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PHOTOGRAPHER MONOGRAPHS

PUBLISHER
Trapart Books

BOOK FORMAT
Hardcover, 8.25 x 9.75 in. / 152 pgs / 12 color / 130 bw.

PUBLISHING STATUS
Pub Date
Out of stock indefinitely

DISTRIBUTION
D.A.P. Exclusive
Catalog: FALL 2017 p. 53   

PRODUCT DETAILS
ISBN 9789198324310 TRADE
List Price: $39.95 CAD $53.95 GBP £35.00

AVAILABILITY
Not available

TERRITORY
WORLD

Satanism and the silver screen: the bizarre friendship of Anton LaVey and Jayne Mansfield

BOOKSELLER TRADE ANNOTATION

A wildly weird photo documentation of the stranger-than-fiction relationship between buxom blond glamour goddess Jayne Mansfield and the devilishly handsome High Priest of Satanism Anton LaVey.
  • ABOUT THE ARTIST: Walter Fischer was a German paparazzo and freelance photographer, based in Hollywood from 1957 to the 1970s, whose campy photos captured Jayne Mansfield and Satanist Anton LaVey.
  • Kenneth Anger's participation amplifies the "Hollywood Babylon" aspects of the book: scandal, notoriety, gossip, and the dark side of Hollywood. Both Hollywood Babylon (1975) and LeVey's occult bestseller, Satanic Bible (1976) are still in print and each has sold well over 500,000 copies.
  • PRESS & PROMO: A new documentary called Mansfield 66/67 released in early 2017 (from Room 237 director) and will draw attention to the relationship between Mansfield and LaVey (with Kenneth Anger, John Waters and others).

  

TRAPART BOOKS

California Infernal: Anton LaVey & Jayne Mansfield

As Portrayed by Walter Fischer

Foreword by Carl Abrahamsson, Alf Wahlgren. Introduction by Kenneth Anger.

California Infernal: Anton LaVey & Jayne Mansfield

Satanism and the silver screen: the bizarre friendship of Anton LaVey and Jayne Mansfield

Movie star Jayne Mansfield and notorious Satanist Anton LaVey met in 1966. Both were publicity conscious and made the most of the meetings, which evolved into a friendship. Almost always present was German paparazzo Walter Fischer, stationed in Hollywood and catering to image- and scandal-hungry photo magazines all over the world.

Fischer’s unique collection of photos takes us straight into the ritual chamber of the Church of Satan in LaVey’s infamous “black house” in San Francisco, as well as into Mansfield’s Hollywood “pink palace.” We also get to follow LaVey on excursions to his friend Forrest “Famous Monsters of Filmland” Ackerman, to Marilyn Monroe’s grave, to TV studios and back, to Satanic weddings and Zeena’s baptism at the Church of Satan HQ.

These were wild and narcissistic times in America. Few understood the power of media exposure better than Jayne Mansfield and Anton LaVey. Captured alone or together by master paparazzo Fischer, this devilishly handsome couple made headlines that still resonate today. The book contains an introduction by legendary filmmaker Kenneth Anger, and forewords by writer Carl Abrahamsson and collector Alf Wahlgren.


Featured image is reproduced from 'California Infernal: Anton LaVey & Jayne Mansfield.'

PRAISE AND REVIEWS

The Reprobate

David Flint

Fans of 1960s kitsch Satanism and cult movie icons (they don’t come much more iconic than Mansfield) will find this irresistible.

Bookforum

Albert Mobilio

...the images give off a gemutlich, familyalbum vibe despite the nudity, pentagrams, and skulls.

California Infernal: Anton LaVey & Jayne Mansfield

STATUS: Out of stock indefinitely.

FROM THE ARTBOOK BLOG

CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 10/31/2021

Halloween inspiration in 'California Infernal'

Halloween inspiration in 'California Infernal'

Featured photograph—of Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey and 50s B-movie sex-pot/acolyte Jayne Mansfield at her over-the-top Mediterranean-style Hollywood mansion, the Pink Palace, in 1966 (the year they met) or 1967 (the year she died in one of the most notorious celebrity car crashes of all time)—is reproduced from California Infernal, Trapart’s Halloween staff favorite. According to LaVey, Mansfield thought the Church of Satan was “the greatest thing going.” He gave her instructions, made her a priestess and tutored her especially in witchcraft and love charms. According to paparazzi photographer Walter Fischer, whose photographs are collected here, Mansfield thought LaVey was a genius, but considered herself a Catholic to the end, telling him, “I am not a member of the black circle.” continue to blog


FROM THE ARTBOOK BLOG

CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 10/31/2017

HALLOWEEN READING: Anton LaVey's 1967 press release for the 'first Satanic baptism in history'

HALLOWEEN READING: Anton LaVey's 1967 press release for the 'first Satanic baptism in history'

PROCLAMATION: At 9:00 PM on Tuesday, May 23, 1967 (the second year of our Satanic Lord) sorcerer and High Priest of the First Church of Satan, Anton Szandor LaVey, will perform the first Satanic baptism in history. The ceremony will take place in the ritual chamber of the First Church of Satan at 6114 California Street, San Francisco.
The baby girl, named Gloria Lilith Bach, a relative of the composer, was conceived in good old fashioned lust, and was ‘fathered by the Devil’. The baby was born on May 1, 1967 following the Satanic fertility rites celebrating Walpurgisnacht (Eve of May).
The mother, who is a priestess of the church, will serve as the nude altar for the ritual in which her child will be baptized by fire, earth, air, and water.
The purpose in the Satanic baptism is to instill earthly pleasure in the infant rather than cleanse her of the ‘Original Sin” which is the purpose of the truly blasphemous Christian baptism. There are millions of wonderful little children being born of healthy lust. The kids have been condemned as ‘sinful’ by the Christian Chruch for too long. It’s time they got a fair shake and a little ceremony for being as free and honest as only they can be.
Magical music for the ceremony will include ‘The Hymn to Satan,’ and will be provided by the organist of one of the largest cathedrals in San Francisco, who will be hooded to maintain his anonymity.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE SATANIC CHURCH – SK. 2-3583 continue to blog


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