• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
History of Branding

History of Branding

History of Branding

  • Home
  • About
  • How To Brand
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Company History / History of Playboy

History of Playboy

January 7, 2007 by Chris Leave a Comment

Playboy’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 Hefner was unsure whether there would be a second issue. It was produced in Hefner’s Hyde Park kitchen. 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 50ยข. Copies of the first issue in Mint to Near Mint condition sold for over $5,000 in 2002.

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”.

No related posts.

Filed Under: Company History

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Company History

Recent Posts

  • The History Of Skype
  • History of Burger King
  • History of Ray Ban
  • History of Starbucks
  • History of Gatorade

Copyright © 2021. History Of Branding. All Rights Reserved.

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap