Bob Guccione Jr.: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Publisher and founder of Spin and Gear magazines}} |
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{{Infobox person |
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| name = Bob Guccione Jr. |
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| image = |
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| imagesize = 170px |
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| caption = |
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| birthname = Robert Charles Guccione Jr. |
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| birth_date = {{birth_date and age|1955|9|19}} |
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| birth_place = [[New York City]], New York, U.S. |
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| death_date = |
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| death_place = |
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| education = |
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| occupation = Magazine editor, publisher, founder of ''Spin'' and ''Gear'' magazines |
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| yearsactive = 1978-present |
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| spouse = Kimberlin Grace Brown (2001-present) |
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| children = |
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| website = |
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}} |
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==Publishing career== |
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He launched the magazine in [[1985]] with a loan from his father, who attempted to wrest control of the magazine from him two years later. After this bid proved unsuccessful Guccione, Sr. left the project, forcing his son to find investors to pay off the loan. These events resulted in an estrangement of the pair which lasted for a decade. |
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In 1978, after two attempts at going into the publishing business on his own, the young, [[London]]-raised Guccione went to work for ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]'' publisher General Media International, a company owned by his father, ''Penthouse'' founder [[Bob Guccione]]. By the early 1980s, at which time he was running the marketing and circulation department, he left the company (and purported position as heir apparent) to once again attempt to establish his own brand. |
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Guccione Jr. sold the magazine to [[Vibe]] in [[1997]]. Guccione currently owns and operates Discover Media, LLC which publishes the science magazine ''[[Discover (magazine)|Discover]]''. |
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===Launching of ''Spin'' magazine (1985)=== |
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He has dated conservative author [[Ann Coulter]] and ''[[Sex and the City]]'' author [[Candace Bushnell]]. |
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In 1985, with a loan from his father, he launched ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''. In 1987, his father abruptly shut down the magazine after General Media experienced a financial dip which resulted in a long-lasting estrangement between the two. This estrangement ended a few years prior to the elder Guccione's death on October 20, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Episode 635 - Bob Guccione, Jr.|url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_635_-_bob_guccione_jr|access-date=2021-11-14|website=WTF with Marc Maron Podcast|language=en-US}}</ref> The younger Guccione found new investors and relaunched ''Spin'' in late 1987. He managed to gather most of the magazine's old staff, and missed only one month of publication. |
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He was verbally attacked by [[Axl Rose]] in the [[Guns N' Roses]] song [[Get in the Ring]], along with a number of other people related to the music industry. The lyrics said "Bob Guccione Jr. at Spin, what? You're pissed off that your daddy gets more pussy than you? Fuck you! Get in the ring motherfucker, and I'll kick your bitchy little ass." Having done karate for nine years, Guccione accepted the challenge, however no fight with Rose ever occurred. |
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In 1996, Guccione and ''Spin'' were sued for sexual harassment and discrimination by Staci Bonner, a former fact-checker for the magazine. Guccione was cleared of the harassment charges, but found liable for promoting a [[hostile work environment]] and not paying Bonner comparably to a man with a comparable job position. |
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He is a practicing [[Roman Catholic]]. |
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Guccione sold ''Spin'' to [[VIBE|Vibe]] in 1997, and shortly thereafter founded ''[[Gear (magazine)|Gear]]'', which published until 2003. In 2005, [[science]] magazine ''[[Discover (magazine)|Discover]]'' was purchased from Disney Publishing and Guccione formed Discover Media, LLC to publish the magazine. In 2007, Guccione was ousted as CEO, in what was described by the ''[[New York Post]]'' as "a falling-out over philosophical differences with his financial backers about how to run the company."<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/10102007/business/guccione_jr__goes_from_penthou.htm "Guccione Jr. Goes From Penthouse to the Outhouse"]</ref> |
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===''Gear'' Magazine (1998-2003)=== |
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''[[Gear (magazine)|Gear]]'' was launched and published in the United Kingdom devoted chiefly to revealing pictorials of popular singers, B-movie actresses, and models, along with articles |
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on gadgets, cars, fashion, guy tales of sex, and sports. |
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Gear debuted in September 1998, with actress [[Peta Wilson]] on the cover. The magazine established itself with several publishing stunts such as publishing a nude photo of soccer player [[Brandi Chastain]]. |
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====Jessica Biel controversy==== |
