Penthouse Letters - August 2012 Site

Several recurring thematic archetypes dominated this summer issue:

The very heart of the magazine was its legendary readers' letters section, Penthouse Forum . This feature was launched in March 1968 and became one of the most popular sections, where readers would write in to share their (often dubious) sexual escapades. The Forum was so wildly popular that it spawned its own spin-off publication: Penthouse Letters . As one description of the book series put it, the letters reflected "the attitudes and activities of millions of Americans who are silent about sex," giving voice to the "secret feelings, hidden desires, and unique sexual practices" of the readership. The Letters to Penthouse book series, in particular, was a massive commercial success, with "more than 2.5 million copies in print" and described as "a bestselling staple" of the publisher's backlist, indicating a continued market for this kind of content even as the magazine itself struggled. Penthouse Letters - August 2012

By August 2012, the rise of high-speed internet and free online adult content had significantly impacted traditional print media. As one description of the book series put