Category Archives: Art

The Adventures of the Masked Detective

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

From 1940 to 1943, Rex Parker starred in his own pulp magazine!  He wore a mask and he was a detective so, of course, he was known as the Masked Detective.  On a quarterly basis, he battled criminals and spies and saved kidnapped women.  He was a popular detective but not even he could survive the World War II paper shortage.  Though his magazine was discontinued in 1943, Rex will live forever on the covers.

Here are a few of the adventures of Rex Parker.  When known, the artist has been credited.

Fall, 1940, by Jerome Rozen

Winter, 1941, artist unknown

Spring 1941, artist unknown

Summer, 1941, by Milton Luros

1941, December, Artist Unknown

Spring, 1942, artist unknown

Summer, 1942, artist unknown

Fall, 1942, by Milton Luros

Spring 1943, artist unknown

Winter 1943, artist unknown

The Scandalous Covers of Whisper

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

Whisper  was a pulp magazine that was published in the 40s and the 50s.  It promised “a look through the keyhole” and the majority of the stories were about public and private scandals.  Today, the scandals are forgotten but Peter Driben’s cover art is remembered and sought by collectors.

Here is a sampling of the covers of Whisper.  All of these were illustrated (and signed) by pin-up artist Peter Driben.  As with most of Driben’s pin-up covers, the models are meant to be both sexy and innocent at the same time.  The headlines provide a look at what was once considered to be shocking in America.