Chicago : Playboy Enterprises, Inc.has announced the launch of a global, year-long 50th anniversary celebration in honor of its iconic Playboy Bunny and world-famous Playboy Clubs. The company is marking this momentous occasion with commemorative merchandise and exclusive events around the world, including: 50 Playboy Club parties in 50 cities, all held on one night; a uniquely-commissioned Playboy art exhibition at The Andy Warhol Museum; and newly designed Playboy apparel featured in some of the world’s top retailers.
Originally opening to the public on February 29, 1960 in Chicago, the Playboy Clubs quickly became the embodiment of sexy sophistication and one of the world’s most successful night club chains. The famous venues, which were home to the iconic Playboy Bunnies, allowed key holders to enjoy performances by some of the era’s biggest names in entertainment. The Clubs also featured cocktail Bunnies, camera Bunnies, checkroom Bunnies, cabaret Bunnies, gift shop Bunnies, bumper pool Bunnies, customer service Bunnies and floor Bunnies. In 2006 the Bunnies returned, and Playboy reopened its famous Club at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and plans to open two additional multi-faceted entertainment venues in 2010 in both Miami and Cancun.
In its June 2010 issue, Playboy magazine will celebrate the Playboy Clubs’ legacy while providing a sneak peek at the future of the famous nightclubs. Special features will also appear on Playboy.com and Playboy Radio.
On June 10, Playboy will be hosting a global celebration – 50 Playboy Club parties in 50 cities, all held on the same night. Fifty select nightlife venues – in domestic and international cities including Las Vegas, Miami, Cancun, London, Hong Kong, San Diego, Chicago and Johannesburg – will open their doors as “Playboy Clubs” for one night only to celebrate the momentous occasion.
In collaboration with its retail partners and licensees across the globe, Playboy will launch a collection of specially-created 50th anniversary merchandise both in-store and online. Products include a line of vintage-inspired Bunny tee shirts, special edition glassware, Bunny-inspired lingerie, and “The Hef” loveseat.
In collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum, Playboy has invited more than 20 emerging and established artists to reinterpret the iconic Playboy Bunny in mediums ranging from painting to video. Playboy Redux: Contemporary Artists Interpret the Iconic Playboy Bunny will be on display at the Pittsburgh museum from March 27 through June 19, 2010, and will feature works by artists including Gary Baseman, Scott Anderson, Jeremy Kost, Tara McPherson, Kalup Linzy and LaToya Ruby Frazier, among others.
In their more than two decades of operation, Playboy Clubs sold nearly 2.5 million membership keys and became one of the most successful nightclub chains in history. The Playboy Clubs, together with the hotel, casino and resort facilities, eventually included 40 properties in 25 states and seven countries. Entertainers performing at the Clubs included Steve Allen, Ann Margaret, the Count Basie Orchestra, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, George Carlin, Ray Charles, Bill Cosby, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Hope, Peggy Lee, Steve Martin, Bette Midler, Ginger Rogers, the Smothers Brothers, Mel Torme and Muddy Waters. The privileged Playboy Club key holders of today include some of the biggest names in music and entertainment, including P. Diddy, Kim Kardashian, Usher, Paris Hilton, Dennis Hopper, Dave Navarro, Jamie Presley and Michael Phelps.
The original Bunny Costume, worn over the years by more than 25,000 working Playboy Bunnies, was created for female staff at the first Playboy Club in Chicago and started as a modified one-piece swimsuit. It went on to become the first uniform to be issued a trademark registration by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Before they launched their careers, actresses Lauren Hutton, Julie Cobb, Lynne Moody, Sherilyn Fenn, Susan Sullivan, Jackie Zeman, Maria Richwine and Barbara Bosson all worked as Bunnies, as did rock star Deborah Harry. As one of the world’s most recognized uniforms, the Playboy Bunny Costume was redesigned in 2006 by Roberto Cavalli for the Playboy Club Las Vegas Bunnies and Playboy Club Celebrity Dealers, including Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra.