SALE PENDING LOUISE BROOKS Cover: Feb. '28 "Capt. Billy's Whiz Bang"

Collectibles : Art Deco : Vintage Periodical : The Jazz Age : Flappers Galore

 

Remember the song from "The Music Man" about there being trouble (with a capital "T") in River City? Like a lot of people, I was confused about what "Capt. Billy's Whiz Bang" was and just how it was aiding and abetting in the corruption of the town's youth. Well, now I know...

"Whiz Bang" may be tame by today's standards, but it was deemed racy in its day due to some of its politically incorrect stances and humor, as well as due to the Deco-era drawings and photos of somewhat scantily clad flapper vixens. The little magazine, which measured 7 1/" x 5 1/4", was the brainchild of Capt. Billy Fawcett, WWI and Spanish-American War vet, who published his first issue in 1919. He declared his digest to be "America's Magazine of Wit, Humor, and Filosophy [sic]."

This issue's a real keeper as it features famous screen vamp Louise Brooks (she of the adorably bobbed hair who so notably starred in "Pandora's Box") on the cover. The coming of the new year was still being celebrated (Which is nice considering the bad news the following year, 1929, would bring.), and on the inside front cover, a photo of seemingly unclad starlet Edna Marion, of Hal Roach comedies, is superimposed on a sketch of a large champagne glass with strategically placed bubbles frothing about her.

Understandably, there's a bit of wear to the cover, but the magazine is still well bound and all pages are in place--with the exception of page 53, with which someone absconded. Wonder what was on that one???

Item ID: DB-2917