LOS ANGELES – So when are pajamas worthy of a museum exhibit? When they belong to Hugh Hefner (search).
The Playboy lothario was honored as the first inductee into the Erotic Museum (search) of Hollywood's hall of fame for being "one of the most democratizing forces in sexuality in the last century," according to the museum.
"Hugh Hefner's brand of preened perfection became the standard of beauty for a nation," the museum stated on its Web site.
Hefner said Wednesday he donated some artifacts to his exhibit, which was unveiled Tuesday in a ceremony hosted by comedian Bill Maher (search).
"They have a pair of my pajamas, slippers, a pipe and a bunny costume," Hefner told The Associated Press. "And a very handsome oil portrait that was apparently painted in Russia."
Hefner said the Erotic Museum takes a scholarly approach to the subject of erotica and sexuality.
"It's done in a very classy way, but of course because the subject is sex it will prompt titillation, but that says a great deal about us. And it supports the notion that a museum that takes sexuality seriously is a good idea."
Other upcoming inductees into the "erotic hall of fame" will include burlesque-trained actress Mae West (search), psychoanalyst Dr. Sigmund Freud (search), birth control advocate Margaret Sanger and sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer (search).
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