Racially Charged 60's "Sleaze" Paperback

Beginning in the 50's, vintage paperback publishers began releasing racially themed books. I haven't read all of them, but based on the cover art, blurbs, and titles, most seem prejudiced. A common theme is the "shame" that occurs when a white woman becomes intimately involved with a black man. Whatever the angle, let's just say that sensationalism and fear were important aspects. This book comes from Greenleaf, a publisher of 1960's "sleaze" (adults only) paperbacks. I tried to ascertain the tone of the book by examining the cover art, blurbs, and title. Although the book is called "The Color of Shame," which could suggest something prejudicial, it's hard to say so without reading the book. After all, the black man and white woman are shown to be cooperating to fight off a real evil, something worth of shame, the KKK. I'd actually be surprised if the book is prejudicial, since many of Greenleaf's writers were more progressive than the average American of the time. Whatever the case, the cover is interesting, and the book is highly collectible, being a racial paperback and featuring KKK imagery.

Cover Art by Ed Smith

And Even More of the Surreal Erotica of Tom Cannizaro

More of the Surreal Erotica of Tom Cannizaro

Note that "Passion on Trial" is shown twice, because one is an image of our original painting and the other is an image of the actual book cover.

The Surreal Erotica of Tom Cannizaro

Tom Cannizaro isn't as well known as Robert Bonfils as a cover artist for the Greenleaf sleaze paperbacks. Nonetheless, he truly made his mark and had a distinctive style that existed somewhere in the netherworld of realistic and surreal. His style is confident and vibrant-- marked by clean lines and bright colors. I've wanted to do a feature on Cannizaro, because I feel his art is well-liked in the paperback collecting community, but not as well-known. I'll present the cover art of Cannizaro in three installments-- this one and two immediately following.

It's Not Easy Bein' Green

These two 1960's sleaze paperbacks have a lot in common. Both feature Ed Smith covers, women with green-tinted skin, and a good cat-fight. When you see two covers like this, by the same artist, that mirror each other, you wonder if the artist unconsciously did this or was rehashing an old idea. Whatever the case, you can never go wrong when you make green gals. NEVER. It's safe to say that's an unspoken rule of paperback collecting.

18-Hole Swap by Richard Alexis - 1970

This is one of many books on the mate-swapping genre that adult erotic publisher Greenleaf released throughout the 60's and into the 70's. The strategically placed flag poking into the hole is classic.

I am constantly amazed at Greenleaf's ability to come up with new "takes" on this genre. "18-Hole Swap" is a great example of their ingenuity. Double entendre at its finest; nothing like a good ole "group grope."

-Cover Art by Robert Bonfils