Penthouse (magazine)

{{Short description|Erotic magazine}}
{{Confusing|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Penthouse Magazine
| logo = Penthouse_text_logo.svg
| image_file = Penthousecover122009.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_caption = The December 2009 U.S. issue of ''Penthouse''
| frequency = Monthly (1968–2018)<br>Bi-monthly (2018–present)
| total_circulation = 109,792<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/magform.asp |title=AAM: Total Circ for Consumer Magazines |publisher=accessabc.com |access-date=August 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604044154/http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/magform.asp |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| circulation_year = 2012
| category = [[List of men's magazines|Men's]], lifestyle
| company = Penthouse World Media
| based = [[Los Angeles, California]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1965|3}} (UK)<br>{{start date and age|1969|9}} (US)
| country = {{Plain list|
* [[United Kingdom]]
* [[United States]]
}}
| language = English
| website = {{Official URL}}
| issn = 0090-2020
}}

'''''Penthouse''''' is a [[men's magazine]] founded by [[Bob Guccione]] and published by [[Los Angeles]]–based '''Penthouse World Media, LLC'''. It combines urban lifestyle articles and [[Softcore pornography|softcore pornographic]] pictures of women that, in the 1990s, evolved into [[hardcore pornography|hardcore]] pornographic pictures of women.

Although Guccione was American, the magazine was founded in the United Kingdom in 1965, and first published simultaneously in the UK and the US in March 1965. From September 1969, an "American Edition" was made available in the US.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Penthouse Magazine Issue #1 (First American Issue) |url=https://www.backintimerarebooks.com/pages/books/610/erotica-bob-guccione-clay-shaw-et-all/penthouse-magazine-issue-1-first-american-issue |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410215641/https://www.backintimerarebooks.com/pages/books/610/erotica-bob-guccione-clay-shaw-et-all/penthouse-magazine-issue-1-first-american-issue |archive-date=April 10, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2017 |publisher=Back In Time Rare Books}}</ref> Since 2016, ''Penthouse'' has been under the ownership of Penthouse World Media (formerly known as Penthouse Global Media Inc.), which filed for bankruptcy in 2018. Its assets were subsequently acquired in June of that same year by WGCZ Ltd., the owners of [[XVideos]],<ref name="biglawbusiness.com">{{cite web |title=Skin in the Game: Purveyor of Porn Buys Bankrupt Penthouse |url=https://biglawbusiness.com/skin-in-the-game-purveyor-of-porn-buys-bankrupt-penthouse/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015042009/https://biglawbusiness.com/skin-in-the-game-purveyor-of-porn-buys-bankrupt-penthouse/ |archive-date=October 15, 2018 |publisher=biglawbusiness.com}}</ref> when it won a bankruptcy auction bid. Later on, Penthouse Global Media was spun off from WGCZ and rebranded as Penthouse World Media.

The magazine's [[centerfold]] models are known as ''Penthouse'' "Pets", and customarily wear a distinctive necklace in the form of a stylized key which incorporates both the [[Mars symbol|Mars]] and [[Venus symbol|Venus]] symbols in its design.

The first "Pet of the Month" was Denise Johns, who was also pictured on the cover. The first US Pet of the Month was Evelyn Treacher, who was on the cover of the first US edition in September 1969. The first Pet of the Year in the US was [[Stephanie McLean (model)|Stephanie McLean]], pictured on the cover of the September 1971 issue.

==Bob Guccione==
At the height of its success, Guccione, who died in 2010, was considered one of the richest men in the United States. In 1982 he was listed in the [[Forbes 400|''Forbes'' 400]] ranking of wealthiest people.<ref>Munk, Nina. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/business/yourmoney/25trail.html "Don't Blink. You'll Miss the 258th-Richest American"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 25, 2005.</ref> An April 2002 ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' article reported Guccione as saying that ''Penthouse'' grossed $3.5 billion to $4 billion over the 30-year life of the company.<ref>Carr, David. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E2D7153DF93BA35757C0A9649C8B63 "Cybersmut and Debt Undermine Penthouse"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 8, 2002.</ref>

