In this exclusive excerpt from his upcoming memoir ‘Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me,’ Elton John’s lyricist remembers a visit to Hugh Hefner’s pad
Back in real time, I was loath to refuse Marilyn’s offer. I didn’t want to be rude and, besides, the ever-present sense of curiosity in me was adamant I attend. I’ve experienced many things in my life that have proved to be a letdown, including Graceland, the Orient Express, and blowfish, so believe me my hopes weren’t high for the Playboy Mansion. I wasn’t wrong. What a dump.
Even glitzed up and lit like Knott’s Berry Farm at night, it wasn’t hard to tell that maintenance was not a priority and that the efficiency of cleaning crews was lacking. The place was like a courtier in the Palace of Versailles, constantly powdered and perfumed to mask the unpleasant odor beneath. The place simply had no style or character, the furniture looked old and ugly, the alcoves were murky, and the carpets were balding and frayed.
I seemed to be surprisingly young in comparison to the majority of male attendees there, who varied from old Borscht Belt comedians in polyester suits to second-tier TV personalities and tough guy actors like James Caan and Hugh O’Brian. I’ll admit that everyone there looked like they belonged, a demographic certainly sculpted to be attracted to this form of thinly veiled debauchery. Lascivious older men in abundance looking to hook up, codes of honor be damned.
In fact, speaking of the House of Usher, the character of Roderick in Edgar Allan Poe’s novel suspects the house controls its inhabitants. Not a bad analogy for the Playboy Mansion. It wasn’t a prison, but it certainly held sway, mesmerizing generations of young women and marginalizing them into an army of fembots devout in their allegiance to one man.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Robert Klane, ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ Screenwriter, Dies at 81Robert Klane, screenwriter of films including “Weekend at Bernie’s” and “Where’s Poppa?,” died from kidney failure on Aug. 29 at his home in Woodland Hills, Cali…
Read more »
Transcript: Sen. Bernie Sanders on 'Face the Nation,' September 3, 2023The following is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, that aired on 'Face the Nation' on September 3, 2023.
Read more »
Robert Klane Dies; ‘Weekend At Bernie’s Screenwriter Was 81Robert Klane, the writer-director best known for penning Weekend at Bernie’s and National Lampoon’s European Vacation, died Aug. 29 of kidney failure in Woodland Hills, CA. He was 81. B…
Read more »
Robert Klane, ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ screenwriter, dead at 81'Bob didn’t have a censor. That’s what made him great and set him apart,' Rob Reiner said.
Read more »
Robert Klane, screenwriter behind “Weekend at Bernie’s,” diesRobert Klane, who wrote “Weekend at Bernie’s,” has passed away, his son confirmed to The Times. The screenwriter was 81.
Read more »
Bernie Sanders Champions '32-Hour Work Week With No Loss in Pay''Needless to say, changes that benefit the working class of our country are not going to be easily handed over by the corporate elite. They have to be fought for—and won.'
Read more »