Playboy Club#History
{{short description|Chain of night clubs}}
{{Other uses|Playboy Club (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Playboy Club
| logo = PlayboyLogo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption =
| type = Subsidiary
| genre =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1960|2|29}}, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| founder = Hugh Hefner
| location_city =
| location_country = United States
| location =
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| area_served =
| key_people =
| industry = Nightclubs
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
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| assets =
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| owner =
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| parent = Playboy Enterprises
| divisions =
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}}
The Playboy Club was initially a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises. The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago in 1960. Each club generally featured a Living Room, a Playmate Bar, a Dining Room, and a Club Room. Members and their guests were served food and drinks by Playboy Bunnies, some of whom were featured in Playboy magazine. The clubs offered name entertainers and comedians in the Club Rooms, and local musicians and the occasional close-up magician in the Living Rooms. Starting with the London and Jamaica club locations, the Playboy Club became international in scope.
In 1991, the club chain became defunct. Thereafter, on October 6, 2006, a Playboy Club was opened in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort,{{cite web|url=http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/nevada/las-vegas/the-playboy-club|title=Playboy Club Las Vegas|work=destination360.com|access-date=29 December 2015|archive-date=14 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114103712/http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/nevada/las-vegas/the-playboy-club|url-status=dead}} and in 2010 clubs were opened as well in Macau{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/video/playboy-bunnies-land-in-macau/F034A29A-4EF0-4C59-9C17-B8378F47EE52.html |title=Playboy Bunnies Land in Macau| work=The Wall Street Journal | date=November 22, 2010}} and Cancun.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playboy-club-cancun-brings-exciting-nightlife-and-gaming-to-one-of-the-worlds-most-popular-travel-destinations-111204469.html|title=Playboy Club Cancun Brings Exciting Nightlife and Gaming to One of the World's Most Popular Travel Destinations|date=2 December 2010|location=Chicago|agency=PR Newswire|access-date=10 March 2016}} In time, the Las Vegas club closed on June 4, 2012,{{cite news| url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/destinations/lasvegas/story/2012-06-04/Playboy-Club-at-Las-Vegas-Palms-casino-closes/55383590/1 | work=USA Today | title=Most Popular E-mail Newsletter | date=June 4, 2012}} the Macao club closed in 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.placesandfoods.com/2013/10/playboy-club-sands-macao-has-closed-down.html|title=Playboy Club Sands Macao has closed down|author=Wilson Ng|date=2 October 2013|work=Places and Foods|access-date=29 December 2015}} and the Cancun club closed in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.g3newswire.com/mexico-mexican-ministry-closes-six-casinos-including-playboy-cancun/|title=Mexican Ministry closes six casinos including Playboy Cancun|author=Phil|date=30 April 2014|work=G3 Newswire|access-date=29 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150807-d4053746-r186946065-Playboy_Casino_Cancun-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html|title=Cancun Casino - Review of Playboy Casino Cancun, Cancun, Mexico - TripAdvisor|access-date=27 October 2016}} In May 2014 the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles opened a Playboy-themed lounge consisting of gaming tables and Playboy Bunny cocktail waitresses.{{cite web|title=Lucky Rabbit Party Pit Playboy Poker Room|url=http://www.commercecasino.com/lucky-rabbit-party-pit/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724070530/http://www.commercecasino.com/lucky-rabbit-party-pit/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2015|website=The Commerce Casino|access-date=23 July 2015}} In September 2018, a Playboy Club was opened in Midtown Manhattan but permanently closed in November 2019 after just over one year in operation.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/14/nyc-playboy-club-bunnies-to-hang-up-tails-and-ears-after-just-one-year/|title = NYC Playboy Club bunnies to hang up tails and ears after just one year|date = 14 November 2019}}
History
