October 22, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Bob Guccione, creator of Penthouse - first American men's magazine to come up with full frontal nudity of its models - has passed away on October 20. He was around 80.

In 1965, Guccione started the magazine with an aim to give competition to Hugh Hefners already established Playboy magazine. In 2004, he lost the control of this magazine following a series of bad business decisions.

Guccione tried to offer a different kind of editorial content by offering more sensationalistic topic than Playboy.

He took his last breathe in Plano, Texas following a prolonged illness due to lung cancer, as per a statement made by his family. Guccione is survived by two children and his wife April Dawn Warren Guccione. They were present during his last moments.

Guccione was also the founder of SPIN Magazine. Later, his son ran the magazine following a fall out between the father and the son.

He has also helped to launch the career of many renowned media professionals like Anna Wintour, who got her first job as a fashion editor in Viva magazine.

--Sampurn Wire