10 Major Moments from Hugh Hefner’s Career (Photos)

Playboy Magazine founder Hugh Hefner built an empire publishing nude photos and high-quality interviews. Over the years, he also became known for as a reality TV Star and philanthropist as well as a media mogul. Here are 10 key moments from Hefner’s groundbreaking career.

Leaving Esquire

In 1952, Hefner worked as a copywriter at Esquire. After being denied a $5 raise, he quit the magazine, determined to start his own. He took out a mortgage of $600 and raised another $8,000 from 45 investors, including $1,000 from his own mother.

Playboy’s first issue

Hefner used the seed money to start Playboy Magazine (although the name changed: It was originally going to be called Stag Party, but Hefner couldn’t use that name because someone else owned the trademark). The first issue hit newsstands in 1953, featuring nude photos of Marilyn Monroe from a 1949 calendar shoot. The issue was a hit, selling 50,000 copies.

“Playboy’s Penthouse”

Hefner hosted the short-lived variety and talk TV show “Playboy’s Penthouse” in 1959, which was set up like a part at his apartment helped make the Playboy Bunnies famous. The show featured interviews with celebrities and featured names like Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. It ended in 1961 after one season, but helped popularize Hef’s famous “Playboy lifestyle.”

Dick Gregory at the Playboy Club

With the success of Playboy, Hefner began growing a corporate empire. He founded the Playboy Club in Chicago and hired comedian Dick Gregory after seeing him perform at another club. The regular gig at the Playboy Club marked the break in Gregory’s career.

A reputation for journalism

In 1962, Playboy started to develop its reputation for journalism with the first Playboy Interview, in which author Alex Haley interviewed musician Miles Davis. Playboy became known for high-quality, revealing interviews with famous subjects over the subsequent years.

Arrest for selling obscene literature

Hefner was arrested and went to trial after being accused of selling obscene literature in 1963, after the publishing of an issue that featured nude photos of actress Jayne Mansfield. The jury was unable to reach a verdict, though, and the charges were eventually dropped.

“Playboy After Dark”

In 1969, Hefner hosted another variety show similar to “Playboy’s Penthouse,” but with a greater focus on rock and roll. The show featured guests such as James Brown and Milton Berle, but only ran until 1970.

Stepping away from the empire

Hefner suffered a small stroke in 1985, which caused him to re-evaluate the Playboy lifestyle. He named his daughter chair and CEO of the Playboy empire, but stayed on at the magazine as editor-in-chief. After that, Hefner turned much of his attention to philanthropic efforts.

“The Girls Next Door”

In 2006, Hefner starred in “The Girls Next Door,” a reality show about the daily lives of his three girlfriends at the time, Holly Madison, Kendra Wilkinson and Bridget Marquardt, who lived with him in the Playboy Mansion. The show ran for six seasons and 90 episodes, ending in 2010.

Razzie nomination

After playing himself in the 2009 movie “Miss March,” Hefner was nominated for a Razzie award for “Worst Supporting Actor.” He joked about the nomination on his Twitter account, saying, “Maybe he didn’t understand the character.”

Source: the wrap feed