A July, 1961 photo in Playboy featuring, from left to right, George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames and Jens Risom
It sounded absurd at first glance, a headline worth double-checking to see if you weren't clicking on an Onion story slipped into your social feeds. "Playboy Mansion: FOR SALE ... But Hef Gets to Stay" read the breaking news from TMZ. The octogenarian publishing pioneer, who presided over one of the most successful and arguably culture-shifting publications of the last century, was putting the symbol of his empire for sale, but choosing to stick around as a lifelong houseguest, seemingly unable to leave the throne, even though the kingdom is a shadow of its former self. The story was easy fodder for comedians and late-night hosts, a profession which Hef, who hosted two late-night variety shows Playboy After Dark and Playboy's Penthouse, once excelled at.