Mailbag Monday, 1964-'66: Duke freshmen and spiny lobsters

Rebecca Shore | Oct 5, 2014

J. Frederick Smith/SI

WE'RE NOT stupid. After 50 years of publishing and disseminating a swimsuit issue, we know full well we've been the cause of many a furrowed brow. But what's a Swimsuit Issue to do except celebrate 50 years of detractors?

Herewith are some of our favorites received during Swimsuit's innocent infancy, 1964-'66:

1964

Sirs:
We would like to express our appreciation for your article Swimsuits That Are Made to Get Wet (Jan. 20), and especially your "cover girl." Any information concerning her will be relished by every Duke freshman.
GEORGE BENSON
MIKE DROITCOUR
GREGG SPRINGER
Durham, N.C.

Sirs:
I must admit that the cover of your Jan. 20 issue is just about the prettiest that you could possibly have, as are the related pictures. But such pictures do not stimulate my thinking about what is usually considered legitimate sports.

You may think that such pictures sell more copies, but I do not believe they do. I am sure that they detract from the merits of your work for serious sports fans. I most certainly do not want such pictures coming into my home for my young teen-age son to ogle, much less myself. Think of the thousands of other youngsters around the country that you people are influencing, and don't do this just for what may be financial gain. Please leave that to the pulp magazines!
W. FRANK CASTON
Columbia, S.C.

1965

Jay Maisel/SI

Sirs:
Is this your idea of stimulating the healthy American boy's altitude toward athletics?
MRS. GLENN MURRAY
Pelham, N.Y.

Sirs:
One thing bothers me about Sue and that suit. How does the red belt shown around Miss Peterson's waist manage to hold up the trunks in back, as your story says it does? After taking a wide survey of campus opinion, we found no good theory for the possible functional arrangement of this belt.

Can you explain or illustrate?
WARREN T. GREGORY
The Bronx

•We can [below].—ED.​

​

1966

Howell Conant/SI

Sirs:
Things must be getting pretty tough if you have to resort to girly covers like that one of Sunny Bippus. Don't you think there is enough of that junk on our newsstands already? Stick to legitimate sports.
PAUL O. PLACKMEIER
Phoenix

Sirs:
Bedazzled as I was by the sights and images of your January 17 cover and feature on the Exumas (A New Polynesia), the sportsman in me nevertheless cries out. We southern California lobster divers would rate Miss Sunny Bippus A-1 in the looks department but strictly gauche as a skin diver.

One simply doesn't attack a spiny lobster (Palinurus) with a Hawaiian sling or any other sort of spear gun. The proper equipment is a pair of leather or canvas gloves. As for the proper technique, send her out and I'll make an A-1 "bug" hunter out of her.
HOWARD NEWMAN
Los Angeles

Howell Conant/SI

From the original caption:

Sunny Bippus, an expert swimmer, spears a five-pound crayfish. Her long-sleeved, flesh-colored, belted wet suit is perfectly adapted to the warm Bahamian waters.

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