With so much emphasis on “beautiful” female bodies, Marianne Ohl Phillips doesn’t cater to this generation of women (and men) who are driven to eating disorders after gazing at the Photoshopped covers of glossy magazines. Many may consider pinup art obsolete in light of full-frontal nudity that—thanks to cable—is not as verboten as primetime networks would have us believe; or bland compared to the glitzy black-and-white erotic photos of today’s toned women. However, Phillips’ ardor for cheesecake is unusual, to say the least (she can’t explain where her passion stems from), but intriguing. Some might say a woman who collects art which depicts scantily clad, women in suggestive poses is encouraging the defacement of her own sex.

Phillips is not here to defend pinup art, though she does her fair share of fighting for its place in the world. She is the number-one seller of cheesecake in the nation and considers herself extremely lucky because she can make a good living doing something she loves. Phillips doesn’t consider risqué paintings of curvaceous females obscene, or even slightly pornographic. When confronted with the issue of objectifying the female form, she smiles and says that pinups are actually depictions of female power. This unassuming 60-year-old woman from Iowa is the grand dame of pi-up art; a historian; and, the keeper of the sacred power—a power possessed solely by women. For centuries, troubadours and poets have lauded women as being the fairer sex. During WWII, “good girl art” became popular and even politically correct. Illustrators began to immortalize the sexual aspects of women; they painted pictures to be used as calendar art, V-mail, and even as “nose art” on fighter planes. Once again, this art form is growing in popularity. A few collectors are finally giving pinup art the appreciation it truly deserves. Phillips is one such being and we should thank her for illuminating the REAL truth behind the objectification of women—it is to honor them.

SexHerald: What introduced you to pinup? Tell us the story of “How Marianne Meets Pinup.”

Marianne Ohl Phillips: I’ve always been interested in art, in general, but my favorite subjects were beautiful women. Nothing is more enchanting or enticing than the face and body of a lovely woman in her prime. You might say that I began my “love affair” with women when I was six years old reading Cinderella. I was enthralled with the illustrations in the book. Soon, I began drawing my own pretty princesses and fairies or cartoons of Betty Boop. You could be sure that when I drew a picture, it was a pretty girl. Incidentally, my obsession seems to have nothing to do with my sexual inclinations. I adore men, I sleep with men, I marry men, but I prefer to look at beautiful women.

At the age of 12, I began collecting autographs of famous people—movie stars, glamour girls, authors, artists, celebrities. I lived in a small town in Iowa, really small, so I got my excitement vicariously—through the U.S. Post Office. One of the artists I wrote to was Alberto Vargas. He sent me his autograph. So, I was aware of pinup art peripherally but thought it was something in the past…no longer attainable. Then I decided to start selling some of my autographs because I had so many and I didn’t want to leave a full-blown collection for my children. The best thing about a collection is the process of acquiring it.

SH: How old were you then?

Phillips: This was around 1988, so I was 41. I did my first antique and collectibles show, selling autographs. During a slow time, I was walking around the show when I spotted some 50s pinup calendars. I was so excited, I thought, ‘My god, this stuff is still out there?’ I could hardly contain myself. I bought those calendars and didn’t return to my booth until I had scoured every other booth at the show for pinup art. From then on, my pursuit—and I’m a compulsive collector—was to find pinup anywhere I could and buy it. And I went everywhere looking for it. It seemed like I was the only person in the world interested in pinup art or even knew what it was. I’d go into an antique store and ask for pinup art and everyone thought I was saying “peanut art.” So I started saying, ‘Do you have any pinup art—you know, pretty girls from the 50s like Vargas and Petty?’ People didn’t display it; you had to ask because it was considered too naughty to put out on public display.

Soon I began wanting to know about the artists and there was no information, none, nothing. Then I heard that Zoe Mozert, a 50s calendar artist and a contemporary of Gillette Elvgren and Rolf Armstrong, was still alive and living in Arizona. I was determined to find her. I thought to myself, ’How hard can it be? Arizona is a small state, not many people, just barren desert, a few cactus and some mountains?’ I began calling information whenever I had some free time—every darn area code in Arizona! In total, it took me six months to find her. When I think back on it, I can’t believe I even tried it. After all, I was asking for Zoe Mozert. What if she had married and was using her husband’s name or had an unlisted number? (As I was to find out, she’d married many times and Zoe Mozert wasn’t even her given name!) I’ve always been a lucky lady and one day the operator said, ‘Hold for that number, please.’

