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121-476: Playgirl is an American magazine that has historically featured pictorials of nude and semi-nude men alongside general interest, lifestyle, celebrity journalism, and original fiction. For most of its history, the magazine printed monthly and was marketed mainly to women, though it developed a significant gay male readership. Since its founding, Playgirl has existed as a monthly and quarterly publication, in print-only, digital-only, and hybrid formats. From 1973-2009,
242-444: A bon vivant lifestyle in his magazine and in the television shows that he hosted, Playboy's Penthouse (1959–1960) and Playboy After Dark (1969–1970). He was also the chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises , the publishing group which operates the magazine. On June 4, 1963, Hefner was arrested for promoting obscene literature after he published an issue of Playboy featuring nude shots of Jayne Mansfield in bed with
363-782: A feminist response to Playboy and Penthouse instead. In partnership with William Miles Jr., an area advertising executive, Lambert founded Playgirl in Century City , California, in 1973 with a $ 20,000 investment. After two test issues (featuring race car driver Mike Hiss and the Hager Twins , country singers and stars of TV's Hee Haw , in seminude centerfolds), the magazine, initially styled as Playgirl: The Magazine for Women formally debuted in June 1973, featuring television and film star Lyle Waggoner as centerfold and an interview and nude photoshoot with actor Ryan McDonald . Editorial in
484-522: A populist campaign that focused on opposing the North American Free Trade Agreement and Bush's failure to balance the budget. Clinton, a founding member of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), focused on the poor economic conditions. In the three-way race, Clinton won a majority of the electoral vote and took 43% of the popular vote, while Bush 37.4% of the popular vote and Perot took 18.9%. Clinton's victory made him
605-430: A "career regret," finding the photos, which featured him posing nude and in underwear with his guitar, embarrassing. Conversely, musician Peter Steele expressed strong regret for his unusually explicit shoot, reportedly repulsed by the attention he garnered from gay fans. Others, like straight soap opera actor John Gibson , found the attention from male and female fans equally flattering, with Gibson specifically crediting
726-774: A "very minimalistic, deistic view of God ." Hefner donated $ 100,000 to the University of Southern California 's School of Cinematic Arts to create a course called "Censorship in Cinema", and $ 2 million to endow a chair for the study of American film. In 2007, the university's audiovisual archive at the Norris Theater received a donation from Hefner and was renamed to the Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archive in his honor. Both through his charitable foundation and individually, Hefner also contributed to charities and other organizations outside
847-548: A 10-month period in 1986 and 1987, when following the sale and reorganization of the magazine, new ownership mandated a new approach in the hopes of appealing to a wider readership in an increasingly politically and culturally conservative time. Editorially, the magazine covered hot-button sociopolitical issues like abortion and equal rights for the majority of its print run. In the magazine's first decade, it typically did so via long-form journalism, commentary, and feature interviews from well-regarded staff and freelance writers. Through
968-547: A 27% across-the-board federal income tax cut over three years, as well as a separate bill that reduced federal spending, especially in anti-poverty programs. A recession in the early part of Reagan's term, combined with tax cuts and increased military spending, led to an increasing deficit. Democrats won several seats in the House of Representatives in the 1982 mid-term elections . Reagan's approval ratings fell to 35%, and many Democrats believed that their party could defeat Reagan in
1089-624: A 7.3 acre (3-hectare) compound as his own private residence. In May 2017, Eugena Washington was the last Playmate of the Year to be announced by Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion . Hefner debated The Playboy Philosophy with William F. Buckley Jr. , on Firing Line in Episode 26, recorded on September 12, 1966. The Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award was created by Christie Hefner "to honor individuals who have made significant contributions in
1210-453: A bill which placed several new limits on those receiving federal assistance . Campaigning for the Democratic nomination in 2008, Barack Obama interpreted how Reagan changed the nation's trajectory: I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country
1331-494: A few of his many lovers; Leigh filed a $ 35 million palimony suit against him. In 1971, he acknowledged that he experimented in bisexuality. Also in 1971, he established a second residence in Los Angeles with the acquisition of Playboy Mansion West, and moved there permanently from Chicago in 1975. On March 7, 1985, Hefner had a minor stroke at age 58, whereupon he re-evaluated his lifestyle, making several changes. He toned down
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#17328587805481452-422: A former editor-in-chief during the magazine's print run, oversees the online iteration in the same capacity. Under the direction Caldwell, Boardman, and production director Daniel McKernan, the brand has refocused on the traditional male physique and art nude composition the magazine is historically known for, incorporating additional video and multi-media content, moving away from the more explicit depictions of
1573-468: A lawsuit against her for calling him a "pimp". Defending her position, Moore argued that "he was a man who bought and sold women to other men". She further stated that "part of Hefner's business acumen was to make the selling of female flesh respectable and hip, to make soft porn acceptable." Julie Bindel argued in The Independent that Hefner "caused immeasurable damage by turning porn—and therefore
1694-655: A majority of evangelical Protestant voters in 1976, but the increasingly-politicized Christian right came to strongly oppose his presidency. Many of these religious voters were swayed by the public campaigns of leaders such as Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority and Phyllis Schlafly , who opposed ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment . Another important conservative organization, The Heritage Foundation , emerged as an important conservative think tank that developed and advocated conservative policies. With
1815-409: A man present. The case went to trial and resulted in a hung jury . In the 1960s, Hefner created "private key" clubs that were racially diverse. During the civil rights movement in 1966, Hefner sent Alex Haley to interview American Nazi Party founder George Lincoln Rockwell , much to Rockwell's shock because Haley was black. Rockwell agreed to meet with Haley only after gaining assurance that he
