The Bunny Years

Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected....
Review: I bought this book after watching "A Tale of Two Bunnies" on ABC sparked my curiosity. I thought it was just going to be a bunch of ex-bunnies telling stories about the club but the book went beyond that. It managed to discuss the beginnings of the club, the evolution of the bunny costume, the training of the women who worked there, advantages of working in the club, and the kind of women that were hired. It was fascinating to see so many different races and backgrounds being sought in the 60's. Of course it had personal tales (no pun intended) along with the whole "where are they now" bit. The pictures are wonderful and at times very candid. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know the real deal behind the ears.

Rating:
Summary: The Bunny Years
Review: I thought this was a very good book. It showed so many women who have made great contributions with their lives after getting started in what was not an easy job. Waiting tables is not easy, especially in high heels.

Rating:
Summary: The Bunny Years
Review: I thought this was a very good book. It showed so many women who have made great contributions with their lives after getting started in what was not an easy job. Waiting tables is not easy, especially in high heels.

Rating:
Summary: Hefner's Bulging Envelope Finally Burst
Review: Left with little more than a question of the significance of the fact that the Playboy Bunny upon whom the Clubs relied for survival was able to withstand the storm of protests that were the context of the Steimem brand of feminist philosophy, it's clear that Hefner may have undermined his own success - with clubs at least - and the potential that might have been possible - under the weight of boundaries pushed too far. Where the ideal of the Bunny and the simple design which made it so popular to men and women alike were seduced into the conflict with Guccione and the Penthouse decision to "bare all" in the name of exploitive art, the envelope burst at the seams along with the integrity of the costumes that showcased their popularity into profits, crippling what was then a burgeoning industry accepted by both males and females alike into one that was far beyond its capacity to deliver in a civilized world. The fact that there were never public bars in Playboy Clubs where singles could congregate as there are in strip clubs is evidence of the fact that Playboy Clubs and Bunnies were never intended to be the solitary fascination of exploitive men, but highly trained social vehicles to stimulate the ease of social gatherings in clubs that valued the heights of glamour and glitz that often constitutes the epitome of entertainment, and their venues, for the comfort and pleasure of the customer entitled to value for the money paid. At their heyday, they provided that environment to both men and women alike in an era where males, always better paid, were always willing to celebrate their manly and gentlemanly generosity and pay the bills to be so lavishly courted, and society managed to find ways to do that, unlike today. It was also a time when women recognized the value in allowing them that courtesy without having to feel ashamed or obligated to be shown that courtesy simply because they accepted the fact that their company alone was worth it. In the "feminist-offended" world of today, the ultra-sensitivity of economic disparity has challenged the self esteem of both to a point where only unisex is honorable and worthy of recognition. The author's very astute observation of the fact that the skill and comfort attained by females in the industry had no problem keeping their femininity - AND - converting those skills into personal and professional achievements in a world of both men and women, usually that had little to do with glamour and glitz, but without having to sacrifice that in order to succeed in the world of work. In ignoring gender differences and restricting their natural expression, the opportunity for exaggerated unnatural expression was greatly accelerated in the use and proliferation of strip clubs that greatly diminish the potential of graceful distinction and convert it too often into disgraceful appreciation of female intimacy and its boundaries, leaving a wide gulf of respectable chaos in its wake that has yet to be addressed or resolved.

Rating:
Summary: Strikes a blow for ALL types of working women!
Review: Scott throws a glamour over what is essentially a book about working. But our media needs to pay more attention to the fact that people really do work jobs that are not white-collar, so this book fills a necessary gap and perhaps will be a herald of things to come. _The Bunny Years_ is composed in response to Gloria Steinem's _Show_ magazine article criticising the sexist practices of the Playboy Clubs, and the willingness of the employees to be demeaned. Scott points out, radically (and this is one of the book's chief strengths) that Steinem was looking at the job from a privileged upper-middle-class position, and that she would have seen _any_ serving job as "beneath" her. The Bunny costume was not outlandishly revealing for a cocktail costume, and the club (unlike many supper clubs and restaurants) was very careful to protect the interests of its employees over and against the whimsicalities of its customers. _The Bunny Years_ is a welcome voice on behalf of the serving industry; Scott and her former colleagues speak for working people, and do so with class and style.

Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected....
Review: The book says very little. A summary should read that bunnies were beautiful young women in swimsuits who made a lot of money in tips. One bunny did admit to going to the mansion and seeing an orgy, but the rest of the stories are just about the toils of being a sex symbol waitress. Talk to your local Hooters waitress instead.

Rating:
Summary: It seems as if the same stories are told over and over.
Review: The book says very little. A summary should read that bunnies were beautiful young women in swimsuits who made a lot of money in tips. One bunny did admit to going to the mansion and seeing an orgy, but the rest of the stories are just about the toils of being a sex symbol waitress. Talk to your local Hooters waitress instead.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational!
Review: The Bunny Years is by far one of the most interesting reads around. I don't think anyone else could have captured the true feeling of how it must have been to be a Bunny better than Kathryn Leigh Scott. She shows us how these were not just women serving drinks in skimpy costumes, they were of the trailblazers of their time, they weren't just Bunnies, but a part of history.

After reading this book you come out at the other end with a renewed sense of self confidence and excitement. I honestly believe that the Bunny Years goes beyond the usual "Where Are They Now" books that are cranked out year after year, it is inspirational. I came away feeling that anything is possible all you need to do is try.

Rating:
Summary: A great book to know about the other side.
Review: The Bunny Years tells wonderful stories of women looking for work and independence despite the double standards and taboos that faced them. I love the fact that these women kept their self-resepect and were able to aim for thier goal outside of the club.

Rating:
Summary: A great book to know about the other side.
Review: The Bunny Years tells wonderful stories of women looking for work and independence despite the double standards and taboos that faced them. I love the fact that these women kept their self-resepect and were able to aim for thier goal outside of the club.