Published in June 1973 by Drake Publishers, the first issue of Playgirl featured a nude centrefold, a feature article on sexual motivations, the salacious city of Hong Kong and a four page spread on the man for June, actor Lyle Waggoner.ĭuring the 1970s, the magazine relied on male models with a smattering of celebs for the monthly issue, including the always tanned George Hamilton, but had tested the waters with two preview issues – one featuring the twins of tv show Hee Haw Jim and John Hager and the other with race car driver Mike Hiss. In the 1970s, marketing to women took a new turn with the launch of Playgirl, featuring nude and semi-nude men, displayed the same way women had been shown in the pages of Playboy and Penthouse.