1936-623: A memoir where she alleged she experienced a hostile environment while at the Playboy Mansion , even claiming that she was "imprisoned" while there. The Amazon original series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story was released in April 2017. It stars Matt Whelan in the title role, along with Emmett Skilton and Chelsie Preston Crayford . The ten episodes are a combination of interviews, archival footage (including moments found in Hefner's vast personal collection), and cinematic re-enactments that cover
2057-414: A missionary. He attended Sayre Elementary School and Steinmetz High School , then served from 1944 to 1946 as a United States Army writer for a military newspaper. Hefner graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a double minor in creative writing and art, having earned his degree in two and a half years. After graduation, he took
2178-625: A niche, adult-oriented publication. The 1993 acquisition of Drake by Crescent Publishing Group, the owner of hardcore magazine like High Society and other pornographic titles, cemented Playgirl's reputation as an adult title and, as a result, the number of celebrities and newsmakers sitting for interviews or pictorials rapidly decreased. Crescent's experiments in the 1990s with the publication of celebrity nudes acquired from external sources—including art nudes alleged to be actor Antonio Banderas and intrusive paparazzi photos of actor Brad Pitt (both presented as cover stories), proved short-lived after
2299-410: A public that had grown disillusioned with New Deal liberalism. Reagan's charisma and speaking skills helped him frame conservatism as an optimistic, forward-looking vision for the country. Reagan challenged Nixon's successor, incumbent President Gerald Ford , in the 1976 Republican presidential primaries . Ford narrowly clinched the nomination at the 1976 Republican National Convention , but he lost
2420-409: A second appearance shortly after. While film star Atkins told UPI columnist Vernon Scott he'd posed to "stir up some controversy" in his young career, Olympian Greg Louganis disclosed in his autobiography that he hadn't wanted to do his shoot, but felt pressured to do as a marketing vehicle (to bolster the heterosexual "heartthrob" appeal of the then-closeted diver). Singer Johnny Mathis, unhappy with
2541-455: A semester of graduate courses in sociology at Northwestern University , but dropped out soon after. In January 1952, Hefner left his job as a copywriter for Esquire after he was denied a $ 5 raise. In 1953, he took out a mortgage loan of $ 600 and raised $ 8,000 from 45 investors (including $ 1,000 from his mother—"not because she believed in the venture," he told E! in 2006, "but because she believed in her son") to launch Playboy , which
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#17328587805482662-440: A series of expensive legal losses and settlements with Banderas, Pitt, and others. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio successfully sued to stop publication of photographs taken without his knowledge, and the pressure from Crescent to publish the photos led to the resignation of Editor-in-Chief, Ceslie Armstrong, who called the photographs "an invasion of privacy [that] I can't be associated with." By the 2000s, Crescent had fully repositioned
2783-690: A song titled " Reagan " off his 2012 album R.A.P. Music . Reagan appears as a character in the comic books The Dark Knight Returns (1986) and Legends (1986–87). Many scholars take an international perspective, linking the Reagan era with the Thatcher era in Britain. As one scholar explained: Throughout many of the capitalist democracies in Western Europe and in North America, the recession that began with
2904-491: A special print edition, featuring a pregnant and nude actress Chloe Sevigny on the cover (a nod to both Playgirl's feminist roots and the magazine's early issues, which often featured women on the cover), edited by Skye Parrott. The issue, described by Kuhns as "part political magazine and part art magazine" featured images of nude bodies of all ethnicities and genders, as well as writing about racial injustice, trans empowerment, and body positivity and sold out immediately. Since
3025-525: A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television and made several movie appearances as himself. In 2009, he was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for his performance as himself in Miss March . On his official Twitter account, he joked about this nomination: "Maybe I didn't understand the character." Brigitte Berman's documentary Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
3146-695: A state of drug-induced stupor or unconsciousness, spying, videotaping without consent, and illegal sex with minors by Hefner and his celebrity friends and guests at the Playboy Mansion and other locations. The PLBY group , now publicly owned, distanced itself from Hefner in a statement released shortly before the first episode was broadcast, saying, "Today's Playboy is not Hugh Hefner's Playboy. We trust and validate these women and their stories and we strongly support those individuals who have come forward to share their experiences." In January 2024, Hefner's widow Crystal, who previously brushed away criticism, wrote
3267-537: A time when their own party was generally in the minority at the federal level. Julia Azari , by contrast, argues that Trump's election signifies the end of the Reagan era and the beginning of a new cycle in politics, including Trump's support for protectionism and opposition to support for Ukraine in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine . Wilentz traces the start of the Reagan era to the Watergate scandal , which ended
3388-458: A voice-only appearance as himself in the 2011 film Hop . In 2012, Hefner announced that his youngest son Cooper would succeed him as the public face of Playboy . Hefner was known to friends and family simply as "Hef". He married Northwestern University student Mildred ("Millie") Williams in 1949. They had a daughter named Christie (b. 1952) and a son, David (b. 1955). Before the wedding, Mildred confessed that she'd had an affair while he
3509-524: A wide margin in both the popular vote and the electoral vote. As Republicans retained control of Congress, he was unable to advance much of his domestic agenda. Economic growth was especially strong during Clinton's second term, and the unemployment dropped to 4% in 2000. In 1998, the government experienced its first budget surplus since the 1960s. Much of Clinton's second term was dominated by impeachment proceedings against Clinton , which stemmed from his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky . Though
3630-607: A world where homosexuality was the norm. The magazine received angry letters, so Hefner responded, "If it was wrong to persecute heterosexuals in a homosexual society then the reverse was wrong, too." In 1961, Hefner watched Dick Gregory perform at the Herman Roberts Show Bar in Chicago, and he hired Gregory to work at the Chicago Playboy Club. Gregory attributed the launch of his career to that night. Hefner promoted
