Dian Hanson

Clint Stark 25 Jun 2025

Dian Hanson - A Publishing Life Story

Dian Hanson, a name that truly stands out in the world of adult publishing, is someone who helped shape a particular corner of the magazine and book business. She made a mark, you know, as an editor of certain kinds of magazines and books, going from titles like Juggs to a book called The Big Book of Breasts. Her journey, which started in the 1970s, really shows how one person can influence an entire area of media, especially during a time when things were, in some respects, quite different for adult content.

Her career is quite interesting, actually, because it covers a significant period, from the hustle and bustle of New York City's publishing scene in the seventies and eighties, right up to her work with Taschen, a well-known publisher of visual books. She has, you know, a story that intertwines with the changing ways people thought about and consumed adult material. It's almost as if she had a front-row seat to a lot of those shifts.

This piece will take a closer look at Dian Hanson's life and work, exploring her early days, her time editing various popular magazines, and her later contributions to books that explored different aspects of human interest. We'll also consider, more or less, the environment she worked in, which had a lot to do with the adult film business of the time.

Biography of Dian Hanson
Where Did Dian Hanson Begin Her Publishing Work?
What Kind of Magazines Did Dian Hanson Edit?
The Big Book of Breasts - What Made It Special?
Dian Hanson's Work with Taschen
How Did Dian Hanson Influence Men's Magazines?
A Look at the 1970s Adult Publishing Scene
Dian Hanson - A Figure in Adult Publishing History

Biography of Dian Hanson

Dian Hanson, a person widely known for her work in publishing, came into the world in Seattle, Washington, on November 2, 1951. Her early life was, in a way, quite different from what you might expect for someone who would later become such a prominent figure in the publishing business. She was, apparently, a bit of a free spirit, someone who identified with the hippie movement and, as a matter of fact, left high school before finishing.

At the age of 20, she decided to move east, first making her home in Oxford, Mississippi. After that, she spent some time in Allentown, Pennsylvania, before finally settling down in New York City in 1976. It was in New York that she started to really get involved in the publishing scene, beginning her work with a publication called Puritan, which was a sex magazine. This move, you know, set the stage for a career that would span decades and leave a definite mark on a specific part of the media landscape.

Her journey through publishing shows a person who was not afraid to explore a particular niche, even when it might have been considered, perhaps, a bit unconventional. She has, really, made a career out of looking closely at what men find appealing, or, as it was put, "probing the subtleties of male lust." This kind of focus, you know, helped her carve out a unique space for herself in a field that was, arguably, always changing.

Personal Details of Dian Hanson
Birth Name	Dian Hanson
Date of Birth	November 2, 1951
Place of Birth	Seattle, Washington, USA
Notable Roles	Magazine Editor, Book Editor, Historian, Occasional Model
Key Publications	Puritan, Juggs, Oui, Leg Show, Outlaw Biker, Big Butt, The Big Book of Breasts, The New Erotic Photography

Where Did Dian Hanson Begin Her Publishing Work?

So, Dian Hanson's publishing story really got going in New York City. She arrived there in 1976, and that's when she started working on Puritan, a magazine that focused on adult themes. This was, you know, her initial step into a field that she would come to know very well. It's interesting to think about how that first job, more or less, opened the door to everything that came after.

Before her time in New York, she had, as I was saying, moved around a bit, from Seattle to Mississippi, then to Pennsylvania. But it was in the big city, with its fast pace and many opportunities, that she found her true calling. Her work on Puritan gave her a chance to learn the ropes of editing adult publications, which, honestly, must have been quite a different experience from other types of magazines.

This early experience was, in a way, foundational for her. It provided her with the practical know-how and, perhaps, the confidence to take on bigger projects later on. It shows that sometimes, you know, the first step into a career can happen in places you might not expect, and that was certainly the case for Dian Hanson as she started her work in adult publishing.

What Kind of Magazines Did Dian Hanson Edit?

Dian Hanson, as it happens, became a very successful editor of a particular kind of publication, focusing on what some might call "fetish magazines." Starting in 1976, she began to put together titles that really resonated with their audience. These included publications like Juggs, which became quite well-known, along with others such as Oui, Leg Show, and Outlaw Biker. These were, in fact, quite popular in their time.

Her role wasn't just about putting words on a page; it was about shaping the content and the overall feel of these magazines. She helped found Puritan, a hardcore journal from the 1970s, and then moved on to work with other publications like Partner, Adult Cinema Review, and Big Butt, among others. It’s pretty clear that she had a knack for understanding what readers of these magazines were looking for, which is, you know, a skill that not everyone possesses.

The magazines she worked on were, in some respects, part of a broader shift in how adult material was presented and consumed. She was, apparently, right there during a time when adult publishing was, as a matter of fact, going through some periods that felt a bit strange or difficult. Her involvement helped define the look and feel of many publications that were, basically, sold under the counter in the 1970s, and then later became more widely available.

The Big Book of Breasts - What Made It Special?

The Big Book of Breasts, a publication that Dian Hanson had a hand in, was, honestly, a big hit right from the moment it came out in 2006. It wasn't just another book; it was something that sold really well right away. This book, with its 396 pages, offered readers a look at some of the most prominent models from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s who had a lot of natural curves. It was, you know, a very specific kind of collection.

What made it special, arguably, was its focus on a particular aesthetic from those earlier decades. It showcased women who had truly impressive chests, including figures like Virginia Bell, Roberta Pedon, Mary Waters, and Keli Stewart, among many others. The book, in a way, served as a historical record, bringing together images that had, perhaps, been seen in various magazines over the years, but never quite in such a comprehensive format.

