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Teagan Presley: Photo spread and interview with one of Digital Playground's hottest starlets. More»
3-23-2004

Look, it's somewhat of a given - people have always had sex. Of course, there were periods of time when you simply didn't discuss it. Then there were periods of time when people announced it and wore their preferences on their sleeves. There were times when kids shouldn't have been told about S-E-X until the night of their weddings, and both bride and groom were presumably going to the bridal altar in their virgin finery.

The fact remains that people throughout time did have sex: straight sex, kinky sex, threesomes, lesbian affairs, gay action. An adorable site, www.retroraunch.com has collected some of the tantalizing teases from each generation to document that yes, Virginia, America did have a sex life.

As the site states: "You're here. And where is here? The sex site of the lounge culture, the thinking man's adult site, the only adult-oriented entertainment site on the net that can make an honest claim to being truly unique. And it couldn't have been said better. This isn't titillation without gratification. It's collected erotica a fascinating look at what was sexy at the time, which body types made people long for dark corners and how kink has evolved.

RetroRaunch is about bringing the tasty, nasty, wild, wacky, outrageous, shocking, beautiful, erotic and utterly special soft and hardcore porn from the past into the high-tech present of the Internet.

Most folks would think that nothing interesting happened in the world of sex until after the sexual revolution of the 1960's. It simply ain't true, folks. Every single wild act, fetish, obsession, and nasty thought or deed that people indulge in today, they indulged in yesterday.

And just like today, they took pictures. There are definitely big differences, however. Two that come immediately to mind are that in the old days the women looked like real women... you know, the kind you can actually meet and get to know. The kind who never heard of silicone. The kind who knew what some really nice under things could do for a gentleman's urges.

One of the most popular sections of RetroRaunch is the area called simply "Racks". That's an old-fashioned term for ladies who are, as they say, "stacked", as you can see from these sample images.

We've all seen gigantic breasts, but these days it's gone beyond anything sexual for me. It's just too unreal. Wouldn't you rather have the soft, creamy, delicious curves of the kind that are nature's gift? All the ladies at RetroRaunch are guaranteed 100% natural, no additives, no preservatives.

One of the world's most amazing collections of antique hardcore photography lies within these eclectic pages. Just take a look at this sample. Threesomes, orgies, oral sex, anal sex, lesbians, sex toys... everything you can imagine is displayed, proving once and for all that creative sexual practices are nothing new!

Everyone has heard of le Marquis de Sade, one of the most famous practitioners of the art and play of S&M and the man who gave it the name. So it should come as no surprise at all to see that these pleasures have been enjoyed for centuries. There's nothing like a good spanking until a lady's (or a gentleman's) bum is rosy and warm to get the blood flowing in all directions.

Of course, bondage lends special juice to the pleasures of sex. The many photos they have from every era of this slightly shocking (and very exciting) practice show people who aren't doing this for a paycheck, but because it is what they love. No faking allowed. Also growing in size (er, ahem) is a selection of photos devoted to foot and shoe fetishes, as well as leather. As always, they're keeping their eyes peeled for more.

For example, the Fetish/Bondage/Pre-1920 section is absolutely breathtaking. The lighting casts unreal gauze over what your eyes feast upon, while the subject matter itself is startling in its raw candor. Seldom have I seen photos in this genre with as much respect and love given to them - you know the photographer had to be thinking of more than what many photographers think these days ("Gee, I can set up my own site with this," or, "Aaah, just a few thousand more of this same couple in the same position and I'll have my latest book!").

Perhaps that's just me, jaded in an era where too many things have been made erotic instead of arriving and arousing naturally. One almost has to learn a new rule book with a new pleasure. I miss the days when it was just a little easier to get the juices running. And this site is just that - pleasure made easy.

When I spoke with the owners of the site, I had a few questions they were more than willing to expound upon.

Eros Zine: How did you originally get into the collections of "antique" erotica?

RetroRaunch: It was an accident. My partner and I were in partnership with another party, and the original plan was simply to get on the net porn bandwagon. While we were planning that, the "other partner" (who has since left the partnership) introduced us to a collector of vintage erotica and suggested that we "just throw something up temporarily" while we were working on putting together a regular site. The minute I saw the material, I fell deeply, madly, passionately in love with it, and the rest, as they say…

EZ: Do you believe it is important to chronicle the sexual activities and changes in mores through these collections?

RR: Critically. Not only because I believe in preserving our cultural and social history in every respect, but because it is so important that we not be misled into believing that erotica (or porn, if you insist) is some aberrant product of the modern, supposedly hedonistic and immoral society. It is the nature of the human animal, when given the ability to depict anything, whether it is with charcoal, paint, clay, film, video, or in 1s and 0s, to depict sexual activity. It is equally natural to desire to view it. And we are doing our part to make sure that it is not forgotten.

EZ: Are you actively searching out additions, or do you find your membership sends them to you in an effort to keep the project alive?

RR: Both. Wherever and however we can get it, we want and need more. So anyone reading this that has Uncle Joe's under-the-stairs collection, give us a call!

EZ: What is your favorite section? Mine, is the Pre-1920s Fetish - something lovely and transcendental there.

RR: It's hard for me to separate my personal taste from what I feel we need to make our members happy. I love something unexpected, like the Edwardian lady playing with her umbrella handle. Mostly though, I respond to great iconic photography. There is one particular shot we have that I adore, the represents everything the site is about. I'm also a huge fan of Bettie's; she was uniquely charming and exquisite. But any beautiful photo of a beautiful woman works for me. (I'm female and straight, by the way, and we have an unusual number of such women as members.)

EZ: As much as sex has changed, the permissiveness and casting off of someone else's restrictions on who you define yourself to be, do you believe this collection is a representation that people have always dared to be their true inner selves, and perhaps this photographic evidence was all they had in what we all must recognize as a pretty repressive society?

RR: Well, first, sex itself hasn't changed. Behind closed doors, it's the same as it was 2000 years ago. So I guess that answers the question.

EZ: Anything else you'd care to add?

RR: The thing I am most proud of, among several, is that we are presenting women who are representative of what real women actually look like as beautiful and sexy. It saddens me terribly to see how modern porn (and Hollywood and Madison Avenue) are distorting our image of what is beautiful, normal, and erotic. Women have flesh, they have pubic hair, they come in different shapes. I like to think that RetroRaunch is a rest from the in-your-face plasticity that is being considered more normal all the time. I intend to go down fighting that, and this is one wonderful way to do it.

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A couple of final notes - RetroRaunch is a membership site, but there's enough free content in the initial tour that will convince you that it's pocket change for such a bonanza of flesh. Not only do you get the pictures from 1900 up to 1979, there are hand-drawn images, old magazine ads for things you'll shake your head at, hardcore playing cards, early gay images, French postcards, and the written word in that story "My Secret Life by An Anonymous Victorian Gentleman ".

Prices for membership run $9.95 for 1 week, renewals at the same rate, 1 month at $19.95, three months at $44.95, and 6 months at $74.95. But as I said, for quantity, and quality, and honesty - it's the best game around. And in 75 years, I hope to see myself there; I'd be in the best company.

Retro Raunch - by Alexia O'Neil Top of the Guide

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