3751-436: The 1984 presidential election and roll back some of the Reagan administration policies. A strong economic recovery that began in 1983 boosted Reagan's approval ratings, and the administration argued that the tax cuts had been the primary factor in turning the economy around. In the 1984 presidential election, Reagan won his party's re-nomination without facing a serious challenge, while former Vice President Walter Mondale won
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3872-504: The 1988 Republican primaries . Aided by Reagan's renewed popularity, Bush defeated Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election . Bush's presidency focused largely on foreign affairs, and he faced a series of major foreign policy issues as the Eastern Bloc collapsed. Many of Bush's top foreign policy appointments, including National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft , were realists who were influenced by Henry Kissinger . While
3993-529: The 1994 mid-term elections , Republicans took control of both houses of Congress. In response, Clinton hired political consultant Dick Morris , who advocated a strategy of Triangulation between the Republican and Democratic members of Congress. In a major budget stand-off that involved two government shutdowns , Clinton won congressional approval of his own budget proposal, which avoided the deep cuts Medicare and other programs that had been sought by Speaker of
4114-411: The 2024 presidential election , Trump defeated Democratic nominee and Biden's vice president Kamala Harris . Trump became the second president to win a second non-consecutive term after Grover Cleveland in the 1892 presidential election . Tom Clancy wrote three best-selling novels that illuminate the Reagan era: The Hunt for Red October (1984), Red Storm Rising (1986), and The Cardinal of
4235-591: The Berlin Wall fell and other Soviet-aligned countries experienced turmoil, Bush pursued friendly relations with Gorbachev, which played a part in the Soviet Union's assent to the reunification of Germany . Bush launched a successful invasion of Panama in 1989 and led a multinational coalition against Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War . After the quick U.S. victory in the Gulf War, Bush's approval ratings soared. However,
4356-801: The Iran–Contra affair . However, the administration did win a significant foreign policy success when Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reached the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty INF Treaty in 1987. Reagan also appointed numerous conservative judges, including Associate Justices Antonin Scalia and Sandra Day O'Connor and William Rehnquist , who Reagan elevated to the position of Chief Justice . The Rehnquist Court would hand down several conservative decisions in ensuing years. Vice President Bush defeated Senator Bob Dole and televangelist Pat Robertson to win
4477-481: The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 , which contained a mix of tax increases and spending cuts. Conservative Republicans, who had never fully accepted Bush despite his move towards the right during the 1980s, were outraged by the deal. Adding to the administration's challenges, the country entered a recession in 1990, with the national unemployment rate rising to 7.8%. Even the fall of
4598-630: The War on Terror , a global conflict against al-Qaeda and other groups. In 2003, the administration launched the Iraq War , which deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein . Despite the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War , Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election . In the two years after Bush's re-election, the Jack Abramoff scandals , the administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina , Bush's failed attempt to reform Social Security, and
4719-590: The conservative " Reagan Revolution " led by President Ronald Reagan in domestic and foreign policy had a lasting impact. It overlaps with what political scientists call the Sixth Party System . Definitions of the Reagan era universally include the 1980s, while more extensive definitions may also include the late 1970s, the 1990s, and even the 2000s. In his 2008 book, The Age of Reagan: A History, 1974–2008 , historian and journalist Sean Wilentz argues that Reagan dominated this stretch of American history in
4840-664: The presidency of Richard Nixon and created an opening for a new Republican leader. Along with the Watergate scandal, the assassination of John F. Kennedy , the Vietnam War , and poor economic conditions created widespread public alienation from political leaders in the mid-1970s. A mass movement of population from the cities to the suburbs led to the creation of a new group of voters less attached to New Deal economic policies and machine politics . Reagan and other conservatives successfully presented conservative ideas as an alternative to
4961-558: The sharp rise in petroleum prices in 1973–1974 signaled an epochal shift in the patchwork of growth- based economic and social policies....The demise of Keynesianism which followed meant far more than the obsolescence of an economic doctrine that had been used to justify a broad range of economic policies. It represented a significant retreat from a vision of society—the Keynesian welfare state—that had motivated state strategies to harmonise interests through social policy, to politically regulate
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5082-498: The 2020 relaunch, the magazine has moved to a regular publishing cycle as an online-only title split across two domains: Playgirl.com , a free site featuring a mix of news, features, and photo essays reside, and PlaygirlPlus.com , a subscription site where access to the publication's archives and the magazine's traditional "Man of the Month" nude photospread, modernized with additional video and multimedia content, are hosted. Nicole Caldwell,
5203-576: The American defeat in the Vietnam War , the collapse of détente and fears of Soviet power , the challenge of imported cars and textiles, the deindustrialization of the Rust Belt , soaring inflation, stagflation , and the energy crisis, as well as the humiliation the nation suffered during the Iran hostage crisis and the sense of malaise as the nation wondered if its glory days had passed. Kalman shows step by step
5324-604: The Bush administration found less success in domestic policy, where deficits continued to be a major issue. Though Bush had promised not to raise taxes at the 1988 Republican National Convention, his hand was forced in part by the Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Act , a 1985 law that purportedly required a balanced budget by 1993. After a long battle with the Democratic Congress, Bush agreed to sign
5445-517: The Carter campaign sought to portray Reagan as a dangerous extremist. An improving economy helped Carter overtake Reagan in the October polling, but Reagan won a decisive victory in an October 28 debate. On election day, Reagan narrowly won a majority in the popular vote but took the electoral vote by a wide margin, carrying 44 states. In the concurrent congressional elections , Republicans won several seats in
