The cover of Sex magazine, December, 1926.
 
Sex was a monthly adult-oriented magazine published in the U.S. back in the mid-to-late 1920s that featured racy and often nude photos of women and men that also took on hard-hitting topics such as “Are all beautiful chorus girls dumb?” and “The reason gentlemen prefer blondes.” Ah, the roaring 20s—when the biggest problem faced by society (according to Sex magazine) was trying to figure out how girls operate.
 

‘En Guarde!’ an image from Sex magazine, 1926.
 
Back in 1926 and 1927 Sex only cost a quarter and while I’m sure that some folks claimed to find the publication of interest due to its “articles” I’m quite sure that it was the gorgeous, dreamily captioned portraits of nude and semi-nude women and men that helped sell the magazine’s classy take on erotic photography. Of the images that follow there are two that note the names of the models—one turned out to be a celebrity of sorts back in the 20s named Orville Stamm who was known as the “Boy Hercules” and “Strongest Boy in the World.” In 1917 and at the age of seventeen Stamm shot to fame for his Vaudeville shows of strength such as being able to support a stand-up piano (along with its player) on his stomach while in a “crab position.” Zowie. Vintage images from the magazine follow and as the magazine is called “Sex,” most are NSFW.
 

1926.
 

1926.
 

Vaudeville actress Gladys Philbin one of the stars of the “Earl Carroll Vanities.” Earl Carroll was a pioneer when it came to his use of nearly nude female actresses in his Broadway plays and productions. 1926.
 

1926.
 

Orville Stamm in Sex, 1926.
 

1926.
 

1926.
 

The cover of Sex magazine, September 1926.
 

The cover of Sex magazine, November, 1926.
 

The cover of Sex magazine, February 1927.
 
H/T: Earthy Missions

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
‘Legs & Attitudes’: Vintage French leg fetish magazine from 1930