Hustler is an American pornographic magazine published monthly by Larry Flynt Publications (LFP). Introduced in 1974, it was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter, originally conceived by founder Larry Flynt as cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from an uncertain start to a peak circulation of around 3 million in the early 1980s; it has since dropped to approximately 500,000. Hustler was among the first major American-based magazines to feature graphic photos of female genitalia and simulated sex acts, in contrast with relatively modest publications such as Playboy.Kipnis (2001) pp. 134-135 In the 1990s, Hustler, like several of its competitors, began featuring actual depictions of sexual penetration and oral sex.
Since its inception, Hustler has been considered more explicit (and more self-consciously lowbrow) than such well-known competitors as Playboy and Penthouse. Hustler frequently depicts hardcore themes, such as the use of sex toys, penetration, oral sex and group sex.
Larry Flynt Publications also licenses the Hustler brand to the Hustler Casino in Gardena, California, which was owned directly by Flynt as an individual through his holding company El Dorado Enterprises. Other enterprises include licensing the Hustler name to the Hustler Club chain of bars and clubs and the Hustler Hollywood store chain that sells adult-oriented videos, clothing, magazines and sex toys. The chain's flagship store, formerly located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, was torn down in 2016. Both licensed enterprises are operated by LFP's partner, Deja Vu.
Founding The business first began in Cincinnati, where Larry Flynt and his brother, Jimmy Flynt, opened up a store in 1969. Jimmy wrote the check for $5,000 to pay for the club in Cincinnati, and he was listed on the masthead for volume 1, number 1 of the magazine in July 1974. However, Larry fired his brother in 2009, after which Jimmy began developing his own business, Jimmy Flynt's Sexy Gifts Stand. An old member of Hustler magazine has described the relationship, saying, "Larry is the show, and Jimmy makes it go".
Publisher
Hustler is officially published by LFP, Inc, which also produces pornographic films. The abbreviation "L.F.P." originally stood for "Larry Flynt Publications."
A Canadian version of Hustler is published by a Quebec-based firm. This magazine is not owned by Larry Flynt but is licensed to publish material from the American version. In general, Canadian Hustler imitates the appearance and tone of its American counterpart, with Canadian content added. In 1999, the magazine created a minor controversy in Canada by inviting readers to submit sexually explicit stories about Sheila Copps, a left-leaning member of the Liberal cabinet. There have also been Australian, British and South African versions of the magazine.
During a bookstore signing in July 2011, Flynt stated that less than five percent of his income comes from the print magazine; he also speculated that the print magazine would not be around in two to three years.
Regular features One feature of Hustler is the "Asshole of the Month" column. In every monthly issue of the magazine, a public figure is selected for severe criticism as that month's "asshole". An illustration depicting the criticized person's head emerging from the anus of a cartoon donkey is shown alongside the article. After Flynt's imprisonment in 1977 and his alleged conversion to evangelical Christianity, he promised to reform "Asshole of the Month". However, as of 2024, reform in the feature has yet to be seen.
The centerfold pictorial is the "Hustler Honey". Occasionally the models are pornographic actresses appearing under a pseudonym; in the mid-80's, actresses and strippers appeared under their more familiar names.
