Retro Raunch Revisit

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the publication debut of KNAVE magazine (1959). After a 17yr absence, the American run re-emerged in February 1976 as hardcore -- taking their cue from the British run same-named "KNAVE" which began in December 1968. The final American print issue was Apr 1983 while the final UK print issue was Jul 2015.


JANUARY 1959 ON THE WORLD STAGE The President of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista, has fled the country, driven out with his government in ruins, in the face of a relentless advance by the rebel army led by a 32-year-old lawyer, Fidel Castro. Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in celebration of the revolution as word spread of Batista's departure for the Dominican Republic in the early hours of this morning. There was a carnival atmosphere as cars cruised through the streets of the capital, Havana, with Cuban flags draped over their bonnets and blowing their horns continuously. A large crowd gathered at the Principe prison as high court judges issued orders granting the release of hundreds of political prisoners. President Batista handed over to a nominal military junta before he left, who in turn ordered a ceasefire and appealed to the rebel forces of Dr. Fidel Castro for co-operation. Castro, however, announced this morning on rebel radio that operations would continue saying, "The triumph of the revolution must be complete." There appeared to be little sign of anyone in charge on the streets of Havana today, as the city descended into anarchy. People armed with steel bars overturned virtually every parking meter in the city. Hundreds of slot machines from casinos - the very symbol of the corruption of Batista's regime - were dragged into the street and smashed. One casino was looted. The homes of relatives & close friends of President Batista were also looted, as were the houses of the former Minister of the Interior, Santiago Rey, and his hated police chief, Colonel Esteban Ventura. The rebel movement has gone from strength to strength in the last year with growing support from the general population since President Batista, who came to power in a coup in March 1952, began cracking down with increasing ruthlessness on any signs of dissent. In one of the worst examples of his established dictatorship, even some of Batista's supporters expressed concern after police tortured or summarily hanged those suspected of organizing a general strike last April. Some of those killed were still in their teens. In later years, he has headed an increasingly ruthless & corrupt police state, once boasting that he was one of the most shot-at heads of state in the world, and never appeared in public without being surrounded by bodyguards.

General Charles de Gaulle has been proclaimed first President of the new Fifth Republic in France during a brief ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris. As part of the proceedings held in the great reception hall of the palace, the collar of the Grand Master of the Legion of Honour was placed around the incoming president's neck. Retiring President, M. René Coty, welcomed the new President saying, "The first among Frenchmen is now the first in France." A salute of 21 guns was fired on the banks of the Seine to mark the solemn occasion. Under the new constitution President de Gaulle is also the head of the French Community - which includes most of the former overseas territories in French Black Africa. Speaking for the first time as President, General de Gaulle said, "In the majestic character of this ceremony the renovated institutions of the Republic and the new institutions of the Community enter into force. Long live the Community, long live the Republic, long live France." The inauguration was attended by a large number of dignitaries including the President of the Senate and the Assembly, representatives from all the state institutions of France, members of the judiciary, academics and military representatives. The 12 African Premiers of the republics also attended. Following the ceremony, de Gaulle, accompanied by ex-President Coty, was driven to the Arc de Triomphe, where he rekindled the flame at the tomb of the unknown soldier in memory of France's war dead. And within an hour of officially taking up the reigns of power, President de Gaulle carried out his first presidential duty by appointing committed Gaullist Michel Debre as his new Prime Minister. The new French government was approved by the President this evening, and the installation of de Gaulle marks the end of an 8-month transitional period in France following near civil war when the French in Algeria staged a revolt against independence beginning in November 1954.

Dense fog - the worst for 7 years - has brought road, rail & air transport in many parts of England and Wales to a virtual standstill. London has been worst affected by the chaos - but many areas of the Midlands, East Anglia, southern England, and east & south Wales have also been shrouded in fog & frost for most of the day. For 5 days In 1952, London suffered from what became known as 'The Great Smog' - fog intensified by thick smoke. More than 2000 people died in the week ending December 6th mostly from chest & lung-related illnesses. The Meteorological Office is predicting the latest "smog" will persist during the next 24hrs in the London area and possibly in some parts of South Wales, Birmingham and the industrial Midlands. An AA (Automobile Association) spokesman said 28hrs of fog in the capital had left a nil-visibility ring around London adding, "It is a motorist's nightmare as rush-hour drivers grope their way through nil visibility in the Hendon, Finchley, Northolt, Wandsworth, Bromley and Sidcup districts." In battling zero clearness, traffic patrols have reported nose-to-tail jams and vehicles travelling at a crawl from all parts of the capital. At least 6 people were injured in 3 collisions on the ice-covered Kingston by-pass in Surrey, and another 35 vehicles were involved in a collision in dense fog at Hampton Hill in Middlesex. A London Transport spokesman said many buses had been unable to leave their garages because crews could not get to work on time. London's Heathrow airport was closed with visibility down to 20 yards and many flights were diverted to Gatwick in West Sussex. Many long-distance trains from London were cancelled with suburban services also seriously disrupted. Inspite of the pandemonium, there are some businesses benefiting from the smog: One Birmingham travel agent has reported bookings up 10% on last year and the number of inquiries has gone up since the fog descended. Chemists are also reporting a boom in the sale of smog masks with one shop in the centre of Manchester having sold out 1000 masks by this morning.