==Publication history==
[[File:PENTHOUSE1stIssueSept1969.jpg|thumb|right|The first U.S. issue of ''Penthouse'', September 1969]]
''Penthouse'' magazine began publication in the UK and the US in March 1965.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Di|last1=Hand|first2=Steve|last2=Middleditch|title=Design for Media: A Handbook for Students and Professionals in Journalism, PR, and Advertising|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UrAABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA8|access-date=2 August 2015|date=10 July 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-86402-8|page=8}}</ref> From September 1969, in an attempt to compete with [[Hugh Hefner]]'s ''[[Playboy]]'', an "American Edition" was also published. Guccione offered editorial content that was more sensational than that of ''Playboy'', and the magazine's writing was far more investigative than Hefner's upscale emphasis, with stories about government cover-ups and scandals.

Writers such as [[Seymour Hersh]], [[James Dale Davidson]], and [[Ernest Volkman]] exposed numerous scandals and corruption at the highest levels of the United States Government.{{fact|date=October 2023}} Contributors to the magazine included [[Isaac Asimov]], [[James Baldwin]], [[Howard Blum]], [[Victor Bockris]], [[T. C. Boyle]], [[Alexander Cockburn]], [[Harry Crews]], [[Cameron Crowe]], [[Don DeLillo]], [[Alan Dershowitz]], [[Edward Jay Epstein]], [[Chet Flippo]], [[Albert Goldman]], [[Anthony Haden-Guest]], [[John Hawkes (novelist)|John Hawkes]], [[Nat Hentoff]], [[Warren Hinckle]], [[Abbie Hoffman]], [[Nicholas von Hoffman]], [[Michael Korda]], [[Paul Krassner]], [[Michael Ledeen]], [[Anthony Lewis]], [[Joyce Carol Oates]], [[James Purdy]], [[Philip Roth]], [[Harrison Salisbury|Harrison E. Salisbury]], [[Gail Sheehy]], [[Robert Sherrill]], [[Mickey Spillane]], [[Ben Stein]], [[Harry Stein (author)|Harry Stein]], [[Tad Szulc]], [[Studs Terkel]], [[Nick Tosches]], [[Gore Vidal]], [[Irving Wallace]], and [[Ruth Westheimer]] (Dr. Ruth).{{fact|date=October 2023}}

The magazine was founded on humble beginnings. Due to Guccione's lack of resources, he personally photographed most of the models for the magazine's early issues.<ref name = Observer>Anthony Haden-Guest [https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/feb/01/features.magazine87 "Boom and Bust"], ''The Observer'', February 1, 2004</ref> Without professional training, Guccione applied his knowledge of painting to his [[photography]], establishing the diffused, [[soft focus]] look that would become one of the trademarks of the magazine's pictorials. Guccione would sometimes take several days to complete a shoot.

As the magazine grew more successful, Guccione openly embraced a life of luxury; his former mansion is said to be the largest private residence in [[Manhattan]] at {{convert|22000|sqft|m2}}. However, in contrast to [[Hugh Hefner]], who threw wild parties at his [[Playboy Mansion]]s, life at Guccione's mansion was remarkably sedate, even during the hedonistic 1970s.<ref name=Observer/> He reportedly once had his bodyguards eject a local radio personality who had been hired as a [[disc jockey|DJ]] and jumped into the swimming pool naked.<ref name="Rolling Stone">[https://web.archive.org/web/20101023115431/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/17389/224042 "The Twilight of Bob Guccione"] from ''[[Rolling Stone]]''</ref>

The magazine's pictorials offered more sexually explicit content than what was commonly seen in most openly sold [[List of men's magazines|men's magazines]] of the era. It was the first to show female [[pubic hair]], followed by full-frontal nudity, and eventually, the exposed [[vulva]] and [[anus]].<ref name="Observer" />{{failed verification|date=May 2022}} ''Penthouse'' has also featured a number of authorized and unauthorized photos of celebrities, such as [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Vanessa Williams]]. In both cases, the photos were taken earlier in their careers and sold to ''Penthouse'' only after Madonna and Williams became famous.

