Don Canney

Watching a 60’s vintage TV show recently spurred a fond memory when one of its characters was holding a copy of Look Magazine. Many of the iconic magazines of old no longer exist, partly because of bad management and partly because of the digital revolution. Good for the environment but sad for nostalgia buffs.

I can remember my walks to school from Cedar to Spring street, passing by the former Trow News and Card Shop on West Pearl Street, where a seemingly endless display of newspapers and magazines were set up outside the store. Rocks and bricks secured some to prevent them from being swept up into the wind. Proudly displayed were the popular publications of the era like Look, Life, Mad, McCall’s, Gourmet, US News and World Report, et al. They are all now gone, but seemingly not forgotten.

Per Wikipedia, Look was “A biweekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles.” Many magazines of the 50’s through the 60’s were photograph centric, with more photos than editorial or written content. I guess back then a picture was worth a thousand words!

Life Magazine was another photograph focused publication, with a concentration on current events of the time and slice of life in America. Some of its most famous and beloved content occurred during the Kennedy years and America’s landing on the moon. Life still publishes special editions, regularly seen amongst the scandal sheets at supermarket check outs. Monthly circulation stopped in 2000.

I was a regular reader of Mad Magazine as a kid and often looked forward to the last page of the magazine’s puzzle, where one would need to fold the page for the answer to a quiz. And Spy vs. Spy was a classic. Its “spokesperson,” the infamous Alfred E. Neuman, was famous for his line, “What, me worry?” In hindsight, perhaps he was worried for a reason?

National Lampoon was, again per Wikipedia, “An American humor magazine which ran from 1970 to 1998. The magazine started out as a spinoff from the Harvard Lampoon. National Lampoon magazine reached its height of popularity and critical acclaim during the 1970s, when it had a far-reaching effect on American humor and comedy.” It also helped spawn several popular Chevy Chase movies chronicling the adventures of the Grizwolds. And who can forget Animal House?

U.S. News & World Report was a leading American news magazine focusing on news, opinion, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis. Its ranking of colleges and universities was once the de facto standard for the parents of those students seeking higher education. It ceased publication in 2010.

McCall’s was a popular woman’s magazine dating all the way back to 1873, ceasing publication 2002. It was part of what was known as the Seven Sisters group of magazines, only three of which remain today: Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens and Woman’s Day.

Gourmet was a culinary magazine devoted to food and wine that began in 1941 and ceased publication in 2009. But like Life, it still publishes special editions.

Perhaps a sign of the times, hard copy publications are indeed going the way of the buffalo. Many folks today would rather pull up their reading material on a tablet. But, like books, there is just something about holding a hard copy in your hands when you read it. I cannot explain it. Maybe it is just a mindset thing? Or maybe I am too nostalgic?

And speaking of now defunct publications – remember the Yellow Pages? Granted, not a magazine, but there was a time when, if you needed a phone number or even an address, you would, “let your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages,” as their jingle once suggested. The Yellow Pages were indeed clunky, difficult to read and sometimes confusing (like, would I find tomato seeds under gardening or farming)? I must agree it is much easier to search a computer or tablet for information.

However, “Let your fingers do the walking through the yellow tablet,” just doesn’t sound right. I guess that’s just the way I Look at Life. Stay safe.

Don Canney is a freelance writer and professional voice artist. He was born and raised in downtown Nashua with great interest in Nashua history circa 1950-1970. He now resides in Litchfield.

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