What is the origin of the famous Playboy Rabbit Head?
Designed by Art Paul, the magazine’s first art director, the Rabbit Head has appeared on the cover of every issue of the magazine since the second. Why a rabbit? Hef once explained, “I selected a rabbit as the symbol for the magazine because of the humorous sexual connotation, and because he offered an image that was frisky and playful. I put him in a tuxedo to add the idea of sophistication. There was another editorial consideration, too. Since both The New Yorker and Esquire use men as their symbols, I felt the rabbit would be distinctive; and the notion of a rabbit dressed up in formal evening attire struck me as charming, amusing and right.” Added Art Paul, “If I had any idea how important that little Rabbit was going to be, I probably would have redrawn him a dozen times to make certain I was doing him justice, and I suppose none of those versions would have turned out as well as the original. As it was, I did one drawing and that was it. I probably spent all of half an hour on it