The first club opened at 116 E. Walton Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, United States, on February 29, 1960. The opening acts were comedian Dick Gregory and then 17-year old singer, Aretha Franklin. Chicago jazz pianist, Sam Distefano, was the Musical Director. It relocated to Clark and Armitage in Lincoln Park in 1980 and closed in June 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/06/30/Last-three-Playboy-Clubs-close/5418520488000/|title=Last three Playboy Clubs close|date=30 June 1986|website=UPI Archives}}
Over the next two decades, over two dozen clubs had been established across the United States:
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Location !! Opened !! Closed | ||
| Chicago, Illinois | {{Date table sorting|February 29, 1960}} | {{Date table sorting|June 1986}} |
| Miami | {{Date table sorting|May 20, 1961}} | {{Date table sorting|1985}} |
| New Orleans | {{Date table sorting|October 13, 1961}} | {{Date table sorting|1974}} |
| St. Louis | {{Date table sorting|October 16, 1962}} | {{Date table sorting|September 25, 1975}} |
| New York | {{Date table sorting|December 1962}} | {{Date table sorting|June 1986}} |
| Phoenix | {{Date table sorting|December 1962}} | {{Date table sorting|June 1983}} |
| Detroit | {{Date table sorting|December 27, 1963}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/98680580/|title=Detroit Free Press 28 Dec 1963, page Page 3|website=Newspapers.com}} | {{Date table sorting|October 29, 1972}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/99392686/|title=Detroit Free Press 26 Oct 1972, page Page 29|website=Newspapers.com}} |
| Detroit | {{Date table sorting|1974}} | {{Date table sorting|1978}} |
| Baltimore | {{Date table sorting|1964}} | {{Date table sorting|1977}} |
| Cincinnati | {{Date table sorting|1964}} | {{Date table sorting|1983}} |
| Kansas City | {{Date table sorting|June 13, 1964}} | ~{{Date table sorting|1972}} |
| Los Angeles | {{Date table sorting|December 31, 1964}} | {{Date table sorting|June 1986}} |
| Atlanta | {{Date table sorting|March 1965}} | {{Date table sorting|1975}} |
| San Francisco | {{Date table sorting|November 13, 1965}} | {{Date table sorting|July 10, 1976}} |
| Boston | {{Date table sorting|February 1966}} | {{Date table sorting|1977}} |
| Denver | {{Date table sorting|December 9, 1967}} | {{Date table sorting|1977}} |
| Lake Geneva, WI | {{Date table sorting|May 6, 1968}} | {{Date table sorting|1981}} |
| Buffalo | {{Date table sorting|March 1975}} | 1991 |
| Buffalo | {{Date table sorting|April 24, 1981}} | {{Date table sorting|1985}} |
| Dallas | {{Date table sorting|1977}} | {{Date table sorting|1982}} |
| St. Petersburg, FL | {{Date table sorting|1980}} | {{Date table sorting|1983}} |
| San Diego | {{Date table sorting|December 1981}} | {{Date table sorting|July 1982}} |
| Columbus | {{Date table sorting|1982}} | {{Date table sorting|1985}} |
| Lansing | {{Date table sorting|September 17, 1982}} | {{Date table sorting|July 1988}} |
| Omaha | {{Date table sorting|May 18, 1984}} | {{Date table sorting|1988}} |
| Des Moines | {{Date table sorting|December 3, 1984}} | {{Date table sorting|April 1988}} |
There was also a Playboy Club in Montreal Canada. Playboy Clubs operated in Japan, under a franchise arrangement, in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo. There were Playboy Club resorts in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Great Gorge at McAfee, New Jersey, and at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, as well as Club-Hotels such as the Playboy Plaza in Miami Beach, Florida and Playboy Towers in Chicago. The last American location before Playboy Club Las Vegas opened was Lansing, Michigan, located in the Hilton Hotel, which closed in July 1988.
International Clubs existed until the 1991 closing of the Manila, Philippines Club located in the Silahis International Hotel. In 2010, International Clubs were opened in Macao and Cancun but, in time, the Macao Club closed in 2013 and the Cancun Club closed in 2014. Manila was the only Club ever to be featured in Architectural Digest.
During the last three months of 1961, more than 132,000 people visited the Chicago club, making it the busiest night club in the world. Playboy Club membership became a status symbol. Only 21% of all key holders ever went to a club. At $25.00 per year per membership, Playboy grossed $25 million for every 1,000,000 members.
The Rabbit-headed metal Playboy key (supplanted by a metal key-card in 1966){{cite web|url=http://www.playboymuseum.com/img_8534/|title=IMG_8534|date=15 December 2015|website=Playboy Online Museum}} was required for admission to a club.{{cite web|url=http://www.explayboybunnies.com/history/anniversary/anniversary1.html |title=Playboy Club 40th Anniversary Celebration |publisher=Explayboybunnies.com |date=1960-02-29 |access-date=2012-11-07}} They were presented to the Door Bunny.
