McGinnis at 90: “Too Hot to Hold”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



Too Hot to Hold, “Day Keene,” aka Gunard Hjertstedt
(Gold Medal, 1959).

McGinnis at 90: “Murder on Her Mind”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



Murder on Her Mind, by “Robert Dietrich,” aka E. Howard Hunt (Dell, 1960). This was the fifth entry in future Watergate conspirator Hunt’s series of thrillers starring Washington, D.C.-based CPA-cum-private eye Steve Bentley.

McGinnis at 90: “The Consummata”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



The Consummata, by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins
(Hard Case Crime, 2011).

McGinnis at 90: “The Venetian Blonde”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



The Venetian Blonde, by A.S. Fleischman (Gold Medal, 1963). The cover model is Lisa Karan, favored not only by McGinnis, but also by artists Bruce Minney, Norm Eastman, and Ron Lesser.

McGinnis at 90: “Rocco’s Niece”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



Rocco’s Niece, by Adrian Marsh (Avon, 1970). The model used here is sex educator, feminist, and author Shere Hite.
(Hat tip to Bill Crider.)

McGinnis at 90: “The Shrew Is Dead”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



The Shrew Is Dead (originally titled The Lord Have Mercy), by Shelley Smith (Dell, 1959).

McGinnis at 90: “The Telling”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



The Telling, by John Westeon (Dell, 1967).

McGinnis at 90: “Black Spice”

Part of a day-long celebration of artist Robert McGinnis’ birthday.



Black Spice, by Davenport Steward (Popular Library, 1960).

McGinnis at 90: Fire Up the Candles!

It seems like only yesterday that we last celebrated the decades-long career of American artist Robert McGinnis, who is best known for his eye-catching, frequently sexy paperback cover illustrations, but also for his iconic film posters. However, it was actually way back in October 2014 that we mounted a month-long celebration of McGinnis’ efforts in association with the release, by Titan Books, of The Art of Robert E. McGinnis, a beautiful study of his work.

We have a different reason today to cheer this painter’s abundant talents: it’s his 90th birthday! And what better way to commemorate that milestone than by revisiting some of his finest book fronts? So at the top of the hour, for each of the next nine hours, you can expect to find posted here another of our favorite McGinnis paperback façades—one for each decade of his life thus far.

Let’s begin now with a captivating cover he produced for Stranger in Town, by Brett Halliday (Dell, 1961).



(Thanks to Art Scott for reminding us of this special occasion.)