Before Hugh Hefner would publish the first ever Playboy magazine back in December of
1953 and build the company into one of the most recognizable global brands.
Before the pages of Playboy would feature celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Jenny
McCarthy, Lindsey Lohan, Amanda Cerny and even Donald Trump eww.
Before Hef would sign up for six seasons of The Girls next door and invite the world to
see the magic that takes place within the Playboy Mansion.
Before Hef made it a okay to wear silk pyjamas at all times...
Hugh Hefner's story is one of the most remarkable – America was a much different place when
Hef was growing up and he learned pretty early on that sex sells. His legacy has left people
divided, some praising him as the man solely responsible for the sexual revolution of the
60's, a man of progress and optimisim and also led the way for racial inclusion in mainstream
media. Other see his success as something built on the bodies of women and call him
a pervert. I'd say both are true... but being a guys guy, I envy the life and success of
Hef. To be honest, I wish I could buy the Playboy mansion and becoming the next Hugh
Hefner, sadly the mansion has already been purchased by this guy – yikes! Hugh Hefner's
success can be traced pack to a nude photo he purchased of Martilyn Monroe. Although
the two never met, Hugh never forgot what she did for his career and in the end he made
sure he was buried right next to her. This video is a long one but I want to ask you
guys a question – in a Hollywood Bio Pic of Hugh's life who do you think should take
on the role? Sound off down below.
What's going on guys? My name is Michael McCrudden documenting the life and career of the man,
the legend Hugh Hefner prior to his untimely passing here for you on Before They Were Gone.
In the past I've made Before They Were Famous videos about the Playboy corporation and his
wife now widow Crystal Harris. Be sure to check those out, a link is down below. Now
let's get into this bio.
Hugh Marston Hefner, born on April 9, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of two sons
born to Grace and Glenn Hefner who themselves grew up on Nebraska farms. His father was
an accountant at an aluminum company and his mother a school teacher. His parents were
strict Prodestants who instilled rules like no swearing, no drinking, no playing cards,
and no radio on Sundays. Hefner went to Sayre Elementary School and then to Steinmetz High
School, but he didn't excel in school, often sitting at his desk drawing cartoons for hours
on end. Hef seemed so totally disengaged with his school work that the teachers wondered
if he had some kind of earing problem. Not knowing what to do, his mother had him examined
by a child psychologists at the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research. Following a series
of tests they concluded he was a genius with an IQ of 152 and his imagination was profound.
It was during his youth that Hef first discovered Esquire magazine which was the most risque
men's magazine of the time. He became enamoured with the romantic and adventurous stories
by the likes of Fitzgerald and Hemingway, the photographs of classic cars, the sophisticated
cartoons, the travel articles about glamorous places, the fashion layouts, and the foldout
that each month offered an exquisite color drawing of a beautiful woman.
While in high school, Hef became president of the student council and founded a school
newspaper. He also created a comic book entitled School Daze. He served two years in the U.S.
Army as a noncombatant toward the end of World War II, there he ran a military newspaper
and was discharged in 1946. He studied at the Chicago Art Institute for a summer before
enrolling at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he majored in psychology.
He earned his bachelor's degree in 1949, and that same year he married his first wife,
Mildred Williams, she was also the first woman he had ever, ya know.. with. Before the wedding,
Mildred confessed that she had an affair while he was away in the army. He called the admission
"the most devastating moment of his life.” but in her guilt she decided to allow Hef
to have sex with other women in the hope that it would preserve their marriage, probably
a bad idea. Hef credited Millie for opening up his eyes to sexuality which led him to
do a semester of graduate school work in the area of sociology, focusing on sex research.
By the early 1950s, Hefner had landed his dream job as a copy-wriiter with Esquire magazine,
but he didn't stay there long after he was denied a raise of $5 dollars a week. From
there he decided to start his own publication. Now I've already spoken about this in my Playboy
– Before They Were Famous video so let's roll a clip from that.
With his first publication proving to be a success, Hef cooked up with now infamous Playboy
logo and got to work releasing his magazine on the regular targeting intellectual cosmopolitan
males. Besides the images of naked women the magazine tackled issues of politics, government
and philosophy. By the late '50s, Playboy' was selling more than a million copies a month
beating his former employer, Esquire magazine in circulation. With Hef working around the
clock and embracing all the perks that came with his blossoming business his first marriage
ended in 1959, the two share two children, Christie and David.
