Uncle Larry took the stand late Tuesday against prodigal nephews Jimmy Jr. and Dustin Flynt, whom he used to employ, until he fired them for being lazy good-for-nothings in 2007, prompting them to spend their $100K severance packages founding Flynt Media Corps., a rival to Larry Flynt Publishing that once used the tagline, "You know the name, you know the game." Ergo, trademark infringement, taste issues, and that age-old conundrum: Tits or ass?

DeCarlo, the nephews' attorney, took issue with Flynt's assessment of the films as "trashy." He proceeded to show the jury an enlarged image of one of Larry Flynt's films, "Mason's Sluts."

"Is this less trashy or more trashy than my client's product?" DeCarlo asked.

"Your clients are focusing on the boob element, so to speak," Larry Flynt replied. "I just think that's sort of passé, and guys are moving past that. That's only my opinion."

Interesting, the image of a flamboyantly dressed, toad-like lecher discussing the "boob element" from a gold-plated, velvet-lined wheelchair in room full of serious, grey-haired men is one we already know pretty well.

As is often the case with generational conflicts, artistic differences divide Flynt the Elder and Flynts the Younger. When young Dustin argued he was "bringing elegance back to erotica," Uncle Larry scoffed:

"I think there's a thin line. As a society we've come to accept what I like to refer to as 'vanilla sex,' " he said. "But if you get too trashy, people get uncomfortable."

Larry Flynt: auteur. [LAT] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-flynt9-2009dec09,0,4809318.story

So this researcher at the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Family Violence and Violence Against Women in Montreal was trying to study "the impact of pornography on the sexuality of men, and how it shapes their perception of men and women." But they couldn't find any non-porn-addled guys to use as a control group. Said the researcher in a press release.

We started our research seeking men in their twenties who had never consumed pornography. We couldn't find any.

He did find some interesting things from interviewing 20 straight, porn-consuming men:

The research concluded that 90 percent of pornography is consumed on the Internet, while 10 percent comes from video stores. On average, single men watch pornography three times a week for 40 minutes. Those who are in committed relationships watch it on average 1.7 times a week for 20 minutes.

But still: Stop watching so much porn, guys. You're ruining science.

(via Ars Technica)

Zahm founded Purple magazine, wears the same outfit every day and has a photo blog on which he documents his very NSFW life. The opening, at Half gallery on the Lower East Side was like a hipster black hole of Calcutta. Paul Sevigny, Andre Balazs, Jefferson Hack and James Frey crammed in among the models, vintage clothing and asymmetrical haircuts. Michael Stipe stayed outside and smoked. Terry Richardson made a grand entry and asked the world at large where the picture of him was (it was next to a vagina close-up, perhaps a deliberate juxtaposition). In fact an informal survey revealed that, of 29 photographs, 17 featured naked women. The aesthetic was perhaps best summed up by an overheard comment: "dude, if I took a bunch of pictures and had an art show, this is what it would look like."

The man himself was hidden behind thick purple sunglasses in the back office of the gallery. His traditional outfit — plaid shirt, black jeans, black leather jacket over white denim jacket, pointy boots, gold watch — was set off with a black-and-white silk scarf for the occasion.

"I am not an artist," he said in a thick French accent while greeting various people with lip or cheek kisses as the whim struck him. "I just love woman. Photographing a woman is something you do with your whole self — all of you as a man. They are precious and delicate and attractive."

Zahm, perhaps unsurprisingly, loves amateur pornography. "They are not photographing just to make you come, like professional pornography. They are real people sharing their sexual lives and they are doing it for themselves and for other couples. Sex is life. Professional pornography is just capitalism." He would not share his favorite websites: "you cannot find them on Google. These are for people who know about amateur pornography. You must be recommended them." He did not think Gawker worthy, apparently.

Outside a French filmmaker, who gave his name only as Renaud, mused on Zahm's photographic sharings. "You know, I don't want one of these prints. I want his life."

