Gallery Magazine is a classic American adult men’s magazine first launched in November 1972 by Ronald L. Fenton and F. Lee Bailey. Known for its softcore glamour style, it combines high-quality pictorials with lifestyle articles, interviews, and unique editorial features. Over the years, Gallery has been published by several major adult-media companies, including Montcalm Publications and later Magna Publishing Group, one of the largest adult publishers in the United States. In 2015, Magna was acquired by the company behind 1-800-PHONESEX, continuing the magazine’s long-running legacy.
One of the magazine’s most famous features is the “Girl Next Door” contest, which highlights amateur models submitted by readers. Monthly winners were showcased in the magazine, and the annual winner received a cash prize. The contest helped launch the career of Stacy Valentine, one of the most well-known models to emerge from Gallery.
Beyond erotic photography, Gallery also published notable non-adult content. The magazine ran conspiracy and political pieces by L. Fletcher Prouty and even featured 37 original mystery short stories by legendary author Isaac Asimov between 1980 and 1983, later collected into The Union Club Mysteries. This mix of glamour imagery and unexpected literary content made Gallery distinct from other men’s magazines of its era.
Today, Gallery is recognised as a classic adult magazine, collectible for its photography, vintage aesthetic, and its place in adult publishing history.
