50th Anniversary Cover

[Peggy Wilkins]

>>>>> "Donna" == Donna Tavoso <dtavoso@earthlink.net> writes:

    Donna> I hope this isn't outside the forum discussion, but
    Donna> considering all the debate on the cover of the June issue,
    Donna> I thought it would be fun and interesting to see who/what
    Donna> everyone thought should be on the cover of the 50th
    Donna> Anniversary issue.  My first thought was Hef surrounded by
    Donna> a large group of past and present Playmates, but then again
    Donna> I'm not sure how well that would sell on the newsstand --
    Donna> which has to be taken into consideration I would believe
    Donna> Playboy is counting on that.

For such a picture of Hef and Playmates, see the 12/99 issue page 17.
With this particular photo as an example, I think this would be way
too many people for a cover (unless one took only a segment of the
whole), there are so many people there that most detail is lost and
there isn't anything in particular of interest to focus on, at least
without taking out a magnifying glass.  It is an interesting concept,
but I think more appropriate for inside the magazine (maybe a foldout
so it can be enlarged for detail?) than for a cover.  It is also
difficult to arrange such a large group in a way that draws the viewer
in (attracts him) -- which I think is essential for a cover.

Re: Hef on the cover: it is very rare for any (non-anonymous) males to
be on a PLAYBOY cover, and I think this is with good reason.  Men do
not buy magazines such as this to look at other men; it can be done
very occasionally, though.  I do like the way Hef was subtly put on
the 1/2000 cover, perhaps this could be done in a similar yet fresh
way.  While I'm mentioning 1/2000, I should point out that this
particular cover was not seen on newsstands, it was wrapped in a bag
which had an entirely different picture printed on it (four Playmates
and Verne Troyer posing with the "2000" prop).

There is a rumor going around that Christina Aguilera is slated for
the 50th anniversary cover.  I have no idea if this is or is not
really going to happen, but I will repeat my comment about this that I
posted on the PML:

  I have no doubt that such an issue, whether 50th anniversary or
  otherwise, would be a huge seller.  I won't judge it until I see it;
  but let me say that I hope they realize that they need to do something
  special -- i mean, SPECIAL -- for this 50th anniversary issue.  I
  think this means something more than just putting out another copy of
  a refocused PLAYBOY.  Much as I'd like to believe that something
  SPECIAL will happen with this CA cover, if I were one of the photo
  editors, I'd see this as a huge challenge; and if they're not up to
  it, we might be getting just a standard cover.  Let's hope they're up
  to it.  I've been waiting 25 years for the January 2004 issue, and I
  don't want to be disappointed.

We recently (mid-April) discussed some ideas for the 50th anniversary
cover on the PML.  Here is what I wrote at the time, with a few added
comments.

 - Why not bring Arthur Paul back as a special guest designer?  He 
   designed the first cover, so it would be very appropriate.

 - It should be elegant and simple in design.

 - It should honor PLAYBOY's history in some way.  If it must involve
   Christina A., how about also getting Mr. Playboy (Arthur Paul's
   invention) into the picture, too?

 - Alternatively, why not have a background/set that involves PLAYBOY
   covers and/or centerfolds?  It would be a challenge to keep it from
   being overly busy/messy, or trivial.  Is there some way to get
   these images into the picture in a beautiful, non-trivial way?  An
   example from the past that handled this well (though with only a
   single cover incorporated) is the 1/94 cover with the 12/53 cover
   appearing in the die-cut rabbit's eye.

 - If that idea is too busy/messy for the cover, how about putting it
   inside the cover?  Tie the outside to turning the page to reveal
   what's inside somehow -- such covers are often fun to look at.  Can
   Christina (and maybe Mr. Playboy) entice the reader to want to turn
   that page?  (e.g., 6/63, 6/64)

 - Is there some way to tie the first cover to the 50th anniversary
   cover?  Maybe integrate the waving Marilyn image somehow, or have
   that cover be used in a new picture.  Maybe get more ambitious and
   show a progression/evolution of PLAYBOY covers.

As you can tell from these rather random musings, I really want to see
some visual continuity between past and present.  This is the sort of
thing that makes PLAYBOY meaningful -- gives it extra, sentimental
value -- to the returning reader.  This type of repetition/
reinforcement makes for a loyal audience.

Let's also think about past anniversary covers for a minute.  Many of
them have been very plain: 1/63, 1/69, 1/79, 1/84, and 1/89 consisted
only of the famous rabbit head in profile with a few added design
elements.  I like the simplicity but I think it is too plain an
approach for the 50th anniversary issue.  It has been used so often
that a departure is in order.

I really loved the 45th anniversary cover (1/99) which featured the
mosaic Monroe/Golden Dreams pose made of past PLAYBOY covers; but of
course it's already been done, so I wouldn't redo it for the 50th.  If
photomosaics weren't passe by now, I would suggest a photomosaic image
of Hef made up of PLAYBOY covers and/or images.  I'm afraid
photomosaics were such a popular fad that this would be viewed as too
out of date, though.

The 20th anniversary cover of 1/74 had a very nice approach with the
hand grabbing at the bow tie at the bottom, opening up on the inside
cover to a totally nude Cyndi Wood having put the bow tie from the
cover on herself -- this made for a very nice extended experience of
this cover.  A multi-page approach for the 50th anniversary cover
would also be nice, for that same type of extended experience.

I don't know if anything at all I have suggested would make for a big
selling issue based on the cover image only.  In some sense making a
50th anniversary issue timely and topical may be a contradiction in
concept, if one accepts that the point of an anniversary is to honor
one's history.

Here's another thought: how about a large birthday cake, decorated
with classic iconic PLAYBOY images such as Marilyn (first cover or
Golden Dreams, Mr. Playboy, the Femlin, etc.), a big "50", and one or
more cover girls coming out of the cake or presenting the cake?  This
would bring together classic images with the idea of a
birthday/anniversary and whatever model(s) of choice might be desired.
Color might be an issue with such a cover -- shouldn't something be
gold?  I would be unhappy with all white.  Rich colors would be nice.
Can this idea be elaborated or extended?  Improved?

Any comments or further thoughts?

Peggy Wilkins
mozart@lib.uchicago.edu