Wall Street’s madness is spreading to Main Street — just as the White House predicted.

Amid a $700-billion government bailout plan in limbo, a reeling Wall Street and a nation in fear of the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, Hugh Hefner hopes that women will literally lose their shirts on Wall Street. Playboy magazine, the adult entertainment publication, is seeking current and former top-class female entrepreneurs and business executives to pose naked for their upcoming feature. The feature, named "Women of Wall Street," will be published in the February 2009 issue and is, of course, inspired by the financial crisis.

According to Playboy’s photo director, the Wall Street-inspired issue will hopefully cheer up those who’ve been beaten up by the turbulent economic tide.

"Given the current economic climate, we thought that Wall Street could use something to smile about right now," said Gary Cole on Playboy’s website.

This isn’t the first time Playboy, which is famous for its spreads of nude women, has published a magazine related to economic themes. It published "Women of Enron" in August 2002, and "Women of WorldCom" in December 2002. About 20 years ago, the magazine also ran a "Women of Wall Street."

Playboy Enterprise, the company that publishes Playboy magazine, is experiencing financial troubles of its own, reports the London Telegraph. The stock (NYSE symbol: PLA) hit a high of $33 in May 1999. Today it trades at nearly a 52-week low of about $3. It started the year at $9. According to public records, the company reported a net loss in June of $2.1 million. Hugh Hefner is feeling the credit crunch, too. According to the Telegraph, the 83-year-old silk-pajama-wearing tycoon has been advised to reduce his staff to prevent going bankrupt.

"2008 has been and will remain a difficult year," Hefner said in a statement in August.

While 2008 will forever be defined as a difficult year financially for most Americans, Playboy’s photo director thinks that the models won’t be in it for the money.

"The reason they do this is because they want the attention, the opportunity, the experience of doing it," Gary Cole told Reuters. "It’s not really for the money." 

For more information visit, www.playboy.com/wallstreet.

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