Just Beat It

When I was 16, I purchased a 3-CD box set of readings from the Beat Generation. I was already a fan of Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg, the whole crew. In the back of the box set, a booklet was included. Inside the booklet, the authors listed vintage books that were in the category of "beat exploitation" (i.e. pulpish vintage paperbacks that sensationalized the beat movement to make some quick money off it). Seeing just a few sample pics, I had to see more. I went onto eBay and perused the vintage paperbacks for beat exploitation titles. I was obsessed. I loved the idea of amassing a collection of this genre. It seemed the perfect supplement to my interest in Beat writing. Later on, this interest in Beat paperbacks led me to collect vintage paperbacks generally. Vintage paperbacks led me to vintage movie posters and to vintage men's magazines and to vintage detective magazines. I could go on and on. So, what I'm sharing in this post are a few of my favorite Beat exploitation movie posters. Enjoy the weird "way-out" world of beatnik strippers in their jungles of "strange kicks"! But most of all, enjoy the kooky Kerouac lookalike, and wonder why they made him so violent? Beats me. I guess a little hair pulling was good for business.

Jack Kerouac, Sexed Up

I've read many Kerouac books. None are as sexy as the interpretations of them featured on these early pulpish editions from the 50's/60's. His books were sexy in their own way. Just not this sexy.

Two "Junkie" Books

My first collecting love was vintage paperbacks. I still collect them-- every genre from mystery to sexy pulps to sci fi and beyond. One sub-genre in vintage paperback collecting that has always been hot is the drug genre. Needles, reefer, sexy women falling into depravity-- all because of the "dope menace." Good stuff.

The two drug paperbacks featured here are both called "Junkie," but one is notable to literary folk and the other is only notable to geeky collectors like myself. "Junkie" by William Lee is actually William S. Burroughs' book "Junkie" under a pen-name. The paperback copy shown is the true first edition of the book. The title is coveted by Beat Generation collectors and pulp aficionados alike. Whatever the reason, it's not hard to appreciate the struggle on the cover and wonder if they are fighting over whose drugs or whether she should be doing drugs.

The second "Junkie" by Jonathan Craig is pure kitsch. Its cover copy reads like a True Confessions magazine. The biggest mystery, though, is what those guys are doing in the background. Finger snapping contest? Although the one with the closed-fist isn't playing by the rules.