To: pml1@yahoogroups.com From: Mark Tomlonson Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 09:36:55 -0500 Subject: [PML1] CC: Elsa Sorenson In Elsa Sorenson's centerfold (September 1956) we've managed to impress her with our gift of roses. In my youth, I thought this centerfold had taken "First Full Frontal Nude" honors. Then I became wise in the ways of pin-up and art nude models of the early twentieth century and discovered that Elsa is wearing a specialized bit of underwear that closely resembles the swimsuits designed by Marilyn Cole. In 1956, this was accepted as a fact of life, and it would be unfair to assess this from a 21st Century perspective. It's more fruitful to look at the totality. Elsa is in an almost entirely white bedroom. She probably doesn't clean all this herself. We are dealing with wealth, and with the help of Elsa's expression, Continental sophistication. These are qualities that Playboy aspired to. In any setting Elsa would be a standout. She has a dramatic figure that is only slightly hidden by the roses. The dropped rose carries a lot of credit for the intimacy of this shot. Her look of surprise and delight at what we've written on the card bodes well for us. The only down note: she seems a bit drawn in around her shoulders. Scoring: Pin-up: 3.0 Erotic: 2.0 Artistic: 2.5 Overall: 2.6 out of 4.0 Cyber Club Portfolio Photo I like better than the Centerfold: none http://cyber.playboy.com/members/playmates/files/1956/09/centerfold.html Mark Tomlonson Kalamazoo MI