Playboy: The Cartoonists

If you are a Dottie’s fan, that must mean your love for vintage doesn’t end at lingerie, am I right? How about vintage cartoons featuring the lifestyle of the fabulous dolled up beauties and the playboys of the most infamous era in American history? Would it excite you to know that it all started here, in our beloved Chicago half a century ago with the help of the playboy of the time, Hugh M. Hefner? I happen to be a huge fan of Playboy and thought I would share with you part of the history that made this magazine so famous in the men’s magazine world.

After reading his biography titled, Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream, I learned that Hefner, also known as Hef, loved to make light of sexuality, especially during the sexual revolution happening back in the 50’s and 60’s. So when he started up a revolutionary magazine called Playboy, he gathered up some friends and went to work, first in his home, then at the first Playboy headquarters at 11 E. Superior Street in downtown Chicago. The cartoons have been making history ever since. I took the liberty of choosing a handful of cartoons by these talented fellas to share with you so enjoy! 

LeRoy Neiman, who was a long time friend of Hef from the days of working at Carson Pirie Scott, was one of the major Playboy humorists. He created the infamous Femlin, the pixie female who is always dressed in her long back gloves, black stockings and high heels.

 

“Femlin” made such a name for herself with the magazine that to this day, every issue of Playboy displays this little beloved icon.

Jack Cole was first published in Playboy in 1954. His cartoons are well-known for its gag style with voluptuous, full-figured women, often accompanied by an old ‘geezer.’ 

 

A popular series published on several occasions was “Females by Cole,” drawn in black ink similar to Shel Silverstein’s style

Shel Silverstein, who met Hef at back in 1956, is acknowledged for his most well-known contribution to Playboy magazine is his comic epic. It was a travel series which Hef summed up as “Shel’s humanity.” 

 

Playboy's Silverstein Around the World travel series compiles Shel's worldly cartoons with his signature line drawings which were an instant success and became a staple to Playboy

Gahan Wilson’s work, also published in every issue of Playboy, has a bit more grim humor than most others in the magazine; however it’s still just as important. Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons is a great book to add to any artistic collection.

 Gahan Wilson’s lab-coated modern day “Victor Frankenstein” and his alien creatures, ghastly green ghouls and vampires all poke fun at the ironic moments in life

The more risqué sexual humorists, Erich Sokol, Al Stine, Gardener Rea and John Dempsey are all featured in many issues of Playboy for their interpretations on the escapades between sexes.

 

Erich Sokol’s flirty little ladies always getting themselves into sticky situations

Al Stine’s sexually adventurous roomies mix up their under-garments after a frisky party

Gardener Rea                                                                                       John Dempsey

 

If you want to see more Playboy cartoons, you definitely want to check out the 366 page book Playboy: The Cartoons, filled cover to cover with tons of work straight from the magazine from the last half century! Hef’s biography is also a very good read. I didn’t think too much of it until I saw it sitting on the shelf at the local library and couldn’t put it down after reading page one. Most of these humorists are still publishing in Playboy today so if you want a good laugh, go get one of the magazine rack!  

---XOXO Dottie's Intern Heather