Patty Farmer, Barbara Van Orden to Collaborate on Playboy on Stage Book

Singer/actress Barbara Van Orden and author Patty Farmer will collaborate on a new book, Playboy on Stage, which will be a collaborative oral memoir and history of the iconic venues, known as The Playboy Clubs.

Van Orden was herself a regular in almost all of the Playboy Clubs. The book will include many of her own memories of sharing the Playboy stage with names such as Buddy Hackett, Morey Amsterdam and Soupy Sales.

She and Farmer – who is the author of the critically acclaimed The Persian Room Presents — are currently researching the list of performers at the infamous nightspots to compile a first-hand history from the view of the entertainers who have performed in the Playboy Club Showrooms. Among the potential subjects of the book are such notable names as Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Steve Martin, Ann-Margret and Cher.

In a statement, Farmer says, “We are writing this book because, while numerous books have been written with tremendous public response on the subject of Hugh Hefner and The Playboy Empire, none have focused on the fabulous entertainers who have performed in those great showrooms.”