Mailbag Monday, 1982: Melting snow and hearts all across the country

Rebecca Shore | Jan 11, 2015

Carol Alt

John G. Zimmerman/Si

SO APPARENTLY 1982 was a rough winter for much of the country. A high percentage of the letters received in response to that year's SI Swimsuit Issue, shot by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya, thanked us for melting the snow and/or blasted us for dangling the carrot of warmer weather (and women in meager layers) just out of reach.

IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES...AND THEN CAROL ALT HAPPENED

Sir:

Here in Indiana the snow is a foot deep and more is on the way. The Bengals lost to the 49ers; George Foster is leaving the Reds; income taxes and license plate fees are due; and last night the Hoosiers were hammered by Iowa in basketball. Is there any hope? Yes! I opened my mailbox today and found Carol Alt (above) on your cover. Wow! I think I can make it until spring now.

TOM BARTLETT
Bloomington, Ind.

YOUR HONOR IS SOMETHING OF A MASOCHIST

Sir:

You did it again with Kenya Top This? (Feb. 8). Do you realize it's 20° below zero here in Colorado, and we have a foot of snow on the ground with more coming, and our skies are gray, and we can't even tell women from men because of the multilayers of clothing we're wearing, and it has been so long since we've seen any kind of skin that isn't frostbitten, and, oh well, I guess we're doomed.

Talk about cruel and unusual punishment, but I love it!

KEITH F. DUNBAR
Judge
Rio Blanco County Court
Meeker, Colo.

WE PLOW DRIVEWAYS, TOO!

Sir:

That swimsuit issue melted the snow here in Pennsylvania. Excellent job by Photographer John G. Zimmerman. The swimsuits weren't bad, either.

CHRIS BURGER
Bellefonte, Pa.

Sir:

Your sunshine issue provided a lift for all of us Kansans digging out of two feet of snow. All we need now is the baseball preview and spring will be here.

GARY L. BIRNEY
Ford, Kans.

RUBBERBAND BIKINI...THANKS FOR THE IDEA!

PERHAPS WE OVERDID IT WITH THE 49ERS COVERS THAT YEAR

Sir:

John G. Zimmerman's photographs, especially those of Kim Alexis (wow!), have helped this angry Dallas Cowboy fan forgive SI for the seemingly endless run of pictures and print on Joe Montana and the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.

DAVID B. WARSTLER II
Fairfax, Va.

• Mailbag Monday, 1981: Christie Brinkley, SI Swimsuit's very own low-interest rate

Sir:

Judging by the three preceding covers, I half expected cover girl Carol Alt's swimsuit to be adorned with a 49er insignia. Actually, the color of the suit came close to 49er red.

DENNIS DIVYAK
Chicago

Sir:

Carol Alt is finer than a 49er.

FRANK A. PEÑA
New York City

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE NOT

Sir:

Question: What do Carol Alt and 49er Coach Bill Walsh have in common? Answer: They are models of perfection.

RON RAISEN
Asheville, N.C.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, MRS. MATTHEWS!

Sir:
Gee, SI. I went out to the mailbox yesterday in my old sweater, displaying a winter pallor, a neck like crepe paper and chapped lips and hands. I was just thrilled to see the bathing suit issue. Since the end of the football season, there hasn't been a glimmer in my husband's eye. I was hoping the next one would be for me. Now that hope is dashed.

Have a heart. Carol Alt I'm not, but can't you run the article in July or August when we girls at least have a fighting chance?
KAREN MATTHEWS
Vienna, Va.

THAT TIME WE NEGLECTED TO PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST-EVER NBA ALL-STAR GAME

Sir:

How in the world could you put a lady in a bathing suit on the cover when, during that same week, the best players in the NBA appeared in the All-Star Game? I hope your playoff coverage is a lot better!

CRAIG TOWER
Coraopolis, Pa.

WELL, THAT'S A FIRST

Sir:

After seeing your stunning cover with Carol Alt, we were terribly disappointed with the inside portfolio. SI, you are too conservative!

JEFFERY S. ANDERSON
JEFFREY T. NELSON
Bloomington, Ind.

WE TAKE IT YOU AREN'T A STUDENT AT BYU

Sir:

I would like my subscription re-nude.

BRETT K. MATHESON
Provo, Utah

Mailbag Monday 1979: In which our parenting skills are taken to task

Published Jan 11, 2015

REBECCA SHORE