Back to Publications page

Drum, a Pre-History

The above was from the Facebook page of Bob Skiba,
Curator of Collections at John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives at William Way LGBT Community Center
As we are both history nerds and I have on my site the Drum digital scans,
I asked permission to share what he posted about the early history.

Newsletter of the Philadelphia Mattachine Society
Volume 1, #5, August 1961

Mae Polakoff (R) and her lover Joey Hardman (L) in 1961.
Mae sometimes went by the last name ""Josias" for anonymity.
All images are from the John J Wilcox Jr. LGBT Archives

Janus, Volume 4, #6, June 1964

It appears they (roughly) continued the publication numbering between the two

Drum, Volume 4, #s 8 & 9, Oct & Nov 1964
Editor, Clark Polak
OutHistory bio

0   

Link at article bottom

I consider Polak to be a pioneering hero for his activism and the publication Drum. He died at age 42 in 1980.

Much more to be found in Marc Stein’s “City of Sisterly & Brotherly Loves”
highly recommended

[for extreme trivia fans only]

Drum magazine lasted from 1964 through 1969 and I would not term it exactly a
"physique" publication; yes, there were posed photos (with some nudity after the
law changed in 1966) but there were always far more articles than photos.

After it ended Pace magazine showed up (for I'm told two issued), also out of
Philadelphia, and as publications rarely mention other ones, I found it
interesting that it claimed to be taking over the mantle from Drum. Different
editors, not sure of a real connection. I have seen Pace issue #2 and it was
quite a bit more explicit....still, the mag was mostly text.

In short, Richard Schlegel was upset that Clark Polak shut
down Drum and the Janus Society.

Below, centerfold with the crotch 'painted' over...
and the posing strap could be wiped off