In 1961, the Texas Tech University yearbook, La Ventana, began the tradition of having a Playboy Magazine feature complete with female students as Playmates and even a full color centerfold!... (although, there was never any nudity)
This practice continued for 20 years, with the last faux Playboy cover appearing in the 1982 edition of La Ventana.
centerfold from the 1974 yearbook
Several thoughts come to mind…
1. How did parents feel about paying for their daughter to go to college, and find her on the cover of a mock Playboy cover in the yearbook? Perhaps, parents weren’t as uptight as they are now.
2. Why did the practice end? Was there an outcry from the alumni that it was sexist? Or did the yearbook faculty just retire after twenty years of service?
3. What would the public say today of a Playboy insert in a college yearbook? Would there be condemnation or ambivalence?
4. I wonder if the Playboy yearbook segment died because Playboy itself had ceased to be respectable. In other words, Playboy’s image in 1961 was akin to Esquire and GQ. By 1982, however, it became associated more with Hustler and Penthouse. (A faux Huster spread in the Texas Tech yearbook would’ve been interesting.)
Enough with the sociological reflections, let’s check out the covers of the Texas Tech La Ventana from 1961 – 1981, with a few corresponding pages for good measure.
To view all the covers check out the Flickr slideshow. Each cover is labeled with the yearbook date. Remember to click the 4 arrow icon on the lower right to view the images full screen (hit escape to return to Retrospace).
I know of at least one college yearbook that actually featured a woman nude (nude in shadow, breasts exposed). Early 1970s.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Oddly enough, I believe I know the picture you're talking about.... The 1973 Chanticleer, Duke University, p.200
ReplyDeleteYes, I am omnipotent in all things worthless and odd. Not sure whether to be proud or ashamed of my knowledge - leaning towards ashamed.
See the picture on my Tumblr blog @
http://retrospace.tumblr.com/post/309796310/nudity-in-the-yearbook-the-1973-chanticleer-duke
Dude, you could have hyperlinked that for us lazy types...
ReplyDeletecynic - I could've, but I'm too lazy.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'd like to see all those girls today.
ReplyDeleteBet that would be something.
No school could ever get away with something like that now! My how times have changed!
ReplyDeleteWell then there are two.
ReplyDeleteWVU Monticola 1971, pg. 198
In the 2000s, I went to a small liberal arts/organic farming school that was trapped in the New Agey side of the 70s in certain respects, and had made its odd peace with political correctness. They would have a "farmgirls" callendar in black and white with the "offending" bits strategically covered by farm equipment. However, I think that they did do one with guys too, just to be equal opportunity. I never bought the guys' ones though.
ReplyDeleteThese days women outnumber men in most Universities, so it's no wonder that the practice stopped. Texas A&M used to reward their players to a night at the Chicken Ranch. Can't do that anymore too.
ReplyDelete