Saturday, October 8, 2011

Paperback 463: Mr. Madam: Confessions of a Male Madam / Kenneth Marlowe (Paperback Library 55-857)

Paperback 463: Paperback Library 55-857 (1st ptg, 1965)

Title: Mr. Madam: Confessions of a Male Madam
Author: Kenneth Marlowe
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $9
paplib55857.mr.madam

Best things about this cover:
  • Oh good, an Adult Autobiography. I always hate it when children try to write autobiography. Grow up first, you self-involved whiners!
  • How can a book with this subject matter and this title have a cover this terrible. I mean, consider some other covers (which I just found, while trolling the internet):



[Hairdresser of the stars!? Why is this info not on my paperback!?]
  • Kenneth Marlowe was also a female impersonator. More pics:

And now the back cover:

paplib55857bc.mrmad

Best things about this back cover:
  • Ugh. A chalkboard drawing? Is this supposed to be a "twilight man?"
  • Not even the word "frank" to appease me. I hate this book (cover). [I just opened the book and the very first phrase on the very first page is "Uncompromisingly frank," so I feel a little better]

Page 123~

"You all try to help 'Frenchy' get dates, girls. Oh, be sure to remember to call him 'Frenchy.' If you get a date with a John, tell him that for five bucks extra you can have Frenchy sent in. Tell the trick, 'Let Frenchy come in and work on me. It makes me go wild!' That'll work the John up. Or, for $10 he'll work both you and the John. Well, I don't have to tell most of you how to manage it. Use your imaginations. Frenchy will, of course, be working all the exhibitions."

To its credit, this book does get pretty dang 'frank' (esp. by 1965 standards). Why it's not called "FRENCHY!"—with accompanying super-campy picture—I just don't understand.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the unfunny Lieutenant in 'Good Morning, Vietnam' who kept trying to do radio sketches. "Oh, Frenchy!" "Oh, Lieutenant!"

infoqueen said...

Wait, is Kenneth Marlowe "Frenchy," or did Frenchy just work for Mr.Madam Marlowe?
And doesn't "Male Madam"= pimp?

Graham Powell said...

Wasn't "Uncompromisingly Frank" the title of Sinatra's autobiography?