[Pictures by Alexander Poe, who sadly lost $200 playing poker all night after these were taken]

Our sister site Fleshbot reports (link NSFW) that Vivid has announced that it has the tapes in its possession, and TMZ has published a letter from Vivid chair Steve Hirsch to Prejean's lawyers seeking the right to distribute "erotic footage that Carrie Prejean, former Miss California, produced for her boyfriend following their four (4) day rendezvous in February 2007." Here's where everyone purses their lips, nods slowly, and says "Four days? Nice..."

Ever the persuader, Hirsch explains that Vivid's platinum-leafed "Vivid-Celeb" imprint boasts starlet titles including Kim Kardashian Superstar, Shauna Sand Exposed, and former Miss USA Kelli McCarty's Faithless. Unfortunately for Vivid (and fans of teen masturbation) Carrie's mother—who is also her rep—has already said "No, not at any price" to the proposal.

If Hirsch's date is right, then Carrie didn't lie about her age in the video(s). She was nineteen, the "teenager" she repeatedly described herself as in her "worst mistake of my life" monologue—and above the age of consent. Everyone wins!

November 15, 2009

Law Offices of
Charles S. Limandri
P.O. Box 9120
16236 San Dieguito Road
Suite 3-15
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Re: Carrie Prejean

Dear Mr. Limandri:

Vivid Entertainment ("Vivid") is interested in acquiring the rights to distribute the erotic footage that Carrie Prejean, former Miss California, produced for her boyfriend following their four (4) day rendezvous in February 2007 (the "Footage").

We would like to present Carrie with several options where she could certainly earn millions of dollars

Vivid is the world's leading adult film company. It places a heavy emphasis on high quality erotic film entertainment. Vivid has been in the adult business for over 25 years and has built an excellent reputation for integrity and fair dealing.

Carrie is a beautiful woman. We believe the Footage will be a huge success and has the potential of being the most successful adult video of all time. We will do it right the first time.

The Footage, starring Carrie, would be distributed on Vivid.com and under the "Vivid-Celeb" imprint, which prior releases include: "Kim Kardashian Superstar" an adult film starring Kim Kardashian and hip hop star Ray J; "Faithless", an adult film staring [sic] Kelli McCarty, former Miss USA and finalist in the Miss Universe pageant; and "Shauna Sand Exposed" an adult film staring [sic] former Playboy Playmate Shauna Sand.

We trust that you will discuss our offer with Carrie, and we look forward to establishing a long term business relationship with her.

Very truly yours,
Vivid Entertainment, LLC

/Steven Hirsch/
Co-Chairman

[Fleshbot] NSFW
[TMZ]

Francis, who has been out on bail pending his trial, agreed yesterday to plead guilty to two counts of submitting false tax returns omitting $562,000 in income and one count of bribery for paying more than $5,000 to his prison guards for contraband food. In exchange, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of time served (he spent 10 months in federal prison awaiting trial in 2007 and 2008), one year of probation, and a $250,000 fine.

The plea came just weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin, and the Associated Press suggests that it was precipitated by credibility issues that recently came to light about the government's star witness, Francis' former accountant Michael Barrett:

Barrett's credibility as a witness came into question in recent weeks, with Otero warning prosecutors that Barrett posed problems for them. The judge noted that Barrett had sought a reward for turning Francis in, even though he may have also committed a crime.

Otero told prosecutors during a hearing earlier this summer that they should consider resolving the case before it went to trial. He had also questioned Francis' ability to control himself in the courtroom during the trial, nearly sending him to jail when he learned that Francis had taunted a prosecutor.

According to TMZ, Francis has sued Barrett, claiming he embezzled millions of dollars and falsely ratted out Francis to the IRS in the hopes of keeping the scheme from being uncovered. That sounds like a conspiratorial revenge fantasy, but the sudden and late plea agreement suggests that prosecutors may have thought Francis was on to something.

Sentencing is due in November. According to the terms of the agreement shown below, it's about as good a bet as you'll find that Francis will be back in prison within days:

Read the whole thing here.

