To: pml1@yahoogroups.com
From: Mark Tomlonson
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:02:11 -0500
Subject: [PML1] Classic Centerfold: Vicki McCarty

The popular stereotype of a Playboy Playmate is one of an over-inflated 
bimbo. All of us here know from experience that that image nearly always 
is a false one. A prime example of its baseness came out of the 25th 
Anniversary Playmate Hunt in a woman who calls herself "the only 
Playmate with an IQ three times her bust size", a woman so attractive 
and sexy that I have no trouble calling her September 1979 Centerfold by 
Arny Freytag a "Classic".

Vicki McCarty is introduced to us in her Playmate of the Month feature 
as a smart, independent-minded, Phi Beta Kappa kinda gal, and this is 
the theme throughout her entire feature. She was one of the few (if not 
the only) Playmates to write her own copy. (Yes, there are words as well 
as pictures with the Playmate of the Month.)

The overall presentation is similar to Diane Chandler's September 1966 
centerfold, and it's interesting to contrast the two. Both centerfolds 
are set in a college-housing situation, but Vicki is shown studying (to 
be an Attorney) at her desk instead of waiting for us on a bed. In 
Dianne's centerfold we could have been in either her room or our room, 
but here we are definitely on Vicki's turf, not ours. With Dianne the 
preliminary sparring was out of the way. With Vicki its about to begin. 
It's not yet clear where we will be spending the night. Dianne's 
centerfold had a strong basis in the straight line and right angles. In 
Vicki's, the basis is on free-flowing organic shapes. Her body is in a 
less rigid, less formal pose. Even the lampshade on the desk imitates 
the complex curves found in nature. But the two centerfolds have in 
common the beauty of the models they feature and the ability to stand on 
their own merits.

A surprising element in Vicki's centerfold is Freytag's use of a single 
color throughout. Although it's a color shot, it could almost be 
duplicated in sepia, as almost everything in the picture is one shade or 
another of brown. Early Playmate photographers did this to compensate 
for a lack of sophistication in color printing, but I think Arny and the 
Art Director (who may have been Arny, too) have chosen the monochromatic 
theme here first to complement Vicki'' natural coloring but also to take 
advantage of the color nuances of the more modern film and printing 
process --nuances that I've yet to see duplicated on any kind of scanned 
image. *

I've mentioned before how a Classic Centerfold (and a large number of 
the non-Classics) will often pose the model in a very independent way - 
one where the female model is clearly not subordinate to the male 
viewer. I won't go into great lengths about it here, but suffice it to 
say that this Classic Centerfold is another good example of a Playboy 
model not being treated as "just" a sex object.

But Vicki McCarty is a very, very sexy woman. Any more than about 5 
seconds looking into her eyes will tell a viewer that much. In addition, 
Arny Freytag has found a very flattering, very natural pose for her. 
Because a great many of us have actually seen a naked woman a pose like 
this, the centerfold's erotic appeal is even greater. The pose 
highlights the very natural shape and form of her breasts. That natural 
shape is so appealing that it's only on reflection that we (O.K.*I*) 
notice that they could be considered small.

While the pose is not as sexual as some other centerfolds - something's 
going to have to move before too much goes on - the centerfold's erotic 
appeal is undeniable. Compare the color photo of Vicki appearing just 
before it in her PMOM feature. A great picture, much more sexual and 
explicit, but it lacks a certain "snap" that the centerfold has, and it 
lacks a measure of erotic appeal because of it.

I think the eroticism of the centerfold comes from the color scheme (no 
distractions from our focus on the model), Vicki's attitude (an 
invitation coupled with the challenge of seduction), Vicki herself (do I 
need to elaborate?) and the use of the big, bulky sweater and knit hat.

For those of us in the American Midwest, a romantic encounter in the 
months with an "R" in them often involves some kind of warm 
semi-covering. That flimsy Frederick's of Hollywood stuff may be O.K. 
for southern California, but the middle of January around here calls for 
something a little more substantial. While red flannel has too close an 
association with Ma Kettle to ever really do much for me, the sweater 
that Vicki's almost wearing is warming up more than just her. It brings 
back many strong memories of the delights I've found under sweaters just 
like it. The way Arny has lit both Vicki and her sweater, and the 
subtle, natural color in the centerfold make it seem like I could almost 
reach out and touch her and find similar delights again.

So is it any wonder that I list this Classic Centerfolds as one of my 
personal Top Ten? A beautiful, intelligent, stunning model, masterful 
attention to production values and a setting and costume that bring back 
strong, pleasant memories of my own experiences.

Gee, with Vicki looking this good, I may have to give up telling lawyer 
jokes . . . Nah!

Mark Tomlonson
Kalamazoo MI

P.S. For any of you who are considering adding the pitter-patter of tiny 
little feet to your life for the first (or later) time, I would very 
much recommend Vicki's book "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy and 
Childbirth" published under her married name of Vicki Iovine. Practical, 
down-to-earth, funny and accurate. This mother of four knows what she's 
talking about!

* This essay was written five years ago. Since that time digital imaging 
has progressed to the point where I can now only tell the difference 
between film and a top-quality scan in a side-by-side comparison. Just 
don't get me started about that abortion that passed as Kim Stanfield's 
centerfold.

Mark Tomlonson
Kalamazoo MI