Vintage Porn: back is the way to go!

The most reliable predictor of coming trends is looking at what's hip and going in the other direction. I'm convinced it works and now I dictate my blog entries to a pool of secretaries using typewriters who call me Mr. Sugar and laugh flirtatiously when I sexually harass them. I'll bring back the fifties on my own if I have to.

In porn signs are strong that people want an alternative to the gynecological hardcore, poorly shot gonzo, and alt porn (which is only alternative if you believe 'the system' doesn't want you to have tattoos and that, because you have, the government's a bit worried). A desire fed by the blue pill/blue rinse porn consumers who've re-discovered their sex lives thanks to modern pharmaceuticals and internet dating, many of whom want to see the kind of porn they remember from the 70's and 80's, but don’t know where to find it.

An industry's beginning to spring up to serve the need for retro porn, distinct from the tiresomely hip 'pin-up' culture which spend all its time pretending it's more interested in the art than the content (lying wankers - just an opinion).

Old jazz-mags aren't the kind of thing that any well-balanced individual keeps from puberty to adulthood and, as they tend to be well-thumbed, crammed into tight hiding places, and vulnerable to fluid-damage, are rare and valuable in pristine condition. Want that impossible to find Vanessa Williams 1984 Penthouse? (good-luck, in the US it's illegal to own thanks to a Traci Lords layout). Try Jobby Dealer. For sexy audio recordings - a surprisingly vibrant niche before phone-sex, there's Trunk Records, and about hard to find movies, Alpha Blue Archives has most of it covered.

If you're less concerned about specifics the easiest way into old magazines has to be a series of books by Taschen, 'The History of Men’s Magazines'. The six volumes are magazine size and a couple of inches thick, making them a lot cheaper than a stack of old issues. As is the Taschen way, print quality's fantastic.

On the other hand, if you don't want to spend any money at all the web does a great job of assuming that all the models and photographers who own the copyrights on this stuff are dead and serving it up for free. Two great sites to start your exploration at are Finn Sleaze - which deals with vintage Finnish Porn (and let's face it you're not going to need the text), or Betty's 70's Porn.

Apologies in advance if you see your mom in any of the above links, she only did it because Santa caught you masturbating.