In 1953, 27-year-old Hugh Hefner founded the legendary magazine in the United States. Then he had $8,000 in his hands, which he collected with difficulty. Hugh sold his furniture to a pawnshop, borrowed money from the bank and from his parents, and eventually collected the necessary amount to launch the glossy magazine.
Before this, the young man had experience in publishing. At school, Hugh published wall newspapers, and during his student years he worked at Esquire magazine.
Initially, the publisher wanted to call his magazine “Bachelor Party” or Stag Party and asked his friend Arv Miller to design a logo. This is how the image of a deer in a tuxedo appeared. But before the release of the first issue, it turned out that a magazine with a similar name already existed (Stag), so this word was forbidden to use. Then Hugh Hefner took the name from the car company and asked his friend Arthur Paul to improve the previous logo. This is how the company acquired the legendary hare in a tuxedo.
Hugh created the first issue in his own apartment. He wanted to distinguish his publication from competitors and he came up with the idea of creating spreads with girls, so that these pages could then be hung on the wall.
For the premiere issue, Hefner bought photographs of Marilyn Monroe from a friend. He placed them on the cover of the first Playboy.
Playboy Clubs and the Bunny Girls.
In 1959, Hefner opened his first Playboy Club. In 1960, the establishment opened in Chicago. It was followed by branches in New Orleans, New York and Miami. The visitor had to pay $25 for the “key.” One of the highlights of the place, dreamed up by Hefner, was the «Bunny Girls» dressed in bodysuits, bunny ears and tails.
The girls created a real sensation and became sex symbols of the 1960s.
By this time, there were 30 Playboy establishments around the world, and in total more than 1 million people belonged to the clubs.
In the 60s the magazine became very popular. Hugh Hefner also began publishing interviews with famous people during this period. For example, Vladimir Nabokov, Andy Warhol and other cult personalities.
In 1971, the company’s shares appeared on the New York Stock Exchange. Annual profits in the early seventies were $11 million. In 1972, Hefner decides to launch Playboy in Germany, and three months later — in Italy. Over time, the magazine appeared in other countries.
Interesting facts about Playboy.
1. The first TV show to promote racial equality was Playboy’s Penthouse. Hugh Hefner suggested that his program include people of different skin colors.
2. The bunny logo is hidden on almost all covers of the publication — this is a Playboy tradition. In the 70s this led to a huge number of requests from readers. They asked for a hint where to find the rabbit.
3. Playboy achieved financial success thanks to its branded establishments. They brought the most income to the company.
4. The iconic Playboy logo was created in 30 minutes.
5. Unlike Hustler, Penthouse and other competitors, Playboy never published pornography. Hugh Hefner invited legendary women to shoot for his publication. For example, Cindy Crawford, Sophia Loren.
6. Most recently, a photograph of Marilyn Monroe, which was published in the first issue of Playboy, was put up for auction. In 1953, the girl was still unknown to anyone.
7. Since 1970, Playboy began publishing a version of the magazine for the blind. It is written in Braille. One of its features is that all erotica here is described in words.