5566-480: The Democratic Party as a whole, also alienated other voters, while the conservative movement gathered strength. A continually poor economy bred frustration over taxes, and voters became increasingly receptive to those advocating for a smaller government. A backlash also developed against affirmative action programs, as some whites claimed that the programs constituted reverse discrimination . The president had won
5687-511: The Democratic nomination. On election day, Reagan won 59% of the popular vote and carried 49 states, leading to speculation of a permanent realignment in U.S. politics towards the Republican Party. Despite his re-election, Reagan faced significantly more difficulties in enacting conservative policies in his second term. His domestic agenda was hindered by growing deficits and the fallout of
5808-605: The House Newt Gingrich and other congressional Republicans. In 1996, Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act , a Republican-authored bill which placed several new limits on those receiving federal assistance . Clinton had called for a reform of the welfare system during his 1992 campaign, wanting to add changes such as work requirements for recipients. In the 1996 presidential election , Clinton defeated Republican nominee Bob Dole by
5929-546: The House of Representatives and took control of the Senate for the first time since the 1950s. Upon taking office, Reagan argued that the United States faced a dire crisis, and that the best way to address this crisis was through conservative reforms. His major policy priorities were increasing military spending, cutting taxes, reducing non-military federal spending, and restricting federal regulations. Reagan believed that reducing
6050-470: The House voted to impeach Clinton, he was acquitted by the Senate, as all Senate Democrats and several Senate Republicans voted not guilty on both impeachment charges. Due to the strong economy, most Washington pundits viewed Clinton's vice president, Al Gore , as the early favorite in the 2000 presidential election . However, in an extremely close and contested election that ended in a controversial Supreme Court decision , Governor George W. Bush of Texas,
6171-571: The Iraq War's continued unpopularity all weakened Bush's public standing. Aided by Bush's unpopularity and the Mark Foley scandal , Democrats won control of Congress in the 2006 elections . A collapse in housing prices led to the 2007–2008 financial crisis , which marked the start of a prolonged economic downturn known as the Great Recession . In the 2008 presidential election , held in the midst of
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#17328587805486292-521: The Kremlin (1988), which reflect Reagan-era Cold War values. The Soviet Union as an evil empire and the superiority of American values and technology are all themes both of Clancy's thrillers and Reagan's rhetoric. Policy elites used these novels (and the filming of one of them) to promote their ideas of national security to the American public. Kendrick Lamar has a song titled "Ronald Reagan Era" off of his 2011 album Section.80 , and Killer Mike has
6413-405: The Playboy Mansion was put on the market for $ 200 million, on condition that Hugh Hefner would continue to work and live in the mansion. Later that year it was sold to Daren Metropoulos, a principal at private equity firm Metropoulos & Company, for $ 100 million. Metropoulos planned to reconnect the Playboy Mansion property with a neighboring estate that he purchased in 2009, combining the two for
6534-576: The Playboy Mansion. In October 2008, all three of them decided to leave the mansion. In January 2009, Hefner began a relationship with Crystal Harris ; she joined the Shannon Twins after his previous "number one girlfriend" Holly Madison had ended their seven-year relationship. On December 24, 2010, he became engaged to Harris, but she broke off their engagement on June 14, 2011, five days before their planned wedding. The July issue of Playboy reached store shelves and customers' homes within days of
6655-499: The Reagan era include Jerry Falwell , Phyllis Schlafly , Newt Gingrich , and The Heritage Foundation . The Rehnquist Court , which was inaugurated during Reagan's presidency, handed down several conservative decisions. The Reagan era coincides with the presidency of Reagan, and, in more extensive definitions, the presidencies of Gerald Ford , Jimmy Carter , George H. W. Bush , Bill Clinton , George W. Bush , Barack Obama , Donald Trump , and Joe Biden . Liberals generally lament
6776-518: The Reagan era, while conservatives generally praise it and call for its continuation in the 21st century. Liberals were significantly influenced as well, leading to the Third Way . Upon taking office, the Reagan administration implemented an economic policy based on the theory of supply-side economics . Taxes were reduced through the passage of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 , while
6897-552: The Reagan era. Besides the rapid growth in college-educated voters, White emphasizes revolutions in terms of race, family, gay rights , and religion. The very rapid growth of immigration from Asia and Latin America changed the American population structure, and had a special impact on California. The once sacrosanct ideal of the nuclear family gave way to new tolerance regarding premarital sex , easy divorce , single parenting , and cohabitation . The religious conservatives tried to hold
7018-556: The Reagan era. Wilentz additionally includes the Ford presidency (1974–1977) and the Carter presidency (1977–1981). The endpoint of the Reagan era is often seen as the election of Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 . The sweeping policies pursued by the Obama administration constituted a clear break with Reagan era social issues, as Americans became more supportive of social issues like gay marriage and
7139-546: The Russian version of Playgirl was launched in June 2004, it contained photographs of nude, circumcised American men despite circumcision's being less common outside the U.S., being practiced mainly by Muslims and Jews in Russia. Playgirl UK 's brief 2011 relaunch was accompanied by an announcement that it would feature no below-the-waist nudity, and would focus on attractive male celebrities rather than models and pornography actors. It
7260-517: The Soviet Union in December 1991 did not greatly help Bush, as many conservatives credited Reagan's policies for the collapse of the U.S. long-time rival. Bush won his party's re-nomination after defeating a challenge from right-wing commentator and former Reagan official Pat Buchanan in the 1992 Republican presidential primaries . In the general election , Bush faced Democratic Governor Bill Clinton and an independent candidate, Ross Perot . Perot ran
7381-461: The White House to the Democratic nominee, Jimmy Carter . During his presidency, Carter alienated many of those who had voted for him in 1976, including many in his own party. In the 1980 Democratic primaries , Carter defeated a strong challenge from the left in the form of Senator Ted Kennedy , who had clashed with Carter over the establishment of a national health insurance system. Carter, and
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#17328587805487502-523: The administration also cut domestic spending and increased military spending. Increasing deficits motivated the passage of tax increases during the George H. W. Bush and Clinton administrations, but taxes were cut again with the passage of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 . During Clinton's presidency, Republicans won passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act ,
7623-536: The aesthetic notion that images of women—and women themselves—exist to please men." Hefner's former girlfriend Holly Madison said that he "would encourage competition—and body image issues—between his multiple live-in girlfriends. His legacy is full of evidence of the exploitation of women for professional gain." Ed Stetzer wrote in Christianity Today that Hefner would have the residence systematically cleaned whenever Christie Hefner visited in order "to keep
7744-530: The age of 91. The cause was sepsis brought on by an E. coli infection. He is interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, in the crypt beside Marilyn Monroe , for which he paid $ 75,000 in 1992. "Spending eternity next to Marilyn is an opportunity too sweet to pass up," Hefner had told the Los Angeles Times in 2009. Suzanne Moore wrote in The Guardian that Hefner threatened to file
7865-475: The backing of many in the conservative movement, Reagan defeated establishment favorite George H. W. Bush , moderate Congressman John B. Anderson , and others in the 1980 Republican primaries . To ensure party unity, Reagan named Bush as his running mate at the 1980 Republican National Convention , even though Bush had characterized Reagan's supply-side economics as "voodoo economics". Reagan mobilized his base by campaigning on his conservative positions, while
7986-573: The buying and selling of women's bodies—into a legitimate business." Robin Abcarian wrote in the Los Angeles Times , quoting Wendy Hamilton , that Hefner "probably did more to mainstream the exploitation of women's bodies than any other figure in American history," adding that he "managed to convince many women that taking off their clothes for men's pleasure was not just empowering, but a worthy goal in itself." She further stated that Hefner "embodied
8107-484: The era in 1980, when Reagan was elected president , and usually probe back into the 1970s for the origins of the Reagan era. For example, Kalman (2010) explores multiple crises of the 1970s that eroded confidence in liberal solutions: the rise of the Christian right and the reaction against the gay rights movement , feminism , and the Equal Rights Amendment , grassroots reactions against busing ordered by federal judges,
8228-473: The field". Other scholars agree on the importance of the Reagan era. According to John Kenneth White, the Reagan era ended in the early 21st century, as typified by the election and reelection of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. White argues that the Reagan coalition was shrinking in size and in self-confidence. The weak Republican response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis was a major blow. White argues that major cultural and demographic changes helped end
8349-500: The film at any point were false. Reagan era [REDACTED] Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other The Reagan era or the Age of Reagan is a periodization of recent American history used by historians and political observers to emphasize that
8470-521: The financial crisis, Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain . Obama defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney and won re-election in 2012 . In the 2016 presidential election , Republican nominee Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton , despite losing the popular vote . In the 2020 presidential election , held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic , Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden defeated Trump. In
8591-449: The first Democratic president since Jimmy Carter left office in 1981, and he began his term with a Democratic Congress. Though Clinton won early legislative victories such as passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 , his administration was damaged by a series of minor scandals and the failure of his health care reform proposal . In
8712-658: The height (or near height) of their fame, some, including actors Sam J. Jones and Steve Bond , and country singer Keith Urban , posed earlier in their careers, going on to greater professional success in the years immediately following. Others, like teen idol singer and actor Fabian , Skid Row musician Phil Varone , and supermodel Tim Boyce posed nude for the magazine after the height of their fame, introducing themselves to new generational audiences. In rare occasions, as with fallen 9/11 firefighter Vincent Princiotta, Playgirl models came to national prominence posthumously. With dozens of celebrities and public figures posting for
8833-507: The high fees previously paid out to celebrity models), and as a result of increasing cultural conservatism at the end of the Reagan Administration and concurrent rise of cultural movements like the Moral Majority , which called for the censorship and restriction of nudity as non-"family friendly" content in American media. With top publicists and representatives for A-list actors and professional athletes more wary of associating with
8954-404: The highest rates, while actors, generally required to more carefully manage public image and perception, have been more likely to pose for obscured or rear-only nude pictorials (with some notable exceptions). The number of mainstream celebrities appearing nude in the magazine slowed steadily following a 1986 restructuring (which saw significant cuts to the budget for original features and an end to
9075-740: The house next door to the mansion. Hefner filed for divorce from Conrad in 2009 after an 11-year separation, citing irreconcilable differences. He stated that he only remained nominally married to her for the sake of their children, and their youngest child had just turned 18. The divorce was finalized in 2010. Hefner became known for moving an ever-changing coterie of young women into the Playboy Mansion, including twins Mandy and Sandy Bentley . He dated as many as seven women concurrently . He also dated Brande Roderick , Izabella St. James , Tina Marie Jordan , Holly Madison , Bridget Marquardt , and Kendra Wilkinson . Madison, Wilkinson, and Marquardt appeared on The Girls Next Door depicting their lives at
9196-470: The image of God. If this does not concern us, what will? A 12-part television documentary series, Secrets of Playboy , debuted on A&E January 24, 2022, in which Hefner's former male and female employees and partners made claims of systematic sexual misconduct and manipulation, recreational and manipulative drug use, peer pressure , sextortion , blackmail, rape, forced and violent anal sex , sexual assault without consent and/or while victims were in
9317-495: The issue included a travel pictorial on Hong Kong , long-form interview with actress Cloris Leachman , original fiction by Jillian Charles, and a guide to selecting artwork for the home. The first issue sold out quickly, selling 600,000 copies in four days, and for the rest of the 1970s, the magazine would sell, on average, 1.5 million copies each month. From its inception, Playgirl has featured full frontal nude and semi-nude (rear and obscured frontal) pictorials of men, except for
9438-495: The last $ 900,000 sought by a conservation group for a land purchase needed to stop the development of the vista of the Hollywood Sign. Sylvilagus palustris hefneri , an endangered subspecies of marsh rabbit , is named after him in honor of financial support that he provided. The Barbi Twins , who are among a notable cohort of celebrity Playmates, including Pamela Anderson and Hefner's third wife Crystal Harris , praised
9559-560: The launch of the magazine as well as the next six decades of Hefner's personal life and career. The series was filmed in Auckland . In October 2017, Playboy Enterprises announced that a Hugh Hefner biopic directed by Brett Ratner with the screenplay by Jeff Nathanson was greenlit with Jared Leto rumored to play Hefner. In November 2017, it was indefinitely put on hold following sexual harassment allegations against Ratner, and Leto's representatives stated that reports of him being attached to
9680-437: The legalization of marijuana. The 2016 election victory of President Donald Trump has stirred debate over whether his rise signifies the continuation of the Reagan era or represents a paradigm shift for American politics. Political scientist Stephen Skowronek argues that Trump's election shows that the Reagan era continues. Skowronek compares Obama to former presidents like Woodrow Wilson and Richard Nixon , who governed at
9801-505: The long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives , and their former co-star, Hawai'i 5-0 and Star Wars: Resistance actor Christopher Sean would be released in April. (preview issue) Though the magazine was mainly marketed to heterosexual women, it developed a substantial gay male following. In 2003, then-editor-in-chief Michele Zipp acknowledged the magazine's gay readership, noting "it's 'Entertainment for Women' because there's no other magazine out there that caters to women in
9922-539: The magazine announced that it would cease publication of its print edition as of the January 2009 issue. The last print issue of the magazine's initial print run was published as a January/February issue and sold on newsstands through March 2009. Playgirl was then published online through February 2010, when print publication resumed with a March issue featuring political celebrity Levi Johnston , shot by longtime Playgirl photographer Greg Weiner . In 2011, Blue Horizon sold
10043-456: The magazine over the five-decade print runs, circumstances and experiences varied. Many of the early celebrity centerfolds elected to pose in support of the feminist and gender equality aims of the magazine, particularly in response to male-oriented titles like Playboy , which already featured nude female celebrities. NFL player Dan Pastorini first posed for the magazine to help pay off a legal settlement, but positive reception to his shoot led to
10164-558: The magazine specifically vs. merely appearing clothed and/or shirtless in the magazine or in photos acquired from external sources). Playgirl featured the highest number of A-list celebrities in nude photoshoots in the 1970s, in the wake of the American sexual revolution and early feminist positioning of the magazine, and 1980s. While many celebrities, such as football legend and actor Jim Brown , World Series MVP Steve Yeager , and actors Lyle Waggoner and Christopher Atkins , posed nude at
10285-486: The magazine was issued in a monthly print format, before transitioning to a quarterly print publication in 2009. Regular print operations were paused from 2016-2020, with only an online presence maintained. In November 2020, the magazine relaunched with a 10,000 print run in the U.S. and United Kingdom, before selling out and returning to press for a second printing. After that relaunch, the magazine resumed monthly releases as an online, digital publication. Playgirl magazine
10406-456: The magazine was known for, a decrease in non-pictorial pages, and an increase in advertising space. Ultimately, the 1986-87 reorganization of the magazine failed to significantly increase general readership or improve the magazine's cultural palatability in the new environment, but did have the effect of eroding the magazine's credibility as a substantive mainstream publication that blended erotic content with substantive journalism, repositioned as
10527-584: The magazine's editorial style and direction (including male nude pictorials) but leaning more publicly into the magazine's feminist and journalistic bona fides. Covers in Ritter's first years centered women, often alone, to highlight female perspectives on politics and other cultural issues, deemphasizing the nude photography and erotic themes still central to the magazine, in terms of magazine's public-facing image and newsstand presence. Results were mixed and in 1986, with readership declines compounded by bad investments by
10648-492: The magazine, celebrity appearances (including A-list interviews) grew rarer. This trend hastened in the final years of the magazine's print run, when the magazine's owners moved the publication in a more explicit direction. (As a general rule, explicit celebrity photoshoots, featuring erections or sexually suggestive poses with a female model, were exceptionally rare; most exceptions—including Steele, Varone and reality stars Nick Hawk and Joey Kovar —came during this later period in
10769-493: The magazine, including Scott Merritt, Playgirl's 30th-anniversary centerfold, who came out publicly in an interview with The Advocat e. Some models featured over the magazine's print run also posed for gay-focused publications or worked in the gay adult entertainment industry. Playgirl is available in English and has been published in a number of other languages and international English-language editions during its history: When
10890-477: The market economy and thereby reduce class and diverse social conflicts, and to promulgate for the state a tutelary role in securing business and trade union acquiescence (and less commonly approval) for a limited set of important economic policies. Historian Doug Rossinow reported in 2007, "As of this writing, among academic historians, the Reagan revisionists—who view the 1980s as an era of mixed blessings at worst, and of great forward strides in some renditions—hold
11011-430: The mid-1980s, in-depth interviews with A-list celebrities and newsmakers, including Maya Angelou , Larry Flynt , Barbra Streisand , and Jane Fonda , were frequently paired with commentary from cultural essayists such as Angelou, and original fiction from both emergent and established writers, including Erica Jong and Truman Capote . In 1977, Lambert sold Playgirl to Ira Ritter who took over as publisher, continuing
