Playgirl

Playgirl
June 1973 cover (issue 1, number 1)
CategoriesWomen's magazines
FrequencyMonthly (1973–2009)
Quarterly (2010–2016)
PublisherDouglas Lambert (1973–1976)
Ira Ritter (1977–1986)
Drake Publishers, Inc. (1986–1993)
Crescent Publishing Group, Inc. (1993–2001)
Blue Horizon Media, Inc. (2001–2011)
Magna Publishing Group, Inc. (2011–2016)
Founded1973
First issueJune 1973
Final issueWinter 2016
CompanyMagna Publishing Group
CountryUnited States
Based inParamus, New Jersey
Websiteplaygirl.com
ISSN0273-6918

Playgirl was an American magazine that had historically featured pictorials of nude and semi-nude men alongside general interest, lifestyle, and celebrity journalism, as well as original fiction. For most of its history, the magazine printed monthly and was marketed mainly to women, though it developed a significant gay male readership.

Since its founding, Playgirl has existed as a monthly and quarterly publication, in print-only, digital-only, and hybrid formats. From 1973-2009, the magazine was issued in a monthly print format, before transitioning to a quarterly print publication in 2009. Regular print operations were paused from 2016-2020, with only an online presence maintained. In November 2020, the magazine relaunched with a 10,000 print run in the U.S. and United Kingdom, before selling out and returning to press for a second printing. After that relaunch, the magazine resumed monthly releases as an online, digital publication.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ Kelly, Keith (November 18, 2020). "Playgirl relaunched — and its first edition sold out". Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Staff (May 26, 2022). "Playgirl launches new site". Rochester First. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "Meet the Gay Publisher Behind 'Playgirl Magazine's Bold Relaunch".