We haven't made any of these up:

* SPEECHLESS - SILENCING THE CHRISTIANS
* THUGOCRACY - FIGHTING THE VAST LEFT WING CONSPIRACY
* DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD
* ACTIVISM AND CONSERVATISM: FIT TO A TEA (PARTY)
* THE THREAT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
* OBAMACARE: RATIONING YOUR LIFE AWAY
* MARRIAGE: WHY IT'S WORTH DEFENDING AND HOW REDEFINING IT THREATENS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
* THE NEW MASCULINITY
* WAIT NO MORE: FINDING FAMILIES FOR WAITING KIDS
* TURNING THE TIDE IN YOUR GENERATION

Nor did we make up what that "New Masculinity" session was apparently about: protecting the children from being turned gay by Playboy. Take it away, Chief of Staff to Senator Tom Coburn:

A session on the "New Masculinity" went deep into the reasons why, and how, conservatives could prevent children from entering pre-marital domestic partnerships or from embracing the "malady" of homosexuality. Michael Schwartz, the chief of staff to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), told the audience that praising one's parents in nightly prayers could enforce the notion of marriage, and telling children that "all pornography is homosexual pornography" could prevent them from becoming perverted.

Yes, of course!

And Mitt Romney, who is the Republican party's leading 2012 contender (and a so-called "centrist!") is openly praising this weirdo nonsense hard-right conspiratorial mystical Mormon pseudohistory called The 5,000 Year Leap. (The book also informs Glenn Beck's bizarre interpretation of history and the constitution.) It is hard to overstate how weird and fucked up that is and how terrifying the idea of these people returning to power is. This is like a 1988 speech from Paul Tsongas in which he announces that he's been seriously studying The Illuminatus! Trilogy, except all that just would mean was that he was high, not that he believed the Rothschilds banded together with Ho Chi Minh, the civil rights movement, and the Council on Foreign Relations to establish a New World Order.

• After appearing on The Late Show, a nationally televised program, Anna Wintour requested a "more private table" at the bistro Chat Noir. [Page Six]
  
  
• Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump landed in jail over the night for a traffic warrant. His bail has been set at $15,000 [TMZ]
  
  
• Lily Allen's friends have no problem telling the tabloids about the singer's drunken, slutty ways. Remarked one pal, "She'll hook up with anyone when she's drunk." [3am]
  
  
• Jackie O's half brother, James Auchincloss, has been arrested on kiddie porn charges. [NYDN]
  
  
• A child grows within Mel Gibson's girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. And now it's showing! [Daily Mail]
  
  
• Chelsea Handler has broken up with her live-in boyfriend, who's also her boss. It is, says a source, "such drama." [Gatecrasher]
  
  
• Former Hugh Hefner plaything Bridget Marquardt and her boyfriend Nick Carpenter moved in together last week and are already fighting. Sadly, there has been one casualty thus far: Marquardt's collection of Hello Kitty memorabilia. [E!]
  
  
• Danielle Staub from Real Housewives of New Jersey wants a photographer to shoot the cover of her forthcoming memoir — for free! [Gatecrasher]
  
  
• Quest magazine removed Walter Noel, whose hedge fund lost loads of dough in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, from their list of high societies best and brightest. [Page Six]

Auctioneers hoped these marble toilets would go for up to $5,000 apiece; they sold for $200. If you bought these, please use a lot of bleach before you install them.

Now this is the kind of "art" you'd expect to see in the Gooch's pad. The auction house's web site describes them as "molded plastic with high releif [sic] neoclassical female busts with sun ray crowns." Yes, those are a lot of female busts.

For more pictures of the gaudy things that Bob Guccione hosted orgies on and around, go here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Bruns, a former Fox News "campaign embed" with Hillary Clinton's campaign, was arrested in January and fired from Fox in short order. He described himself in sentencing documents as having been addicted to pornography since he was a teenager.

The sentence is a sharp contrast to the case of David Malakoff, who was sentenced—like Bruns, by a federal district judge in Washington, D.C.—to probation, a fine, and community service last week for possessing kiddie porn. According to a spokesman for the U.S, Attorney's office in Washington, Bruns' sentence was mandatory because he had previously been convicted of child pornography in Michigan, and under federal sentencing guidelines, a prior offense requires a minimum of 10 years.

There's no link because, as far as we can tell, no one else has reported the sentence. We read about it on Jake Tapper's Twitter feed (we know!) and called the U.S. Attorney's office to confirm.