+List of Hustler Honeys by MonthYearMonthModelComments1974JulyMarida Lindbloom1974AugustReverie 1974SeptemberCindy 1974OctoberDiana(from Columbus Hustler Club)1974NovemberLorraine Pseudonym for adult model Lorraine McKinney1974DecemberPatti 1975JanuaryOlinka 1975FebruaryMarcia(from Columbus Hustler Club)1975MarchMichelle(French, shaved)1975AprilLolita 1975MayGinger Pseudonym for adult actress Serena1975JuneBonita 1975JulyAlthea Leasure(Flynt fiancée)1975AugustMarilyn 1975SeptemberKathy Keeton(This was in reference to Penthouse publisher Kathy Keeton, who later sued Hustler and Flynt for defamation, due in part to using her name to identify the model.)1975OctoberHeather 1975NovemberAmber Pseudonym for adult actress Amber Hunt1975DecemberS'Lena 1976JanuaryDonna 1976FebruaryRenee 1976MarchJennifer Pseudonym for adult actress Gina Janssen1976AprilMax 1976MayJocelyn(from Columbus office)1976JunePat 1976JulyEvelyn 1976AugustTina 1976SeptemberPolly 1976OctoberLeslie Bovee1976NovemberSheila(56yo Columbus divorcee)1976DecemberCandy Clark1977JanuaryKaryn Wagner1977FebruaryAnnie 1977MarchMaggie 1977AprilAllison 1977MayNicole 1977JuneSuze Randall1977JulyMonica Chapa1977AugustStacy (With scratch 'n' sniff feature)1977SeptemberTina 1977OctoberCassie 1977NovemberSheree Lee1977DecemberLydia 1978JanuaryChrissy Pseudonym for adult model Mariah Clark1978FebruaryBeverly KaszyckiFirst Beaver Hunt winner1978MarchAngel 1978AprilJanet and Karen1978MayArlene 1978JuneRebecca 1978JulyN/A("Seat of Passion" love chair)1978AugustN/A("Parlor Games" spread)1978SeptemberN/A("Hit and Run" spread)1978OctoberN/A("Hard Day's Work" spread)1978NovemberSheila 1978DecemberKari Pseudonym for model Kari Klark, aka Kari Burton aka Cameron Norton1979JanuaryDana 1979FebruaryMichele 1979MarchPandora 1979AprilSaturday Afternoon Fever g/g spread)1979MayPamela 1979JuneBecky Pseudonym for model Rebecca Hart1979JulyCindy 1979AugustMichelle 1979SeptemberWanda Pseudonym for adult model Carolyn Burch aka Debbie Gordon1979OctoberInga 1979NovemberDebbie 1979DecemberDebiFormer Hustler talent coordinator1980JanuaryToni 1980FebruaryCeleste 1980MarchSandy and Syndi 1980AprilPaula Pseudonym for adult model and actress Sylvia Wright1980MayMadeleine KellyBeaver Hunt winner1980JuneAlicia Pseudonym for adult model Sharon Sorrentino1980JulyCissy Pseudonym for Susanne Britton aka Barbara Peckinpaugh1980AugustDusty 1980SeptemberMiranda 1980OctoberPamela 1980NovemberDawn 1980DecemberTipi Pseudonym for Tipi Rocks1981JanuaryJennifer 1981FebruaryDixie 1981MarchAmber 1981AprilMarlene 1981MayTanya 1981JuneRachel 1981JulyMonique 1981AugustRobin 1981SeptemberEileen 1981OctoberCheryl 1981NovemberSamantha 1981DecemberInga 1982JanuaryAngel 1982FebruaryNora 1982MarchJulia 1982AprilKate 1982MayCharlene 1982JuneHolly 1982JulyLynn 1982AugustLuluobese model1982SeptemberTrinaThree-breasted model1982OctoberShirley 1982NovemberJessica 1982DecemberMarlenePregnant model1983JanuaryEve 1983FebruaryDarby 1983MarchElizabeth 1983AprilJeanette 1983MayCatherine 1983JuneCyndi 1983JulyAlexandra Day1983AugustLynn 1983SeptemberNikki 1983OctoberMadilyn 1983NovemberAshley 1983DecemberBernadette 1984JanuaryIsabella 1984FebruarySandi 1984MarchKarina 1984AprilAnita 1984May(Biblical spread)1984JuneCamilla1984JulyHillary 1984AugustLorelei 1984SeptemberSammi-Jo 1984OctoberRon Jeremy and co-star1984NovemberHelene 1984December10 year retrospective1985JanuaryRoxanne 1985FebruaryLucille 1985MarchLoretta 1985AprilShayla 1985MayTara1985JuneHelga 1985JulyMelody 1985AugustHeidi 1985SeptemberMegan 1985OctoberCarolyn 1985NovemberIrina 1985DecemberMichelle1986JanuaryCheri 1986FebruaryTraci Lords1986MarchSandy1986AprilTanya 1986MayMuffy 1986JuneVeronica 1986JulyJeanette Littledove1986AugustStormy 1986SeptemberJacqueline 1986OctoberNicole 1986NovemberKate 1986DecemberElle Rio1987JanuaryBlondi Bee1987FebruaryCha Cha 1987MarchPenny Morgan1987AprilJessica JensenMiss Nude Universe1987MayCaroline 1987JuneRoseanne 1987JulyMelina 1987AugustSally 1987SeptemberBarbara Dare1987OctoberCori 