Kathy Pinna
Hugh Hefner, 1969
A photo of Hugh Hefner with Playboy Bunnies at his Chicago Playboy club in 1969.
Born in 1926 Chicago, both of his parents were teachers and he grew up in (his words) a "conservative, Midwestern, . . . and Methodist" family.
He began as a copywriter at Esquire but after being denied a raise ($5), he mortgaged his home, raised money from 45 investors - including his mother - and with the money (under $10,000) launched Playboy magazine in 1953. A nude photo of Marilyn Monroe from a 1949 calendar was in the magazine and the first issue sold over 50,000 copies.
The Playboy empire took off after the success of the magazine and Hugh Hefner became a household name. He stood up for gay rights, civil rights, animal rights, and the acceptance of everyone.
Married 3 times, Hugh had several long-term partners and 4 children. He died at the Playboy Mansion at the age of 91 and will be buried next to Marilyn Monroe in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery - a plot that he bought when it came up for sale in 1992.
Born in 1926 Chicago, both of his parents were teachers and he grew up in (his words) a "conservative, Midwestern, . . . and Methodist" family.
He began as a copywriter at Esquire but after being denied a raise ($5), he mortgaged his home, raised money from 45 investors - including his mother - and with the money (under $10,000) launched Playboy magazine in 1953. A nude photo of Marilyn Monroe from a 1949 calendar was in the magazine and the first issue sold over 50,000 copies.
The Playboy empire took off after the success of the magazine and Hugh Hefner became a household name. He stood up for gay rights, civil rights, animal rights, and the acceptance of everyone.
Married 3 times, Hugh had several long-term partners and 4 children. He died at the Playboy Mansion at the age of 91 and will be buried next to Marilyn Monroe in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery - a plot that he bought when it came up for sale in 1992.
Date & Place:
in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois United States
AncientFaces 