Yes CNBC, fresh from being shamed to the nth degree in recent months for the vigorous handjob they pass for coverage of the financial firms that brought a mightly nation to the brink of collapse, ran a special, "Porn, the Business of Pleasure," last night, and the ratings are in! Looks like a score for CNBC.

According to Nielsen, CNBC, which aired the one hour special at 9pm and repeated it again at 10pm, scored 1,063,000 viewers in the 25-64 age range over the two prime time hours, which was dramatically up from the 232,000 viewers in the same combined time slots on Tuesday, an increase of almost 500%. Hey, ratings baby! Score!

So what did CNBC uncover in their "investigation?" Allow us to run down the highlights:

• The porn industry was birthed in the early 1970s by this movie called Deep Throat. It was shot for $25,000 and made millions.
  
  
• Throughout the 80s and 90s, coinciding with the proliferation of VCRs and DVD players, porn flourished as people could enjoy it in the privacy of their own homes. Many people in the industry became very wealthy.
  
  
• Nowadays, the internet is crimping porn's style, what with online pirating and all. What will they do to survive? Nobody knows.
  
  
• There's this one porn star named Sasha Grey who just starred in a "mainstream" film. She'd like to "crossover" more, but it's going to be hard, what with the gangbangs she's been filmed doing and all.
  
  
• There's this other porn star named Jesse Jane. She lives in Oklahoma City, like a "real American," and lives her life like a "normal" wife and mother. She could be sitting next to you in a PTA meeting!
  
  
• Throughout the program, scenes from porno movies were shown with the naughty bits blurred out, of course.
  
  
  And that was about it. The whole thing didn't really provide any information that the average person couldn't get off of Wikipedia. Here's a snippet from the program last night.
  
  
  

  Congratulations CNBC. You are a complete fucking joke.

"This is unbelievable," [assemblyman Dov] Hikind fumed. "The bottom line is that the local library can be unsafe for young children. It's pretty sick stuff."

The Brooklyn Public Library said it had the problem under control and would remove the tape.

But Hikind said that showed "unbelievable chutzpah," and added that therapists have warned that children can suffer lasting psychological damage from exposure to pornography.

Dov Hikind, the same assemblyman who happily agreed to meet with Uzbekistan's murderous dictator and vowed not to allow any references to gypsies or homosexuals on a Holocaust memorial, will not rest until that Brooklyn public library agrees to burn itself to the ground, for the children.
[NYP]

The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Tuesday, will be released on May 22 in New York and Los Angeles and on demand on the TV network HDNet. It follows an escort named Chelsea who charges $2,000 an hour to act as a client's girlfriend for the night, providing more intimacy than just sex. (In the film's opening scene, Chelsea and her client are shown at a chic Manhattan restaurant discussing the film they just saw - Man on Wire - going back to his apartment and making out, and then having breakfast and reading The New York Times together the next morning.) The story takes place over five days in October 2008, and is partially improvised by the mostly unprofessional actors, who play versions of themselves, like New York magazine staff writer Mark Jacobson, who plays a journalist, and movie critic Glenn Kenny, who plays an escort reviewer. (Some readers may recall that Kenny served as writer David Foster Wallace's editor and sidekick when the duo attended the AVN Awards for a piece for Premiere magazine.) But the casting choice that has garnered the film so much attention is that the main character is played by real-life porn star Sasha Grey.

At the Tribeca Film Festival, Soderburgh explained that he chose Grey precisely because of her porn persona, The Guardian reports. "With Sasha, you can within seconds see her do anything you can imagine with her clothes off," he said. "What you can't see is what it's like to be her boyfriend, to hang out with her and be emotionally intimate with her. So my whole theory is that's the fantasy for those who've been double-clicking – that they want to spend 77 minutes being her boyfriend."

