Julian Bray recalls his time on Heffs Big Black Bunny DC9 assisted by playmate Barbie Benton
Barbie Benton claimed that literally everything was done together, hence the twin loos side by side... Heff liked his stewardesses properly dressed, the uniform was a wet look leather sculpted costume draped around the aviation bunnies.
As if on a mission, Barbie expertly guided me back to the bedroom.
We had missed Heffs pride and joy! The recessed professional cinema 35mm film widescreen projector and the library of first run films in metal canisters!
Clearly you need something to while away the long hours at 35,000 feet when snuggled down and strapped into the bed (for safety reasons) with a playmate - or two.
No contest, it would be the best that Warner Brothers had to offer on the not so big screen at the end of the oval bed and the sound pumping out of eight stereo hidden speakers, bliss.
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Heff with his then girlfriend Barbie Benton on a visit to London |
For some 20 years, Playboy Magazine dominated its market, with circulation peaking at over seven million in the early 1970s, a survey suggested that a quarter of all male college students in America were buying the magazine. It contained the finest contemporary writing in the magazine market, with Saul Bellow, Arthur C Clarke, Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal were among the regular contributors.
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Heff at London Heathrow Airport in the early 1970's with his arm around girlfriend and playmate Barbie Benton surrounded by UK Playboy Club bunnies.. |
But few hacks in the UK can say they were shown Heffs twin holed loo. 'Its a little hidded' chirped Barbie, even she was lost for words, as was Late Night Extra producer Chris Searle..."We'll run the tape as it is, all 20 minutes of it, no edits, just as you Julian recorded it, a full UHER tape spool and we'll back it with a Woolworths recording of a distorted violin playing 'A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody'
Presenter John Benson just threw his script in the air, and walked out of the gallery...muttering darkly.
Hopefully the programme audio recording has been preserved somewhere. Should also mention, the other BBC radio news reporter on duty that night during the 'Late Night Extra' programme was a young chap, by the name of John Simpson. Wonder whatever happened to him?
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