I called Zoe and asked if I could meet her. She said, ‘Sure.’ She was the most delightful 83-year-old lady. This was in ’89. I interviewed her just for myself, for my collection; really for no good reason but that I wanted to. I had no plan in mind. Six months later, I was reading a magazine called The Betty Pages and the publisher, Greg Theakston, said he needed information on Zoe Mozert. I called and left a message on his machine saying, ‘I have everything you want to know about Zoe, you’re welcome to use it.’ Greg called me and asked me to write the article. I ended up writing a 24-page article on Zoe. From then on, I began interviewing and writing about other pinup artists; the rest is history. I think my articles are in a large way responsible for this whole pinup craze. No one else was actively and publicly into 50s pinup art until then. Except Olivia, her art was just starting to go mainstream.

SH: What, in your words, is pinup art?

Phillips: Pinup art is all about pose, clothes and expression. It’s a man’s idea of what his all-American, next-door neighbor should look like; the perfect woman. Pinup is a harmless, in fact, healthy, idealized version of a woman—she’s wearing makeup. She has a beautiful body and a lovely face. It’s funny—it doesn’t matter how sexy or beautiful the body is, a man will choose a pinup for the face. If her face isn’t appealing, he won’t buy it. I think that’s interesting and complimentary towards men. The face of a pinup says, ‘Look at me. I’m beautiful! You’re terrific! Come to me! I want you.’

SH: So, pinup is the art of seduction?

Phillips: Yes, pinup seduces the viewer and makes you smile. My walls are covered with pinup paintings. Every time I walk through my front door, I have to smile. All these lovely girls staring at me, grinning and saying, ‘Welcome home! We think you’re wonderful.’

SH: How many pieces do you have on your wall at any given time?

Phillips: Around 300 and they’re always happy to see me. One guy told me that the thing he liked most about pinup is that when you look at it, you think, ‘Gee, if the wind would just blow a little harder, I’d really see something.’ It wouldn’t be the same if it was just all out there already. A little flirtation, a little mystery. Always leave them wanting more.

SH: Some men would say that you’re manipulating them with the female form.

Phillips: That’s what women do. [laughs] Nah, men don’t think like that. Men love to be manipulated anyway.

Pinup became prominent during World War II. They had cards, like postcards, but they were called V-mail for victory mail. V-mail cards were sent to our fighting men overseas, and of course they promptly used them to decorate their walls and lockers. They even painted the images on their bomber planes as nose art. Pin up art boosted morale, reminded our brave, young, lonely soldiers what they were fighting for, who they were protecting, what they would go home to. What greater incentive could there be for a man to fight bravely and never surrender? Women have always inspired men to greatness. Pinups were idealized versions of their wives and sweethearts. Pin-up is so American, it’s what this country is about: freedom, pride, patriotism, wholesomeness. In war, anything that makes you stronger, makes you braver, makes you better is an important weapon. Pinup did that…it made men better.

SH: You have two children?

Phillips: Yes, two daughters and three granddaughters.

SH: You’re a grandma?

Phillips: Yes. No men allowed. [laughs]

SH: What do your kids think about mom not just being the number-one salesperson of original pinup art in the country but that mom is intrigued, driven and obsessed with pinup art?

Phillips: I wasn’t a great mother… I’m not a great mother.

SH: Why do you say that?

Phillips: I just had so much I wanted to do and I was overly selfish, but I love my girls and they love me. It amazes me, but if someone were to ask them who they admire most, they would probably say me. I have no idea why, but I think that it’s pretty cool. They think I’m interesting and exciting. My walls are covered with pinup; I don’t hide them because I don’t find them offensive. I think my mother-in-law did. I used to keep the kitchen a little more ‘straight’ just for her. [laughs] I would never, ever apologize for pinup; it’s the one thing that I’d fight for and stand behind. In my opinion, pinup is completely harmless—to men, women and children.

SH: Let’s talk about your fights. You fought eBay and won.

