Playboy Magazine is an adult men’s magazine, originating in the United States. It was created by Hugh Hefner in Chicago, Illinois, and first published in December 1953. While maintaining offices in Chicago, much more prominent is the Playboy Mansion, located in Los Angeles, California. Playboy remains a premiere source for news, interviews, satire, fiction, culture and everything else pertaining to the interest of men in general.
Perhaps the magazine’s most notable feature is its inclusion of tasteful nude or semi-nude photographs of women. Striving for the “Girl Next Door” look, Playboy tends to avoid using models that are too artificial, famous, or otherwise unrealistic to the average reader (at least for the Playmates of the Month; other pictorials are fair game for celebs). The magazine also pioneered the centerfold, a larger image of a woman placed in the center of the magazine, spanning two or three page widths, traditionally autographed by the model displayed.
Playboy has served as a launch pad to stardom for many young women, including Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy, and Donna D’Errico, among with many others. Being chosen as a centerfold is reported to be an honor by the ladies featured, though others feel differently.
With the Internet revolution, the magazine has forged a presence online with Playboy.com, the Playboy Store, and the popular Playboy.com CyberGirls.
Despite numerous controversies early in the brand’s life (it opened minds to sexuality and fueled women’s liberation sentiments), Playboy has emerged as a lasting and adaptable brand and publication, nearly ubiquitous within American culture. It’s practically a household name, and they’ve done their best to maintain their standards of writing, reporting, and cultural relevance alongside those photographs of young ladies.
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