Larry Flynt Publications
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Adult entertainment, publishing |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Larry Flynt |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California , United States |
Area served | United States, international markets |
Key people | Michael H. Klein (President) |
| Products | Magazines (Hustler, Barely Legal, Hustler XXX, Hustler Beaver Hunt, Asian Fever, Hustler's Chic Magazine, Hustler's Busty Beauties), adult videos (Hustler Video), strip clubs (Hustler Clubs) |
Number of employees | 300 (circa 1970 for clubs; current unknown) |
Larry Flynt Publications (LFP, Inc.) is an independently operated American firm overseeing the adult entertainment ventures initiated by businessman Larry Flynt. Founded in 1976, two years subsequent to Flynt’s launch of Hustler magazine, LFP functions as the parent organization for this flagship title.
Hustler magazine
Flynt introduced the Hustler Newsletter in March 1972, starting as a four-page monochrome bulletin aimed at promoting his Hustler Club venues. Due to growing customer demand, the publication expanded to 16 pages by May 1972 and further increased to 32 pages by August 1973.
The economic downturn triggered by the 1973 oil crisis led to reduced spending by club patrons, creating financial strain for Flynt. To manage mounting debts, he converted the newsletter into a nationally circulated, sexually explicit magazine. The initial capital was financed using sales tax revenue collected from his clubs.
The inaugural issue of Hustler was released in July 1974. Although distribution faced obstacles because of its explicit imagery, the magazine targeted working-class male readers and quickly gained traction, eventually nearing a circulation peak of approximately 3 million copies (currently under 500,000). A notable milestone occurred in November 1974 with the introduction of “pink shots,” revealing explicit photographs that generated controversy and distribution challenges.
Flynt frequently encountered legal battles and market resistance due to content considered excessively explicit. A pivotal moment arrived in August 1975 when he published nude pictures of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, acquired for $18,000. This edition sold one million copies within days, substantially increasing revenue and enabling Flynt to acquire valuable assets including a $375,000 mansion (in 1976 dollars).
Other magazines
Following 1976, Larry Flynt Publications broadened its range to encompass various adult and mainstream magazines. Prominent adult-oriented titles included:
- Hustler's Taboo, specializing in fetish themes such as bondage and urolagnia.
- Barely Legal, a softcore publication featuring models aged between 18 and 23.
- Hustler XXX, a general hardcore magazine.
- Hustler Beaver Hunt, highlighting amateur models and reader-submitted photography.
- Hustler's Leg World.
- Asian Fever, focusing on Asian models.
- Hustler's Chic Magazine, launched in 1976 targeting an upscale demographic.
- Hustler's Busty Beauties, dedicated to softcore imagery of women with large busts.
Confronted with declining sales in men’s magazines during the late 1990s, LFP diversified into adult video production through its Hustler Video division and expanded into mainstream publishing sectors. The company relocated its headquarters to Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, where it remains based. It acquired Darkroom Photography (later renamed Camera & Darkroom Photography) in 1988 and introduced niche magazines such as PC Laptop Computers and Maternity Fashion & Beauty.
LFP’s initial venture outside adult content was Rip magazine, which covered heavy metal music and was edited by Lonn Friend, a former editor of both Hustler and Chic. Contributors included noted rock journalists Judy Wieder, Mick Wall, and Andy Secher.
Between 1990 and 1992, LFP produced 14 bi-monthly editions of TurboPlay Magazine, concentrating on TurboGrafx-16 gaming consoles and software. This offshoot of Video Games & Computer Entertainment contained 32 pages per issue with subscriptions offered annually at $9.95. Additionally, LFP published three bi-monthly issues of DUOWORLD magazine in 1993 focusing on the TurboDuo system before discontinuing it.
The company also released the video game periodical Tips & Tricks, originally dedicated to gaming strategies and cheat codes. This publication evolved from earlier magazines including VideoGames and VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, following LFP’s acquisition of computer-focused titles like ANALOG Computing and ST-LOG during the late 1980s.
From 1997 until 2004, LFP owned and published Big Brother Skateboarding Magazine, which it had purchased from Steve Rocco. This magazine played a significant role as a forerunner to the Jackass series alongside the CKY videos.
Entering the new millennium, LFP managed 31 periodicals with a combined monthly circulation estimated between 2.5 and 3 million—substantially lower than Hustler’s zenith in the 1970s. In response, the company reoriented its strategy towards maximizing revenue from its flagship magazine and video brands—such as Hustler, Barely Legal, Busty Beauties, Beaver Hunt, and Asian Fever—through digital channels.
By 1998, LFP reported annual revenues near $135 million, with a catalog exceeding 51,000 published periodicals alongside over 7,800 produced films or videotapes.
Hustler Video
Hustler Video is an adult film production company owned by LFP. In 2003, the studio expanded its portfolio by acquiring VCA Pictures, which continues to function as an independent label under the LFP umbrella. The company has released numerous best-selling and critically acclaimed titles, such as Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, Snoop Dogg's Hustlaz: Diary of a Pimp, and Who's Nailin' Paylin?.
In 2010, after the AIDS Healthcare Foundation publicly criticized Hustler Video for not mandating condom use in its films, LFP President Michael H. Klein defended the company’s approach, emphasizing its dedication to producing unfiltered adult content.
Hustler Clubs
The Hustler Club brand represents a series of strip clubs established by Larry Flynt in 1968, beginning with the first venue in Dayton. The enterprise rapidly grew to include locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, and Akron, achieving eight clubs and employing 300 staff members by 1970. By 1974, Flynt redirected his efforts toward publishing as the revenue from Hustler magazine outpaced that of the club operations. After nearly thirty years of inactivity, LFP reintroduced the Hustler Club brand during the early 2000s through licensing deals. Presently, Hustler Clubs are active across six U.S. states and three international markets.