Penthouse magazine

For those of you who have read my books or my biography, you probably know about my illustration history.  But for those of you who haven't, I got my illustration career started by drawing cartoons for men's magazines.

I started with Screw and worked my way up through Knave, Adelina, Hustler, Penthouse Letters and Penthouse Forum, and finally Playboy and Penthouse.  Of course, once I moved into making films, I ended my career as a porn cartoonist.

Recently I was asked by Penthouse magazine to direct a nude photo spread called "Pop Shots", where they invite well-known artistic celebrities to create a sexy section in the magazine.  The other contributors are famous tattoo artists, musicians, actors, etc.

Since I've created many sexy stories for my cartoons, I used the scenario of a woman who goes on a date to a drive-in cinema, and gleefully takes on numerous men, including actors from the movie - only instead of real male porn actors, I used some of my own cartoon characters, who would appear to be having sex with a live female model.

They asked me to supervise the shoot in L.A. on their large film studio (they also shoot films in these facilities).  So I made my selection from a group of local L.A. models.  I wanted a "va-va-voom" type actress, like a Jayne Mansfield or Jessica Rabbit type, however, the ones they initially showed me weren't exaggerated enough.

My first pick couldn't do it because she got married and found religion - too bad, because she had enormous breasts.  So I went with my second choice, who was blonde and looked great!

I flew out there in late August, and met the model.  A couple of problems popped up, she looked a lot older than the photos I'd seen, also she had more tattoos than I remembered from the photos.  I became very nervous, plus it was taking hours for her to get ready.  Damn, was this whole project a big mistake?  Had it become a failed wet dream?

After the first few shots, I saw how perfect she was, and my fears happily disappeared.  The shoot was a big success and a great learning experience for me.  In fact, this was one of my boyhood fantasies come true.

I've just received the finished shots, and now I have to fill in the cartoon drawings for this "backseat fuck fest".  It should appear in the December issue of Penthouse - so check your local newstand in a month or two.

The editors wanted to try something different for the magazine to attract younger readers - and I think my photo spread is definitely very different.  If you like it, be sure to let the editors of Penthouse know - then I may do a sequel!

Thanks,

Bill Plympton