Playboy's College Girls # 7 (1997) April 1997 Magazine Back Issue

Alberta University
Erin Wilson

Arizona State University
Rachel Wallace
Milanka McKee

Baylor University
Sherryl Keith
Jennifer Camille

Brookhaven College
Kimberly Hall

California State at Northridge
Carol Crist
Camay Crist
Calay Crist

University of Colorado
Teresa Bell
Kathryn Hanson
Brenda Gerhardt
Amanda Feller
Joi Smith
Cari Schweitzer
Sarah Carbone

Dekalb College
Erika Snyder
Kimberly Donahoe

DePaul University
Denise Peterson

Diablo Valley College
Melanie Camberlango

El Camino College
Brandy Fleming

Fashion Institute (L.A)
Bridget Smith

University of Georgia
Trisha O’Neal

Georgia State University
Cindy Roubal (cover girl)

Glendale Community College
Jamiela Dilbeck

Golden West College
Thai Anh

Greenfield Community College
Rochelle Rivers

Houston Community College
Tracy Johnson

Hunter College
Charlee Huffman

Iowa State University
Summer Ackerman
Shanna Pree
Christa Anderson

University of Kansas
Ashley Grill
Jamie Israel
Amanda Brueck
Tanya Repper
Holly Hynes
Susan Winn
Jane Galvin
Yaowapron Joy Weroha
Dawn Richardson
Maria Lohrmann
Anne McAlister
Shana Schroeder

Kansas State University
Heather Walke
Eva Krannawitter

Univerisy of Maryland
Tiffany Taylor

Univerisy of Missouri
Emily Massey
Nicole Lucas
Hali Riley
Elizabith Anderson

Nebraska University
Tami Unger

Notre Dame College
Jennifer Giesel

Univerisy of Oklahoma
Kristi Byran
Anna Lee
Kristie Stammer

Oklahoma State University
Tra Hedges
Angela Andrews
Jacquelin Courtney

Orange Coast College
Carmella Keyse

Penn State University
Dawn Rhoades

San Jose State University
Jacquelyn Mills

Santa Barbara City College
Angela Alanis

Santa Monica College
Lisa Borghese

Scottsdale Community College
Eva Cannoli

Suffolk University
Linda Liu

Texas A & M University
Hillary Schatz
Nikki Willis
Jennifer La Marc

Texas Tech University
Tiffani Holli
Stacy Lea
Amy Schrader
Mandy Jean
Jenavieve Michel
Raquel Padilla
Lisa Ramirez

Univerisy of Texas
Robin Gallager
Ashley Johnson
Sophronia Kay Williams
Karen Herrera

• Covergirl Cindy Roubal Photographed by Andrew Goldman
• Kimberly Hall
• Camay Crist
• Sarah Carbone
• Erin Wilson

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 Hugh Hefner was unsure whether there would be a second issue. 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 50¢. Copies of the first issue in Mint to Near Mint condition fetched over $8,000 in 2007. 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". An urban legend started about Hefner and the Playmates of the Month because of markings on the front covers of the magazine. From 1955 to 1979 (except for a six month gap in 1976), the "P" in Playboy had a number of stars printed in or around the letter. The legend stated that this was either a rating that Hefner gave to the Playmate according to how attractive she was, the number of times that Hefner had slept with her, or how good she was in bed. The stars, which ranged in number between zero and twelve, actually indicated the domestic or international advertising region for that printing. Since reaching its peak in the 1970s, Playboy has seen a decline in circulation and cultural relevance because of increased competition in the field it founded — first from Penthouse, Oui, and Gallery in the 1970s; later from pornographic videos; and more recently from lad mags such as Maxim, FHM, and Stuff. In response Playboy has attempted to re-assert its hold on the 18–35 male demographic it once controlled through slight changes to its content and focusing on issues and personalities more appropriate to its audience—such as hip-hop artists being featured in the Playboy Interview. Christie Hefner, a daughter of Hugh Hefner, became the CEO of Playboy in 1988 and is now also the Chairman of the Board. The magazine celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the January 2004 issue. Celebrations were held at Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and Moscow during the year to commemorate this event. The best-selling Playboy edition was the November 1972 edition, which sold 7,161,561 copies. One-fourth of all American college men were buying the magazine every month. It is interesting to note that although this issue is available in abundance, it is very difficult for collectors to find this issue in excellent condition. The black ink on the cover wore off easily and it is difficult to find this issue with a bright clean crisp black color. A Near Mint copy of this issue is a hard find. Perhaps coincidentally, a cropped image of the issue's centerfold (which featured Lena Soderberg) became a standard image for testing image processing algorithms. It is known simply as the "Lenna" (also "Lena") image in that field. Many people ask about Playboy UK, Playboy USA is the same issue that was issued in the UK because there was no need to translate the magazine. So, Playboy USA and Playboy UK are the same magazine.

Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. Notable for its centerfolds of nude and semi-nude models (Playmates), Playboy played an important role in the sexual revolution and remains one of the world's best-known brands, having grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with a presence in nearly every medium. In addition to the flagship magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of Playboy are published worldwide. The magazine has a long history of publishing short stories by notable novelists such as Arthur C. Clarke, Ian Fleming, Vladimir Nabokov, Saul Bellow, Chuck Palahniuk, P. G. Wodehouse, Roald Dahl, Haruki Murakami, and Margaret Atwood. With a regular display of full-page color cartoons, it became a showcase for notable cartoonists, including Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Cole, Eldon Dedini, Jules Feiffer, Shel Silverstein, Erich Sokol, Roy Raymonde, Gahan Wilson, and Rowland B. Wilson. Playboy features monthly interviews of notable public figures, such as artists, architects, economists, composers, conductors, film directors, journalists, novelists, playwrights, religious figures, politicians, athletes, and race car drivers. The magazine generally reflects a liberal editorial stance, although it often interviews conservative celebrities.