Playgirl No More

After over 30 years on news stands, the enigmatic Playgirl magazine. Was it for women? Gay men? Housewives? Whores?  No one really knew the market for the magazine, and apparently the magazine didn't have much a handle itself. So it is gone. Its death does not mark the end of pro-woman porn, because I'm not sure that's what it was. At best it was a sometimes attempt to affirm women, which is cool. And for that, I am sad.

A much better eulogyover at Jamye Wasman.

Comments

[JaneVargas]

When I was in my 20s, Playgirl was brand new and, of course, positively scandalous. I was in magazine journalism at the time and held a position at a respectable city magazine. I remember finding out that Playgirl had an editorial position open. How I wanted to apply! Unfortunately, the social mores of the time caused me to feel shame at the very thought of working for such a rag. I (secretly) followed early Playgirl assiduously; it was, in its early days, a magazine that celebrated eroticism of the male form for the enjoyment of straight women - and it did so with good humor (hello, Burt Reynolds). Who knows what the course of the magazine would have taken had women had less shame and more ownership of what turns them on - like gay men do.

[Rebecca R]

You are so right...it really could have been great. Maybe the timing wasn't quite right? If even women like you were ashamed to get involved, then the magazine definitely missed out on the right kind of people. One of these days someone will get it right. I have hope!

[Brian]

I still remember sneaking a peek at my mom's Playgirl collection back in the late 70's, early 80's. Even though I was really looking for some naked women, I was still fascinated by nudity in general and how the adult male form looked, wondering how I would compare once I matured. It's a shame that it simply fell out of fashion with most hetero women...