In 1959, a magazine called “The Girl Watcher” hit newsstands, targeting a male audience with its content focused on women. Marketed as a “Handy Handbook for Girl Watching,” it presented itself as a guide for men interested in observing and appreciating women. It aimed to be humorous and lighthearted, using playful language and illustrations to engage its readers.
The magazine encourages readers to “start a girl collection,” likening women to “beetles, bottles, and shrunken heads One of the most unsettling aspects of the magazine is its framing of women as prey. The article “The Hunter and the Hunted” explicitly encourages stalking and predatory behavior, describing women as targets to be pursued and captured. It glorifies the “resourceful and imaginative” stalker, normalizing harmful and invasive behavior.
The magazine offers a recipe for the perfect “mate,” encouraging readers to combine the body parts of four different women to create their ideal woman. The magazine also features numerous examples of upskirt photography, a clear violation of privacy and a form of sexual harassment.
Other than the troubling content, there is one redeeming feature: an interview with Earl Leaf, the photographer who discovered Marilyn Monroe. Leaf’s insights into the world of photography and his appreciation for Monroe’s talent offer a brief respite from the magazine’s otherwise offensive tone. However, this single interview cannot negate the overall harmful message of “The Girl Watcher.”
#1 Tired of Collecting Bottle Tops, Race Horses? Start a Girl Collection
#2 Dedicated to all Serious Scholars and Connoisseurs of Beautiful Women
#3 The Editors of Girl Watcher are anxious to know how you feel about this new magazine.
#4
Our adventure begins with an introduction to Girl Watching. The authority which provides our intro is Christopher C. Tinker, national president of AGWA (Ardent Girl Watchers’ Association). According to Tinker: “Applications for membership are pouring in by the mail bag.” Indeed, “Girl Watching Clubs are spreading like a brush fire across the nation.”
#5 They overlook the day’s news to look over the day’s girls. Some take samples home to laboratory for further study.
#6 According to the article, “Girl watching is edifying, transporting and fulminative. Today’s girl watcher is the connoisseur of the day, of the female figure come to its fruition.”
Clearly, the authors of this tome, The Girl Watcher: A Guide to Girl Watching, have their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. That being said, while they are being light-hearted about it, this isn’t satire – this is really a read for a girl-watchers. Let’s read on
#7 Apparently, the local park is a girl watcher’s paradise. Presumably, the girls are “the hunted” and the guys are “the hunters”.
#8 What Kind of Girl Watcher Are You?
THE FLUSHER: An intrepid watcher who rises above any situation to accomplish his aims. He’s been known to feign a drunken stupor and lie in front of the YWCA for hours watching the residents come and go.
THE PEEKER: He catches every passing fancy even if it means missing part of his meal.
THE STALKER: Resourceful and imaginative. Just when things are darkest he comes up with a brand new technique.
#9
THE PERCHER: Prefers overarching limbs, but has been known to climb buildings, rainpipes and statues to gain a unique vantage point.
THE SWIVEL-HEAD: says a new twist needs a new twist.
The many varieties of girl watchers: The Legman, The Hipster, The Derriere Devotee, The Booze Mouse, The Lipsophile, The Nymphlover
Which is creepiest? It’s hard to say, but for some reason, if I were a woman, I’d be most afraid of the Booze Mouse.
“After years of looking, Lester concocted his own recipe for an ideal girl. He took one head of A, two cups of B, a pinch of C and two stalks of D – Ergo, a perfect specimen fit for any Girl Watcher.”
#10 Like pretty things? Are you the collector type but tired of collecting beetles, bottles and shrunken heads? Well then try: Collecting Pretty Girls
In this article we are told of a perverted girl watcher who pretends to be a millionaire and goes to an orphanage (for young nubile girls, apparently) and picks his bride from a lineup.
#11 157 Girls were lined up for the millionaire’s inspection.
#12 The Bobbysoxer and the Loaded Gun
It’s actually a bizarre story which has nothing whatsoever to do with girl watching. It’s just about this mentally deranged teenager who shoots her sweetheart because she’s nuts.
#13 She sat on her bed and methodically took the gun apart and studied its parts
#14 Earl Leaf (AKA Loose Leaf), the photographer who helped launch Marilyn Monroe’s career.
#15 Leaf was famous for taking photographs of starlets in their bedrooms.
#16
#17
#18 Mamie Van Doren melted my camera down to a spot on the rug no bigger than a midget’s navel
#19
#20 Susan Harrison has a strange blend of innocence, sex, capriciousness -beautiful and fascinating in all her mood
#21 Once in a rebellion? mood Susan Harrison Shaved off all the hair on her head.
#22 Bottle Party
#23
#24
#25 The answers to all your girl watching problems
Dear June: When my steady girl married my best friend I thought that would be the last I would have to worry about her. But whenever we meet at parties she makes a dash for me, wraps her arms around me and necks with me for the rest of the evening. Golly, it’s embarrassing. What shall I do? B.K.
Dear B.K.: You’re a big boy now, Buster. If you don’t know what to do by now maybe you’d better try out for the girl’s basketball team.
#26 The Girl watcher’s guide to Paris
If you’re tired of your surroundings, why not move to Paris? You may have a room overlooking Madame Mal de Mer’s Ballerina School and believe me, you’ve never seen anything until you gander a leggy lass in leotards in the seventh position.
#27 The Girl watcher’s guide to Paris
#28 In Search of he Strawberry Birthmark
#29
#30
#31 So You Want to be a Model, Huh?
There are all kinds of artists including those that work at the comer drugstore
#32
#33
#34 How a real gone kid with a horn learned how A Kitten Can Pucker-Up.
#35
#36
#37 A 1899 short story by Russian writer Maxim Gorky called “26 Men and a Girl”
#38
#39
#40
Say what you will about this bizarre little periodical, you have to admit – there are some damn good illustrations within. Who cares if this article is about a photographer with a creepy basement studio – the artwork is worthy of a look.
#41 This photographer literally camps out under a manhole and takes pictures up girls’ dresses.
#42 A story called “Bongo” which is simply about a chick who goes buck wild to some bongo music. Nothing really to do with girl watching – but it’s sleazy enough to blend into the surroundings.
#43
#44
#45 Your Problems Answered
#46 Girl-of-the-Month Discovery DESERT GIRL
#47
#48
#49
#50
#51
#52 Take me Home Daddy!