Now single, Hef embraced his own Playboy philosophy. Enjoying the perks of his success he purchased
the original Playboy mansion in Chicago. Hef admitted that through the 60's and 70's he
had been “involed” with maybe eleven out of the the twelve months worth of Playmates.
Some of these girls included Donna Michelle, Marilyn Cole, Lillian Muller, Shannon Tweed,
Barbi Benton, Karen Christy, Sondra Theodore and Carrie Leigh.
Though the 1960's the magazine's increased in success part in thanks to the sexual revolution
of the decade.Hef diversified his business building "private key" clubs where Hostesses,
known as Playboy Bunnies would serve upscale gentlemen. Esentially a strip clup without
the stripping.
Playboy Enterprises also built hotel resorts, started up modeling agencies and operated
a number of media endeavors. Hef became a television host on Playboy's Penthouse and
Playboy After Dark.
In 1971 Hef bought his Los Angeles Playboy Mansion for a cool $1.1 Million. He also revealed
to the world that he had experimented with bisexuality. That same year, his company went
public as the magazines circulation hit 7 million copies in a month earning a $12 Million
dollar profit in 1972. In 1974 Hef decided to move full time out to sunny California
which would soon become the hottest place in the country for it's exclusive parties.
In the mid-1970s, Playboy Enterprises fell on hard times. The United States hit a recession,
and Playboy faced competition from other magazines like Penthouse. 1:28 – 1:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZqz1E2Lxcc
Over the years a range of female celebrities began posing for the publication including Madonna, Kate
Moss, Jenny McCarthy, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Drew Barrymore, Nancy Sinatra and,
of course Pamela Anderson who appeared in the
mag a total of 7 times.
In 1978 he helped organize a fund raising event which led to the restoration of the
Hollywood sign with him purchasing the Y for $27K. Hef was also honored with a star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1985, Hefner suffered a minor stroke, which served as a
wake-up call. He stopped smoking, began to work out. In 1989 he also decided to get married
to his girlfriend Kimberly Conrad, who was 36 years his junior. The marriage produced
two sons, Marston and Cooper and for some time, the Playboy Mansion became more of a
family location than the swingers club it was notoriously known as. Hef and Kimberly
separated in 1998 but only divorced in 2009 when his youngest son turned 18.
Following their separation, Hugh went back to his his Playboy ways dating multiple women
simultaneously and also throwing more kick ass parties.
In 2005 his three most significant girlfriends were featured in the reality show The Girls
Next Door. The show produced 6 seasons and a total of 91 episodes but if you tuned in
for the final season you wouldn't of noticed some major changes.
Holly, Bridget and Kendra had enough with the strict rules that came with life as a
Hugh Hefner girlfriend and had moved on. In 2009 he started dating Crystal Harris joining
the Shannon Twins. Hef quickly fell hard for Crystal because he was down on one knee just
a year later asking Crystal to be his one and only. After Crystal leaving Hef at the
alter, the two eventually tied the knot in 2012 her being 60 years his junior. For many
years Hollywood Studios have been in talks with Hef about the production of his Biopic.
Major stars considered for the role included Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Downey
Jr. If you follow me on Twitter you would already know who I think deserves the role,
Will Arnett. Am I right?
In the later years, Playboy went through a number of changes – his son Cooper was groomed
to take over for his father. In 2015 the magazine attempted to move away from the use of nudity
in a decision they have since retracted on. In 2016, on day before Hef's 90th birthday
his beloved brother Keith passed away. In 2016 the Playboy mansion was sold for $100
Million dollars all the while, Hef's health was reported to be on the swift decline. Then
on September 27th 2017 he passed away peacefully from natural causes surrounded by friends
and family. He was 91 years old. Back in 1992, he had purchased the crypt next to Marilyn
Monroe at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetary for $75,000. Allowing Hef one more
beautiful blonde to be by his side even in the after life.
As for the rest of the story, well that's pretty much it because this is Before They
Were Gone. Please feel free to leave your condolences in the comments down below. My
name is Michael McCrudden and if that dude who owns the playboy mansion is watching this
video I take back the ugly comment. I would very much like to be invited to one of your
parties.