What's in a Name? The Other "Southern Exposure"

Southern Exposure. It’s always been a teaser of a title — one that sounds vaguely familiar, even if you’ve never laid eyes on the magazine. “Is that like Northern Exposure?” some ask, often holding their fingers on top of their head to mimic the moose that always seemed to be wandering in the background on the famous TV series. “Oh, that is a beautiful magazine!” exclaim others, who go on to discuss drapes, doilies, and other favorite subjects of our glossy high-society rival, Southern Living.

Adding to the confusion is the popularity of the name “Southern Exposure,” which has blossomed as a favorite moniker for everything from Caribbean resorts to — how shall we say it — “adult oriented” web sites. Here’s a guide to a few of the other Southern Exposures:

Southern Exposure, by M. Earle Palmer

The words “southern exposure” can lend themselves to lurid connotations, and this late-1960s soft-porn-detective noir classic delivers on all of them. The blurb on the book’s back cover gives you some idea: “When private eye Wayne Temple was hired to investigate the death of a small-town grafter, it seemed like a routine case. But when Wayne started digging around, he opened a Pandora’s box of corruption and sexual depravity.” It goes downhill from there. (1967, Bee-Line Books, Inc.)

Southern Exposure Precision Aerial Photography

Based in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, this high-flying company specializes in “full service aerial photography utilizing Airplane, Helicopter, Helium Blimp and our new 55’ Telepod,” whatever that is. They even guarantee their work — “weather permitting.”

Southern Exposure Swimwear

“Swimwear that has been created for you, the fitness-conscious women and men of the 90’s.” Not too hard to figure out what they seek to “expose.” Come to think of it, our Southern Exposure would probably sell a lot more copies if we slapped one of these beefcakes on the cover.

Southern Exposure of Naples, Inc.

Yet more skin from this outfit, a “non-landed, clothing-optional club” located in the Naples, Florida, area. The big draw for this sanctuary for the attire-averse appears to be member Jim Keiser, who lives on a “small lake” and makes his grounds available not only to the Southern Exposure club faithful, but to all “visitors who belong to the American Association for Nude Recreation and The Naturist Society.” Thanks, Jim.

Southern Exposure, by Stetson Kennedy

A brilliant work of investigative history written at the onset of the Cold War, and the real inspiration for this magazine’s title. As magazine founder Bob Hall writes on the back of the recent re-issue of the book: “At the birth of our magazine in 1973 . . . Southern Exposure emerged as the obvious choice [for a name] . . . to carry on a tradition that links analysis to action, that tells the truth and makes clear the imperative for change.” (1946, Doubleday & Company; Rev. Ed. 1991, Florida Atlantic University Press).