In 1965, Hugh Hefner sent Victor Lownes to London to open Playboy's British casinos, following legalization of gambling in the United Kingdom. Playboy's Musical Director, Sam Distefano, set up the entertainment policy for the London Playboy Club and Casino. In 1981, the casino at 45 Park Lane (now a luxury hotel, 45 Park Lane) was the most profitable casino in the world,{{Cite web |title=Luxury Hotels Mayfair, 45 Park Lane, Hotels Hyde Park London |url=http://www.45parklane.com |publisher=45parklane.com |access-date=2012-11-07}} and the British casinos contributed $32 million to the corporation. Later, Playboy also operated British casinos in Manchester and Portsmouth. In 1981, Playboy opened a hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with an 800-seat showroom designed by Playboy's Vice-President of Entertainment, Sam Distefano. However, the New Jersey gaming regulators denied Playboy a permanent gaming license, and Playboy sold its interest in the unit to Elsinore Corporation, its partner in the venture, in 1984, at which time the hotel and casino were renamed The Atlantis.
File:Douglas DC-9-32 N950PB Heffner ORD 21.10.75 edited-4.jpg jet airliner executive aircraft at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in 1975. It was used for transporting guests and staff.]]
The Playboy Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin featured architecture inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright,{{Cite web|url=https://fox6now.com/2017/09/28/hugh-hefner-connection-to-wisconsin-lake-geneva-playboy-club-hotel/|title=Hugh Hefner connection to Wisconsin: Lake Geneva Playboy Club Hotel|date=2017-09-28|website=FOX6Now.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}} operated from May 6, 1968, until 1981, had a ski slope, and was one of the first to install a chair lift.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/a-different-time-hundreds-attend-lake-geneva-playboy-club-th/article_0ebffbcf-f06e-5f1e-8a70-9426bb20f6fe.html|title="A different time:" Hundreds attend Lake Geneva Playboy Club 50th anniversary celebration|first=JILL |last=TATGE-ROZELL|website=Kenosha News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}} The facility is now operated as the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.{{Cite web|url=http://experiencewisconsinmag.com/history-grand-geneva/|title=A History of Grand Geneva Resort & Spa|date=2016-09-01|website=Experience Wisconsin|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-02}} The 32-piece house orchestra was headed by Chicago pianist, Sam Distefano, who conducted for performers such as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Liza Minnelli, Sonny & Cher, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Paul Anka, Dionne Warwick, Eddie Fisher, Wayne Newton, Vic Damone, Diahann Carroll, Bette Midler, Frankie Avalon, Anthony Newley, Vikki Carr, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Donna Summer and Ann-Margret. Distefano went on to serve as Playboy's Vice President of Entertainment for all Playboy Clubs and Hotels worldwide, until he retired from Playboy after his 25-year career with Hef, to relocate to Las Vegas as the Riviera Hotel and Casino's Vice President for 12 years for its owners, Israeli billionaire and financier, Meshulam Riklis and Riklis' wife, singer, Pia Zadora (whom also had formerly headlined with Distefano and his orchestra at the Playboy Club Hotel in Lake Geneva in the mid-1970's).{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sam-distefano-dead-hugh-hefner-789014|title=Sam Distefano, Talent Exec for Hugh Hefner and Meshulam Riklis, Dies at 88|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=15 April 2015|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}}
On October 6, 2006, Playboy opened a new Playboy Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new club at The Palms, with its prominent neon bunny head, had casinos, bars, and a restroom with pictures of Playmates on the walls.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15093574|title=Playboy is back in the nightclub business|date=1 October 2006|agency=The Associated Press|website=NBC News}} The club closed in June 2012.{{cite news|title=Playboy Club at Las Vegas' Palms Casino Closes|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/destinations/lasvegas/story/2012-06-04/Playboy-Club-at-Las-Vegas-Palms-casino-closes/55383590/1|access-date=June 4, 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=June 4, 2012}}
