Reported By:
| Edited By: Pratik Ghosh |Source: DNA |Updated: Dec 05, 2017, 01:57 PM IST
Award-winning Hollywood writer and producer Stephen David, who is also the co-producer of Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, a ten-part series on Amazon Prime, which released on April 7, gives the lowdown on the colourful and chequered life of the American icon who had championed free speech, LGBTQ rights and women's health and reproductive rights.
The story of Hef launching Playboy and creating the first issue is fascinating, which is why we decided to make that the main focus of the first episode of our series. Before he launched Playboy, Hef was actually working as a copywriter for Esquire, and when they denied him a $5 raise, Hef decided he'd try to pursue his dream, which was to create his own magazine. Hef overcame a lot of obstacles in putting that first issue together (including getting that famous picture of Marilyn Monroe), but in the end, he triumphed and the first issue was remarkably similar to what Playboy would ultimately become.
Originally, Playboy was called Stag Party and it was about to launch under that name when Hef got a letter from Stag Magazine's lawyers demanding that he change it. Hef's associate Elden Sellers suggested the name 'Playboy' instead, and it was Hef's art director, Art Paul who quickly changed the logo from a stag to a dapper bunny – and one of the most iconic logos in history was born.
One of the things about Hugh Hefner that I find inspiring is that he has really been able to change with the times, and adapt. There's a reason why Playboy has been one of the most successful brands in the world for nearly 65 years, and Hef's a large part of that. When Playboy first launched, it was completely revolutionary and Hef managed to stay on the cutting edge since that first issue was published, whether it was the introduction of the Playmate of the Month in the 1950s, the expansion into the clubs and television in the 1960s, or turning the magazine into a media empire that it is today.
For Hef, it was always important for Playboy to be more than just the pictures. He was always interested in working with the best writers, the best photographers, and interviewing the most interesting personalities. Hef envisioned Playboy as a lifestyle, and I think he succeeded in achieving that vision.
Hef's impact on the social movements through his lifetime was really a focus for us. It's something that audiences either don't expect or aren't aware of, so we hope that, after watching the series, people will have a better understanding of Hef's importance within that context. Hef was constantly fighting government censorship, and breaking barriers in terms of sexual freedom and race. People forget that the very first person featured in the iconic Playboy interview was Miles Davis, and Hef wasn't afraid to publish it even when people told him that he shouldn't. Hef always listened to his instincts and his own moral compass.
I wouldn't say that Playboy is "falling from grace" – it's still one of the most recognisable brands in the world, right up there with Coke and Pepsi. Certainly, print media in general is struggling to stay relevant as the media landscape continues to evolve, but Playboy has been around for 65 years for a reason; Hef and Playboy have continually adapted with the times. I hope that our series can help by bringing Hef and Playboy's incredible story to a new generation.