However, in the late 1990s, poor business decisions were made,{{which?|date=December 2022}} and publishing control gradually slipped away from Guccione. In a desperate attempt to boost sales, the magazine began to showcase more "fetish" content, including subjects such as urination, bondage, and "[[facial (sex act)|facial]]s."<ref name="Observer" />{{failed verification|date=May 2022}} This marked the beginning of the magazine's downward spiral. Gone were the days of artistic and unique, soft-focus lens erotic photography, along with the investigative journalism that had brought the magazine success and respect. As a result, prominent companies no longer wanted their products featured in ''Penthouse'' and quickly had their advertising removed.

On January 15, 2016, a press release emanating from then-owner [[Friend Finder Networks]] announced that ''Penthouse'' would end its print operations and move to all digital. However, managing director [[Kelly Holland]] quickly disavowed the decision and pledged to keep the print version of the magazine alive.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/01/20/penthouse-plans-retain-magazine-launch-overhauled-site/79056612/ | title =Penthouse plans to retain magazine, launch overhauled site | last =Yu | first =Roger | date =January 20, 2016 | website =USA Today | publisher =Gannett Company | access-date =March 11, 2016}}</ref>

==Financial history==
In 1982, Guccione was listed in the Forbes 400 ranking of wealthiest people, with a reported $400 million net worth.<ref>Munk, Nina (September 25, 2005).[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/business/yourmoney/25trail.html?ei=5090&en=77b8995bfdcfff3c&ex=1285300800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1170651846-aAbtNROzyxQPjdoeXOpasA "Don't Blink. You'll Miss the 258th-Richest American"]. ''The New York Times''.</ref> An April 2002 ''New York Times'' article quoted Guccione as saying that ''Penthouse'' grossed $3.5 billion to $4 billion over the 30-year life of the company, with a net income of almost $500 million.<ref>Carr, David (April 8, 2002). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E2D7153DF93BA35757C0A9649C8B63 "Cybersmut and Debt Undermine Penthouse"]. ''The New York Times''.</ref>

In 1999, hoping to raise cash and reduce debt, ''Penthouse'' sold several automotive magazine titles from its large portfolio Peterson Automotive, raising $33 million in cash. However, two of their retained publications, science and health magazines ''[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]]'' and ''Longevity'' lost almost $100 million, contributing to financial problems.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/n_9815/index1.html|title=The Porn King in Winter|work=New York Magazine|last=Haden-Guest|first=Anthony|date=2004|access-date=February 23, 2017}}</ref>

===Bankruptcy===
On August 12, 2003, General Media, the parent company of the magazine, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Immediately upon filing, [[Cerberus Capital Management]] entered into a $5 million [[debtor-in-possession]] credit line with General Media to provide working capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1164123/000103883803000516/form8k081203.txt|title=SEC Filing|access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news2003/aug03/aug11/3_wed/news2wednesday.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104003426/http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news2003/aug03/aug11/3_wed/news2wednesday.html|url-status=dead|title=Wednesday|date=January 4, 2013|archive-date=January 4, 2013|website=medialifemagazine.com}}</ref> In October 2003, ''Penthouse'' magazine was put up for sale as part of a deal with its creditors. On November 13, 2004, Guccione resigned as chairman and CEO of Penthouse International, the parent of General Media.

''Penthouse'' filed for [[bankruptcy]] protection on September 17, 2013. The magazine's then-current owner [[FriendFinder]]'s current [[common stock]] was wiped out and was no longer traded on the open market. In August 2013, FriendFinder's stock was delisted from [[Nasdaq]] because it consistently failed to trade for more than $1.<ref>{{cite news|title=Penthouse magazine owner files for bankruptcy|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-penthouse-magazine-owner-files-for-bankruptcy,0,581995.story|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=September 18, 2013|first=Stuart|last=Pfeifer|date=September 17, 2013}}</ref>

As of 2015, General Media Communications, Inc. publishes entertainment magazines and operates as a subsidiary of FriendFinder Networks Inc.<ref name=2014GMCBloomberg>{{cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Media: Company Overview of General Media Communications, Inc.|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=7731657|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604000830/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7731657|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2013|publisher=Bloomberg Business Week|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

