Vintage Pin-Up Calendar Girls

Vintage Sexy Pin-Up Girls from 1953 Calendar

A “pin-up girl” is a model whose pictures have been mass-produced for wide-spread distribution and appeal. Pin-ups are typically intended for informal display in garages, bedrooms, offices, etc. And, the pin-up girls themselves are usually runway / fashion / bikini models or actresses.

The term “pin-up girl” first appeared in Americana in the 1940′s. But, the practice of using sexy photos of scantily clad women as items for pinning-up on walls dates back to at least the 1890′s. These “pin-ups” may be drawings, paintings, or other illustrations done in emulation of these racy photos.

Here we have a nice collection of seven images from 1953. Enjoy…

Yo ho ho! Beware, me hearties -
I don't go for mutinous parties;
Fifteen men that I love best
Would walk the plank at my behest

Popular pin-up images have, over the years, been magazine or newspaper cut-outs or calendars. Other pin-ups came in the form of post cards or old-school chromo-lithographs.

When the lass makes a pass,
With her cape,
Senor Bull, he can never escape!
But a beast is the least -
She's got men -
Stampeding the gates of the pen

Calendars have been a part of Americana since the 1940′s, and pin-up girl calendars have been hugely popular since that time.

When ladies hear the bridal march,
Their ears perk up, their nostrils arch;
A nervous left-hand finger flex
Is an affliction of the sex.
Men don't agree. But all reluctance would be scrapped
By the lucky male that this bride tapped

I personally enjoy these vintage calendars quite a bit. The illustration / artwork is awesome and the rhymes from days past are both funny and revealing of a bye-gone era in American history. Some of the rhymes have a slight hint of the tension between the sexes that was prevalent before the Women’s Movement of the 1960′s.

The May Queen's not a one to hide
Noblesse oblige's other side;
While acting courtly as you choose,
She calls for royal revenues

Life is tough, the sun maids say,
Every girl must choose a way -
All wrapped up, or decollete -
The greatest wardrobe curse of all
Are strap marks left by friendly Sol

As a young boy, one of my favorite things to do was to go over to our neighbor’s garage when he was working on his car. It was one of those detached garages with a pot-bellied stove for warmth in the cold months. My friends and I all loved going over there, for one because it was cool to help him work on his cars – but mainly because the walls of his garage were covered from top to bottom with pin-up girl calendars and posters!

Now, the spirit of April as poets have viewed her
Is feminine - could it be cuter if neuter?

She loves little ermines,
Their coats are so warm,
And a girl needs her mittens
To weather the storm

If you’d like more information on the history of pin-up girl photos and artwork, visit this Wikipedia page…