Playboy's 'Marilyn Monroe' (1953)
Magazine coverAbout
The first issue of Playboy magazine, published in December 1953, is a landmark publication in American cultural history. It features Marilyn Monroe on the cover and includes a nude photograph of her as the centerfold, taken from a 1949 calendar shoot. This issue marked the beginning of Playboy's journey as a cultural icon, blending sophistication with sexuality. The magazine was priced at 50 cents and sold over 50,000 copies, a significant success for a new publication. Marilyn Monroe was featured as the "Sweetheart of the Month," a title that later evolved into "Playmate of the Month." The issue contains a color pin-up of Monroe and an article about her on pages 17 and 18. The magazine's release was a bold statement by Hugh Hefner, aiming to redefine the boundaries of publishing and culture. This inaugural issue set the stage for Playboy's influence on American media and society, particularly in the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
