Burmel Publishing

Burmel Publishing, founded in New York by Lenny Burtman in 1951, saw its first publication, Exotique, hit the streets that same year. This A5 digest-size magazine featured striking, powerful women dressed in leather, nylon, and satin, with impossibly high heels. Inspired by earlier magazines like John Willies Bizarre and the UK published Fads and Fancies, Exotique was illustrated by Gene Bilbrew, while Burtman focused on photography.

Burmel Publishing also published other notable titles, including Extatique, Fantastique, and Masque. However, with more copycat magazines appearing in the early 1960s, Exotique eventually folded. Despite this, Burtman’s publishing career continued. He renamed the company Selbee Associates, which went on to publish some fantastic full-size glossy magazines throughout the 1960s and 70s. These included titles like Satana, Leg Show, and High Heels.