Playboy (USA) Year 1955 Magazine Back Issues
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Playboy Apr 1955
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Playboy April 1955 Features
Modern Art as a Hobby by Roger Price
The Hunger by Charles Beaumont
A Tithe for Charity by P.G. Wodehouse
Pictorial of Naked Advertising
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Playboy May 1955
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Playboy May 1955 Features
Covergirl The Playboy Bunny (Not Nude)
Playmate of the Month is Marguerite Empey photographed by Hal Adams
"The Eighty Year Run" by Irwin Shaw
"TV's Ad Glibber" by Keith Hefner
"How to Be a Fair-haired Boy" by Shepherd Mead
"Naked Lady" by Mindret Lord | |
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Playboy Jun 1955
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Playboy June 1955 Features
Covergirl Eve Meyer (Nude & Centerfold) photographed by Russ Meyer
Playmate of the Month is Eve Meyer photographed by Russ Meyer
"All-Time All-Star Jazz Band" by Jack Tracy featuring Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge & More!
"Successful Love" by Delmore Schwartz
"From Searle's Sketchbook" sketches by Ronald Searle
Illustrators Show (Pictorial) | |
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Playboy Jul 1955
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Playboy July 1955 Features
Beach Sketches by Cole
"The Crooked Coronet" by Michael Arlen
"A Vote for Polygamy" by Jay Smith
"A Steady, High-Type Fellow" by Herbert Gold
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Playboy Dec 1955
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Playboy December 1955 Features
Covergirl Janet Pilgrim (Not Nude & Centerfold) photographed by Mike Shea
A Classic Affair by Charles Beaumont
Uncovering a Nudist Wedding by Earl Wilson
The Spice of Life by Leon Bellin
The Next in Line by Ray Bradbury
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1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020Playboy's original title was to be "Stag Party," but an unrelated outdoor magazine, Stag, contacted Hefner and informed him that they would legally protect their trademark if he were to launch his magazine with that name. Hefner and co-founder and executive vice president Eldon Sellers met to discuss the problem and to seek a new name. Sellers, whose mother had worked for the short-lived Playboy Automobile Company in Chicago, suggested the name "Playboy".
The first issue, published in December 1953, did not carry a date, as Hugh Hefner was unsure whether there would be a second issue. The first centerfold was Marilyn Monroe, although the picture used had originally been taken for a calendar, rather than for Playboy. The first issue was an immediate sensation; it sold out within a matter of weeks. Known circulation was 53,991 (Source: Playboy Collector's Association Playboy Magazine Price Guide). The cover price was 50¢. Copies of the first issue in Mint to Near Mint condition fetched over $8,000 in 2007.
The famous logo, depicting the stylized profile of a rabbit wearing a tuxedo bow tie, was designed by art designer Art Paul for the magazine's second issue and has appeared on every issue since; a running joke in the magazine involves hiding the logo somewhere in the cover art or photograph. Hefner said that he chose the rabbit as a mascot for its "humorous sexual connotation", and because the image was "frisky and playful".
An urban legend started about Hefner and the Playmates of the Month because of markings on the front covers of the magazine. From 1955 to 1979 (except for a six month gap in 1976), the "P" in Playboy had a number of stars printed in or around the letter. The legend stated that this was either a rating
that Hefner gave to the Playmate according to how attractive she was, the number of times that Hefner had slept with her, or how good she was in bed. The stars, which ranged in number between zero and twelve, actually indicated the domestic
or international advertising region for that printing.
Since reaching its peak in the 1970s, Playboy has seen a decline in circulation and cultural relevance because of increased competition in the field it founded — first from Penthouse, Oui, and Gallery in the 1970s; later from pornographic videos; and more recently from lad mags such as Maxim, FHM, and Stuff. In response Playboy has attempted to re-assert its hold on the 18–35 male demographic it once controlled through slight changes to its content and focusing on issues and personalities more appropriate to its audience—such as hip-hop artists being featured in the Playboy Interview.
Christie Hefner, a daughter of Hugh Hefner, became the CEO of Playboy in 1988 and is now also the Chairman of the Board.
The magazine celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the January 2004 issue. Celebrations were held at Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and Moscow during the year to commemorate this event.
The best-selling Playboy edition was the November 1972 edition, which sold 7,161,561 copies. One-fourth of all American college men were buying the magazine every month. It is interesting to note that although this issue is available in abundance, it is very difficult for collectors to find this issue in excellent condition. The black ink on the cover wore off easily and it is difficult to find this issue with a bright clean crisp black color. A Near Mint copy of this issue is a hard find.
Perhaps coincidentally, a cropped image of the issue's centerfold (which featured Lena Soderberg) became a standard image for testing image processing algorithms. It is known simply as the "Lenna" (also "Lena") image in that field.
Many people ask about Playboy UK, Playboy USA is the same issue that was issued in the UK because there was no need to translate the magazine. So, Playboy USA and Playboy UK are the same magazine.
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