1987NovemberVenus Delight1987DecemberCandice StarrekCanadian stripper1988JanuarySylvie 1988FebruaryRegina 1988MarchAngela Baron1988AprilMona 1988MayCoco 1988JuneNicole 1988JulyJay 1988AugustDana Lynn1988SeptemberMiki 1988OctoberSara 1988NovemberCandide 1988DecemberNikki Knights1989JanuaryTonya 1989FebruaryLinda 1989MarchSunnyCanadian stripper1989AprilToppsy Curvey1989MayJulianne James1989JuneOlga 1989JulyCandice 1989AugustDiana Same model as Tracey in 9/91 issue1989SeptemberMarisa 1989OctoberClare 1989NovemberKascha 1989DecemberChristy Canyon1990JanuaryVeronica Dol1990FebruaryDeidre Holland1990MarchSally 1990AprilAmber Lynn1990MayBobbi & Talitha 1990JuneAlicia 1990JulyEricka 1990AugustShari 1990SeptemberClair 1990OctoberBillie 1990NovemberTina 1990DecemberGinaPseudonym for adult model Mikki Brenner1991JanuaryAngela1991FebruaryBerenice and MargretAshley Lauren and unknown model1991MarchSavannah Wilsey 1991AprilJane1991MayDanielle Rogers 1991JuneNaomi 1991JulyDelilah 1991AugustMelina 1991SeptemberTraceySame model as Diana in 8/89 issue1991OctoberMaggie1991NovemberJeanna Fine 1991DecemberLita1991Holiday IssueAmber Lynn1992JanuaryMarleneDiane van Laar1992FebruaryJaney1992MarchAlicia 1992AprilAnitaTanya Rivers1992MayRenee 1992JunePauline1992JulyAnita 1992AugustMelissa 1992SeptemberDallas 1992OctoberLacy 1992NovemberBarbara Wendy Moore1992DecemberAlexPseudonym for adult model Alexis Christian1992Holiday IssueDanielle Rogers1993JanuaryMadison1993FebruaryAngelica Bella1993MarchPriscilla 1993AprilReba1993MaySandrine 1993JuneRoberta 1993JulyShayla 1993AugustRae 1993SeptemberTabitha(With scratch 'n' sniff feature)1993OctoberShannon1993NovemberChristine 1993DecemberKizzy1993Holiday IssueAlexAlexis Christian1994JanuaryEsteeJulia Ann1994FebruarySharen1994MarchPatsySammi Jessop1994AprilCeleste Adult film star Celeste1994MayCharlee1994JuneDaron 1994JulyCharmaine Sinclair 1994AugustChasey 1994SeptemberDraghixaDraghixa Laurent1994OctoberChase1994NovemberJenna Jameson 1994DecemberBrandy1994Holiday IssueGitana1995JanuaryRebecca1995FebruaryJessica L'Amour1995MarchMia 1995AprilLisa1995MayZenah 1995JuneAshley 1995JulyPaulina Regina Hall1995AugustLaura & Janine Taylor St. Claire and Renee1995SeptemberJessica1995OctoberTaylor 1995NovemberAnna Romeo 1995DecemberRenee1995Holiday IssueCorky Hustler ran the comic strip feature "Honey Hooker" from 1975 on. With each installment, Honey would have graphic sexual encounters with any male (or female) she ran across. She might be in American colonial times one month and in a Super Bowl locker room the next. This feature was designed to compete against Little Annie Fanny in Playboy and Wicked Wanda in Penthouse. Unlike Fanny and Wanda, Honey Hooker was explicitly portrayed as being a prostitute, keeping with the seamier and less romantic aspects of sexuality in Hustler.
The Beaver Hunt section of the magazine contains explicit nudes of amateur models submitted by readers.Kipnis (2001) p. 149
Another Hustler feature that was heavily criticized was the Chester the Molester comic strip. Each month's issue depicted Chester, a cartoon middle-aged pedophile, joyfully raping or molesting young girls. After increasing criticism, the cartoon became Chester and Hester, Hester as an unattractive middle-aged woman who was Chester's partner. Following Flynt's alleged religious conversion, he introduced Chester the Protector, a reincarnation of Chester who served to protect young girls from rape and seduction.
The regular feature "Ads We'd Like to See" recreates advertisements of everyday products in a sexualized or violent way. For example, an advertisement in the 1980 issue called 'Doer's Lite Label', a parody of Dewar's Lite Label Whiskey, featured Kenneth Bianchi, the Hillside Strangler. Listed as his greatest accomplishment was Cindy Lee Hudspeth, whom he actually raped and murdered in 1978. He is quoted as saying "You gotta treat 'em rough…". This section was highly criticized for admiring men who had committed sexualized crimes against women.