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Monday, March 18, 2024

Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 185 - Pendulum Books

Acquired Tastes XLIII
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 185
Pendulum Books

This week we take a look at the gay titles offered by Pendulum Books.

As is typical of this type of publisher, very little is known about Pendulum Books. 

Pendulum Books, Inc. operated out of  Atlanta, Georgia, in an office at 123 Simpson Street N.W.

The bulk of their output was heterosexual smut running the usual gamut - incest, swapping, hustlers and prostitutes, bondage, S&M, etc., with at least one known lesbian novel and ten gay male titles. 

The books we'll be taking a look at were published from 1968 to 1970, which very well may be the lifespan of the imprint. During its lifetime, Pendulum Books published 500 titles.

During that time, the paperback covers would go through four distinct design periods: colorful block optic graphics, then a pink and black frame design featuring an overexposed art photo, then a black background with a color photo, and finally, a distinctive white frame on a black background featuring a traditional color illustration. All four styles are represented among the ten titles we'll take a look at today and all four include the distinctive banner in the up right corner which declared "Positively Adults Only!"

The last few pages of the books were reserved for ads offering readers the opportunity to purchase other books the imprint offered. 




Of the ten gay titles, I was only able to find seven covers. 

Let's take a look...

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The Coming Race
Author: E. S. Moore
  1970 
Pendulum Books
PND-087 

Described as: The saga of a modern-day Don Juan, whose acts of sex and violence, as in a Greek tragedy, ultimately bring retribution upon him - but he certainly lives his dissolute life to the fullest. 

192 pages. Found a copy for $9 at AbeBooks (plus $4.50 shipping).

Back Cover

--- ---

I Homosexual
Author: Adrian James
1968
Pendulum Books 
PND-088

Described as: A trip around the world was all it took to show the youth that straight sex was not for him - the happiness lay only in the arms of another man. 

Found two copies: one for $99 at Kayo Books or one for $45.50 at AbeBooks.

Back Cover

Table Of Contents

--- ---

Holding My Own
Author: William S. Kiowa
1969
Pedulum Books
PND-1-122

Found a copy for $25 at Hommi Publishing.

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---
 
The Gay Sucker
Author: Michael Hunt
 1969 
Pendulum Books
PND-412

Cover not found.

--- ---
 
Come Gay
Author: Ben Stark
 1969 
Pendulum Books
PND-417

Cover not found.

--- ---

 Size Queen
Author: Ben Stark
 1970 
Pendulum Books 
PND-421

This one includes an introduction by Carl Driver.

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Lonely Man
Author: Jean Paul
 1970 
Pendulum Books
PND-422

Cover not found.

--- ---

Made with Clay
Author: Carl Driver
 1970 
Pendulum Books
PND-431

Carl Driver has written books for many of the vintage gay pulp imprints we've taken a look at as part of this series.

--- ---

Extra Man
 Author: Gene North
 1970 
Pendulum Books
PND-443

Gene North is another name that keeps popping up. He wrote a number of titles for Greenleaf Classics.

--- ---

Trade Secret
Author: James Insley
 1970 
Pendulum Books
PND-445

--- ---

And that's all we have for Pendulum Books.

Next week: another set  of titillating titles from another vintage gay pulp fiction imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

Size Queen - DJ Inox feat. Adam Joseph

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: Jobriath

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: 
Jobriath

In my big gay church there is a wing dedicated to The Divas Who Represent. They're not all flashy or cocks of the walk - in fact, some never officially came out of the closet during their lifetime - but they are all extraordinarily gifted, sharing their songs, music, and insights, allowing the world at large to learn, in the most subtle of ways, what it's like 'being green'. Thanks to their gifts and their bravery, they help make the world a little more gay every time their voices are heard. And that's been their true super power all along... their voice; they were heard. They mattered. And, whether they liked it or not, they represented!

The queen that started it all?

Jobriath.

Biology? Psychology? Mythology? 

