Vintage Playboy Beauty

54 years ago this month!

19-year old Tish Howard featured as the centerfold of the July 1966 issue of PlayBoy. The classic girl next door. Born on July 4th, 1946 in NYC, Tish was also featured in the April 1967 issue.

“Young, all-natural with bright blue eyes, Playmate Tish Howard is an accomplished beauty with loving parents who inspire her every day. “Dad is a top scriptwriter, Mom is a successful painter, and I’m just a great spender,” laughs the California girl. With a home in Palm Springs and another in Los Angeles, the debutant’s daughter has been living in the lap of luxury since she came into the world and that isn’t about to stop now. “When I was eight, my family moved from New York City to Monterey, California. When I was 15, we moved to Paris,” she says. “I’d like to become a fashion designer after studying in New York or Paris, though.”

From ”Why Stevie Can’t Date”

Author Steve Robinson wrote (2005) the comic book ”Why Stevie Can’t Date” much in the same style as Portnoy’s Complaint. I quote the part that refers to the July 1966 issue of PlayBoy:

Miss July was named Tish Howard. The theme of the piece was Tish’s day at a posh tennis club.

So in the foldout, Tish was standing, leaning against a blue locker, half turned, one leg bent at the knew, a white sweater over her opposite shoulder and little white tennis socks on her feet. Her smile was playful.

But again the best picture was not nude. It was the lead picture, a full page head shot.

Light brown hari in that all-american cheerleaer flip; green eyes, a pink turtle-neck under that white sweater; leaning next to a Rolls Royce hood ornament. And a smile that could and should have inspired poems.

There was a gentleness in her smile that made her green eyes all-knowing. Tish was poisted to say ”I will give you all the secrets of the universe if only you will make love to me in the expert manner I am about to happily teach you.” At this time, I was 14. If a live woman had said this, I would have said, ”Huh?”

But I have never forgotten Tish Howard. And I’ve never forgotten Ursula Andress: 12 pages – no smile. I have forever thought of Ms. Andress as a sad figure, despite the fact that she had a smashing one. Tish Howard had a smile to die for. So did Cindy Porter; my roommate Karen; and my college girlfriend’s roommate. It’s always been the smile.

Nude is good; nude can be great. But ultimately, nude is irrelevant. Because yor not wearing a smile, you’re not wearing anything.

Tish Howard is alive and well today and tomorrow (July 4) she will celebrate her 74th birthday. Have a great one!

When Tish was young she was tempted by Hugh Hefner and enjoyed some fleeting fame. But LIFE is made of such paths, and regardless of your opinion, Tish’s beauty has inspired millions out there!