11132-504: The nation". Hefner guest-starred as himself in the 2000 Sex and the City episode "Sex and Another City". In 2005, he guest-starred on the HBO shows Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage . He guest-starred as himself in a 2006 episode of Seth Green 's Robot Chicken on the late-night programming block Adult Swim . In the 2007 Family Guy episode " Airport '07 ", he voiced himself. He has
11253-464: The owners (including the launch of an unsuccessful spin-off publication, Playgirl Advisor , with a more direct focus on sex, sexuality, and couples), Playgirl filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and was subsequently acquired by Drake Publishers, Inc. Until the 1986 change of ownership, Playgirl 's interviews, journalism, and original fiction were central to the magazine's identity and featured and promoted as such. After Drake's acquisition of
11374-637: The positive attention from his Playgirl appearance for his career shift and subsequent success as an actor, model, and dancer. While celebrities and public figures from many walks of life—including the military, circus arts, and politics—have posed nude for Playgirl , the majority of the magazine's high-profile nude models have come from the worlds of film and television acting, professional and world-class athletics (mostly professional baseball, football, and Olympic athletes), and music, including well-known pop, rock, metal, and rap artists. Historically, famous athletes and musicians have posed fully, frontally nude at
11495-408: The print magazine's final years and reembracing the magazine's roots. Both domains highlight the decades of substantive journalism, commentary, fiction, and pictorials from the magazine's archives, presenting them in newly digitized formats. Many celebrities and public figures posed nude or semi-nude for Playgirl during the magazine's initial print runs (with "posed" defined as sitting as a model for
11616-421: The print rights for Playgirl and other titles to Magna Publishing Group, Inc. of Paramus, New Jersey, and the magazine continued to publish as a print title, approximately quarterly, until 2016, when with print subscriptions dwindling to approximately 3,000 the title ceased regular print operations. In 2020, new owner Jack Lindley Kuhns, a gay man, revived the title, relaunching the "New Playgirl Magazine" with
11737-542: The process by which one political alternative after another collapsed, leaving Reagan standing. The term "Reagan era" is often used to refer to the United States only during Reagan's presidency, but it has also taken on an extended meaning that incorporates other periods. The George H. W. Bush presidency (1989–1993), the Clinton presidency (1993–2001), and the George W. Bush presidency (2001–2009) are often treated as extensions of
11858-475: The publishing icon for providing centerfolds and extended members of the Playboy family with a platform for activism and advocacy on behalf of animal populations in need. Hefner supported legalizing same-sex marriage , calling it "a fight for all our rights. Without it, we will turn back the sexual revolution and return to an earlier, puritanical time." Hefner died at the Playboy Mansion on September 27, 2017, at
11979-523: The realities from his own daughter". Stetzer further lamented the consequences of Hefner's role as a "general" of the "sexual revolution": It's hard to fathom that anyone would have known what this would have turned into. Parents growing up today are fighting to keep their children pure. Spouses are fighting to keep their marriages intact. And many enslaved and trapped in the adult entertainment industry have been figuratively and literally stripped not only of their clothes, but their very value as people made in
12100-560: The restoration of the Hollywood Sign . He hosted a gala fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion and contributed $ 27,000 (or 1/9 of the total restoration costs) by purchasing the letter Y in a ceremonial auction. Hefner stated in a 2000 interview with Playboy , "It's perfectly clear to me that religion is a myth. It's something we have invented to explain the inexplicable." Lee Strobel , a Christian author who interviewed Hefner regarding his theological positions, later described Hefner as having
12221-498: The results of his shoot, requested his feature not run (the magazine agreed), while NFL player Bob Chandler , who posed shortly after his team won the Super Bowl, was pleased with his layout, and displayed a framed shot in his home. Actor Marcus Patrick claimed then-editors' use of photos more explicit than agreed cost him his role on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives , and singer Urban jokingly called posing pre-superstardom
12342-440: The role of the government would lead to increased economic growth, which in turn would lead to higher revenues that would help pay down the national debt. Working with Congressman Jack Kemp , the Reagan administration introduced a major tax cut bill that won the support of enough Republicans and conservative Democrats to pass both houses of Congress. In August 1981, Reagan signed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 , which enacted
12463-575: The romantic boy-girl society that Playboy promotes" and ordered an article in his magazine against them. In his later years, Hefner's star dimmed, but he remained a well-known personality, often appearing in cameo roles. In the 1993 The Simpsons episode " Krusty Gets Kancelled ", Hefner voiced himself. In 1999, Hefner financed the Clara Bow documentary Discovering the It Girl . "Nobody has what Clara had," he said. "She defined an era and made her mark on
12584-503: The same way that Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal legacy dominated the four decades that preceded it. The Reagan era included ideas and personalities beyond Reagan himself. He is usually characterized as the leader of a broadly-based conservative movement whose ideas dominated national policy-making in areas such as taxes, welfare, defense, the federal judiciary, and the Cold War . Other major conservative figures and organizations of
12705-577: The son of former President Bush, defeated Gore. Bush's administration included many prominent figures from previous Republican administrations, including Donald Rumsfeld , Dick Cheney , and Colin Powell . Upon taking office, Bush signed a major tax cut, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 . After the September 11 attacks , the Bush administration launched the Afghanistan War and
12826-584: The sphere of politics and publishing, throwing fundraiser events for Much Love Animal Rescue as well as Generation Rescue , an anti-vaccinationist campaign organization supported by Jenny McCarthy . On November 18, 2010, Children of the Night founder and president Dr. Lois Lee presented Hefner with the organization's first-ever Founder's Hero of the Heart Award in appreciation for his unwavering dedication, commitment and generosity. On April 26, 2010, Hefner donated
