It's official. Following rumors about the transfer, Playboy magazine says it's official: It is moving its editorial operations from its Chicago birthplace to Los Angeles, the company confirmed to LA Weekly this morning.

It's about time. Chicago hasn't been the nation's “second city” in quite some time. And “Holmby Hills Hef” still has a hand in approving layouts and pictorials, at least from what we saw on The Girls Next Door.

And, yes, this is where all the naked, circulation-grabbing starlets like Lindsay Lohan are. What took them so long?

Magazine spokeswoman Theresa M. Hennessey would only state this:

As of May 2012, Playboy magazine's editorial, art and photo departments will be based out of the company's Los Angeles office. Some of the magazine's Chicago employees have been asked to relocate, while others have been asked to stay on in Chicago to ensure a seamless transition. Open key positions will be hired out of Los Angeles.

No final decisions have been made yet regarding the future of other departments currently based in Chicago.

Playboy has its “Studio West” in Santa Monica. Hennessey says the editorial offices are at a different location in L.A.

Playboy belongs in L.A. While the look might be unrealistic given our demographic reality, we're the home of the magazine's iconic female, platinum blonde and, er, heavy on top, just like Hef likes 'em — from Marilyn to Pamela Anderson to Kendra.

That's no Chicago look.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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