===Ownership change===
In February 2016, Penthouse Global Media – a new company headed by Penthouse Entertainment managing director Kelly Holland – acquired the ''Penthouse'' brand from FriendFinder Networks.<ref name="hp-spinout">{{cite web|title=Penthouse Wants You To Reclaim Your Vagina|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandra-lamorgese-phd/penthouse-sexual-liberation_b_11471944.html|website=Huffington Post|date=August 20, 2016|access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref>

Penthouse Global Media filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] on January 11, 2018 to address debt-related issues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Penthouse Magazine Publisher Files Bankruptcy a Third Time |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-12/penthouse-global-media-files-for-bankruptcy-in-california |website=Bloomberg.com |access-date=6 June 2018 |language=en |date=12 January 2018}}</ref>

Penthouse Global Media, Inc. were acquired by WGCZ Ltd., operators of [[XVideos]],<ref name="biglawbusiness.com"/> on June 4, 2018 after winning a bankruptcy auction for US$11.2 million; other companies, such as [[MindGeek]], also participated in the auction.<ref name="avn">{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Kernes |title=Penthouse Bankruptcy Auction Results in New Ownership |url=https://avn.com/business/articles/legal/after-yesterdays-bankruptcy-auction-penthouse-has-a-new-owner-779541.html |website=[[avn.com]] |access-date=6 June 2018 |date=5 June 2018}}</ref> Penthouse Global Media, Inc. was later spun off from WGCZ and renamed Penthouse World Media.

== Awards and recognition ==
The magazine's editorial content was praised and recognized by those in the academic field. In 1975, for example, Guccione was honored by [[Brandeis University]] for focusing "his editorial attention on such critical issues of our day as the welfare of the [[Vietnam]] veteran and problems of criminality in modern society".<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Guccione Obituary|url=http://penthouseforum.com/2011/01/in-memoriam-bob-guccione-1930-2010/|access-date=January 30, 2013|newspaper=Penthouse Forum|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508154815/http://penthouseforum.com/2011/01/in-memoriam-bob-guccione-1930-2010/|archive-date=May 8, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2013, director Barry Avrich made a film about Guccione's life entitled ''[[Filthy Gorgeous: The Bob Guccione Story]]''. It was produced by [[Jeremy Frommer]] and [[Rick Schwartz]], who have since created a premier website inspired by Bob Guccione as an extension of the film called Filthy Gorgeous Media.<ref>{{cite web|title=Filthy Gorgeous Media|url=http://filthygorgeousmedia.com/about-us/|website=FilthyGorgeousMedia.com|publisher=Jeremy Frommer|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=June 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626050912/http://filthygorgeousmedia.com/about-us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Publishing milestones==

===Traci Lords and Vanessa Williams===
The September 1984 issue of ''Penthouse'' magazine would eventually become [[controversy|controversial]] because of its centerfold, [[Traci Lords]]. Lords posed nude for this issue at the beginning of her career as an adult film star. It was later revealed that Lords was [[underage]] throughout most of her career in pornography and was only 15 when she posed for ''Penthouse''.<ref name=Lords>Lords, Traci Elizabeth. ''Traci Lords: Underneath It All''. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.</ref>

The same issue also caused controversy with nude pictures of [[Vanessa L. Williams|Vanessa Williams]] that caused her to be stripped of her [[Miss America]] crown.<ref name=2010USATGuccioneObit>{{cite news|last1=Kane|first1=Gary|title=Bob Guccione, 'Penthouse' magazine founder, dies|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/2010-10-20-bob-guccione-dies_N.htm?csp=34life|access-date=September 15, 2014|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 21, 2010}}</ref>

===Move from softcore to hardcore pictorials and back===
In 1998, ''Penthouse'' decided to change its format and began featuring sexually explicit pictures (i.e., actual [[Sexual penetration|oral, vaginal, and anal penetration]]), beginning with photos from the famed [[Celebrity sex tape|''Stolen Honeymoon'' sex tape]] featuring [[Pamela Anderson]] and [[Tommy Lee]]. It also began to regularly feature pictorials of [[female]] models [[Urolagnia|urinating]], which, until then, had been considered a defining limit of illegal obscenity as distinguished from legal pornography.

