'Playgirl' Goes Web-Only

NEW YORK - Playgirl magazine is shutting down its print edition to go exclusively online. Editor-in-chief Nicole Caldwell confirmed the demise of the print mag today in an e-mail to Media Bistro. 

"Playgirl is going all-Web," Caldwell wrote. "The last print issue will be the Jan/Feb 2009 magazine, which comes out Nov. 18."

Launched in 1973 as a women's lib answer to Playboy, Playgirl offered upscale "entertainment for women" that probably appealed more to gay men. It was the era of Burt Reynolds' Cosmo centerfold, and the 'stache held sway over all.

In its '70s heyday, Playgirl featured such hunky "celebs" as Christopher George (Pieces, The Gates of Hell, TV's "Rat Patrol") and Don Stroud (known to refined cineastes as the lead rapist terrorizing hot-pants Brenda Vaccaro in House by the Lake.) Porno dicks from Randy West to Charles Dera have also bared their beef for the mag.

No word on editorial plans for the Playgirl Web site.