American Mass-Market Magazines

(Hardback)

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Description

More than 100 general magazines with circulation over 100,000, some still publishing and many memories from earlier this century, are described in two- or three-page profiles. . . . A chronology placing the periodicals on a time line provides an interesting, at-a-glance look at magazines' history. Most of the important magazines are included, except for some sports and women's magazines slated for future companion collections. Library Journals This volume provides concise, in-depth histories of 106 of the most significant mass-market or general magazines in the United states--both active periodicals and those which have ceased publication. Included are magazines such as Life, Colliers, Playboy, People, Saturday Evening Post, and Family Circle, as well as major tabloids, Sunday supplement magazines, regional magazines, and the most widely read publications devoted to specific audiences--Modern Maturity, Yankee, Mechanix Illustrated, American Farmer, and so on. Although the emphasis of the volume is the modern mass-market periodical, thirty-three titles have been included that either existed in their entirety in the nineteenth century or were established then. Generally, magazines with wide audience appeal and a circulation of over 100,000 were selected for inclusion. Taken together, these profiles offer the most comprehensive picture of American general interest magazine publishing available to date. The profiles are arranged alphabetically by magazine title and see references have been included in the case of title variations. In many instances, the history included here is the only source of information on the magazine covered. In other cases, large amounts of material that have been written over the years on a title have been consolidated and the history and accompanying bibliography provided here will serve as the definitive source on the magazine in question. Locations have been provided in cases that might prove problematic. An indispensable source for journalism students and researchers, this volume belongs on the reference shelves of every academic and large public library.

Reviews

More than 100 general magazines with circulation over 100,000, some still publishing and many memories from earlier this century, are described in two- or three-page profiles. . . . A chronology placing the periodicals on a time line provides an interesting, at-a-glance look at magazines' history. Most of the important magazines are included, except for some sports and women's magazines slated for future companion collections. . . .-Library Journal
Where else, the editors ask, could one find TV Guide, Playboy, Rolling Stone, National Enquirer, Collier's, Yankee, and the Atlantic all cheek by jowl' True enough, Money magazine precedes Mother Earth News in this collection of 106 profiles of general interest magazines published in the US from the 18th century to the present. Most titles included are still being published; some are clearly dated (The Chatauquan, 1880-1914). This is part of Greenwood's Historical Guides to the World's Periodicals and Newspapers' series, and some mass market titles, e.g., Sports Illustrated are excluded because scheduled for inclusion in other volumes. Most of the historical essays (two or three pages each) are descriptive; there is, unfortunately, little critical evaluation. Surprisingly, there are few essays contributed by professional journalists or journalism historians. A useful section on publication history includes title changes, publishers, editors, and circulation. The editors have succeeded in providing a serviceable, albeit selective, collection development tool and supplement to F.L. Mott's seminal, five-volume History of American Magazines and Bill Katz's Magazines for Libraries (6th ed., 1989). Necessary for large communications, history, and popular culture collections.-Choice
"More than 100 general magazines with circulation over 100,000, some still publishing and many memories from earlier this century, are described in two- or three-page profiles. . . . A chronology placing the periodicals on a time line provides an interesting, at-a-glance look at magazines' history. Most of the important magazines are included, except for some sports and women's magazines slated for future companion collections. . . ."-Library Journal
"Where else, the editors ask, could one find TV Guide, Playboy, Rolling Stone, National Enquirer, Collier's, Yankee, and the Atlantic all cheek by jowl' True enough, Money magazine precedes Mother Earth News in this collection of 106 profiles of general interest magazines published in the US from the 18th century to the present. Most titles included are still being published; some are clearly dated (The Chatauquan, 1880-1914). This is part of Greenwood's Historical Guides to the World's Periodicals and Newspapers' series, and some mass market titles, e.g., Sports Illustrated are excluded because scheduled for inclusion in other volumes. Most of the historical essays (two or three pages each) are descriptive; there is, unfortunately, little critical evaluation. Surprisingly, there are few essays contributed by professional journalists or journalism historians. A useful section on publication history includes title changes, publishers, editors, and circulation. The editors have succeeded in providing a serviceable, albeit selective, collection development tool and supplement to F.L. Mott's seminal, five-volume History of American Magazines and Bill Katz's Magazines for Libraries (6th ed., 1989). Necessary for large communications, history, and popular culture collections."-Choice

Author Bio

ALAN NOURIE is Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Collection Development at Milner Library, Illinois State University. BARBARA NOURIE teaches in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Illinois State University.