A different approach to restoring sales was attempted by the UK version of the magazine in 1997. Under the editorship of [[Tom Hilditch]], the magazine was rebranded as PH.UK and relaunched as middle-shelf "adult magazine for grown-ups". Fashion photographers (such as [[Corinne Day]] of ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]'' magazine) were hired to produce images that merged sex and fashion. The magazine's editorial content included celebrity interviews and tackled issues of sexual politics. The experiment attracted a great deal of press interest, but failed to generate a significant increase in sales. PH.UK closed in late 1998.

The new owners significantly softened the content of the magazine starting with the January 2005 issue. ''Penthouse'' no longer showed male genitalia, real or simulated male-female sex, or any form of explicit hardcore content (it does still feature female-female simulated sex on occasion, however).  While this change allowed the return of a limited number of mainstream advertisers to the magazine, it has not significantly raised the number of subscribers; total circulation is still below 350,000.<ref>Latest figures from the Audited Bureau of Circulation</ref>

Some of ''Penthouse''{{-'}}s secondary publications, such as ''Girls of Penthouse'', continue to feature occasional images of explicit sex, either classic sets from the 1990s issues or stills of adult video shoots staged by the company's Digital Media division.

==Other ventures==

===Film===
In 1976, Guccione used about [[United States dollar|US]] $17.5 million of his personal fortune to finance the controversial [[historical film|historical epic]] [[pornographic film]] ''[[Caligula (film)|Caligula]]''<!-- Proper principal title, check IMDb for confirmation. -->, with [[Malcolm McDowell]] in the [[Caligula|title role]] and a supporting cast including [[Helen Mirren]], [[John Gielgud]], [[Teresa Ann Savoy]], and [[Peter O'Toole]]. The film, which was eventually released in late 1979, was produced in Italy (made at the Dear Studios in Rome) and was directed by [[Tinto Brass]]. In 2001, ''Penthouse Presents'' began running on [[Hot Choice]].

===Other publications===
Guccione also created the magazines  ''[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]]'', ''[[Viva (American magazine)|Viva]]'', and ''Longevity''.<ref name = Observer/> Later Guccione started ''[[Penthouse Forum]]'', which predominantly featured erotic writing and stories. In 1993, ''Penthouse'' published an adult [[comic book]] spin-off entitled ''[[Penthouse Comix]]'', featuring sexually explicit stories. After an initial success, ''Penthouse Comix'' expanded into a line of four illustrated magazines with the addition of ''Penthouse Max'', ''Penthouse Men's Adventure Comix'' and ''Omni Comix''. In 2023 Penthouse revived the comic label as Penthouse Comics. The first issue launched in February 2024 to 30,000 copies sold.

''Penthouse Variations'' is a monthly magazine containing ostensibly reader-generated [[erotic stories]] (primarily) and some pictures and reviews. It is a spin-off magazine from ''Penthouse Letters''.  It was initially published in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zinio.com/browse/issues/index.jsp;jsessionid=B4754BED44392BD07035989A59BE46A0.ns102a?skuId=416078448|title=Penthouse Variations &#124; Buy Single Issues &#124; Zinio – The World's Largest Newsstand|publisher=Zinio|access-date=May 3, 2013}}</ref> ''Variations'' focuses on "kinkier" topics of [[sexuality]], such as [[Bondage (BDSM)|bondage]], [[Fetish fashion|fetish clothing]], [[exhibitionism]], [[voyeurism]], [[foot fetishism]], [[Urolagnia|water sports]], [[female dominance]], [[Bisexual|bisexual exploration]], [[transsexualism]] and [[sadomasochism]], among others.

