A Brief History of Playboy Enterprises

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Recommended: Culture in America 1925-1930

There are many different aspects of American Culture. One part of this culture is the idolization of beautiful women. Playboy is one of many examples of how Americans idolize women. Playboy Enterprises, recognized by their iconic Playboy Bunny symbol, started off as just a men’s magazine that includes journal articles, fiction, and of course, photographs of nude women. Playboy Magazine was founded by Hugh Hefner in Chicago, Illinois in 1953. Hefner incorporated HMH Publishing Co., Inc. in Delaware on October 1, 1953. In December of 1953 Hefner released the first issue of the magazine that would feature Marilyn Monroe on the cover. It would become very successful, selling more than 50,000 copies of the first issue.

As the magazine continued to grow in success, the company would branch out into other industries as well. In 1959, Playboy was introduced into the television world with “Playboy’s Penthouse”. Then in 1960 they would join the entertainment world with The Playboy Club, the first of which was opened in Chicago. In 1999 Playboy makes their global debut in fashion sending their products all across the world. In December 2014 they will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Playboy. Today, Playboy is still one of the most recognizable brands, and one of the most well-known men’s magazines, they are currently 29 editions of Playboy being published in more than 50 countries ("Our History").

American culture idolizes beautiful women, and Playboy has helped with this in many industries whether it be in magazines, in television shows, the fashion industry, or even in the entertainment world. Playboy is a prime example of how American culture idolizes beautiful women. The magazine is mainly known for displaying nude o...

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...ing clothing. Playboy has always been wildly popular amongst college students, young adult men, and even high school boys that would steal their dad’s copy each month and go pass it around in the locker room during gym class. Idolizing women has and always will be part of American culture, and Playboy is a major symbol of idolizing women.

Works Cited

"Our History." Playboy Enterprises. Playboy, n.d. Web. 8 Apr 2014.

"Playboy After Dark / Playboy's Penthouse / Hugh Hefner on TVClassic TV." Playboy After Dark / Playboy's Penthouse / Hugh Hefner on TVClassic TV. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

"Playboy Club." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Popplewell, Brett. "When Playboy ruled the world." News. The Star, 04 Jan 2009. Web. 11 Apr 2014.

Sanburn, Josh. "Brief History: Playboy." Time. Time Inc., 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

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