Rogue (magazine) no four-color reproduction, or full-page cartoons, and certainly no centerfold. Hamling was the editor and publisher, his wife, Frances, was executive editor; and Frank M. Robinson was the first managing editor. Henry Botts, a friend of Hamling's, became the first associate editor. Lead fiction was by a hot science fiction author, Harlan Ellison who became associate editor with the third issue (April 1956). The first issue of "Rogue" was published in November 1955, with a December release date. Following Hefner's successful lead with the first issue of "Playboy", that first issue of "Rogue" contained "A New Aspect of Marilyn Monroe,"
Playboy was published in 1953 and serialized in the March, April and May 1954 issues of "Playboy". An urban legend started about Hefner and the Playmate of the Month because of markings on the front covers of the magazine. From 1955 to 1979 (except for a six-month gap in 1976), the "P" in "Playboy" had stars printed in or around the letter. The legend stated that this was either a rating that Hefner gave to the Playmate according to how attractive she was, the number of times that Hefner had slept with her, or how good she was in bed. The