Hugh Hefner's Playboy's Penthouse After Dark
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Updated 26 days ago
Playboy's Penthouse was an American variety/talk television series hosted by Hugh Hefner, the founder and publisher of Playboy magazine. It ran for two seasons from October 24, 1959, to March 5, 1961, and was produced in Chicago.
The show was designed to look like a sophisticated party at Hefner's own Chicago apartment. In it, guests—including celebrities, jazz musicians, and Playboy Playmates—would mingle, chat with Hefner, and perform. Hefner aimed to spread the Playboy brand and influence beyond the printed page, presenting a "sophisticated little soiree with jazz, stimulating conversation, beautiful ladies, and more jazz".
Notable Guests and Legacy
The series featured a mix of black and white performers, which was progressive for the time, although it meant some programmers in the American South refused to carry the show. Notable guests included:
Sammy Davis Jr.
Ella Fitzgerald
Nat King Cole
Bob Newhart (who made his national television debut on the show)
Lenny Bruce
Playboy's Penthouse was later followed by a similarly formatted show, Playboy After Dark, which aired in the late 1960s and was taped in Los Angeles.
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Nov 28, 1959 Hugh Hefner Playboy's Penthouse Sarah Vaughn
MemoryCryptofCastleHillsNov 28, 1959 Hugh Hefner Playboy's Penthouse Sarah Vaughn, Pete Seeger, Marty Ingels. Playboy's Penthouse was an American variety/talk television series that first aired on October 24, 1959, hosted by Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. The show was designed to emulate a sophisticated cocktail party at Hefner's Chicago apartment, featuring stimulating conversation, jazz music, and celebrity guests. Format: The show was a variety/talk show filmed to look like a live party in a penthouse apartment. Host: Hugh Hefner hosted the show, often seen in a silk smoking jacket, mingling with guests and Playmates. Production: It was primarily filmed in Chicago at the ABC affiliate station WBKB studios and initially ran in syndication for two seasons, from October 1959 to March 1961. Guests: The series featured notable guests from the worlds of music, comedy, and literature. Famous performers included Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Lenny Bruce, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, and Bob Newhart in his national television debut. Cultural Impact: The show was progressive for its time, notably featuring black and white performers and guests mingling socially, which led to it not being carried by some programmers in the American Southeast. Playboy's Penthouse was later followed by a second, more widely known series, Playboy After Dark, which ran in the late 1960s.80 views -
1959 Hugh Hefner Playboy's Penthouse Premiere Episode October 24, 1959
MemoryCryptofCastleHillsPlayboy's Penthouse Season 1 premiered on October 24, 1959, and was a variety/talk show hosted by Hugh Hefner. It aired for 10 episodes and featured a mix of guests, including musicians like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sammy Davis Jr., as well as comedians like Bob Newhart and Lenny Bruce. The show was filmed in Chicago at WBKB-TV and was presented as a "typical" night at Hefner's Playboy pad. Premiere Date: October 24, 1959 Host: Hugh Hefner Genre: Variety/talk show Location: Chicago, WBKB-TV Notable Guests: Nat King Cole Ella Fitzgerald Sammy Davis Jr. Bob Newhart Lenny Bruce Dave Brubeck Quartet Episodes: 10 (in this first season)98 views
