Happy Birthday to Hugh, the World's Oldest Playboy

It's hard to fathom, but yesterday was Hugh Hefner's 85th birthday.  Yes, you read that correctly.  He certainly leads a remarkable life. 

Remarkable on many levels, not the least of which, that he is still going strong considering he smoked -  you almost never saw him photographed without a pipe, he survived a stroke over 25 years ago,  and of course, his um, active lifestyle. 

He is engaged to be married, again. His fiancée, Crystal Harris, is 24 years old.   Could be lethal/might keep him alive – remains to be seen. I think it will depend on the pre-nup. 

Hefner's first wife, Mildred, is now 84 years old! Can you imagine him with someone his own age?! I would love to see him photographed with her, today.  Could you picture her in a bunny costume?  Yes, I know that's not nice. 

His daughter, Christie, is 58.  Can you even imagine him with someone her age?  His new wife will be less than half the age of his daughter! I tried to put this into my perspective -- my daughter is 18.  Using the same calculation, my future husband would be starting kindergarten in September.

Interestingly, his wild ways were encouraged by his first wife. They met after high school. Hefner was in the army while engaged to Mildred. She had an affair while he was gone. When he returned, her guilt overcame her and she confessed. 

Hefner has said he was absolutely devastated. Some say that it forever affected the way he viewed women.  They married anyway, and to assuage her guilt, she encouraged him to, um, have an active lifestyle.  Of course, it was this active lifestyle that eventually caused the demise of the marriage.  Oh Mildred – look what you started. I hope you had a post-nup.

Also remarkable, is the empire he built.  At a time when Playboy was considered taboo, he helped change value systems and he created one of the best known logos – in the world – of all time.  You would be hard pressed to find someone/anyone who doesn’t recognize the ubiquitous Playboy bunny.

In junior high – what middle school used to be called  – some boys would brag about finding Playboy Magazines hidden in their houses.  Of course, sometimes those magazines found their way to school.  You could always tell by the tightly packed group of boys that would press together to look at the pictorials. 

As did many businessmen of that time, my dad went to the Great Gorge Playboy Club in Vernon, NJ.  I had a small silver Playboy bunny necklace that he brought back for me. I cherished it just as much as the charm bracelet he brought me from Washington, DC, and my miniature Philadelphia Liberty Bell. Playboy really had become that mainstream.

Hefner also challenged value systems on a different level. The articles in Playboy Magazine, really were a big part of why people read it – I know, not the most important part.  In both the magazine and his television show, he highlighted important authors, artists and politicians – and he did not tolerate any type of discrimination.  In fact, in some franchised southern Playboy Clubs, they were practicing segregation.  Outraged, the Playboy Corporation bought back the clubs so they would be open to everyone.

Possibly, most remarkable to me is his attire.  He has been walking around in public in silk pajamas, a smoking jacket and slippers – for as long as I can remember.  Can you picture what would happen if anyone else walked around like that?  – Lady Gaga notwithstanding – They would be taken away. Deemed crazy. And certainly frowned upon by the tough local crowd that populates the carpool lines, supermarkets and sports fields. 

I have always felt compelled, to not only wear shoes, but also to have hair and makeup in place.  I will not say that I haven’t thought about running into Shop Rite in the pajamas that I drive my son to school in – though mine are not silk – tend to be more sweats like, and almost never match – but I know, with my luck, I would run into one of those committee moms, and from there, it would be a slippery slope of a downward spiral.  My family would forever carry the shame.  People have cameras on their cell phones – just not worth the risk.

Still, I wondered, if Hefner wears pajamas – albeit really nice ones – as day wear, what does he wear to bed?  I googled it. The answer, "Usually, a blonde."  Not kidding.

A sign that Hefner and Playboy are aging:  The first Playboy Magazine featured Marilyn Monroe.  In November 2009, Marge Simpson, matriarch of the cartoon Simpsons,  was featured. 

Now that I think about it, Hugh Hefner – ever the visionary, has finally grown into his own image.  It is probably not inappropriate for an 85-year-old man to walk around in pajamas with his young caretaker in tow. 

Happy 85^th Birthday Hugh!  You are remarkable. Long may you reign!

Michele Salt Horn offers a humorous look at life. Livingston is her hometown.