Hugh
Hefner
(1926-2017)
Many
decades ago as a young student I worked for Mr Hefner's 'Under boss' in
the accounts department of the Playboy Club on Park Lane, an
exclusive area of Central London (literally around the corner in
those days from the old offices of MI5, the British Security
Service.)
I
never met Hefner personally (too low down the pecking chain!) but
what I will say was that it was a great company to work for.
Yes
we were always under pressure (to balance the books!) and if we did
not, we had to stay working on the job until the books balanced –
however long it took - into that night and into the following morning
if necessary (!)
That
(the prospect of not balancing) was a nightmare – which I still
remember to this day. You can thus be assured that 99% of the time
we balanced the books rather than suffer the consequences.
That
being said I can hardly think of another place in London that I, as a
20- something year old, wanted to work than at the prestigious
Playboy Club – and not as a Bunny (!)
Even
in those dark times (when the books did not balance) we were fed the
choicest of steak, lamb, roast, fantastic deserts whilst going crazy
into the early hours of the morning seeking those missing bill copies of monies received in the Club to
tally up the figures. The general rule was 'finish the accounting side of the business every day before the Club opens in the evening'.
(We
were never offered alcohol whilst working at any time – so a very sober accounts
department was always in operation. I think that we were the only (kept intentionally) 'permanently sober' department in the Playboy Club!)
Many
decades later coming home from a function in a major capital city, we
were joined coming out of the Hotel by a few people we did not know -
except that they had attended that same evening's gathering.
We
got talking about many things as we headed towards the Subway and I
think one asked me what I did as a student.
I
said that I was both studying and working and one of the places I was
working part-time was at The Playboy Club in Central London.
(The
regular joke to follow after saying this often goes along the lines of did I like being a 'Bunny' at the Club!)
He
asked about the girls (the 'Bunnies') - what were they like?
I
told him not to believe the 'fake news' he reads in the Gutter press
about The Playboy Club nor it's London CE, Victor Lownes.
He
was a great guy to work for and the girls were the sweetest, kindest,
most mannerly and hospitable you could ever meet – not the
debauched picture of them painted by the prurient and quasi-Victorian
British media – which could not stand to see a successful American
entrepreneur making money in London in the manner Vic was, and, as
with Freddie Laker the 'establishment' 'conspired' to destroy the
reputation of the Club and, as the objective, have it's gambling
license revoked. [Apart from business rivalry, no doubt there were
mountains of jealousy at Lownes – a foreigner, an American, running
the most successful Club in Central London.]
[Many
of the girls employed as Bunnies were from 'well-to-do' families
simply looking for fun, adventure, romance (!) and that 'wonderful'
husband who would private jet them off to......... …........ ….......
…........ (places I dare not mention these days as 'the crazies'
are all now in control out there!) In those days rich........arrived by private jet just to spend just a few days shopping or gambling or whatever else in London. These days a majority of their successors in wealth head by private jets elsewhere - as London is no longer the 'fun' ('Swinging') Capital it used to be.]
Few
of the girls found the eternal romance and happiness they were
seeking - and I am sure there were many 'broken hearts'; but that does
not mean they should never have 'wished upon a star'.
Likewise
the VIPs who came to gamble (sometimes to win but more often than not to loose huge fortunes) they were the nicest people you could ever hope meet – not
the persons of 'ill-repute' - always so painted by the British
mainstream media at that time.
[Yes Vic did make mistakes - and paid the price for his errors of judgment.
These were all based on 'trust' and 'honor', on broken promises made by individuals he knew personally, rather than sticking to 'the letter' of the requirements, which, with hindsight, he should have done.]
[Yes Vic did make mistakes - and paid the price for his errors of judgment.
These were all based on 'trust' and 'honor', on broken promises made by individuals he knew personally, rather than sticking to 'the letter' of the requirements, which, with hindsight, he should have done.]
He
was very moved at what I said and replied:
''Thank
you for saying what you just did. My aunt worked as a 'Bunny' at
the Playboy Club when she was younger and I've heard and read so many conflicting stories
but never met with anyone who actually worked in the Club itself . Thanks for that. Appreciated!''
We
parted company going our separate ways and I never saw him again.
I
believe (at that time -some 15-20 years ago) that he had recently
graduated and was working in 'Logistics' with a well-known
organization.
Victor
Lownes passed away earlier this year - followed yesterday by Hugh Hefner.
It
really is the end of what was a very vibrant and highly creative
era.
©Patrick
Emek, September 2017