Confidential (magazine) Quigley Publishing that he previously worked for, the emphasis was Hollywood, but with a twist—"exposés of star secrets" became "Confidential"s prime focus. The first "Confidential" issue was dated December (released November) 1952 under the caption "The Lid Is Off!" Its circulation was 250,000 copies. But when the breakup of Marilyn Monroe's marriage to Joe DiMaggio was reported in the August 1953 issue ("Why Joe DiMaggio Is Striking Out with Marilyn Monroe!"), the circulation jumped to 800,000. The quarterly magazine then became bimonthly and was the fastest growing magazine in the US at the time. Harrison would claim its circulation reached
Playboy stance, although it often interviews conservative celebrities. After a year-long removal of most nude photos in "Playboy" magazine, the March–April 2017 issue brought back nudity. By spring 1953, Hugh Hefner—a 1949 University of Illinois psychology graduate who had worked in Chicago for "Esquire" magazine writing promotional copy; Publisher's Development Corporation in sales and marketing; and "Children's Activities" magazine as circulation promotions manager—had planned out the elements of his own magazine, that he would call "Stag Party". He formed HMH Publishing Corporation, and recruited his friend Eldon Sellers to find investors. Hefner eventually raised just over $8,000, including from his brother