The Press: Women, Not Girls

The Hugh Hefner of Italy is a blonde. Adelina Tattilo, fortyish and the mother of three children, is the founder and publisher of Playmen, a glossy monthly album of nudes and what would probably turn out to be articles if anyone bothered to read them. Despite—or because of—a running battle with police, the magazine has reached a circulation of 450,000 in less than four years. That is phenomenal, especially since Playmen costs just over a dollar a copy. LIFE-like Epoca (circ. 350,000) and Oggi (950,000) cost 29¢ and 24¢ respectively.

Playmen started out to imitate...