Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine has passed away on Thursday (September 27) at his Playboy mansion surrounded by loved ones. He turned 91 this April. His cause of death was declared natural.
Hefner, a millionaire, was also a political activist and philanthropist in several causes and public issues. With a bon vivant theory, urban modernity and sheer advertising brightness, Hefner was a symbol for the sexual unrest of the 1960s.
Though often criticised as a pornographic magazine, his Playboy magazines became a symbol of "progressive" approach to sexuality and according to BBC, have helped in making nudity respectable in mainstream publications.
Here are few lesser known facts of this legend, who's magazine revolution and dream opened a whole new dimension of society.
His story must live on
Hefner has an in-house biographer named Steve Martinez. He's a full-time documenter whose activity it is to keep up the three thousand volumes of scrapbooks in the Mansion's library. He gathers photographs and data amid the week and on the ends of the week, Hefner encourages him to refresh the books.
The Mansion
Before purchasing the Playboy Mansion for $1 million of every 1971, Hugh Hefner assumed control over a Chicago chateau in 1959, making it the first Playboy compound. He gave it an indoor pool and a room/office with a 100-inch width bed and Playboy models and dance club representatives could lease spaces for $50 a month. No male guests were permitted.
First Class
In 1970, Hefner owned a private jet worth $5.5 million. The Big Bunny, as it was called, was a modified 119-foot long DC-9, equipped with a living room, disco, and sleeping quarters suitable for up to 16 people.
Furry Friends
The Playboy Mansion has its own zoo permit and many pets meandering the grounds and guess what! Hefner never wanted to part with his furry friends and thus had a pet cemetery within the compound. A few of Hef's mutts have been covered there along with various monkeys and more than 50 assortments of feathered creatures
Helping hand from Mum
In 1953, he sold his furniture, creating a bank advance of $600, and raised $8,000 from 45 investors, including $1,000 from his mom ("Not on the grounds that she put stock in the wander," he told E! in 2006, "but since she had confidence in her son."), to launch Playboy, which was at first going to be called Stag Party.
Don't break the rules!
The Mansion has regularly-scheduled movie nights, and they're serious business. Hefner, being the giant movie buff that he is, has a board of friends that curate titles for screenings. He invites people over to watch them, but he's got a zero-tolerance policy on disruptions. Mike Tyson attended one of these events, and he fell asleep. He didn't hear his phone ringing nonstop while he was snoozing, so he was never invited to movie night again. He also had a strict rule, that all playmates should be back home before 9 pm, unless they were out partying with Hefner himself.