=== Home video ===
In 1983, Penthouse teamed up with [[Vestron Video]] to launch the Penthouse Video label.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glynn |first=Michael |date=June 16, 1983 |title=SoundViews |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]] |pages=28}}</ref> In 1991, Penthouse Video signed a deal with [[Warner Music Vision|A*Vision Entertainment]] to release videos designed for an adult audience.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=1991-10-19|title=A*Vision Unveiling Penthouse Vid Lne|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1991/1991-10-19-Billboard-Page-0054.pdf|access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref>

===Casinos===
In 1970, the Penthouse Club in London, England operated a casino.  However, the next year the casino license was revoked by the gaming authorities.<ref>Casino Gambling Attracts "Penthouse" Publisher ''The Evening Independent'' March 25, 1978 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19780325&id=DWFQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e1gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2498,2566777&hl=en]</ref>  In 1972, Penthouse opened the Penthouse Adriatic Club casino on the island of [[Krk]] in [[Yugoslavia]] (now [[Croatia]]) at a cost of $45 million.  However, the casino filed for bankruptcy the following year and was closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yomadic.com/haludovo-hotel-palace/|title=Abandoned Penthouse Casino - Haludovo Palace Hotel. Bikini, Optional|date=August 19, 2013|website=yomadic.com}}</ref> In 1978, Penthouse began construction of the [[Penthouse Boardwalk Hotel and Casino]] in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]].  However, Penthouse was unable to raise additional funding and construction stopped in 1980.  The project sat idle until [[Donald Trump]] acquired the site in 1993.

===Auto racing===
[[File:Hesketh 308E.jpg|thumb|right|A Hesketh 308E in 1977's ''Penthouse Rizla Racing'' livery]]

''Penthouse'' sponsors the "1X" car of driver [[Randy Hannagan]] in the [[World of Outlaws]] sprint car series. The magazine previously sponsored cars in the [[Formula One]] circuit from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Teams included [[Hesketh Racing]] and [[RAM Racing]].

===3D HD porn channel===
{{Main|Penthouse TV|Penthouse TV (Canada)}}

January 2011, ''Penthouse'' announced the first 3D HD porn channel, which will be available in second quarter 2011. They shoot using dual lenses, and it will consist of available Penthouse HD Channel lineup covering over 30 platforms in more than 15 countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/01/10/penthouse-to-create-first-3d-porn-channel/ |title=Penthouse To Create First 3D Porn Channel &#124; TechCrunch |publisher=Crunchgear.com |date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519171731/http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/01/10/penthouse-to-create-first-3d-porn-channel/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Wine and spirits===
In January 2015, ''Penthouse'' announced its entry into the [[Winemaker|wine]] and [[Alcohol industry|spirits industry]]. The line of products were to debut at the 2015 [[Adult Entertainment Expo]] in Las Vegas.<ref name=2015Spirits>{{cite web|title=Penthouse to Showcase Pets, Wine & Spirits and Magazine at AEE|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Penthouse-to-Showcase-Pets-Wine-Spirits-and-Magazine-at-AEE-584621.html|website=AVN.com|publisher=Adult Video News|access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> Called ''Libido Libations'', the spirits line is distributed by [[Prestige Imports LLC]] and produced by [[The Melchers Group BV]].<ref name=2015alcohol>{{cite web|title=Penthouse Libido Libations and Whiskey Tequila Fusion|url=http://www.bevindustry.com/articles/87848-87848-penthouse-libido-libations-and-whiskey-tequila-fusion|website=bevindustry.com|publisher=BNP Media|access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> The wine offerings are the result of a partnership with California vintner John Crossland and Randal Tomich of the Australian winery Tomich Wines.<ref name=2015wine>{{cite web|title=Prestige product lines|url=http://www.prestigeimportsllc.com/product-lines.html|website=PrestigeImportsLLC.com|access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref>

==Legal disputes==

===Editorial lawsuit===
In March 1975, ''Penthouse'' published an article headlined "La Costa: The Hundred-Million-Dollar Resort with Criminal Clientele", written by [[Jeff Gerth]] and [[Lowell Bergman]]. The article indicated that the [[La Costa Resort and Spa]] in [[Carlsbad, California]], was developed by [[Mervyn Adelson]] and [[Irwin Molasky]] using loans from the [[Teamsters]] Pension Fund and that the resort was a playground for organized crime figures. The owners, along with two officials of the resort, Morris B. [[Moe Dalitz]] and Allard Roen, filed a libel lawsuit for $522&nbsp;million against the magazine and the writers. In 1982, a jury absolved the magazine of any liability against the lawsuit from the owners. The plaintiffs appealed, but in December 1985, before a new trial could begin, the two sides settled. ''Penthouse'' issued a statement that they did not mean to imply that Adelson and Molaskey are or were members of organized crime. In turn the plaintiffs issued a statement lauding ''Penthouse'' publisher Guccione and his magazine for their "personal and professional awards". Total litigation costs were estimated to exceed $20 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-05-23/local/me-8091_1_la-costa |title=Court Revives La Costa Spa's Penthouse Suit |first=Myrna |last=Oliver |date=May 23, 1985 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-12-21/local/me-3043_1_la-costa-resort-owners |title=Penthouse, Resort End Legal Battle in a Draw |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Armando |last=Acuna |date=December 21, 1985 |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>

===''Guccione v. Penthouse Media Group''===
In 2006, Guccione sued Penthouse Media Group for fraud, breach of contract, and conspiracy, among other charges. Some of the people named in the case included Marc Bell, Jason Galanis,  Dr. Fernando Molina, Charles Samel, and Daniel C. Stanton.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aIn.nEBnJZ_Y |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120101/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aIn.nEBnJZ_Y |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |title=EBay, Lagardere, UBS, Penthouse, Countrywide in Court News|last=Amon|first=Elizabeth|date=August 12, 2008|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref>

==National rampage protests==
In December 1984, a group of [[radical feminists]] began a civil disobedience campaign against ''Penthouse'' which they called a National Rampage. Led by [[Melissa Farley]] and [[Nikki Craft]], they went into stores selling copies of the magazine and ripped them up, and they also burned an effigy of [[Bob Guccione]] in front of a bookstore in Madison, Wisconsin. In late 1985 the group began to focus on the printer of ''Penthouse'', [[Meredith Corporation]]. They bought shares in the company and attended their annual stockholder's meeting. The women were not allowed to speak, but they removed their coats, revealing images from a ''Penthouse'' shoot about [[japanese bondage|Japanese rope bondage]]&mdash;among which two poses were construed by Farley to evoke dead bodies&mdash;ironed onto [their] shirts.<ref name=Rampage>{{Citation | last = Farley | first = Melissa | author-link = Melissa Farley | contribution = Nikki Craft: Inspiring protest: The rampage against ''Penthouse'' | editor-last1 = Russell | editor-first1 = Diana E.H. | editor-last2 = Radford | editor-first2 = Jill | editor-link1 = Diana E. H. Russell | title = Femicide: the politics of woman killing | pages = 339–345 | publisher = Twayne Publishers | location = New York Toronto | date = 1992 | isbn = 9780805790283 | postscript = .}} [http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/Porn/rampage1femicide1991.pdf Pdf.]</ref>

==International versions==
As of 2015:

* Australia edition
* Bulgarian edition (discontinued)
* Dutch edition
* German edition
* Greek edition
* Hong Kong edition (discontinued)
* Hungarian edition
* New Zealand edition
* Portuguese edition<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2, 2010|url=http://www.destak.pt/artigo/76605-penthouse-chega-as-bancas-a-27-de-outubro|title=Media: Penthouse chega às bancas a 27 de Outubro|publisher=Destak.pt}}</ref>
* Russian Edition
* Spanish edition
* Thai edition
* United Kingdom edition
* United States edition

==See also==
{{Portal|Erotica and pornography}}
* ''[[Hustler (magazine)|Hustler]]''
* [[List of men's magazines]]
* ''[[Penthouse Comix]]''
* ''[[Penthouse Forum]]''
* ''[[Playboy]]''
* [[Pubic Wars]]
* ''[[Wicked Wanda|Oh, Wicked Wanda!]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Penthouse magazine}}
* {{official}}
*[http://www.philsp.com/mags/penthouse.html Cover archive at Galactic Central]

[[Category:Penthouse (magazine)| ]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Men's magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Online magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1965]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2003]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018]]
[[Category:Online magazines with defunct print editions]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in literature]]
[[Category:Pornographic men's magazines]]
[[Category:Sexual revolution]]