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| I read any magazine I could get my hands on, including Will's Boys' Life. |
I've loved them since Highlights and American Girl, my Mom's The New Yorker and [for a short while] Better Homes and Gardens, my Dad's Time and National Geographic, Parade in the Sunday Record, Reader's Digest at Uncle Anthony's apartment when we went for dinner. Even my brother Will's Boys' Life and MAD, Sis's Tiger Beat and, of course, the few copies of Seventeen I had. Oh, and the magazines like Mademoiselle that Moey brought to the Shore.
As long as it had two covers with articles, ads, photos and illustrations in between, I was fascinated. [I think the only exception was Dad's Chemical & Engineering News, published by the American Chemical Society.] If the ads promoted beauty products like Bonne Bell Ten-O-Six astringent or Lip Smackers, Sweet Honesty perfume or "Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific" shampoo, all the better. It was my dream to work at a magazine. My dream came true, and I loved it. Still do, still proud to be a freelance writer for some of the best magazines and now websites, too.
But it can be an expensive habit. Today, couldn't resist three indulgences at the checkout line:
Cook's Illustrated, October [already!!!!] issue, $5.95. Going to make the A-List Apple Crisp for us at the Cape next week. H. and Figgy adore apple crisp.
O, The Oprah Magazine, September issue, $4.50. Cover lines I love:
Cook's Illustrated, October [already!!!!] issue, $5.95. Going to make the A-List Apple Crisp for us at the Cape next week. H. and Figgy adore apple crisp.
O, The Oprah Magazine, September issue, $4.50. Cover lines I love:
- MEDITATE AND LOSE WEIGHT
- SUZE ORMAN TO THE RESCUE: Cleaning up a mess of debt
- How to Get a Great Job [I like the fashion/style makeovers for women around my age]
In the scheme of things, they are small, simple pleasures. And wonderful escapes from the everyday world. Long live the magazine. It rules, and it rocks.
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| I've never forgotten this ad! What brilliant marketing to the teenage girl. I absolutely wanted to be her, to have her clothing, her hair and her admiring lab partner. |
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Coincidentally, we were just discussing apple crisp yesterday. L put in a request for it. Any chance of sharing that recipe once you deem it a success? Have a good week-end, Alice. Love, Linda
ReplyDeleteMy first magazine: An older teen daughter came to visit with her parents. The grownups were old friends of my folks'. I was about 11 of 12. The teen's mom gave us some money "to buy magazines," and the girl and I walked into the village. She got 17. I had not idea what to get and I got Teen. I read that issue over and over again, did all the exercises, considered the diet tips, and was completely absorbed in every ad for every beauty product. I was hooked since then.
ReplyDeleteToday, it's more lifestyle and food. Martha Stewart Living. I have every single issue. I started saving them around issue #20 or so. Then my friend Dan bought some early ones on Ebay and finally, F. bought the very original for a crazy price for one Christmas present! I still subscribe, though the magic of Martha mag has worn off for me for some time now.
I also subscribe to New York Magazine, Eating Well and Edible Brooklyn. I mourn Country Home's demise. I loved it, though I'm not entirely country, it had great vintage-y ideas.
Between my girls, they subscribe to 17, Vogue and Lucky.
I used to be an avid Glamour reader and I adored all the bridal mags back in the day!
PS: I, too, long dreamed to work for mags and it was a life's accomplishment to have done so and also freelanced for many. I don't anymore, I got disillusioned somewhere along the way with the rates and treatment, but I admire that you're still hammering out a living with them!
ReplyDeleteLin, I can type up the recipe later and send to you if you want.....before i try.....Cook's Illustrated is the best of the best.....love al
ReplyDeleteKim, I love your magazine history. i'm so glad we met at our first real magazine jobs! I know how much you've loved Martha, and remember you telling me about getting the old ones. I recently read Edible Brooklyn and really, really liked it. and you told me i'd like Eating Well, and you were right. i've bought it a couple of times. I don't subscribe to anything anymore because i am so fickle, just want to be able to buy covers that really grab me. and anytime i subscribe, it stacks up and i can't keep up with it. for instance, oprah is good but it's too heavy psychologically for me to absorb every month somehow. i can't change and reinvent my life every month! i love that your girls get 17, vogue and lucky. Figgy's bday is next week [it's so weird, i sometimes even like calling her fig or figgy in real life now, esp in second person to H.] and i want to remember to get her a sub. to 17. she really does like it. i keep meaning to and then i forget. oh, and bridal mags--right!!!! i once heard an e-i-c from one speak and she said we are one mag that does not expect/want lifelong subscribers :) Re working in magazine world, i do love it but am really trying to keep shoulder to grindstone so can save more money for college for Fig. and with my dad, i've been spending a lot of time at the hospital. love alice
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