As Soderbergh put it, Sasha Grey is "not the normal adult film star." Grey is 21, but has appeared in 150 adult films and branded herself as a "new" kind of pornstar since beginning her career at the age of 18. According to the Associated Press, Grey is known for "pushing the boundaries of normal sexual acts," but, "she maintains she's always in control." Vanessa Grigoriadis, who profiled Sasha Grey for the new issue of Rolling Stone explains:

Sasha Grey is the adult industry's reigning princess of porn, a rock & roll 21-year-old with an actual mission statement - "Most of the XXX I see is boring, and does not arouse me physically or visually. I am determined and ready to be a commodity that fulfills everyone's fantasies" - and few taboos.

Grey, who is co-managed by former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro (and appeared in the porn film he directed), has modeled for American Apparel, and sung with the reggae musician Lee "Scratch" Perry. She says she is striving to make porn more artistic; Grigoriadis asserts she is changing the relationship between feminism and porn:

"Porn has been one of feminism's most divisive issues because it hits on such a raw level to so many woman. Here are the fantasies of men, and it's of course better to live out those fantasies through pornography than to try to do them in the real world, but the fact is the real world is impacted by it. Grey says, ‘If you look at me and you think "Here's a woman who's intelligent, cognizant and making her own choices, and you still tell me that what I'm doing is wrong, screw you, because that should end the debate.' "

Grey's appearance in The Girlfriend Experience has been interpreted as the first step in her attempt to go mainstream like former adult actresses Traci Lords and Jenna Jameson, but according to our sister site, Fleshbot, (link NSFW):

If anything, we suspect that Sasha is attempting to remake the notion of what a mainstream star is, and does-much the way she's remade any notions of what an 18-year-old pornstar looks and sounds like .... it's also possible that Sasha could rise to fame in the mainstream cinema while continuing to work as an adult star-perhaps completely remaking our notions of what it means to have crossover appeal.

Though Grey doesn'tactually have sex on screen in The Girlfriend Experience, Soderbergh says that he felt comfortable casting her because "Porn is beyond everywhere now." He told Time Out New York that he thinks prostitution should be legal and does not consider the prostitute in his film a victim. When asked what he would say to someone who has been roped into a life of prostitution, he replied:

Well, there are people for whom that is true. That's not the case with Chelsea any more than it is with Sasha in the adult-film industry. But, yeah, I think whatever agreement two people want to come to about whatever is really none of my business. I don't know what the difference is between that and what I'm doing for Sony Pictures right now [directing Moneyball].

According to the Village Voice review:

Like Godard, Soderbergh views prostitution as the ultimate paradigm for capitalism. But where Godard saw the hooker as a tragic or exploited victim, Soderbergh suggests there are no victims, only failed traders, in the post-Reagan era of DIY capitalism.

And, says Variety's review, the film de-emphasizes the sex involved in Chelsea's work and portrays her as a woman in control of her own get-rich-quick scheme, much like her clients who strive to make a fortune in the world of finance.

From reviews and interviews, it appears Soderbergh was striving for some sort of meta commentary on how capitalism makes prostitutes and porn stars of us all. The johns in the movie delude themselves into thinking they're experiencing a higher level of intimacy with "the girlfriend experience" than they would by just having sex with a prostitute. Similarly, Soderbergh suggests that audience members, who have presumably seen Grey's porn films, will delude themselves into thinking they are experiencing her on a more intimate level by watching her act in a mainstream film rather than a porn film. But by focusing on a high priced escort who chose to get into prostitution, and having her portrayed by an actress described as an atypical pornstar who feels in control of her career, he conveniently ignores the fact that many women in both industries are exploited. Soderbergh is certainly allowed to use the old fantasy of a sex worker who simply loves her work. However, by ignoring the uglier side of the sex trade, he undermines his argument that his film reflects any underlying truths about sex, pornography, or society.

Trailer for The Girlfriend Experience:



Steven Soderbergh On The Girlfriend Experience: 'I Hired Real People And Turned Them Loose' [The Guardian]
Porn Star Sasha Grey Stars In New Soderbergh Film [The Associated Press]
Sasha Grey, The Dirtiest Girl In The World: The Story Behind The Story [Rolling Stone]
Sasha Grey, Crossover Star (NSFW) [Fleshbot]
Steven Soderbergh Interview [Time Out New York]
Soderbergh's Girlfriend Experience Porn-Star Is A True Character [The Village Voice]
The Girlfriend Experience Review [Variety]

Earlier: Dave Navarro Makes Porno Debut
American Apparel Now Sponsoring Bloggers & Porn Stars (NSFW)
Oprah Learns About The Ins-N-Outs Of Legal Prostitution

Hannity almost certainly has no idea who Kardashian is. He told her some girls look up to her because, unlike Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, Kardashian doesn't drink. Then he asked her about her Playboy spread in a concerned, fatherly way: "Why Playboy? That's the only thing I didn't understand in your bio. That didn't make sense to me."