Australian women were invited to Sydney to audition for the iconic Playboy Bunny role and for positions as singers and dancers at the Playboy Club. A minimum of five women were chosen to travel to Macao for a six-month contract as a Playboy Bunny. The Macao Playboy Club opened on November 24, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://iknowjack.radio.com/2010/11/18/playboy-club-sands-macao-bunny-auditions-in-sydney/ |title=Playboy Club Sands Macao Bunny Auditions In Sydney}}
In October 2010, it was announced that a new Playboy Club in London was to be opened on the site of the old Rendezvous Mayfair Casino 14 Old Park Lane. It was opened on June 4, 2011.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8073495/New-Playboy-club-to-open-in-London.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=New Playboy club to open in London | date=October 19, 2010}}{{cite web|author=Milton Bayer |url=http://www.playboyclublondon.com/ |title=Exclusive Members' Club with Casino, Cocktails, Playboy Bunny Hosts and more |publisher=Playboy Club London |access-date=2012-11-07}} The 17,000 sq ft property, spread over two floors, was designed by London-based architects Jestico + Whiles.{{cite news | url=http://www.ukconstructionmagazine.co.uk/online/uk_construction/uk_features/august2011/Playboy%20bounces%20back%20into%20London.html | work=UK Construction magazine | title=Playboy bounces back into London | date=13 October 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021230432/http://www.ukconstructionmagazine.co.uk/online/uk_construction/uk_features/august2011/Playboy%20bounces%20back%20into%20London.html | archive-date=21 October 2011 }} The club features a casino, cigar terrace, gentleman's tonic, sports bar ("The Player's Lounge"), night club ("The Tale Bar"), cocktail bar under the direction of Salvatore Calabrase, and a fine dining restaurant under the reins of Iron Chef Judy Joo. Along the stair-walls, a row of lenticular portraits are hung winking and smiling at guests as they walk by.{{cite news| url=http://www.thehandbook.com/news/playboy-club-london/| work=The Handbook | title=Playboy Club London – The Bunny Ears return | date=May 12, 2011}}
In November 2012, spokesman Sanjay Gupta announced that PB Lifestyle, the company in India with rights to the brand, would be opening its first club in India at Candolim, Goa in December 2012. It was planned as a {{convert|22000|sqft|m2|lk=in|sigfig=2}} beach location.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20164183| work=BBC News | title=India to get First Playboy Club in Goa | date=November 1, 2012}} In April 2013, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar refused the application on "technical grounds".{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22162929 | work=BBC News | title=Playboy's first India club rejected in Goa | date=April 16, 2013}} Parrikar said only individuals, not corporations, were eligible to operate a beach shack style club. The law did not preclude opening a night club.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/playboy-licence-beach-club-india|title=Playboy denied licence to open beach club in India's party state of Goa|date=16 April 2013|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|access-date=9 October 2014}} After the Goa club, PB Lifestyle planned to open clubs in Hyderabad and Mumbai.{{cite news| url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/11/02/bunny-hop-playboy-comes-to-india/| work=Wall Street Journal | title=Bunny Hop: Playboy Comes to India | date=November 2, 2012| first=Khushita| last=Vasant}} India's obscenity laws ban material deemed "lascivious or appealing to prurient interests".{{cite news| url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india-gets-ready-for-first-playboy-club-with-bunnies-287236| work=NDTV | title=India gets ready for first Playboy club, with bunnies | date=November 1, 2012}} Adult magazines such as Playboy are banned in India. Designer Mohini Tadikonda has altered the original Playboy Bunnies uniform to satisfy India's obscenity laws.{{Cite news |title=India Gets Ready for First Playboy Club |url=http://travel.cnn.com/india-playboy-club-goa-857471?hpt=hp_bn5 |work=CNN | date=December 21, 2012}} In 2nd half of 20th century, Spain, a local Hostess Bar businessman in the Valencia community registered the name: 'Club Playboy' and the rabbit icon. Several of this kind exist under the name.
On September 12, 2018, a Playboy Club was opened in New York City at 512 West 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.{{cite magazine|magazine=Town and Country|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/g23104095/playboy-club-reopened-in-new-york/|title=Hugh Hefner's Legendary Playboy Club Has Reopened in New York|first=Kara|last=Thompson|date=13 September 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://ny.eater.com/2018/9/12/17850700/playboy-club-opening-nyc|title=Playboy Club Is Back And Sounds Just as Ridiculous as Ever|website=New York Eater|first=Carla|last=Vianna|date=12 September 2018}} Many questioned the wisdom of opening a Playboy Club in the #MeToo era.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/nycs-playboy-club-is-reborn-in-the-metoo-era-bunnies-and-all-9|website=The Daily Beast|title=NYC's Playboy Club Is Reborn in the #MeToo Era, Bunnies and All|first=Sam|last=Eichner|date=14 September 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/10/tone-deaf-playboy-club-opens-in-new-york-defying-the-metoo-era|title='Tone deaf' Playboy Club opens in New York, defying the #MeToo era|first=Adam|last=Gabbatt|date=10 September 2018|newspaper=The Guardian}} On November 14, 2019, after just over one year in operation, the owners of the new Playboy Club in New York City announced the club had permanently closed and the space would be re-branded as a steak house and other entertainment venue.{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/14/nyc-playboy-club-bunnies-to-hang-up-tails-and-ears-after-just-one-year/|title=NYC Playboy Club bunnies to hang up tails and ears after just one year|first=Lois|last=Weiss|date=14 November 2019|newspaper=New York Post}}{{cite news|title=NYC Playboy Club bunnies to hang up tails and ears after just one year|url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/14/nyc-playboy-club-bunnies-to-hang-up-tails-and-ears-after-just-one-year/|first=Lois|last=Weiss|date=14 November 2019|newspaper=New York Post}}
In popular culture
{{in popular culture|section|date=June 2025}}
- In the Dick Van Dyke Show Season 5, Episode 7 ("The Great Petrie Fortune"): Rob's Uncle's desk has a Bunny Key that Laura quickly takes from Rob.
- In the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Bond replaces his wallet with that of the recently killed diamond smuggler Peter Franks to confuse his contact, Tiffany Case. When she opens the wallet she finds Bond's Playboy Club Member Card, which she uses to identify the man on the floor.
- In a 1982 episode of the TV show Laverne & Shirley, entitled "The Playboy Show", guest-starring Carrie Fisher, Laverne takes a job as a Playboy Bunny at The Playboy Club despite her father's wishes.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
- The 1985 TV movie A Bunny's Tale, starring Kirstie Alley, was based on writer and future feminist leader Gloria Steinem's 1963 article for Huntington Hartford's Show magazine, a critical account of her time working as a Playboy Bunny at the New York Playboy Club.
- The 2000 TV film, A Tale of Two Bunnies (aka Price of Beauty) starring Marina Black and Julie Condra, tells the story of two girls working as Playboy Bunnies in 1961.{{cite news |last=Parish-Perkins |first=Ken |date=2000-03-20 |title=Monday Best Bets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/649551283/ |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |via=Newspapers.com |page=12D |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-05-29}}
- In the 2008 film The House Bunny, Shelly Darlingson (portrayed by Anna Faris), is a former Playboy bunny who signs up to be the "housemother" of Zeta Alpha Zeta, an unpopular university sorority after finding out she must leave the Playboy Mansion (via a forged note from a rival). Shelly takes the dowdy, socially awkward members of ZAZ and turns them around... Learning a bit about herself in the process.
- In season one, episode two of the TV show Swingtown, first aired in 2008, the characters visit the Playboy Club.
- In a 2010 episode of the TV show Mad Men (season 4, episode 10 "Hands and Knees"), Lane Pryce (who is a member) takes his father and Don Draper to dinner at the Playboy Club in New York City and introduces them to his "chocolate bunny" girlfriend, Toni.
- September 2011 saw the premiere of NBC's The Playboy Club, a television series focusing on the employees and patrons of the first Playboy Club, located in Chicago. The series was cancelled after airing three episodes.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-playboy-club|title=The Playboy Club|work=NBC|publisher=NBC|access-date=9 October 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.org/details/1969-bunnymanual The Playboy Club Bunny Manual (July 1969)]
- [https://www.cluboid.com/nightclub-bar/ThePlayboyClub The Playboy Club London Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031214904/https://www.cluboid.com/nightclub-bar/ThePlayboyClub |date=2016-10-31 }}
Category:Nightclubs in the United States
Category:American companies established in 1960
Category:Entertainment companies established in 1960
Category:Entertainment companies disestablished in 1991