{{Short description|Italian softcore pornographic magazine (1967–2001)}} {{Infobox magazine | image_file = Playmen3.tiff | image_size = | image_caption = September 1974 cover depicting Camille Keaton | publisher = Tattilo Editrice S.p.A. | category = Men's magazines | total_circulation = 450,000 | circulation_year = 1971<ref name=Time-1972 /> | frequency = Monthly | language = Italian | editor = Adelina Tattilo | editor_title = Founder | founded = {{start date and age|1967}} | firstdate = | finaldate = {{end date and age|2001}} | finalnumber = | country = Italy | based = | website = {{URL|http://www.playmen.it}}{{dead|date=January 2024}} | issn = }} '''''Playmen''''' was an Italian adult entertainment magazine. It was founded in 1967 by Italian publisher Adelina Tattilo,<ref name=Time-1972 /> achieving fame as Italy's version of ''Playboy'' magazine.<ref name=Time1971>{{cite magazine|title=Women, Not Girls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401012654/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,942456-1,00.html |archive-date=Apr 1, 2007|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,942456-1,00.html|magazine=Time|date=18 Jan 1971}}</ref>
The magazine was published monthly and featured photographs of nude women, and articles on fashion, sport, consumer goods, and public figures. ''Playmen's'' use of "tasteful" nude photos is classified as softcore in contrast to hardcore pornographic magazines. It ceased publication in 2001.
==Early years== During a running battle with the Italian police, the magazine reached a circulation of 450,000 within four years of its 1967 inception.<ref name=Time1971 /> It sold at about the equivalent of a US dollar per copy.
''Playmen'' was initially an imitator of ''Playboy'' magazine, although the first ''Girl of the Month'', Brigitte Bardot, held her hands to cover her breasts.<ref name=Time1971 /> ''Playmen'' later developed a style of its own, reflecting European tastes and not overly displaying breasts as per the American ''Playboy'' counterpart. The founder Tattilo was quoted as saying, "The U.S. is a matriarchy. I think this is the reason for the American male preference for women with exaggerated, voluminous bosoms."<ref name=Time1971 />
In the early years, with Italy still a religiously conservative society at the time, each month the Italian police in some cities would order a mass seizure of the magazine. ''Playmen'' rarely lasted more than 48 hours on the newsstands before either being sold out or seized by the police.<ref name=Time1971 />
==Content== Many actresses began their careers on the cover of ''Playmen'': Pamela Villoresi, the singer Patty Pravo, the actress Ornella Muti, the singer Amanda Lear and many others. The magazine contained notables such as Teresa Ann Savoy, Barbara Bouchet, Lilli Carati, and Camille Keaton.<ref name=IlGiornale>{{cite news|title=Farewell to Madame «Playmen», muse of eros to browse |first=Luigi|last=Mascheroni|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=154146&PRINT=S |work=Il Giornale|date= 5 March 2007|number= 39 |page=18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008073241/https://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=154146&PRINT=S|archive-date=Oct 8, 2007}}</ref>
The July 1968 edition contains an article by Henry Miller. In the December 1972 issue, ''Playmen'' obtained an international scoop: it published the photo of Jacqueline Kennedy, then wife of Aristotle Onassis,<ref name=Time-1972>{{cite magazine|title=Raw Competition|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,878117-1,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105023349/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,878117-1,00.html|magazine=Time|date=11 Dec 1972|archive-date=Jan 5, 2008}}</ref> while she was naked in the swimming pool of their villa in the island of Skorpios.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jackie Kennedy and the billion dollar nude: 50 years since the first case of 'revenge porn'|first=Martín|last=Bianchi|date=Sep 11, 2023|work=El País English|url=https://english.elpais.com/society/2023-09-11/jackie-kennedy-and-the-billion-dollar-nude-50-years-since-the-first-case-of-revenge-porn.html}}</ref> The photos were not published in the United States until ''Hustler'' printed them in 1975.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/03/194458/what-is-playmen-magazine-jp-getty-model-trust-fx|title=The Risqué Italian Magazine That J. Paul Getty III Appeared In Has A Controversial History|first=Elena|last=Nicolaou|website=refinery29}}</ref>
In addition to naked women ''Playmen'' occasionally also depicted naked men. It paid John Paul Getty III (who was 16 at the time) $1,000 for a naked photo spread and cover of the August 1973 issue – on newsstands a month after the oil empire heir had been kidnapped in Rome.<ref name="auto"/> The magazine contained interviews of significant people in literature, cinema, politics, and sport.<ref name=IlGiornale />
