While the magazine printed its final issue in 2016, for decades it was a staple of cultural interest, lifestyle, celebrity news and, of course, nude and semi-nude photos of men.įounded in 1973 by Douglas Lambert, Playgirl was seen as a response to erotic men’s magazines, like Playgirl’s sister publication Playboy. Playgirl has long solidified its place as one of the most iconic magazines in American culture.