily rage bait, especially something from almost 70 years ago.
You’re not going to convince me that bad shit that happened then, influencing things that happened now, is something to stop noticing or paying attention to sometimes. Most of the time I don’t. Like, look at me now: I’m focused on eating breakfast and telling you you’re being short-sighted, my primary focus isn’t on historical manifestations of sexism and predation on women. However: those are things that happened and are still happening.
I wonder what company owns that PO Box now…
Just a helpful reminder.
Mamie Van Doren is STILL.
ALIVE.