User:RCMNoyes/The Rape of the A*P*E*

Rape of the A*P*E*
The Rape of the A*P*E* is a book, that was written by the musician and satirist Allan Sherman. It was commissioned and published by Playboy Press in July of 1973. This title was designed as an acronym that would allow for memorable alliterations and permutations. The full and complete title was presented as, ''“Rape of the American Puritan Ethic: The Official History of the Sex Revolution 1945–1973: The Obscening of America. An Redeeming Social Value Pornography.”''

The Rape of the A*P*E* is an analyzation of sexuality and how it has developed only to be historically repressed. The main focus of the book, though, is the sexual revolution and its emergence in the United States during the 1960s.

Development
The Rape of the A*P*E* was originally conceived of through a contract Allan Sherman gained with Playboy. Allan had submitted a short story for the December 1971 issue of Playboy, titled, “Griselda and the Porn-O-Phone.” The story was accepted and published in the December issue of Playboy hosted by centerfold Karen Christy. "Griselda and the Porn-O-Phone" was a short story about Griselda Thrindle who had been born and raised in puritan Wisconsin by her janitorial Father who had dreams of Griselda becoming a chairwoman. Griselda then comes upon a phone sex hot line and her world changes forever, as she finds herself addicted to the debaucherous life style. The article did well enough with the public that Playboy then commissioned Allan Sherman to write an entire book in a similar breath of humor.

Publication
In the year prior to the book's release, Allan Sherman participated in a publicity tour for this book. Even though Playboy had originally commissioned the book, Allan began to express to others that he had reason to believe that Playboy wasn't promoting the book to a level that Allan considered adequate for a successful release. During this time Allan had resurfaced in the public eye. He had begun working in live performances as well as providing animation voice-overs. This intensity of exposure caused him to rise out of temporary obscurity with Allan Sherman preforming onstage golf - centric stand-up comedy and doing small roles such as the narration for Dr. Suess’s “Green Eggs and Ham.” Allen’s Golf Stand-up routine specifically caught the eye of Warner Bros. and they picked Allan up for an album with a $5,000 advance, with a promise that Allan would begin recording as soon as his tour promoting The Rape of the A*P*E* concluded.

Reception
The “Rape of the A*P*E*” received mixed reception upon its release and has been seen as dated as the years pass. With the higher praise of reviews saying ''“cloaked in disappointing opening and closing sections, this is a book in disguise. Its central 310 pages are neither stupid nor hypocritical.” And lower reviews describing the book as “Rambling, myopic book” … “More or less a view of the sexual revolution through the eyes of a middle-aged Hollywood Cynic.”''