Founded by painter Bob Guccione, this is the middle mag between the prettier Playboy and the lewder Hustler. Over time, it has changed its style from soft focus close-ups of the female anatomy plus touches of activity to explicit pictures of penetration, then moved on to a more sophisticated approach with fashion photographers and political features and a return to its soft roots, away from hardcore imagery. In 1984 its 15th anniversary September issue featured Vanessa Williams on the cover with George Burns and this was one of the biggest-selling magazines ever. The issue also became infamous with the discovery of the age of Traci Lords who was only 15 at the time: it is apparently illegal to own a copy with her centrefold appearance intact.
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