Access to old Hustler magazines?

May 12, 2005 9:45 AM

I need, for sentimental reasons, a few old issues of Hustler magazine from the late 70s/early 80s. The problem? I'm not sure of the issue dates and it's not the kind of thing my local library carries. Where can I browse through old Hustlers?

My dad was a photographer/prop artist/general go-to guy for "Hustler" from late 1977 until he went to "Slam" sometime around 1980. I'm apparently in various humor spreads and similar and I'd really like to get a hold of these. I mean, these are my baby pictures.

I know people sell them on eBay, but I don't want to systematically buy two years worth of Hustlers unless there's no other way.

Is there somewhere one can peruse these old gems? Is there a website with contents listed issue by issue?

I travel on business a bit, so if there's a store with them, there's a chance I could get there -- if it's in the States.

posted by Gucky to Grab Bag (16 answers total)

I would

(a) subscribe to the Hustler web site and see if it has full scans of old magazines. Doubtful, but possible. (They probably only have the old photos, excluding baby photos!)
(b) try to contact Larry Flynt or someone else at the magazine. Given the personal connection, they might be willing to help you out.
(c) check the Harvard University Library System. I've heard that they have a porn collection, under lock-and-key of course. Don't know if they have things an hard-core as Hustler, but it's possible.
posted by alms at 10:01 AM on May 12, 2005

Does anyone still work there who knew your dad? If you can find some buddies of his at the magazine, I imagine they'd be glad to help — and maybe even remember which shoots you were around for. It's a bit of a long shot, but it'll probably be the easiest way to go if it works.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:44 AM on May 12, 2005

Perhaps try used bookstores? I know the one we've dealt with here won't usually take magazines *except* porn because they're the only ones that will sell. I don't know if they took hardcore, but I do remember seeing vintage Playboys there. You're in SF, so I imagine if you called around and asked you could likely find a bookstore with similar policy. People dump whole collections of books/magazines in used bookstores so I wouldn't think it far off the mark if they did take old porn mags that they might have the full year's worth of the years you're looking for, and you could just browse through them to find what you're after.
posted by Melinika at 10:46 AM on May 12, 2005

Response by poster: Does anyone still work there who knew your dad?

My dad kinda crashed and burned every personal and professional relationship he's had a few times over. This was also, I believe, before Mr. Flynt's big shooting/revelation/etc., so the whole staff has changed over about a million times since. Good thought, though.

Perhaps try used bookstores? I've called a few. I usually get weird reactions. It doesn't help that I get all defensive/weird myself. "I'm not some sort of icky pervert or anything, I just..." I'll hit some of the sketchier used books stores in the hopes for Hustler.
posted by Gucky at 10:54 AM on May 12, 2005

From the Hustler member's area FAQ:

I did not find the particular archived issue of Hustler that I was looking for. Why?

Our online archives are currently limited to early 2000, however we are working to get all of the back issues online ASAP. For a particular question, email us ([e-mail]).
posted by If I Had An Anus at 10:56 AM on May 12, 2005

Next time you're in L.A., try just going down to the Flynt Pub headquarters and explain your quest. I'm sure they have an archive there, and you might have some luck convincing them to let you take a gander. Perhaps you should try calling or e-mailing someone first, just to test the waters, but I bet they'd be pretty accomodating. The building is at Wilshire and... Robertson? La Cienega? In that hood. It's huge and impossible to miss.
posted by incessant at 11:16 AM on May 12, 2005

Is there a website with contents listed issue by issue?

Dunno that it has the detail to help much, but yes, there is.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2005

Cameron's Books in Portland has a vast archive of old Playboys, I know, and they have quite a few old Hustlers too. A good friend used to work there, and they would gladly look things up for people who called in. They can take orders over the phone, too, if they have what you're looking for.

I'd suggest that using the phone, rather than the web, will get you a better response. 503-228-2391
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:53 AM on May 12, 2005

In San Francisco, there's a used magazine store on Larkin called The Magazine. I haven't been there in many a year, but I think they still exist. Last time I was there, about half the store seemed to be dedicated to used porn magazines (from vintage girly mags to recent stuff), so it's quite possible that they might have what you're looking for.
posted by klausness at 12:06 PM on May 12, 2005

My dad kinda crashed and burned every personal and professional relationship he's had a few times over. This was also, I believe, before Mr. Flynt's big shooting/revelation/etc., so the whole staff has changed over about a million times since. Good thought, though.

Actually, the combination of these two things might work in your favor, if they can find a record that he did actually work for them but no one remembers much about him.

I say call them direct, at their corporate office, and ask your question. I'll bet you'll be surprised at the assistance you get.
posted by anastasiav at 12:40 PM on May 12, 2005

(c) check the Harvard University Library System. I've heard that they have a porn collection, under lock-and-key of course. Don't know if they have things an hard-core as Hustler, but it's possible.

Hollis (the Harvard mega-catalog) denies any knowledge of Hustler. Apparently they do collect Playboy, however, and the latest issue is even available in the periodical reading room! I wonder if it has a black cover on the front of it.
posted by rkent at 2:01 PM on May 12, 2005

IIRC the Library of Congress carries Hustler and has an incomplete set from the times you are looking for

v.1:no.1-v.1:no.6 (1974:July-1974:Dec.),
v.2:no.7-v.3:no.1 (1976:Jan.-1976:July),
v.3:no.3-v.3:no.6 (1976:Sept.-1976:Dec.),
v.5:no.1-v.5:no.6 (1978:July-1978:Dec.),
v.5:no.9 (1979:Mar.),
v.6:no.4-v.6:no.5 (1979:Oct.-1979:Nov.),
v.6:no.7-v.6:no.12 (1980:Jan.-1980:June),
v.7:no.2 (1980:Aug.),
v.7:no.5-v.7:no.7 (1980:Nov.-1981:Jan.),
v.7:no.10 (1981:Apr.),
v.7:no.12-v.8:no.2 (1981:June-1981:Aug.),
v.8:no.7-v.8:no.12 (1982:Jan.-1982:June),
v.10:no.9 (1984:Mar.), v.11:no.2 (1984:Aug.),
v.11:no.10 (1985:Apr.), v.12:no.1 (1985:July)
v.12:no.3 (1985:Sept.), v.12:no.5 (1985:Nov.)

You can use the LoC Ask A Librarian feature to see who indexes Hustler, if anyone, and if you're in DC you can look through them. You might also try the Museum of Sex and see if anyone there is particularly good at research.
posted by jessamyn at 2:12 PM on May 12, 2005

If you happen to be in South Florida anytime soon, the Book-X-Change has a backroom filled with old Playboys and Hustlers.

Or so I've been told.
posted by icontemplate at 5:12 PM on May 12, 2005

You might contact the Kinsey Institute library! There are university libraries that have special collections of sexuality and/or pop culture material; maybe you wouldn't have to travel too far.

If I were you, I'd absolutely mention that your dad was a photographer and that you had baby pictures in the magazine. I imagine people will be more sympathetic (and amused) to help.
posted by oldtimey at 8:02 PM on May 12, 2005

If you're in the western suburbs of Chicago, the Novel Idea in Downers Grove has a back room chock full of old Playboys, Penthouses, Hustlers, Playgirls, you name it. They go back quite a ways.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:52 PM on May 12, 2005

So, have you had any luck yet?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 12:32 PM on June 6, 2005