Playboy October 1968 October 1968 Magazine Back Issue

3 PLAYBILL
9 DEAR PLAYBOY
25 PLAYBOY AFTER HOURS
61 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR
67 THE PLAYBOY FORUM
73 PLAYBOY INTERVIEW: RALPH NADER—candid conversation
86 RITE OF LOVE—fiction J P. DONLEAVY
91 PLAYBOY'S FALL & WINTER FASHION FORECAST—attire ROBERT L. GREEN
99 THE PERILOUS PLIGHT OF SIR GEORGE—article ALEXIS A. GILLILAND
100 EGGSPO '68—food THOMAS MARIO
103 MR. SWIFT AND HIS REMARKABLE THING—fiction JEREMIAH MC MAHON
105 TV'S FIRST NUDE—pictorial
109 THE DENTIST'S WIFE—fiction WILLIAM MELVIN KELLEY
110 MY MUSIC, MY LIFE—memoir RAVI SHANKAR
114 DANISH IMPORT—playboy's playmate of the month
122 PLAYBOY'S PARTY JOKES—humor
124 SHALL WE GO UNDER THE ICE TOGETHER?—fiction KEN W. PURDY
127 ! MEXICO !—travel LEN DEIGHTON
133 THE 1969 PLAYBOY JAZZ & POP POLL—jazz/pop
141 ALVAREZ—article HERBERT HUNCKE
143 THE REEL MC NAIR—pictorial
149 WHAT'S YOUR SEXUAL QUOTIENT?—quiz
151 THE MYSTERIOUS LOVER—ribald classic
153 A PLAYBOY PAD: HIGH LIFE IN THE ROUND—modern living

• Covergirl Dale Fahey (Nude) photographed by Alexas Urba
• Playmate of the Month is Majken Haugedal photographed by Pompeo Posar
• How To Measure Your S.Q.
• An Explosive Interview With Consumer Crusader Ralph Nader
• Sitar Virtuoso Ravi Shankar On His Life And His Music
• Len Deighton's Guide To Mexico

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.

Circulation
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.

Today, Playboy is still the largest selling men's magazine selling about two million copies a month in the U.S.