So that must mean the part of her bio where she taped herself having dirty naked sex with a man [NSFW], and the tape was fairly well-produced and well-lit—almost professionally so!—and then the tape was sold for $1 million? That part made perfect sense to you, Sean. Sean Hannity's America is sounding like a better place to live every day.

The University of Maryland student union was going to play a film called Pirates 2: Stagnetti's Revenge, a reasonably big-budget fuck flick based on those pirate movies from the Disney people but with fake tits and bad jokes instead of Johnny Depp and bad jokes. (And with explicit sex, obviously. It's probably shorter than those damn pirate movies too.)

Why were they doing this? Well, for one, it's hard to get people to show up at the Student Union for anything these days, because the student union is pretty gay.

As the student union theater program director explained:

Students have been wanting to show a triple-X movie for some time, and she was waiting for one that wasn't too violent or degrading, one that had a plot.

Ok, sure. Why not. What's the harm?

Well one killjoy in the Maryland State Senate got wind of this plot to have students actually pay for pornography and he was not pleased!

Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Baltimore County) called it "shocking" and offered a budget amendment: Any public university that allowed the screening of a triple-X film would forfeit state funding — about $424 million next year in U-Md.'s case.

Hah. Nice one, Andrew Harris. Strip a major public university of public funding because its student-funded activities committee was going to allow adult students to buy tickets to watch an adult film. Yes, wonderful. But why, Senator Harris?

"Pornography is not fun. It's poison," said Harris, who told his colleagues that he is the father of three daughters, the eldest of whom is a college senior.

Look, most porn "is not fun." But there's a whole world of it out there, Andrew!

While the Maryland State Senate was debating this important issue, elementary school classes kept wandering in on tours, as in a hilarious farcical movie or something.

While another senator was pressing Harris about why his amendment did not apply to double-X or single-X films, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) noticed that a group of third-graders had arrived to watch the action from the Senate gallery.

"Can we move to another amendment?" Miller said. And then: "We welcome the students from Plum Point Elementary School."

As debate on the other issue wrapped up, he told the children: "We're waiting for you to leave the room. We've got to talk about bad stuff."

Later, another senator was citing research that pornography makes men more angry at women who flirt but refuse to have sex. A group from Hollywood Elementary School in St. Mary's County then arrived.

Hah. The hilariously punitive budget measure probably would not have passed, but the school decided to cancel the screening anyway, just to be safe. So good work, Maryland State Senator Andrew Harris, you have saved these college students from ever seeing poisonous pornography.

"Lifestyles Reporter" (HEH) Nikki Roberti sets it up with words from the expert:

Thirty-five to 40 years ago, X-rated films were not part of mainstream America, Associate Sociology Professor Ken B. Muir said.
Now they are.

OH HO? The Appalachian took it upon itself to poll 100 students of the school there, and found scarce middle ground on this contentious and often sexy issue:

Forty-six percent said pornography was a normal and a common part of life, whereas 34 percent said it was disgusting and wrong.
Twenty percent had no opinion.

Furthermore, 43.4% (how is that possible in a poll of 100 people? I don't know) lied and said they don't watch porn at all. But The Appalachian did track down one expert who most certainly does watch porn: assistant sociology professor Amy D. Page. Doctor?

"Cum shots are mainstream where men ejaculate in women's faces."
[But!!!]
"I don't believe women enjoy being ejaculated on in the face."

Well that's fine for a lofty academic to say while sitting up in your ivory tower, masturbating, but can we bring this sexy discussion back down to earth?