Jobriath was the first openly-gay rock star signed to a major label. 

And, no, my dears... he was not quiet about his sexuality. When he came out to the press, he blew the doors off the closet. 

Always a bit of a mess (drugs, alcohol, prostitution) little Bruce Wayne Campbell got his start on the stage, appearing in the west coast production of Hair. He got fabulous reviews, and the boot for "upstaging the other actors."

He and his band, Pigeons, were signed to Decca, producing an album ahead of it's time and going nowhere fast. 

That might have been the end of Mr. Campbell. The military caught up to him (draft dodger) and he spent the next six months in a psychiatric hospital, writing song and planning his next step towards world domination.

Upon his release, he returned to his life of debauchery, drinking like a fish while turning tricks in an unfurnished apartment. He did manage to put together a demo tape, which fell into the hands of  Clive Davis. Davis hated it, but someone else was walking by his office and heard something completely differently - the sound of a cash drawer opening!

Enter Jerry Brandt, Carly Simon's manager. In 1973, Mr. Campbell showed Mr. Brandt a few new tricks and Mr. Brandt was sold. So was Mr. Campbell - signed to a ten-year contract.

Mr. Campbell became Jobriath and the rest is rock 'n roll history.

Lots of hype. The two had the press eating out of their hands. 

An album was released to rather stellar reviews - but there was no tour (Paris, cancelled due to a skyrocketing budge), and therefore - no record sales. 

As his second album was being released (made up of leftovers from the first), a tour was put into place and Jobriath and his band, Creatures, began to gain quite a following. Sadly, it was too late. Mid-tour, Brandt dropped them and so did his label, Elektra. Still... the band played on, culminating in a final performance at Tuscaloosa University resulted in five ovations and the fire alarm being set off by the fervor of the crowd. 

Jobriath announced his retirement from the entertainment community and moved into a glass pyramid perched atop the famed Chelsea Hotel. 

He reemerged as Cole Berlin, doing cabaret where and when he could. You see, he'd contracted that big disease with a little name, and, in the end, it killed him. 

Still. What a story. What a moment. What a star!

The gospel according to him? 

Well, here are three from the hip, dropping from his lips. 

The topic? What else? Jobriath!
 

"I'm a true fairy!" - Jobriath, introducing himself to the world at his first press conference.

"Asking me if I’m homosexual is like asking James Brown if he’s black."


"Mad, unstructured and destructive to melody - That coming from the man who discovered Patti Smith and Barry Manilow! So much for sanity and structure." - Jobriath, commenting on Clive Davis' assessment of the demo tape which launched his career.


"Mr. B.T. Barnum Brandt was so busy getting his name on posters and buses, he neglected to get me on tour or my album played." - Jobriath, on why Jerry Brandt failed to deliver and his career stalled.

Selections from the musical HAIR!
featuring Jobriath and Jennifer Warnes
1968

I'm A Man / Rock Of Ages - Jobriath
1973

Sunday Brunch - Cole Berlin (aka: Jobriath)
1983

And one, last parting shot...

"Sexual fulfillment is the banana life dangles in front of us just to keep us running."

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Weekend Onesie: Wots Under Yer Kilt?

Weekend Onesie:
Wots Under Yer Kilt?

Fashion? Or fetish? Be they green or reddish?

May the luck of the Irish be with you as you try to get lucky.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, tomorrow...

I thought we'd take a look at the kilt... or, if you prefer (and I do), underneath them.

Be they Irish or Scottish...

There's no denying their sexy allure.

It's the mystery of the unknown and the anticipation of the big (at least we hope so) reveal!

Here are a bevy of lads all decked out in their holiday finest, all worthy of a celebration, I do believe.

As Wonderland Burlesque poses the question on everyone's mind...

Wots Under Yer Kilt?

Wishing you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Get a little Irish in ya!
Or Scottish. Or Albanian. Or...
- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen Anthem - Ren & Stimpy




































































































Kilt Chimes - Spike Milligan