Monday, December 2, 2013

Playboy Magazine's 60th Birthday - Annabel Puff Heffernan, 1st period

Sunday, December 1st, 2013, marks the 60th birthday of Playboy Magazine. Founded October 1st, the first issue, which featured Marilyn Monroe on the front cover, was issued 4 months later on December 1st in 1953. Selling out in a matter of weeks, it was an instant hit. Known circulation was 53,991. In 2011, total average circulation was at 1,516,086. The November 1972 edition, with Lena Soderberg as the centerfold, was the best selling edition, selling 7,161,561 copies. Approximately one fourth of all American college men were monthly buyers of the magazine.

Although I know many women and religious affiliations protest men's entertainment magazines, I personally see no problem with Playboy. It's not all naked women; a major part of Playboy is an intellectual interview with an esteemed individual. (Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, John Lennon, and Yoko ONo to name a few) Many parts of Asia as well as most Muslim countries have banned the distribution of Playboy. In 1986, Playboy was taken off the shelves at every American 7-11 convenience store but returned in 2003. Playboy also returned to  Ireland after a 36-year ban in 1995 although opposed by many feminist activist groups. The Playboy company was valued at $1 billion in the year 2000 so honestly, kudos to Hugh Hefner.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/showbiz/gallery/playboy-covers/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

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