In the 1990s, with the arrival on the market of pornographic videocassettes, the magazine's sales dropped significantly and advertising revenue sharply declined, causing Tattilo's empire to gradually enter a crisis, followed by the closure of ''Playmen'' in 2001.<ref name=LaRepubblica>{{cite news|title=Adelina Tattilo, pioneer of eros, who published the first "hot" Italian magazines, dies|language=English|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2007/02/sezioni/persone/adelina-tattilo/adelina-tattilo/adelina-tattilo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205113302/https://www.repubblica.it/2007/02/sezioni/persone/adelina-tattilo/adelina-tattilo/adelina-tattilo.html|archive-date=Feb 5, 2007|work=La Repubblica|date=5 Feb 2007 }}</ref>
==''Adelina'' magazine== In 1979, Tattilo announced that she was planning on publishing — under the company name Chuckleberry Publications — an American edition of ''Playmen''. The magazine was titled "''Adelina''" (in honor of its publisher) with the tagline, "America's edition of Italy's ''Playmen''". ''Playboy'' magazine objected and sought a restraining order. Despite this, a number of issues of ''Adelina'' were published in the U.S. in 1980.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adelina magazines |url=https://wonderclub.com/magazines/ADELINA_1980.htm |website=wonderclub |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Adelina February 1980 |url=https://wonderclub.com/magazines/ADELINAmagADELINA198002.htm |website=wonderclub |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Adelina - Magazine |url=https://cover.stephen-king.de/viewbook/264_Adelina |website=The King Cover Archive |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928233419/https://cover.stephen-king.de/viewbook/264_Adelina |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1981, a federal judge found in Playboy's favor, stating that ''Adelina''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s subtitle was "designed to promote ''Adelina'' in such a way as to trade on the Playboy mark. It promotes a 'subliminal association with Playboy.'"<ref>{{cite news|work=United Press International|publisher=UPI ARCHIVES|date=April 22, 1981|title=A federal judge Wednesday ruled in favor of Playboy...|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/22/A-federal-judge-Wednesday-ruled-in-favor-of-Playboy/1350356763600/}}</ref> The judge also forbid Tattilo from renaming ''Adelina'' "''Playmen''" in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|date= April 22, 1981|title=Court backs Playboy, bars publisher from naming magazine 'Playmen'|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/22/Court-backs-Playboy-bars-publisher-from-naming-magazine-Playmen/7859356763600/|publisher=UPI Archives|work=United Press International}}</ref>
==See also== * List of magazines in Italy
==References== === Notes === {{reflist}}
=== Sources === *{{cite book |last1=Creech |first1=Kenneth C. |title=Electronic Media Law and Regulation |date=24 July 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-28966-8 |page=236 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1WAqAAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Adelina+magazine%22&pg=PA236 |language=en}} *{{cite web |title=Lerman v. Flynt Distributing Co., Inc., No. 724 |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/lerman-v-flynt-distributing-892311751 |website=vLex |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=en}} *{{cite web |title=Jackie Collins Lerman, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Flynt Distributing Co., Inc., Defendant-appellant, 745 F.2d 123 (2d Cir. 1984) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/745/123/129391/ |website=Justia Law |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=en}} *{{cite web |title=Lerman v. Chuckleberry Publishing, Inc., 496 F. Supp. 1105 (1980) |url=https://cite.case.law/f-supp/496/1105/ |website=cite.case.law |access-date=28 September 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *{{cite web |title=LERMAN v. CHUCKLEBERRY PU : 544 F.Supp. 966 (1982) |url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/19821510544fsupp96611367 |website=Leagle |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=en}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Playmen}} Category:1967 establishments in Italy Category:2001 disestablishments in Italy Category:Defunct magazines published in Italy Category:Italian-language magazines Category:Pornography in Italy Category:Magazines established in 1967 Category:Magazines disestablished in 2001 Category:Monthly magazines published in Italy Category:Obscenity controversies in literature Category:Pornographic men's magazines Category:Softcore pornography