The Problematic Covers of Fire Fighters


In 1929, a pulp magazine called Fire Fighters hit the stands.  Published by Hersey Magazines, it featured stories about the men who fought to put out fires.  It only ran for three issues and today, it is best-known for the publisher’s unfortune corporate logo.  Before it was appropriated by the Nazis, the swastika was a widely recognized religious and philosophical symbol.  When Hersey adopted it as their corporate logo and branded it as being “the symbol of good reading,” they had no idea what the future would hold.  Hersey would later change their corporate logo to a four-leaf clover.

There were only three issues of Fire Fighters.  All three of the covers were done by Walter Baumhofer.

 

The Scandalous Covers of Hollywood Nights


Hollywood Nights was a pulp magazine that was published from 1930 through 1932 and then again in 1936 and 1937.  Judging from the covers, it was a magazine that featured what would have then been considered “racy” covers about what went on behind the scenes of Hollywood.  The covers were largely pin-ups of aspiring and usually scantily-clad actresses, either posing for the movie camera or getting into some sort of trouble.

Here’s a small sampling of the covers of Hollywood Nights!  Where known, the artist has been credited.

April, 1930 (First Issue)

May, 1930

July 1930

January, 1931

July, 1931

September, 1931, by Enoch Bolles

October, 1931

January, 1932

April, 1936, by George Quintana

July, 1936