Playboy After Dark: Capturing a Moment in Time

by G. Jack Urso

Playboy After Dark Introduction, from the Ae13U Playboy After Dark YouTube Channel. See the end of this article below for links to full episodes and individual musical performances.

Playboy After Dark is a syndicated TV series hosted by Hugh Hefner that originally aired from 1969 to 1970 for a total of 52 one-hour episodes over two seasons. Recorded at CBS Television City in Los Angeles and at KTLA on Sunset for the second season, it featured some of the most popular artists in TV, film, music, and even comedy. This was Hefner’s second weekly series. His earlier effort, Playboy’s Penthouse, which aired from 1959 to 1960, was produced in Chicago, then the headquarters of the magazine’s offices, which limited the celebrities available for taping. The move to LA not only expanded the number and variety of guest stars but also took advantage of LA’s prominence as the nexus of the entertainment industry in America. Following the end of the series, Hefner moved his base of operations from Chicago to LA in 1971.

As soon as one hears the smooth jazz opening theme music and sees the flashing lights of the building located at Sunset and Alta Loma which sported a Playboy Club (though the series itself was filmed at CBS Studios), it’s hard not to feel a lot cooler and suave than one actually is in real life.

Jerry Lewis (far left), Sammy Davis Jr. (center) and Hugh Hefner (far right). 

Playboy After Dark attracted some of the era’s top talent.

Both the 1959 and 1969 series centered on the now iconic cocktail party, with well-dressed men and women schmoozing, drinking, smoking, and flirting with each other while discussing the latest social and political topics. More notably satirized as a sketch in Laugh-In, the Playboy cocktail party was the fantasy that populated the minds of many young people of the era as the Holy Grail of single adulthood. Sharp-eyed Laugh-In fans will recognize tall, lanky, mustachioed African American dancer Bryon Gilliam, a Laugh-In cocktail party dancer and regular performer who also appears in Playboy After Dark, providing some continuity between the two programs.  

Few people and publications have so embodied the zeitgeist of its times like Hugh Hefner and Playboy. To be sure, Playboy didn’t invent pornography. In fact, during its reign as the leading publication of nude female photography, it was generally regarded as the tamest of such periodicals. Instead, Playboy’s influence is rather as a men’s lifestyle magazine. Building upon the traditional American rugged individualist, Hefner and Playboy promoted a literate, worldly man, informed on contemporary art, fashion, film, literature, music, politics, sports, and, of course, sex. The old joke about Playboy, “I only read it for the articles,” has a grain of truth in that the articles actually were worth reading. As a teen, I often found myself unaccountably detracted by the articles, interviews, and jokes — honestly!

As noted in the expansive retro entertainment website, TV Party, the set for Playboy After Dark was constructed at a cost of $35,000 (approximately, $244,278 in 2019) and Hefner had no problem attracting top stars and models to populate his parties. While the exposure succeeded in showing Hefner had more to him than just a purveyor of pornography, the show was still a difficult sell in the more conservative Midwest and Deep South, where the Playboy name made widespread national syndication of the series somewhat challenging. In fact, it was so problematic that at least in one city, Charlotte, NC, the show was listed under the title “Hugh Hefner.”

The Playboy male ideal.

At its height, the Playboy Empire included not just the magazine but also books, merchandise, and a nationwide chain of high-end clubs. The clubs went out of business in 1991, but the brand was resurrected in 2006, and a handful still exists as of this writing. In 1986, I almost made my way into the Buffalo club on a double date, ironically at the insistence of the girls we were with from the Conservative Christian college we attended. While I was wearing a tie, the other guy wasn’t, so we didn’t get past the lobby. Yes, they had a dress code.

