"Hef" Has Died

   Playboy founder Hugh Hefner passed away at age 91. To many, he was a sexist, exploitive pig. To others, he was a revolutionary, who started a sexual awakening in the U.S, and many other countries.
   He started Playboy in December 1953, and featured Marilyn Monroe as the first "gatefold girl", even though her nude pictures had actually been taken in 1949. Not only did the magazine feature naked women, but also fashion and lifestyle articles and some pretty darn good interviews.
   My only brush with a centrefold was way back in 1980, when (I can't remember which month she was featured in) one of the women came to Prince George, B.C for a car show. I was working at a radio-T.V station, and got the "short straw" to go interview her. And, yes, she was gorgeous! She also had that "deer in the headlights" look about her, and didn't come across as particularly intelligent. I remember getting the video back to the station, and turning it over to my news director, who went upstairs to the editing bay to start cutting it.
   I also vividly remember walking past the stairs a few minutes later to see the video cassette come flying down and smashing into the wall, accompanied by some foul language, which was unusual for my N.D, who was a passive guy. The story never made it to air.
   At it's peak, Playboy magazine had some 7 million readers. As surprising as this may sound, it's the absolute truth: I never subscribed to the magazine.
   Of course, Hef went on to form the Playboy club, and several other endeavours. Sadly in later life, he became a caricature of himself. He died at his Playboy mansion last night.
   Like him or loath him, Hugh Hefner had a major impact on society over the past 64 years.

TTFN