Chicago People: Did Hugh Hefner Hang Out At Iwan Reis?

[logs]

We know Hefner smoked a pipe.

We know he smoked Mixture 79.

Before he was famous I happen to know he lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, which is more renown for it's university setting more than an having a pipe store.

So, did he take the train up north to Iwan Reis to buy his stash or was he more of a "let's head over to WoolWorth's so I can pick up a tub of my codger blend" kind of guy?

 

[warren]

I don't know that he even smoked a pipe in the military or before he started the magazine. But, knowing his taste in blends he probably shopped at the local drug store. Why the interest in what a dead guy smoked? Just curious.

 

[logs]

I don't know, just a Chicago nostalgia thing I guess. I used to do work for Playboy as a photo retoucher quite a few years ago. I never met him, but I did meet his daughter Christie back when she was running the company. Also the original playboy mansion was not far from where I worked. Anyway, it occurred to me that he might have shopped at Iwan Ries. Figured some long term Chicago smokers might remember.

 

[BROBS]

This smoker would have to be like 80-90...

on a side note Iwan Ries is ?

 

[chilllucky]

Call or email the store. There are always two generations of the family in there at any time, and they are rightfully proud of and happy to talk about the history of the place and it's patrons.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[thedismaltrade]

Couple of other interesting tidbits from @jiminks. Hugh’s relies smoke was Sail Yellow. He wasn’t as much of a pipe smoker as he was a cigarette smoker.

 

[smokeyweb]

I heard that Hefner would visit Iwan Ries on cold nights when the weather was nippy.

 

[warren]

I'd bet he made his way IRC now and then before he became more or less a recluse (agoraphobic?) wanting absolute control his environment.

Hefner was all about marketing his philosophy and the brand. He did a lot of that through merchandising cheap, sorry, inexpensive stuff, clothing, jewelry, pipes, but, oddly enough, no tobacco product I am aware of. Were there ever any "bunny" branded cigarettes, cigars, blends? I know passed out and sold a "Playboy" pipe. Maybe sold in the clubs.

 

[burleyboy]

I'd bet he made his way IRC now and then before he became more or less a recluse (agoraphobic?) wanting absolute control his environment.

Hefner was all about marketing his philosophy and the brand. He did a lot of that through merchandising cheap, sorry, inexpensive stuff, clothing, jewelry, pipes, but, oddly enough, no tobacco product I am aware of. Were there ever any "bunny" branded cigarettes, cigars, blends? I know passed out and sold a "Playboy" pipe. Maybe sold in the clubs.

I remember, that I saw some cigars with the significant bunny printed on their banderole, somewhere here in Germany...

 

[mso489]

Hugh Hefner had a short-lived TV show with jazz artists and comedians, etc., staged as a party, on which he smoked a pipe regularly and conspicuously. I think he loved the image. By the time he started pipe smoking, he was into ostentatious presentation of himself despite his innate shyness. By then, I doubt he went shopping for anything, pipes, tobacco, or neckties. He'd have sent staff, whether to the drugstore or Iwan Ries. I don't know, but I suspect, that the IR staff of his era are no longer at the shop, if they are still around at all. I bet few if any every saw him.

 

[logs]

I heard that Hefner would visit Iwan Ries on cold nights when the weather was nippy.

They're not open at nights or weekends. That place has banker hours.

 

[lestrout]

At the big (huge) pipe show in Pheasant Run, the rumor was that the 'grotto' way in back which was the owner's suite had once been a Playboy Club type venue.

hp
les

 

[scloyd]

They're not open at nights or weekends. That place has banker hours.

I think nippy was meant as a joke. nippy...nipple ?

 

[logs]

Okay, I'm slow on the sophisticated sex jokes. Guess I need things spelled out.

 

[scloyd]

Okay, I'm slow on the sophisticated sex jokes. Guess I need things spelled out.

Sometimes, more often than not my mind thinks like a fifteen year old.

 

[smokeyweb]

I think nippy was meant as a joke. nippy...nipple ?

Haha yeah... nice catch!

 

[mso489]

Growing up, my dad smoked a pipe all the time, breakfast to bedtime except for meals. Granger only. So when I saw Hef' on TV cooly smoking his pipe, I could tell he didn't quite know what he was doing, with the pipe anyway.

 

[mso489]

I'd say of Hef's pipe smoking what Mark Twain said of his wife's attempt to cuss back at him; the words are right but the melody's wrong.

 

[logs]

 

[huntertrw]

I used to do work for Playboy as a photo retoucher quite a few years ago.

Playboy used re-touched photographs??? Say it ain't so!