In a way, the magazines, the clubs, and the shows promoted a common male culture one step forward of the two-fisted drinkers of their father’s generation. The ideal “Playboy” man would be able to converse at parties on a wide range of topics, tell jokes, and mix the latest drinks. Still though, with a few exceptions for the exceptionally talented female celebrity, women were typically treated as little more than accessories rather than as equal participants in the sexual revolution. This is on display briefly in the beginning of the Buddy Rich & Hal Frasier performance of “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” where models Barbi Benton and Claudia Jennings (1970 Playmate of the Year) are cooking eggs for the guests. It betrays an inherently chauvinist attitude towards women not far removed from the previous generation.

I am disinclined to attribute the entirety of responsibility for the sexual revolution of the 1960s solely to Playboy; however, the magazine rode the forefront of the social movement and was influential in spreading the idea that sex and the female body was not a dirty secret to be hidden, but rather celebrated. While Playboy was a relatively more modest publication than its competitors, the magazine could still push the limits of what was acceptable in terms of female nudity until hardcore pornography became more widely distributed. I am reminded of a scene in Billy Hayes’s autobiography Midnight Express where after escaping a Turkish prison in 1975, following five years behind bars, he picks up a copy of Playboy and is immediately shocked at how much more nudity was displayed compared to 1970.

That Playboy’s Penthouse and Playboy After Dark both lasted two seasons each is not really indicative of a failure. The point of both programs was to raise the profile of the publication, and, to that end, it succeeded. Additionally, both programs capture a moment in time and Hefner had an instinct for knowing when the moment had passed, and, like every good host, he knew when the party was over.

_____________________________________________________________________

 Media Content

All media content is hosted on the Ae13U AfterDark YouTube channel.

The Most (1962): A period-look at the life, work, and philosophy of Playboy Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief Hugh Hefner. Actor Dudley Moore composed the music. Note, the soundtrack doesn't begin until 30 seconds into the film.

_____________________________________________________________________

Full Episodes: The links below are to a selection of full episodes from Playboy After Dark, hosted on the Ae13U AfterDark YouTube Channel.  Some episodes missing from Playboy After Dark Season 1 and Season 2 is due to copyrighted material in musical performances and consequently, those episodes are blocked. 

Don Adams, center, and Hugh Hefner, right, in Playboy After Dark.

Playboy After Dark Season 1:

• Season 1, Episode 1. Airdate — Jan. 18, 1969. Rowan & Martin, Stu Gilliam, Cathy Carlson, Paul Hampton, The Clara Ward Singers.
• Season 1, Episode 4. Airdate — Feb. 7, 1969. Guests: Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate, Della Reese, Don Adams. 
  
• Season 1, Episode 6. Airdate — Feb. 21, 1969. Guests: Tommy Smothers, Buffy St. Marie, Louis Nye, John Stewart, Dr. William Schultz, The Buddy Miles Express.
  
• Season 1, Episode 7. Airdate — Mar. 1, 1969. Guests: Don Adams, Larry Hankin, David Hemmings, Gayle Hunnicutt, Tommy Smothers, Joan Baez, The Avant-Garde featuring Chuck Woolery.
  
• Season 1, Episode 8. Airdate — Mar. 7, 1969. Guests: The Checkmates, Bill Cosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Jerry Lewis, Leroy Neiman, Anthony Newley.
  
• Season 1, Episode 10. Airdate — Mar. 21, 1969. Guests: Melvin Belli, The Checkmates, The Collage, Bill Cosby, Bob Fuller, Kelly Garrett, Shecky Greene, Doug McClure, Don Rickles.
  
• Season 1, Episode 11. Airdate — Mar. 22, 1969. Guests: Sid Caesar, Elias & Shaw, The Grateful Dead, Brendan Hanlon, Noel Harrison, Sydney Omarr.
  
• Season 1, Episode 12. Airdate — Mar. 28, 1969. Guests: Pat Collins, Gore Vidal, John Hartford, Three Dog Night, Morgana King.
  
• Season 1, Episode 13. Airdate — Mar. 29, 1969. Guests: Bob Newhart, O.C. Smith, Bill Cosby, Gary LeMel, The Pickle Brothers, Rod Piazza Group, George Chakos.
  