Phillips: Yes I did; however, I don’t want to pour salt to the wound and I sure don’t want to make eBay mad. eBay is an amazing operation but they wanted me to put my pinup art in the adult section with pornography. The adult section of eBay is a very well-kept secret. Most people don’t even know it exists. It’s almost impossible to find unless you’re a determined pornography hunter. It’s hidden within the category “Everything Else” then “Mature Audience.” The adult section has different rules, different payment options and you have to sign in. People go there looking for pornography, not pinup art. eBay was continually ending my auctions telling me I had to put my stuff in the “Mature Audience” category. They threatened to shut me down. Well, in no way do I consider pinup art to be pornographic. It’s perfectly fit for the general public. I am not one to fight City Hall but I’ll fight for that.

SH: So, eBay finally accepted your argument.

Phillips: I write very good letters, so I wrote eBay and assured them that I was within their guidelines. Nothing I sell represents sexual intercourse. My pinups are not designed for use in sexual activity. Certainly, nothing I sell depicts human sexual characteristics in a degrading fashion. I informed them that I put my items in the Pin-Up or Photographic: Risqué Categories of eBay’s General Section. I pointed out that I use the words Pin-Up and Nude in the title lines, so no one can claim they mistakenly opened one of my auctions. I swore to fight them until I didn’t have a penny left if I had to.

No one can convince me that there’s anything harmful or objectionable about pinup art, per se. It isn’t gynecological photography; it’s beauty, it’s art, it’s wonderful, it’s perfection and it’s American—as American as apple pie.

SH: I suppose most of your customers are men, right?

Phillips: When I first started collecting, I didn’t know of one other woman in the United States that collected or was even interested in pinup. Now, 42 percent of my buyers are women. Isn’t that cool?! I’m sure they’re all pretty women, because ugly women don’t buy pinup.

However, in the past the world of pinup has always been male dominated but for a few female pinup artists. I interviewed Olivia [de Berardinis], Joyce Ballantyne and Zoe Mozert, and incidentally found out they feel about women the same way I do. We all agree that women are the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Like me, their passion for women doesn’t include their sexual preferences. We go to bed with men but we prefer to look at women. I can be walking down the street with a man; if a pretty woman walks past, we are both going to turn around and take another look.

SH: You have 300 paintings on the walls of your building. How many pieces of pinup art are in your collection?

Phillips: I have not even begun to count but I would think there’s somewhere around 20,000-50,000 pieces including my inventory. I collect everything that’s pinup related, like leg lamps, a kiss couch, vintage 6-inch heels, 14-karat gold “nude” jewelry, statues, clothing, whatever strikes my fancy. I even have pinup bedding. Anything feminine, female related. I especially love reference material about the artists. I find all pinup endlessly fascinating. I have a fun job!

SH: For someone who is just beginning to look at pinup art, what artist would you refer them to?

Phillips: I would tell new collectors to buy the book The Great American Pinup. It has samples from the top 100 pinup artists. Each artist is different. Find out which artist trips your trigger and go after his or her work. Don’t worry about whether or not you’re making a good investment. Buy what you like and trust your instincts. It doesn’t matter whether you collect original paintings or prints, contemporary pinup or vintage pinup, or even reprints of vintage pinup; just buy what you like and enjoy it.

One little warning: Once you do buy your first original painting, you’ll be hooked. Big time! At first I had only framed prints on my wall, than I saw an original painting that I could afford (barely). I thought, ‘Gee, I should have one original pinup on my wall,’ sort of to prove I was a real collector, so I bought it. Then another and then another... When I see a great pinup painting, I’m captivated; she seems to be reaching out to me, saying flirtatiously, ‘Come a little bit closer! You’re my kind of gal!’ [laughs]

SH: Well, that’s the nature of the pinup, isn’t it? The pinup owns the viewer.

Phillips: I promise anyone who hangs a pinup in their own home, ‘Don’t worry, you won’t suddenly be turned on and want to have sex all the time, but it will make you smile.” And that’s a good thing.

SH: Is there anything else you’d like to say about pinup?

Phillips: I adore being a woman, I always have. In truth, I’m rarely offended by the slang words used for women, like babe, girl, broad, dame; I always assume it’s complimentary.
Pinup art doesn’t degrade or objectify women—at least, not in a bad way. It glorifies women, putting us on a pedestal, where we belong, of course!