Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner & The Creation Of Playboy
Hugh Hefner first showed his interest in publication at an early age, founding his high school newspaper while attending Steinmetz High School. Although he had a high IQ of 152, Hefner was unenthusiastic about school in general. After graduation, he served two years in the United States Army, then went on to attend classes at the Chicago Art Institute. After two years at the Art Institute, Hefner attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in the year 1950.
Fresh out of college, Hugh Hefner began working for the Chicago office of Esquire magazine, which was considered to be a rather racy publication for the time. While at Esquire, Hefner work at entry level pay and served as a promotional copywriter. He later ended up leaving the company over a salary dispute.
After working at Esquire, Hefner decided that he would like to start his own publication for men, with similar features that Esquire offered, only “better”, in his opinion. To obtain start up costs for this business endeavor, Hugh Hefner borrowed funds amounting to $8,000 from forty five separate investors, one of them being his own mother. Thus began the launch of the famous Playboy magazine, with the first edition actually having been produced in Hefner’s own home. This first edition made it’s appearance on Chicago newsstands in December of 1953. This rare edition does not have a date on it, because of the uncertainty at the time as to whether the magazine would be successful enough to warrant the printing of additional editions.
As a bit of a clever marketing tactic, the magazine featured a full colored nude centerfold of a young Marilyn Monroe. The magazine did well, selling over 50,000 copies, and was considered to be a success. Since then, the popularity of Playboy has never faltered, and the trademark Playboy logo of the bunny wearing a bow tie, as well as the man himself, have become legend. By the
Hugh Hefner first showed his interest in publication at an early age, founding his high school newspaper while attending Steinmetz High School. Although he had a high IQ of 152, Hefner was unenthusiastic about school in general. After graduation, he served two years in the United States Army, then went on to attend classes at the Chicago Art Institute. After two years at the Art Institute, Hefner attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in the year 1950.
Fresh out of college, Hugh Hefner began working for the Chicago office of Esquire magazine, which was considered to be a rather racy publication for the time. While at Esquire, Hefner work at entry level pay and served as a promotional copywriter. He later ended up leaving the company over a salary dispute.
After working at Esquire, Hefner decided that he would like to start his own publication for men, with similar features that Esquire offered, only “better”, in his opinion. To obtain start up costs for this business endeavor, Hugh Hefner borrowed funds amounting to $8,000 from forty five separate investors, one of them being his own mother. Thus began the launch of the famous Playboy magazine, with the first edition actually having been produced in Hefner’s own home. This first edition made it’s appearance on Chicago newsstands in December of 1953. This rare edition does not have a date on it, because of the uncertainty at the time as to whether the magazine would be successful enough to warrant the printing of additional editions.
As a bit of a clever marketing tactic, the magazine featured a full colored nude centerfold of a young Marilyn Monroe. The magazine did well, selling over 50,000 copies, and was considered to be a success. Since then, the popularity of Playboy has never faltered, and the trademark Playboy logo of the bunny wearing a bow tie, as well as the man himself, have become legend. By the