• Season 1, Episode 14. Airdate — Apr. 11, 1969. Guests: Bill Cosby, Jackie DeShannon, Jim Brown, Louis Belson, Marty Ingels, Taj Mahal, Jeremy Vernon, Deep Purple.
  
• Season 1, Episode 15. Airdate — Apr. 12, 1969. Guests: Buddy Rich, James Cotton Blues Band, Joe Williams, Sue Raney, Pat McCormick, Ray Hastings.
  
• Season 1, Episode 17. Airdate — May 2, 1969. Guests: Bill Cosby, Jack Carter, Soupy Sales, Clay Tyson, James Brown, Three Dog Night, Marva Whitney.
  
• Season 1, Episode 18. Airdate — May 9, 1969. Guests: Pete Seeger, Bill Cosby, Jack E. Leonard, Carmen McRae, Teddy Neely.
  
• Season 1, Episode 19. Airdate — May 16, 1969. Guests: Canned Heat, Colvin & Wilder, Buddy Greco, Johnny Janis, Shari Lewis, Max Lerner.
  
• Season 1, Episode 21. Airdate — May 31, 1969. Guests: Sammy Bow, Bobby Doyle, Billy Eckstine, The Grass Roots, Rich Little, Paul Mazursky, Larry Tucker.
  
• Season 1, Episode 22. Airdate — Jun. 28, 1969. Guests: Shelley Berman, Pat Morita, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Frankie Randall, Lou Rawls, Second City.
  
• Season 1, Episode 24. Airdate — Oct. 10, 1969. Guests: Johnny Mathis, Mort Sahl, The Chambers Brothers, Bill Russell, Corbett Monica, Nadia Christen.
  
• Season 1, Episode 25. Airdate — Nov. 7, 1969. Guests: Joey Bishop, Skiles & Henderson, Steppenwolf, Joe Williams, Joanne Vent.

Playboy After Dark Season 2:

• Season 2, Episode 1. Airdate — Jan. 27, 1970. Guests: Vic Damone, Canned Heat, Dick Shawn, Sonny & Cher, Larry Storch.
• Season 2, Episode 2. Airdate — Feb. 3, 1970. Guests: Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Patty Duke, Doug Kershaw, Louis Nye, Rex Reed.
• Season 2, Episode 3. Airdate — Feb. 10, 1970. Guests: Tony Bennett, George Kirby, Moe Koffman, Mitch Miller, Joe Williams.
• Season 2, Episode 4. Airdate — Feb. 17, 1970. Guests: Don Adams, Fleetwood Mac, Arte Johnson, Tommy Leonetti, Lesley Gore.
• Season 2, Episode 6. Airdate — Mar 3, 1970. Guests: Steve Allen, O.C. Smith, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Blossoms.
• Season 2, Episode 7. Airdate — Mar 10, 1970. Guests: Don Adams, The Amazing Kreskin, The Checkmates, Bill Dana, Biff Rose, Carla Thomas.
• Season 2, Episode 9. Airdate — Mar 24, 1970. Guests: Vicki Anderson, James Brown, The Chambers Brothers, Norm Crosby, Jack Jones.
• Season 2, Episode 10. Airdate — Mar 31, 1970. Guests: Angeline Butler, Bill Cosby, Bill Medley, Scoey Mitchell, Hugh O'Brian, Sweetwater.
• Season 2, Episode 11. Airdate — Apr 7, 1970. Guests: Sid Caesar, Billy Eckstine, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Cocker & the Grease Band, Mort Sahl.
• Season 2, Episode 12. Airdate — Apr 14, 1970. Guests: Milton Berle, Barrie Chase, Muscatel, Tony Joe White, Jo Anne Worley.
• Season 2, Episode 14. Airdate — Apr. 28, 1970. Guests: George Carlin, Kenny Kingston, Johnny Mathis, Modern Jazz Quartet, Tommy Smothers, John Stewart.
• Season 2, Episode 15. Airdate — May 5, 1970. Guests: Robert Goulet, Rich Little, Shari Lewis, Frankie Randall.
• Season 2, Episode 16. Airdate — May 12, 1970. Guests: Milton Berle, Barrie Chase, Muscatel, Tony Joe White, Jo Anne Worley.
• Season 2, Episode 18. Airdate — May 26, 1970. Guests: The Dillards, John Gary, Carmen McRae.
• Season 2, Episode 19. Airdate — Jun. 2, 1970. Guests: Sonny Charles, Sandy Baron, Lola Falana, Don Ho, Pat Paulson.
• Season 2, Episode 24. Airdate — Jul. 21, 1970. Guests: Sammy Davis Jr., Moms Mabley, Bill Medley, Billy Preston.
• Season 2, Episode 25. Airdate — Aug. 11, 1970. Guests: The Cowsills, Nanci Roberts, Marty Allen, Frankie Laine, Sue Raney.
• Season 2, Episode 26. Airdate — Aug. 25, 1970. Guests: George Carlin, Lou Rawls, Spanky Wilson, Bossa Rio.