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''Gear'' reached its exposure apogee when it featured a risqué pictorial of then 17-year-old actress [[Jessica Biel]], who posed while appearing on the [[The WB|WB]] family drama series ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]''. A controversy arose when ''7th Heaven'' castmate, actor [[Stephen Collins (actor)|Stephen Collins]], who played her father on the series, described the pictures as "child pornography". Collins later admitted to three counts of child abuse.<ref name="wapo2014">{{cite news |last1=Phillip |first1=Abby |title=‘7th Heaven’ dad Stephen Collins admits to sexually abusing three girls |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2014/12/17/7th-heaven-dad-stephen-collins-admits-to-sexually-abusing-three-girls/ |access-date=10 October 2018 |agency=Washington Post |date=December 17, 2014}}</ref> Others, including A.J. Jacobs writing in ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'', praised it as a brave move by Biel.<ref name="sexiest-2005"> |
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{{cite journal |
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| date=October 31, 2005 |
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| author=A.J. Jacobs |
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| title=Jessica Biel Is the Sexiest Woman Alive |
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| url=http://www.esquire.com/women/sexiest-woman-alive-2005/ESQ0207SEXIEST |
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| journal=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |
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| publisher=[[Hearst Communications]] |
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| volume=144 |
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| issue=5 |
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| url-status=dead |
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| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617005121/http://www.esquire.com/women/sexiest-woman-alive-2005/ESQ0207SEXIEST |
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| archivedate=2010-06-17 |
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}}</ref> The publication, which reached a peak circulation of 500,000 copies sold in 2001, discontinued publication in 2003. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{ |
* {{IMDb name|id=2532904}} |
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*{{nndb name|id=498/000051345}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Guccione, Bob Jr.}} |
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[[Category:1955 births]] |
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[[Category:Businesspeople from New York City]] |
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[[Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:American magazine founders]] |
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[[Category:American magazine publishers (people)]] |
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[[Category:American people of Italian descent]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:16, 28 December 2023
Bob Guccione Jr. | |
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| Born | Robert Charles Guccione Jr. September 19, 1955 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Magazine editor, publisher, founder of Spin and Gear magazines |
| Years active | 1978-present |
| Spouse | Kimberlin Grace Brown (2001-present) |
Robert Charles Guccione Jr. (born September 19, 1955) is an American publisher and the eldest son of late Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. He founded the music magazine Spin.
Publishing career
[edit]In 1978, after two attempts at going into the publishing business on his own, the young, London-raised Guccione went to work for Penthouse publisher General Media International, a company owned by his father, Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. By the early 1980s, at which time he was running the marketing and circulation department, he left the company (and purported position as heir apparent) to once again attempt to establish his own brand.
Launching of Spin magazine (1985)
[edit]In 1985, with a loan from his father, he launched Spin. In 1987, his father abruptly shut down the magazine after General Media experienced a financial dip which resulted in a long-lasting estrangement between the two. This estrangement ended a few years prior to the elder Guccione's death on October 20, 2010.[1] The younger Guccione found new investors and relaunched Spin in late 1987. He managed to gather most of the magazine's old staff, and missed only one month of publication.
In 1996, Guccione and Spin were sued for sexual harassment and discrimination by Staci Bonner, a former fact-checker for the magazine. Guccione was cleared of the harassment charges, but found liable for promoting a hostile work environment and not paying Bonner comparably to a man with a comparable job position.
Guccione sold Spin to Vibe in 1997, and shortly thereafter founded Gear, which published until 2003. In 2005, science magazine Discover was purchased from Disney Publishing and Guccione formed Discover Media, LLC to publish the magazine. In 2007, Guccione was ousted as CEO, in what was described by the New York Post as "a falling-out over philosophical differences with his financial backers about how to run the company."[2]
Gear Magazine (1998-2003)
[edit]Gear was launched and published in the United Kingdom devoted chiefly to revealing pictorials of popular singers, B-movie actresses, and models, along with articles on gadgets, cars, fashion, guy tales of sex, and sports.
Gear debuted in September 1998, with actress Peta Wilson on the cover. The magazine established itself with several publishing stunts such as publishing a nude photo of soccer player Brandi Chastain.
Jessica Biel controversy
[edit]Gear reached its exposure apogee when it featured a risqué pictorial of then 17-year-old actress Jessica Biel, who posed while appearing on the WB family drama series 7th Heaven. A controversy arose when 7th Heaven castmate, actor Stephen Collins, who played her father on the series, described the pictures as "child pornography". Collins later admitted to three counts of child abuse.[3] Others, including A.J. Jacobs writing in Esquire, praised it as a brave move by Biel.[4] The publication, which reached a peak circulation of 500,000 copies sold in 2001, discontinued publication in 2003.
References
[edit]- ^ "Episode 635 - Bob Guccione, Jr". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
- ^ "Guccione Jr. Goes From Penthouse to the Outhouse"
- ^ Phillip, Abby (December 17, 2014). "'7th Heaven' dad Stephen Collins admits to sexually abusing three girls". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ A.J. Jacobs (October 31, 2005). "Jessica Biel Is the Sexiest Woman Alive". Esquire. 144 (5). Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17.