Gent (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Gent Magazine is a pornographic magazine
published by the Magna Publishing Group, which also publishes Swank, Genesis
, Velvet and many other popular men’s magazines. It has a theme of women with large breasts, and is subtitled "Home of the D-Cups."
Begun in 1957 by Excellent Publications, Inc. as The Gent, it was one of a number of "skin magazines" starting up at the time aimed at male readers in imitation of Playboy
and hoping for similar success. It was soon prosecuted for obscenity
by the United States Postal Service
, but was found not obscene at that time. Skin magazines in general and Gent specifically proved to be a fiction market for popular writers like Harlan Ellison
, one that was more open because it was "a little less constrained by fiction market formulas."
It was again prosecuted in New York State, but the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that since it was not hardcore pornography
it could not be found to be obscene. The case has been described as "for a time and perhaps even now [in 2003], [...] the single most important obscenity case decided" by that court and "the focal point for addressing the issues of legal regulation of obscenity in New York." It was prosecuted again in Arkansas
, where a jury convicted it, but the United States Supreme Court agreed to review the case, bundling it in Redrup v. New York
.
It continued to be a market for popular fiction through the 1970s, 80s (then put out by Dugent Publishing Corp.) and 90s, publishing pieces such as "Strawberry Spring
" by Stephen King
.
In later years, it was owned by the Princeton Media Group, publisher of other similar magazines such as Oui
at which time it was derided by some as a "working-class Playboy wannabe," and overshadowed by the publicity surrounding Hustler
publisher Larry Flynt
Pornographic magazine
Pornographic magazines, sometimes known as adult magazines, sex magazines or top-shelf magazines are pornographic magazines that contain content of a sexual nature. Adult magazines are mainly aimed towards men, and in some parts of the world, many men's first sight of a naked woman has been in an...
published by the Magna Publishing Group, which also publishes Swank, Genesis
Genesis (magazine)
Genesis is a men's pornographic magazine which began publication in 1973. It exclusively features female stars of the adult film industry. Billing itself as "The Home of Porn's Hottest Stars", Genesis features pictorials, exclusive columns by adult film stars, interviews, feature articles, movie...
, Velvet and many other popular men’s magazines. It has a theme of women with large breasts, and is subtitled "Home of the D-Cups."
Begun in 1957 by Excellent Publications, Inc. as The Gent, it was one of a number of "skin magazines" starting up at the time aimed at male readers in imitation of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
and hoping for similar success. It was soon prosecuted for obscenity
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
by the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, but was found not obscene at that time. Skin magazines in general and Gent specifically proved to be a fiction market for popular writers like Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
, one that was more open because it was "a little less constrained by fiction market formulas."
It was again prosecuted in New York State, but the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that since it was not hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
it could not be found to be obscene. The case has been described as "for a time and perhaps even now [in 2003], [...] the single most important obscenity case decided" by that court and "the focal point for addressing the issues of legal regulation of obscenity in New York." It was prosecuted again in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, where a jury convicted it, but the United States Supreme Court agreed to review the case, bundling it in Redrup v. New York
Redrup v. New York
Redrup v. New York, was a May 8, 1967 ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, widely regarded as the end of American censorship of written fiction. Robert Redrup was a Times Square newsstand clerk who sold two of William Hamling's Greenleaf Classics paperback pulp sex novels, Lust Pool...
.
It continued to be a market for popular fiction through the 1970s, 80s (then put out by Dugent Publishing Corp.) and 90s, publishing pieces such as "Strawberry Spring
Strawberry Spring
"Strawberry Spring" is a horror short story by Stephen King. It was originally published in the Fall 1968 issue of Ubris magazine, and collected in King's Night Shift in 1978. It employs a twist ending.-Setting:...
" by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
.
In later years, it was owned by the Princeton Media Group, publisher of other similar magazines such as Oui
Oui (magazine)
Oui is a men's adult pornographic magazine published in the USA and featuring explicit nude photographs of models, with full page pin-ups, centerfolds, interviews and other articles, and cartoons.- Playboy years :...
at which time it was derided by some as a "working-class Playboy wannabe," and overshadowed by the publicity surrounding Hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
publisher Larry Flynt
Larry Flynt
Larry Claxton Flynt, Jr. is an American publisher and the president of Larry Flynt Publications . In 2003, Arena magazine listed him as the number one on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list....