"As a professor trained in the Marxist and feminist traditions, I fully appreciate how some people would find certain aspects of eros and pornography to be deeply intertwined in a patriarchal system of keeping women submissive," Muir said.

It will be hilarious if this entire four-part series leaves out the gays. But more hilarious if it does not.
[The Appalachian. We have illustrated this post with the actual photo from the original story, because of sexiness. Thanks to tipster Alex.]

A straight-A high school student and graduate of Vanderbilt University, Page worked stints as a teacher, secretary, fur coat model and stage and television actress before a police officer and pinup photographer discovered her on the beach at Coney Island in 1950. She soon moved on to racy S&M-themed photos with a brother-sister team team who "cut her hair into the dark bangs that became her signature." The photos became the subject of a congressional investigation and, page said, led to harassment by federal agents.

Page posed in a Christmas-themed Playboy centerfold in 1955 (image NSFW). Heffner told AP Page "had a tremendous impact on our society... an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion."

Soon after, she became depressed, and two marriages in quick succession ended in divorce. Page was diagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to a mental hospital. She later had a religious conversion. After living for years on Social Security benefits, Page benefited from an image revival the Times described thusly:

David Stevens, creator of the comic-book and later movie character the Rocketeer, immortalized her as the Rocketeer’s girlfriend. Fashion designers revived her look. Uma Thurman, in bangs, reincarnated Bettie in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction,” and Demi Moore, Madonna and others appeared in Page-like photos.

There were Bettie Page playing cards, lunch boxes, action figures, T-shirts and beach towels. Her saucy images went up in nightclubs. Bettie Page fan clubs sprang up. Look-alike contests, featuring leather-and-lace and kitten-with-a-whip Betties, were organized

Page also came to be worshipped on the internet. Fan sites widely circulated old pictures, typified by those below, which mix racy S&M shots with tamer beach-and-bikini material. These pictures give a sampling of the sort of pictures that were, according to AP, " quickly tacked up on walls in military barracks, garages and elsewhere, where they remained for years."

Later in life, Page refused to be photographed, saying she wanted to be remembered as she had looked in her heyday.

The next time you see a naked picture on the internet, or some good bondage porn, think of Bettie Page. She specifically requested it! In addition to making it all possible. (So hot!)

Adams points out that Playboy magazine, with its "pictures of scantily clad, identikit blondes" (complete, if memory serves, with unnaturally round, high, shiny breasts, landing strip pubes, and weird occupational costumes), is now behind the times. Where once it interviewed Bob Dylan and Jean-Paul Sartre, it now lands such luminaries as Pete Wentz and Kevin Connolly. And at just 132 pages, it's a lightweight. Vogue could kick sand on it at the beach.

Attractive, much-younger women have long been willing to play by Hef's rules — including a 9 p.m. curfew, and monogamy for them but not for him — because of what former girlfriend Izabella St. James calls "the glamour and glitz and the attraction of Hef and this life in Hollywood." If the glitz fades, will Hugh still be able to fill his revolving bed? Will someone else (Dov Charney? Joe Francis?) rise up to fill his slippers? Or is his whole breed, the celebrity pornography-polygamist, now passe?

We hope so, but Joan Smith, writing in today's Guardian, fears otherwise. She sees The House Bunny, with its portrayals of a fatherly Hef and fun Bunny shopping sprees, as a sign that women have accepted "the bunny girl image" as something "benign, and even cool." Other evidence includes the Playboy logo on pencil cases, jewelry, and slippers. To girls who want to dress like Bunnies (like teenage Dodai!), Smith offers a reminder of Bunny life in the 60s. Women at Playboy clubs of that era had to conform to a variety of stringent male-imposed standards, like wearing the right shade of lipstick and spouting the right amount of small talk — all for very little pay. Young women may want to take up the mantle of Hef themselves — Female Chauvinist Pigs-style — but Smith warns that the Playboy magnate is little more than "an 82-year-old polygynist whose chief claim to fame is dressing up adult women as rabbits" and "young women shouldn't fall for it."

Is the party over for Playboy? [Independent]
The problem with Playboy [Guardian]

But you can't say it didn't generate any user dialogue:

Citizen journalism, ladies and gentlemen. [Ad Age]