A fluffy tale from long ago.
Posted by Big John on June 9, 2011
I see that London now has a new Playboy Club after the old one closed down around thirty years ago.
At that time I was working as sales manager for an up-market company in London’s West End and my boss suggested that I become a member as it seemed an ideal place to ‘entertain’ customers. Needless to say I did not object, and as it was all ‘on expenses’ I was soon using the place for those all important ‘business lunches’ and some not so important and more ‘relaxed’ ones with my mates. The restaurant in the gambling area was one of the best and cheapest in London at the time, and those ‘up from the country’ prospective clients just loved their visit to Park Lane as they were served by those famous ‘bunnies’.
Now I read that it was the haunt of the rich and famous, but although it was all very ‘James Bond’ I never bumped into “Frank Sinatra, Roger Moore or Sammy Davis Jnr.”, just a bunch of oil rich Arabs, a few oriental gentlemen gambling away their ‘China Town’ restaurants, and one or two dodgy types pretending to be Michael Caine.
When I look back on those days it all seems so very ’tame’. It was the sort of place where you could take your wife, and I did just that: so I wonder how it will fare in today’s all too ’raunchy’ world ? It will be interesting to see …
Oh !… and by the way I still have my old international key card ….
…. I wonder if they will let me in ?
Rummuser said
Best way to find out is to visit!
Betty said
If it doesn’t have an expiration date on it, it probably still works. Bet you’ll be shocked right down to your socks, though.
Ginnie said
If your card still gets you in I’d love to read what you write about it ! I remember lots of fun times when I worked in NY City in the late 50′s and early 60′s … but it sure would be tame (as you say) compared to the stuff that goes on today…ESPECIALLY IF THEY LET THE POLITICIANS IN !
Maria said
Poor Hugh Heffner! His twenty something fiancee left him at the altar. He will have to make a trip to London to pick among the new crop of Bunnies for a replacement.