PLAYBOY Centerfolds From the 1950's

The men's magazine "Playboy" was founded by Hugh Hefner in 1953. Since that time sales of the publication and mass attention have helped Hugh to live a life like no other, never having to change out of his signature pajamas. The Playboy empire has branched into the marketing of many other products and services increasing profits and recognition of the name brand itself. However, first and foremost when someone thinks of the name Playboy they think of the magazine and when they think of the magazine, aside from the running joke about reading it for the articles, they think of nude pictorials of women. The following piece is written to put the spotlight on some of the women responsible for the magazines success. Many notable celebrities and icons have been in the Playboy Centerfold and these are the ladies from the 1950's.

Marilyn Monroe : She was the first cover model and centerfold for the magazine and overall the imagery associated with her through-out all Hollywood medias is legendary. Born as Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles, California she legally changed her name to the more familiar Monroe, officially, in 1956. Her resume in Hollywood feature films was an extensive one stretching from "B" movies to big budget studio flicks. Also known as a singing performer Marilyn was said to have been linked to assassinated President JFK in a romantic affair. Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood, California home August 5th of 1962 by her housekeeper. Her official cause of death was an overdoes of sleeping pills, however there are many shady theories still proposed today involving foul play.