This publication, therefore, wasn't just about pictures; it was about celebrating a certain kind of beauty and, you know, preserving a part of cultural history related to adult photography. Dian Hanson's involvement meant that the book was put together with a keen eye for what would appeal to its audience, and also, to be honest, with a sense of historical context. It's clear that the book’s success was, in some respects, a reflection of her unique approach to the subject matter.

Dian Hanson's Work with Taschen

Dian Hanson's career took a significant turn in 2001 when she became the "sexy book editor" for Taschen, a publisher known for its high-quality, often visually rich books. This move, you know, marked a shift from her long history with men's magazines to working on larger, more substantial book projects. It was, arguably, a natural progression for someone with her background and interests.

With Taschen, she continued to curate and present material that explored human interest, particularly in the realm of adult photography. For example, in 2007, Taschen put out The New Erotic Photography, and then, in 2012, they released The New Erotic Photography 2. These books, you know, were packed with hundreds of fresh and thought-provoking images from people who had a knack for creating interesting adult art from all over the globe. It's pretty clear she had a good eye for talent.

Her work with Taschen really solidified her reputation as someone who understood the history and evolution of adult visual culture. She was able to bring a certain level of taste and historical perspective to these collections, making them, in a way, more than just picture books. They became, essentially, surveys of a particular art form, which is, actually, quite a remarkable achievement for anyone in publishing.

How Did Dian Hanson Influence Men's Magazines?

Dian Hanson had a considerable impact on men's magazines, especially during the 1970s and 1980s in New York. She was, you know, a person who truly stood out in that particular scene. For a period of 25 years, she was responsible for putting together a whole range of men's magazines, including titles like Puritan, Juggs, and Leg Show. This kind of consistent work, more or less, helped to shape the content and style of these publications for a long time.

Her influence came from her unique approach to editing, which involved, as mentioned earlier, looking closely at what men found appealing. She wasn't just putting out magazines; she was, arguably, exploring the less obvious sides of what interested men, and presenting it in a way that resonated with a wide readership. This meant, to be honest, that she had a hand in defining what "adult content" looked like in print during those decades.

Moreover, the world of men's magazines in New York during her active years had a lot in common with the adult film business. This overlap meant that Dian Hanson was, in a way, at the center of a dynamic and interconnected industry. Her work, therefore, didn't just affect magazines; it also, basically, touched upon the broader adult entertainment landscape, making her a truly significant figure in that space.

A Look at the 1970s Adult Publishing Scene

The 1970s adult publishing scene was, in some respects, a period of interesting changes and developments. When Dian Hanson began her career in this field, adult material, particularly pornography, had, as a matter of fact, just gone through some periods that felt a bit strange or difficult. It was a time when the industry was trying to figure out its identity and how to present itself to the public.

Magazines like those Dian Hanson edited were, you know, often sold "under the counter" in the 1970s, suggesting a certain level of discretion or, perhaps, a slightly illicit feel. This was before the widespread availability of adult content that we see today. The history of men's magazines from this era, including volumes like "History of Men's Magazines (1)" and "History of Men's Magazines Vol. 2," shows a gradual evolution in how these publications were produced and distributed.

The store pages that mention these historical collections, like "1960 at the newsstand," give us a little peek into how these magazines were accessed by readers back then. It's pretty clear that the way people bought and viewed adult content was, apparently, quite different from how it is now. Dian Hanson was, essentially, a key player in this specific moment in time, helping to shape the content that was available and, in a way, influencing the cultural conversation around it.

Dian Hanson - A Figure in Adult Publishing History

Dian Hanson is, you know, a truly unique person from the world of men’s magazines in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Her story is not just about editing magazines; it’s about being a historian of a particular culture and, sometimes, even a model herself. She really helped to establish Puritan, that hardcore journal from the 1970s, and then she moved on to work with other well-known titles like Partner and Oui. It's clear she had a lasting presence.

Her career shows a person who was deeply involved in the creation and curation of adult content for a significant period. From her birth in Seattle in 1951, through her 25 years producing various men's magazines, and then becoming Taschen's "sexy book editor" in 2001, she has, essentially, seen and influenced a lot of changes in the industry. She has, basically, been a consistent force in this field.

Her fascination with how people act, particularly her interest in "human behavior," as she mentioned in an interview, seems to have guided her work. This perspective allowed her to go beyond just putting out pictures and words; it allowed her to, arguably, explore the deeper reasons behind why certain content appeals to people. This is what, in a way, makes her a truly important figure in the history of adult publishing.

This article has explored the life and professional contributions of Dian Hanson, from her beginnings in Seattle and her early work on publications like Puritan in New York City, to her significant editorial roles on magazines such as Juggs and Leg Show. We looked at her later work with Taschen, including the successful Big Book of Breasts and The New Erotic Photography series, which presented a wide array of visual content. The discussion also touched upon the historical context of men's magazines and the adult film business during the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting Dian Hanson's unique position and lasting influence within this specific area of publishing.

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Dian Hanson

Dian Hanson - A Publishing Life Story

Table of Contents

Biography of Dian Hanson

Where Did Dian Hanson Begin Her Publishing Work?

What Kind of Magazines Did Dian Hanson Edit?

The Big Book of Breasts - What Made It Special?

Dian Hanson's Work with Taschen

How Did Dian Hanson Influence Men's Magazines?

A Look at the 1970s Adult Publishing Scene

Dian Hanson - A Figure in Adult Publishing History

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