Va-Va-Voom!: Classic Hollywood Pin-Ups

by Chris Chang

Hollywood Bombshells (Nearly) Bare All! Inside the pages of Va-Va-Voom!, dozens of famous (and not-so- famous) movie actresses pose in the glossy publicity stills that came to be known as “pin-ups.” Ranging from the sublimely sexy (Jane Russell sprawled across a haystack) to the faintly ridiculous (Marilyn Monroe as a pilgrim), these photos capture all the glamour of a magical era that began with the birth of the Hollywood studios and faded in the 1970s. As noted film writer Chris Chang, who examines this pop culture institution with a loving eye, “Words, of course, will eventually fail. But in a way, that’s what photography books are all about. To state the You can pin her up, but you can never pin her down.”

Genres: Art, Photography

280 pages

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! Perfectly named, just glorious, rich cheesecake! Beautiful pin up photos in full, glossy color. A lot of super famous stars not really known for their pin up style, little themed sections on holidays and particular tropes that were popular. Just enough text to give you the info you want without interfering with the absolutely stunning photos. I read it once through with the text and then have gone through it at least twice since, just to look at the spectacular photos. Whether you are a movie star fan or a fan of pin up or just a fan of beautiful women, this book is just sheer heaven.

[Chy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures with a few short chapters on the history of pinup during the twentieth century.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am amazed this book was ever published. Between classic pin-up images and some gorgeous glamour photography, is a biting, heavy-handed, feminist criticism. (Coming from me, that ought to tell you something.) It is rare that you read an art monograph written by someone who actually despises their subject matter. The juxtaposition of a beautiful and extensive collection with harsh social and artistic criticism is totally incongruous. It's almost as if the publisher said "Hey, we have this book of girly pictures and nobody is actually going to READ the text. Just put something about hollywood and women in there."

The surprise made it that much more entertaining to read.

[Dani Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this for my daughter for a Christmas present, as she is a fan of pin-ups from both sides! As a photographer and as a fanof the style as well. Of course I had to read it first. It was great to follow the evolution of pin-ups from starlets to bombshells and beyond. A fun read!

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text was perceptive (enough so that I wish it were longer), and the collection of images was outstanding. I wish the book were printed in a larger format, but this is still a solid slice of photographic history.

[Cortney Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book regarding how models have evolved through the decades and how it started. I think I was born in the wrong decade!!!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of pictures I would not consider pin ups but studio publicity glamor stills.

[Natasha Iturriaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures!!!