The Grandeur of the Playboy Mansion
By | November 19, 2017
A general view of the Playboy Mansion at 'The Transporter Refueled' Los Angeles screening held at The Playboy Mansion on August 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
The Playboy Mansion, also known as, Mansion West, and formerly owned by the late, founder of Playboy magazine, Hugh Heffner, is located in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California. It has long been known for its grandeur and being known as 21,987 square feet and 5.3 acres of every man’s wildest dream come true! Hefner seemed to have it all with his celebrity status, wealth and unlimited access to all of those gorgeous Playboy Bunnies.
The mansion gained notoriety during the 1970’s; mainly because it belonged to Hefner, but also because of the lavish parties hosted at the property. As strange as it sounds, the mansion took on a life of its own and was an entirely separate entity; seemingly separate from the magazine.
During the 1970’s the average, married man was going to a job he hated every day, in order to provide for his family. Average housewives were, at times, feeling stuck in boring marriages, feeling put upon and unappreciated. Married life had its advantages but also its disadvantages. After the magic of the honeymoon period, real life set in. The daily drudgery of everyday life was not as exciting as dating. Men and women alike dreamed of the lifestyle enjoyed by people associated with the Playboy Mansion. If only…
The mansion boasts many extravagances and has been showcased in documentaries and movies over the years. Madame X, Beverly Hills Cop, II, and The House Bunny, to name a few movies.
The mansion is undeniably grand and extremely ornate with its hand carved oak wall panels. It has a grand entrance, 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, 2 half-baths and 4 offices. Some of the other overindulgent amenities of this famous mansion include a two-story master bedroom, catering kitchen with a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, a mysterious, hidden wine cellar, a gym and a theater; of course, that is just the main house.
The grounds also include an ornate water fountain, Koi pond, game & recreation house, guest house, swimming pool & grotto, four separate hot tubs, a bathhouse/pool house with a sauna, tanning area and a gym of its own.
Many highly publicized parties and events have been hosted at the Playboy Mansion, including many that did not benefit Hefner; or did they? Any time the mansion was featured, it had to have been a feather in his cap. Don’t hate on Hugh, though. He was envied by plenty of men but, truth be told, a lot of it was just for show. It was just a part of the “brand” that fueled his epic success.
Over the years, many Playboy Bunnies have reported that being a Bunny was not as glamorous as it seemed; it was/is a business. They were employees, of Playboy, being paid to look beautiful. Life at the mansion was not all it was cracked up to be. Most of what the public saw was for publicity purposes and not an everyday occurrence, as it would appear. Although the women associated with the Playboy brand are unarguably beautiful, the mansion, itself, was the real attraction. They just enhanced it and made it all the more alluring.
