Playboy Laughs: The Comedy, Comedians, and Cartoons of Playboy

Following her success with Playboy Swings, Patty Farmer looks at Playboys relationship with comedians and cartoonists in her new book Playboy Laughs. Playboy Laughsinvites readers onto the sets of the organizations groundbreaking TV shows,Playboy PenthouseandPlayboy After Dark. These popular variety series brought top-tier comedians, impressionists, and monologistsas well as the finest musiciansinto peoples homes each week. Readers will learn how before he ever dreamed of conquering the magazine publishing worldand along the way establish a worldwide brandHugh Hefner harbored aspirations of making his mark in the world as a cartoonist. Playboy Laughsdelves into the darker aspects of the time as well, tackling the ways Playboy and its comedy stars helped break down social and racial barriers as well as sexual ones. Known for her devotion to meticulous research and clear, honest storytelling, Farmer has gained the full cooperation of the Playboy organizationand Hugh Hefner himselfmaking this not only an entertaining read but a trustworthy history of an under-appreciated aspect of American comic culture.