Duke was a short-lived men's magazine formed by ex-employees of the
Johnson Publishing Company. It is notable as an early attempt at an upscale adult periodical for
African-American audiences.
It was primarily a black and white publication, although the cover and centerfold were color printed.
[1]
Like many of its contemporaries, the magazine was heavily inspired by the runaway success of
Playboy magazine, although it featured no outright nudity and remained very tame all around. It was based in Chicago, both Playboy's hometown and a hub for African-American intellectuals of that era.
[2]
The magazine's
centerfold models were called Duchess of the Month.
[3] The first Duchess was Eleanor Crews, who had earlier appeared as the October girl in the 1957 pin-up calendar included with the New Year issue of
Jet.
[4]
The magazine's publisher and main author was Benjamin Burns, who had previously worked on a men's magazine named
Modern Man[2] and been prosecuted for obscenity on that occasion. While
Modern Man was not an ethnic publication, and Burns was a white jew, he was well acquainted with the black press, having held high ranking positions at the
Chicago Defender,
Ebony and its sister publication
Jet.
[2]
The editor and face of the magazine was journalist and musician
Dan Burley, although it has been argued that he was largely a figurehead hired to lend black credibility to the magazine, while Burns (who did not appear on the masthead)
[5] was the main man.
[2]
The magazine lasted just 6 issues.
for real tho
