Introduced in , it was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter , originally conceived by founder Larry Flynt as cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from an uncertain start to a peak circulation of around 3 million in the early s; it has since dropped to approximately , Hustler was among the first major US-based magazines to feature graphic photos of female genitalia and simulated sex acts, in contrast with relatively modest publications such as Playboy.
Today, Hustler is still considered more explicit and more self-consciously lowbrow than such well-known competitors as Playboy and Penthouse. Hustler frequently depicts hardcore themes, such as the use of sex toys , penetration, oral sex and group sex. Larry Flynt Publications also licenses the Hustler brand to the Hustler Casino in Gardena, California , which was owned directly by Flynt as an individual through his holding company El Dorado Enterprises.
Other enterprises include licensing the Hustler name to the Hustler Club chain of bars and clubs and the Hustler Hollywood store chain that sells adult-oriented videos, clothing, magazines and sex toys. The chain's flagship store, formerly located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood , was torn down in The business first began in Cincinnati , where Larry Flynt and his brother, Jimmy Flynt , opened up a store in An old member of Hustler magazine has described the relationship, saying, "Larry is the show, and Jimmy makes it go".
Hustler is officially published by LFP, Inc, which also produces pornographic films. The abbreviation "L. A Canadian version of Hustler is published by a Quebec -based firm. This magazine is not owned by Larry Flynt but is licensed to publish material from the American version. In general, Canadian Hustler imitates the appearance and tone of its American counterpart, with Canadian content added. In , the magazine created a minor controversy in Canada by inviting readers to submit sexually explicit stories about Sheila Copps , a left-leaning member of the Liberal cabinet.
There have also been Australian, British and South African versions of the magazine. During a bookstore signing in July , Flynt stated that less than five percent of his income comes from the print magazine; he also speculated that the print magazine would not be around in two to three years. One feature of Hustler is the "Asshole of the Month" column.
