Bizarre (magazine)
John Willie began publishing Bizarre magazine in 1946. After publishing twenty issues, he moved to Los Angeles in 1957. Bizarre magazine issue #26 was published in 1959.
The introduction page of #26 contains a plea for an editor to help with the continuation of the publishing of Bizarre magazine.
All twenty six issues are filled with stories, articles, drawings and photos by John Willie. There are also articles on how to make everything from converting high heels to stilettos to making bondage equipment. The pages are filled with fetish fashions, including heels, petticoats, corsets, and bondage.
Most of the issues have a section of articles and/or letters written by the readers.
Bizarre was published, at irregular intervals, from 1946 to 1959. Despite the nature of the magazine, Coutts was able to circumvent censorship and orders to cease publication because he was careful to avoid "nudity, homosexuality, overt violence, or obvious depictions of things that might be read as perverse or immoral and that might rankle those parties who were capable of banning, censoring or blocking the magazine's circulation." The magazine included many photographs, often of Willie's wife, and drawings of costume designs, some based on ideas from readers. There were also many letters from readers: he was accused of inventing these but insisted that they were genuine. These letters covered topics such as high heels, bondage, amputee fetishism, sadomasochism, transvestism, corsets, and body modification. The magazine was suspended completely from 1947 to 1951. By 1956, Coutts was ready to give up the magazine, and that year he sold it to someone described only as R.E.B., who published six more issues before Bizarre finally folded in 1959. The magazine did not mention that it had changed hands, but in issue no. 23 Mahlon Blaine was introduced by the editor as the artist who was to replace Willie as the primary illustrator. After publishing the first 23 issues of Bizarre, Coutts moved to Hollywood, California, where he developed a brain tumor and was forced to end his mail-order business. Destroying his archives and returning home to the British Isles, Coutts went to live with his sister, who resided on the island of Guernsey. Whilst living with his sister, Coutts died in his sleep on the 5th August 1962.
Taschen Reprint
Taschen and Eric Kroll have produced "The Complete Reprint of John Willie's Bizarre".
For anyone interested in historical erotica, I would very strongly suggest that you add this book to your library.
As one person put it: "this book is on my list of books I'll own 'til they scatter my ashes into the wind!"
| “ | I would suggest you pick this up any way you can. As Eric Kroll says in the intro to the books, John Willie was one of the pioneers in fetish photography and drawing. Now everything comes off well, but a lot does. Even more interesting though are the letters that Bizarre received over the limited time that it was in operation. A constant source of interesting ideas and points of view.... | ” |
isbn: 3822892696
A Personal Note from Robin
I have a nearly complete set of Bizarre magazines in the library, as well as an autographed, two volume set of "Complete Reprint of John Willie's Bizarre" produced by Taschen publishing.
I find great enjoyment in rereading any of these magazines.
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