| Playboy Magazine continues to be the premiere | | | | rabbit was chosen to be the official mascot of the |
| American adult magazine selling over one million copies | | | | magazine for the animal's playfulness, which is what |
| every month in the U.S., fifty-three years after its | | | | the magazine was trying to impress upon its readers. |
| inaugural issue. Indeed Playboy magazine has | | | | Through the years, Playboy Magazine has featured |
| surpassed the true test of time from its first issue in | | | | many celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Drew |
| 1953 with none other than Marilyn Monroe as the | | | | Barrymore, Charlize Theron, Madonna, Belinda Carlisle, |
| centerfold. Despite getting banned from various | | | | Tiffany, Shannen Doherty, Katarina Witt among other |
| countries due to explicit pictures of its female models, | | | | famous celebrities who have posed for the magazine |
| Playboy magazine's sales continue to increase. | | | | in their most provocative poses and barest beauty. |
| Playboy Magazine was founded by Hugh Hefner | | | | These celebrity models were photographed by such |
| (affectionately known as Hef) and his associates who | | | | notable photographers such as Stephen Wayda, Ron |
| formed Playboy Enterprises, Inc. Hef, initially wanted to | | | | Harris, Russ Meyer and many others. |
| name his magazine Stag Party, obviously aiming for | | | | Another proof of Playboy's success was the string of |
| male readers. However, Stag Company had patented | | | | international country specific Playboy editions that |
| the name and threatened to sue Hefner and his | | | | came out. Playboy International editions were published |
| associates if they proceeded to use the trademarked | | | | in Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Germany, Greece, Hong |
| name. After discussing the problem they decided to | | | | Kong, among other countries. |
| think of another name. One of Hef's associates | | | | Of course, because of the nature of Playboy |
| suggested the name playboy, from the Playboy | | | | magazine, it was not widely accepted in some of the |
| Automobile Company where he previously worked. | | | | more conservative countries. Most countries in the |
| And so in December 1953, the first issue of Playboy | | | | Asian have banned the sale and publication of Playboy |
| Magazine was published bearing no name, since | | | | magazine due to what is described as its lewd nature |
| Hefner was not sure at that time whether a second | | | | and vulgarity that is contradictory to the norms and |
| issue would be published. The first issue's centerfold | | | | values of the people. |
| was a picture of Marilyn Monroe, which was originally | | | | During the 1970s, when Playboy magazine reached its |
| intended for a calendar issue. But, despite the | | | | peak, circulation of the magazine dwindled down. This |
| uncertainty on the second issue of the Playboy | | | | was attributed to the rise of new competitors in the |
| magazine, the maiden issue was sold out in two | | | | adult magazine business, such as Penthouse. The |
| weeks time. Actual sales for the maiden issue of | | | | proliferation of adult videos also contributed to the |
| Playboy were pegged at 53,991. | | | | decline in sales of the magazine. |
| With the success in sales of the first issue, Hefner and | | | | Currently, Playboy magazine is being run by Hefner's |
| his associates moved on and published the second | | | | daughter, Christie who assumed the post of Chief |
| issue. This time, Playboy magazine's official logo, that | | | | Executive officer in 1988. |
| of a bunny wearing a tuxedo bow tie was born. The | | | | |