To: pml1@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [PML1] Classic Centerfold: Christine Maddox
From: Mark Tomlonson
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 19:45:28 -0500

A "perfect" design is one where even the smallest change will make a
big difference. As I pointed out in my critique of Gwen Wong's
foldout, Madonna's re-staging of it isn't nearly as successful as the
original because Madonna is shaped just enough different from Gwen
that the impact is not nearly as great. I think the same can be said
comparing Christine Maddox's December 1973 foldout by Richard Fegley
to Cynthia Myers' December 1968 foldout by Pompeo Posar. But in this
case, I strongly feel that the second time around is much more
successful than the original. So much so that I'm listing Christine's
as one of that select group of centerfolds I call "Classics"

Just so we understand each other, I want to point out that there are
more than a few pictures of Cynthia that literally take my breath away
(like the one in "Pocket Playmates"). It is one of the highlights of
my banal life that I have been able to get a sense of her delightful
personality from her postings to this List. She is clearly the only
reason for renting "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls" as she lights up
every frame of film she appears in. Anyone who calls her one of the
most beautiful Playmates or pin-up models of all time will get
absolutely no argument from me. She absolutely deserves to be ranked
with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Cindy Crawford as one of the
great Glamour Girls of the 20th Century.

But, I've never been a big fan on the December 1968 foldout. I know
Steve Sullivan and many others would quickly disagree with me, but in
a word, it has always seemed "too much". The hair is too coifed, the
make-up is too heavy, the facial expression is too pouty/seductive,
the breasts are thrust too far forward. There are several other
pictures of Cynthia that I would have selected for her centerfold over
that one.

Christine's December 1973 foldout is very similar in pose, setting and
costume, but subtle details make the difference.

Christine is sitting ore on her heels, giving a much more relaxed, at
ease feel to the foldout. Moving back on her heels also allows her to
twist her torso just enough to introduce a whole family of
interesting, delightful and alluring curves, especially the slow,
spiral curve of her back. Christine's hair forms a lot of those curves
as it splits and winds, falling off her shoulders and breasts. Her
hair is done in the straight, long post-hippie style of the early
'70's that in this case echoes the pose in creating a relaxed,
comfortable feel.

The foldout is shot in "soft focus" that was faddish in pin-up
photography at the time, and it's one of the few that doesn't suffer
for it. There is just enough softness to blend and smooth, without
making me reach for a tissue to clean the Vaseline off the lens. The
lighting is stronger from the rear than from the front, a style that
was to become almost standard for Playboy for the next ten years.

Even with the soft focus, there is a very strong three-dimensional
effect. The lighting and that cascading hair accent the soft rounded
curves of Christine's breasts and the larger but still delightful
curves of her hips.

But it's the facial expression that really makes this centerfold
shine. There is an element of sexuality and seduction, but the
strongest element I pick up is that this is a girl who just wants to
have fun. She wants to have fun because of the rewards she'll reap for
herself, but even more than that, she wants to have fun because she
enjoys being with the viewer and making him (me) happy. There are a
wide range of sexually related activities that could fit this bill,
and it looks like Christine is ready for any of them. I don't mean
that she looks like she's ready for a guided tour of the Kama Sutra,
but that she is looking for an encounter, and that doesn't necessarily
mean fitting appendages into orifices.

Men aren't supposed to fantasize about relationships, that's for
women. Men are supposed to fantasize about encounters. While I think
that is true in the broadest sense, I think men and women both crave
the companionship and the affirmation of self that a relationship
offers. It's the level of commitment required for the relationship
that remains a sticking point. When I look at a woman with an
expression like the one Christine is wearing; it reminds me of the
joys that are found only in a relationship. As delightful as sex with
Christine would seem to be, equally delightful would be the experience
of keeping that smile on her face day after day after day. But to be
able to do both . . . !

I don't mean to slight either Cynthia or Christine. Both are lovely,
lovely ladies, and despite what you may think from my earlier words, I
think both took wonderful, wonderful photographs for their
centerfolds. But Richard Fegley managed to capture just enough a
difference in his photograph that it's the December 1973 foldout that
I think deserves the honor of "Classic".

Mark Tomlonson
Kalamazoo MI