Canned Air #197 Playboy Laughs: The Comedy, Comedians, and Cartoons of Playboy

This week we focus our attention on one of most influential, and misunderstood, organizations of the 20th century, Playboy. In this weeks Retro Roundtable, we discuss our memories of the magazine, our desires to visit the Playboy mansion, and that some of us did actually read the articles as well! We then welcome author Patty Farmer to the show to discuss her new book, Playboy Laughs: The Comedy, Comedians, and Cartoons of Playboy. Playboy Laughs invites readers onto the sets of the organization's groundbreaking TV shows, Playboy Penthouse and Playboy After Dark. These popular variety series brought top-tier comedians, impressionists, and monologists―as well as the finest musicians―into people's homes each week. Readers will learn how before he ever dreamed of conquering the magazine publishing world―and along the way establish a worldwide brand―Hugh Hefner harbored aspirations of making his mark in the world as a cartoonist. Playboy Laughs delves into the darker aspects of the time as well, tackling the ways Playboy and its comedy stars helped break down social and racial barriers as well as sexual ones. Known for her devotion to meticulous research and clear, honest storytelling, Farmer has gained the full cooperation of the Playboy organization―and Hugh Hefner himself―making this not only an entertaining read but a trustworthy history of an under-appreciated aspect of American comic culture. Be sure to visit Patty-Farmer.com and pick up a copy of Playboy Laughs!   Patty-Farmer.com @PattyatthePlaza https://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Laughs-Comedy-Comedians-Cartoons/dp/0825308437   CannedAirPodcast.com @CannedAirPod @Canned_Air Society6.com/CannedAirPod   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices