Hugh Hefner opened his first Playboy club in Chicago in 1960, starting a revolution for women who were legitimately proud to work there. Known as the ultimate gentlemen’s retreat, key-holding patrons stalked the clubs as they were waited on by countless beautiful ladies. Now, of course, the clubs — and the entire Playboy empire — feels dated. In fact, it’s just headed overseas: Playboy has plans to open its first club in India this month, with projections to expand to over 120 locations in the coming decades.
But it’s far more interesting to think about who these original bunnies were — and who they are now. So the Cut tracked down fifteen former cocktail waitresses, asked for photos then and now, and found out what they’re up to these days. Comprised of makeup artists, authors, actresses, sound producers, and interior designers, these are the iconic women who carried out Hugh Hefner’s famous vision.
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Judy Bruno Bennett Then: New York Playboy Club, 1971–1982
Now: Actress, New Jersey
Joy Tarbell Then: Boston and Chicago Playboy Clubs, 1968–1974
Now: Real-estate broker, North Conway, New Hampshire
Joy Percival Then: Detroit Playboy Club, 1963–1971
Now: Owned a 30-acre riding academy for twenty years, Tryon, North Carolina
Stephanie Cozart Burton Then: Los Angeles/Century City Club, 1981–1986
Now: Makeup artist, Los Angeles, California
Kathryn Leigh Scott Then: New York Playboy Club, 1963–1966
Now: Actress-writer (wrote The Bunny Years), New York and Los Angeles
June De Young Then: Playboy’s Empire Club, New York City, 1985–1986
Now: News reporter-producer-psychic, Los Angeles, California
Barbara Camp Then: Wisconsin Playboy Club, Lake Geneva, 1974
Now: Author, New York, New York
Sandra Costa Then: Miami and Los Angeles Playboy Clubs, 1967–1974
Now: High-end architectural designer–entrepreneur, Los Angeles, California
Marcia Roma Then: New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco Clubs and Miami Beach Playboy Hotel, 1963–1973
Now: Senior vice-president of Fox Resi... Marcia Roma Then: New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco Clubs and Miami Beach Playboy Hotel, 1963–1973
Now: Senior vice-president of Fox Residential Group, New York, New York
Jan Marlyn Reesman Then: New York, Miami, and Chicago Playboy Clubs, 1965–1975
Now: Writer-director, Beverly Hills, California
Sharon Bernstein Peyton Then: Baltimore Playboy Club, 1964–1965
Now: Public speaker, Novato, California
Scarlett Rabalais Then: Baltimore Club, 1974–1976
Now: Former real-estate broker/owned small Florida hotel, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
DJ Fox Then: Los Angeles/Century City Club, 1980–1986
Now: Executive producer in sound (25 years), Santa Monica, California
Maria Richwine Then: Los Angeles Club/Century City Club, 1974–1978
Now: Actress, Los Angeles, California
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