Early 1970s marketing advertisement showing the ideal Playboy party includes alcohol, appetizers, art, and an attention to fashion.  

Playboy’s Penthouse:

• Season 1, Episode 17. Airdate — Feb. 13, 1960. This episode of the first series, Playboy's Penthouse, is a good example of the show and some of the guests would later appear on Playboy After Dark. Guests: Count Basie, Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, Tony Bennett, Phyllis Diller, Marty Ingels.

 _____________________________________________________________________ 

Playboy After Dark Musical Performances:

In addition to conversations with some of the most popular entertainers and public figures at the time, Playboy After Dark featured some of the most iconic and influential acts in Rock and Roll. Click on the links below for performances from Playboy After Dark available on the Ae13U Blue Planet YouTube channel.

• B. B. King, “So Excited.”

• Brenton Wood, “It’s Just a Game, Love” and “Just Gimmie Some Kind of Sign.”

• Buddy Rich & Hal Frasier, “A Lot of Livin’ to Do.”

• Deep Purple, “And the Address” (instrumental) and “Hush.”

• Canned Heat, “Future Blues,” “On the Road Again” and “Turpentine Moan.”

• Cher, “For Once in My Life” and “Take Me for a Little While.”

• Country Joe & The Fish, “I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag” and “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

• Fleetwood Mac, “Rattlesnake Shake.”

• Grand Funk Railroad, “Mr. Limousine Driver.”

• Grateful Dead, “Mountains of the Moon.”

• Ike & Tina Turner, “Come Together,” and “Take You Higher.”

• Jackie DeShannon, “I Got My Reason,” and “Hollywood.”

• James Brown, “Georgia.”

• Joe Cocker, “Hitchcock Railway.”

• Linda Ronstadt, “Walkin’ Down the Line,” “Living Like a Fool,” and “Lovesick Blues.” 

• Leslie Gore, “Hello Young Lovers” and “This Time.”

• Marvin Gaye, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “All by Myself.” 

• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “Alligator Man” and “Washington at Valley Forge.” 

• Noel Harrison, “The Great Electric Experiment is Over” and “The Last You’ll See of Me.”

• Roger McGuinn & The Byrds, “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” and “This Wheel’s on Fire” (medley).

• Sir Douglas Quintet, “Mendocino.”

• Sonny & Cher, “Too Good to be True.”

• Steppenwolf, “Chicken Wolf,” “Don't Cry,” “From Here to Eventually,” and “Monster.”

• Taj Mahal, “Everybody's Got to ChangeSometime.”

• The Cowsills, “Where is Love?” (from Oliver) and “II X II.”

• The Grass Roots, “Walkin Through the Country” and “Dancin’ in the Streets.”

 

●             ●             ●