The fabulous Petty Girls

January 18, 2007 10:50 PM

12 months of George Petty pinups. And 16 more. Hell, have 5 pages worth. More about the Petty Girl, an advertising and pop culture icon with an often unfinished look who made her first appearance in Esquire in 1933 and whose elegant line quickly became famous. [via Bibi's Box, which has lots more Petty and pinup links] [warning: busty pinup girls]
posted by mediareport (23 comments total)

More Petty calendars here.
posted by mediareport at 10:54 PM on January 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Well, Nagel he's not.
posted by squirrel at 10:54 PM on January 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Yeah, thank god.
posted by interrobang at 11:07 PM on January 18, 2007

I used to date a petty girl, but I'm pretty sure she wasn't the same kind as these ones.

Great pics though, thanks!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:07 PM on January 18, 2007

I've tried to like Nagel, squirrel, and think I get why some folks like him, but his design and colors just leave me completely cold. *shrug* It also doesn't have the historical resonance that Petty does for me. I guess I'm not sure why you brought Nagel up here. Do you not like the Petty stuff?
posted by mediareport at 11:13 PM on January 18, 2007

I'm sorry, but this is terrifying.
posted by neckro23 at 11:39 PM on January 18, 2007

Nice pipe threaders.
posted by beerbajay at 12:07 AM on January 19, 2007

nagel was proof that cocaine was out of control back then. luckily, aids found a cure for him.

if one like's the petty girl, i recommend a search for such masters such as Vargas, Elvgren, Armstrong and Munson.

Or maybe some contemporary guys like Mobius, De Lartigue, Gray, and Posada^*.

Disclosure: I'm a huge fan of this stuff, so much so I have a tattoo of a Vargas girl on my leg. That and pin-up art is a hobby of mine.

There's a ton more out there. If you don't like one style or artist, you just haven't found the right one yet.

^* Unfortunately, Drew passed away a few weeks ago. Bummer.
posted by jcterminal at 12:10 AM on January 19, 2007

I thought these were going to be pinups of Nascar drivers. Richard Petty slathered in Penzoil draped on a stock car.

Flagged for giving misleading me.
posted by stavrogin at 12:14 AM on January 19, 2007

minus giving.
posted by stavrogin at 12:16 AM on January 19, 2007

Miss April 1917 is so adorable it makes my head hurt. Almost makes up for the horror of neckro23's link. These are great- Thanks, mediareport!
posted by maryh at 12:37 AM on January 19, 2007

I'm sorry, but this is terrifying.

Yikes!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:54 AM on January 19, 2007

Wonderful, thanks mediareport.
posted by bru at 5:24 AM on January 19, 2007

squirrel: "Well, Nagel he's not."

He's no Art Frahm, either. Not enough celery.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 6:17 AM on January 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

I didn't flash on Richard Petty, but I did immediately think of Lori Petty.
posted by pax digita at 7:19 AM on January 19, 2007

He's no Art Frahm, either.

Frahm always cracks me up. But there's something about Petty that seems classier than the rest, phone fetish and all. I was flipping through a stack of old Esquires a few months back and his ads just leaped out.

luckily, aids found a cure for him.

Speaking of classy...
posted by mediareport at 8:04 AM on January 19, 2007

Don't forget Les Toil and Duane Bryer.
posted by arcticwoman at 8:11 AM on January 19, 2007

Nagel was quintessential '80s. I'm always reminded of Miami Vice, Phil Collins, and Grace Slick when I see Nagel prints.


Petty, of course, is timeless.
posted by dsquid at 8:37 AM on January 19, 2007

arcticwoman, those big-boned Hilda pics and the interview with Bryer are fantastic! Thanks!
posted by mediareport at 8:57 AM on January 19, 2007

He's no Art Frahm, either. Not enough celery.
No, he seems to have a thing for telephone recievers instead.
posted by lekvar at 9:41 AM on January 19, 2007

More celery!
posted by ahimsakid at 11:31 AM on January 19, 2007

Or maybe some contemporary guys like Mobius

I thought you meant this Mobius.

Those would have been some awesome pin-up girls.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 11:46 AM on January 19, 2007

Oh, and insert rigid tools joke here...

...snerk
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 11:49 AM on January 19, 2007