Back in old days I represented a photographer that had been the staff photographer for Playboy, his name was Alexas Urba. He was a Lithuanian with silver hair and a matching accent.He wore, everyday,a heavy sweater. He would drink and smoke pot in a dark corner at his kitchen table in silence, then suddenly start yelling about Genghis Khan and the 1000 year curse and how he would rise from the dead and behead people and put there heads on stakes, never a dull moment.

He worked for playboy during there hey days, 1965-1978. He would be able to use the black Playboy jet at his discretion to go photograph the most gorgeous women anywhere in the world.
In his sample book he had photos of women from Playboy assignments that were stunning in there artistic form.Un-fortunately very little applied to Chicago Ad Agency needs and his disdain for Ad people was already legendary around Chicago, despite his ability he was a HARD SELL.
Hefner and all his associates and friends referred, and called Alexas, "The Master", and he was.
The most gifted photographer I ever met.
His studio was on the top floor of an old horse barn in what is now River North in downtown Chicago. Ireland's Restaurant( then turned into Michael Jordens restaurant) occupied the bottom floors.
The studio was the entire top floor.He had every centerfold he shot hanging throughout the studio.
He would have party's and all the famous artists and writers that worked for and contributed to Playboy would attend.
He had a "book"type document that he somehow got a hold of, that were Hefners instructions to the plastic surgeon that told them how he wanted Barbi Benton to look.He also told me that Hefner was "SICK".
He left Playboy, Hefner felt he abandoned him and the two hardly ever spoke again.
What a life Playboy provided for him. What a glimpse for me to see behind the curtain.

A glimpse behind the curtain, indeed!

Whoa...

I remember reading the piece that was the bases for Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And another about a guy who developed a computerized rocket fuel golf ball out of a Spaulding Dot. He called it the Spaulding exhaust pipe. He programed the ball for individual golf courses and rode it all the way to the US Open final round paired with Lee Trevino. He cut one really bad and the officials confiscated the balls and gave him Titlists for the last three holes at Pebble Beach. Hilarious piece. And, oh yes I remember many of the girls too.

The short story of "The Poontang Prince of Paducah" stands out. The guy basically talked girls into letting him borderline rape them.