Fling Magazine Archive Collection

The Fling Magazine Archive Collection includes most of the entire archive of cartoons, illustrations and paintings that were featured in the magazines long publication run. The archive reflects the freedom of expression allowed during the time period. Artworks range from simple one color gags to large fully rendered paintings. These artworks were created in era of sexual freedom and freedom of expression, sadly the same areas that seem overly restricted in today's world. Finding it tough to compete as second class Playboy type publication, and the advent of harcore nudity in Hustler and Penthouse, Fling Magazine became a sexual speciality magazine focusing on women with big breasts. Fling magazine was launched in 1957 by Relim Publishing Co. (Chicago) and was founded by ex Playboy's first at director, Arv Miller.as a men’s magazine. The very first issue (Vol. 1, No. 1) is dated 1957. and it ran up until closing in 1995. Over 360 issues from 1957 to 1995 Founded and continuously owned by Arv Miller the publisher who was the first art director for Playboy Magazine from 1952 to 1957 when he founded Fling Magazine. He is credited with designing the first logo of a bunny head in a smoking jacket for Playboy Magazine. Fling magazine subtitled itself “Passport to Pleasure” with mixed adult pictorials, “cheesecake” photography, comics, and short fiction. The early issues included not just nude or semi-nude pictorials but also more eclectic content: for example the first issue featured work by Russ Meyer (who later became known for sex-ploitation films), literary contributions (e.g., by Alberto Moravia), and French adult comics. In the 1970s its issues included short stories by figures such as Charles Bukowski. For example, the September 1971 issue of Fling features Bukowski’s story “No Quickies, Remember”. A 1973 issue (Vol. 16 No. 2, May 1973) is described as 74 pages, saddle-stapled, with adult pictorials, comics, film reviews, interviews (e.g., with Roman Polanski) and emphasis on “big bust models”. Jayne Mansfield was an early cover along with an early article on Bridget Bardot. Significance Fling occupies a niche in the history of men’s magazines between the early post-war pin-up era and the more mainstream adult magazines like Playboy. For example, the first issue is described as “a wild, genre-bending artifact from the pre-Playboy era” Its mix of erotic imagery, comics, and somewhat “literary” or “art-photography” elements make it interesting to collectors of vintage men’s magazines and erotica. The inclusion of Bukowski’s early short fiction gives it an extra dimension of literary/collector interest beyond pictorial content.