12947-659: The title as an adult brand, relaunching Playgirl's website as a pay site primarily featuring co-branded hardcore straight pornography, and increasing explicit content in the print magazine. In August 2000, Crescent was charged by the Federal Trade Commission with over $ 180 million of online credit card fraud , some of which was alleged by the FTC to have taken place on their new Playgirl website. In November 2001, Crescent agreed to pay $ 30 million in refunds and subsequently changed its name to Blue Horizon Media, Inc. In August 2008,
13068-414: The title's history.) In the final years of the print run, celebrity appearances were limited exclusively to personalities from the world of reality television. In February 2024, the newly relaunched, and no longer explicit, Playgirl announced the first celebrity pictorial of its new era—featuring actors Bryan Dattilo , Paul Telfer , Robert Scott Wilson , and Emmy Award -winner Eric Martsolf , stars of
13189-457: The title, the restructured magazine began featuring simplified beefcake-style covers (usually highlighting a model from the issue in underwear or speedo-style swimwear), and implemented changes to cut costs and expand readership in an increasingly conservative and less feminist-friendly cultural environment of the late Reagan era . This resulted in substantial reductions in the in-depth, substantive journalism, political and social feminist commentary
13310-464: The vital effort to protect and enhance First Amendment rights for Americans." He donated and raised money for the Democratic Party . In 2011, he referred to himself as an independent due to dissatisfaction with both the Democratic and Republican parties. Nonetheless, in 2012, he supported Barack Obama 's reelection campaign. In 1978, Hefner helped organize fund-raising efforts that led to
13431-459: The way we do [but]...we love our gay readers as well, and the gay readership [of the magazine] is about 30%." Dirk Shafer , one of the gay men featured later produced a comic mockumentary titled Man of the Year in which he discussed balancing his own homosexuality with his role as Playgirl's "Man of the Year," a seemingly heterosexual sex symbol . While the magazine always presented its models as heterosexual, openly gay models have appeared in
13552-510: The wedding date; it featured Harris on the cover, and in a photo spread as well. The headline on the cover read "Introducing America's Princess, Mrs. Crystal Hefner". Hefner and Harris subsequently reconciled and married on December 31, 2012. Hefner was very distantly related to the 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush , respectively. Hefner's brother Keith died at age 87 on April 8, 2016, one day before Hefner's 90th birthday. In January 2016,
13673-544: The wild, all-night parties, and his daughter Christie took over the operation of Playboy's commercial operations in 1988. The following year, he married Playmate of the Year Kimberley Conrad ; they were 36 years apart in age. The couple had sons Marston Glenn (b. 1990) and Cooper (b. 1991). The E! True Hollywood Story profile noted that the Playboy Mansion had been transformed into a family-friendly homestead. He and Conrad separated in 1998, after which she moved into
13794-552: Was a failure, and ceased circulation soon after it began. Hugh Hefner Hugh Marston Hefner (April 9, 1926 – September 27, 2017) was an American magazine publisher. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, a publication with revealing photographs and articles. Hefner extended the Playboy brand into a world network of Playboy Clubs . He also resided in luxury mansions where Playboy Playmates shared his wild partying life, fueling media interest. Hefner
13915-703: Was away in the army. He called the admission "the most devastating moment of my life." A 2006 E! True Hollywood Story profile of Hefner revealed that Mildred allowed him to have sex with other women, out of guilt for her own infidelity and in the hope that it would preserve their marriage. The couple divorced in 1959. Hefner remade himself as a bon vivant and man about town, a lifestyle that he promoted in his magazine and TV shows. He admitted to being "'involved' with maybe eleven out of twelve months' worth of Playmates" during some years. Donna Michelle , Marilyn Cole , Lillian Müller , Shannon Tweed , Barbi Benton , Karen Christy , Sondra Theodore , and Carrie Leigh were
14036-607: Was born in Chicago , on April 9, 1926, the first child of Glenn Lucius Hefner (1896–1976), an accountant, and his wife Grace Caroline (Swanson) Hefner (1895–1997) who worked as a teacher. His parents were from Nebraska . He had a younger brother, Keith (1929–2016). His mother was of Swedish ancestry, and his father was German and English. Through his father's line, Hefner was a descendant of Plymouth governor William Bradford . He described his family as "conservative, Midwestern, [and] Methodist ". His mother had wanted him to become
14157-472: Was founded in 1973 by Los Angeles-based nightclub owner Douglas Lambert, who'd initially explored creating a men's lifestyle magazine featuring nude women to compete with Hugh Hefner 's Playboy . At the suggestion of his wife, and inspired by the success of Helen Gurley Brown 's use of male nudes in Cosmopolitan magazine (including a shoot featuring film star Burt Reynolds), Lambert refashioned his idea as
14278-712: Was initially going to be called Stag Party . The first issue was published in December 1953 and featured Marilyn Monroe from a 1949 nude calendar shoot she did under a pseudonym. That first issue sold more than 50,000 copies, but Monroe was not paid by Playboy or Hefner for the photos. (Hefner never met Monroe, but he bought the crypt next to hers at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in 1992 for $ 75,000.) Esquire magazine rejected Charles Beaumont 's science fiction story "The Crooked Man" in 1955, so Hefner agreed to publish it in Playboy. The story highlighted straight men being persecuted in
14399-499: Was not Jewish, although Rockwell kept a handgun on the table throughout the interview. In Roots: The Next Generations (1979), the interview was recreated with James Earl Jones as Haley and Marlon Brando as Rockwell. Haley had also interviewed Malcolm X in 1963 and Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966 for the newly established 1962 "playboy interview". In 1970, Hefner stated that "militant feminists" are "unalterably opposed to
14520-436: Was ready for it. I think they felt like with all the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think that people . . . he just tapped into what people were already feeling, which was we want clarity, we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing. Most historians begin
14641-512: Was released on July 30, 2010. He had previously granted full access to documentary filmmaker and television producer Kevin Burns for the A&;E Biography special Hugh Hefner: American Playboy in 1996. Hefner and Burns later collaborated on numerous other television projects, most notably on The Girls Next Door , a reality series that ran for six seasons (2005–2009) and 90 episodes. Hefner also made
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