editor – Page 236 – Old Magazine Articles

New Portrait Busts by Jo Davidson
(Vanity Fair, 1916)

By editor / July 29, 2015

This single column reported on the 1916 busts that were created by the American sculptor Jo Davidson (1883 – 1952), during his tour of war-torn Europe.
By the end of the Twentieth Century, much of his work would be in the collections of many of the finest art museums, such as the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, the U.S. Senate Art Collection and the National Statuary Hall, both in Washington.

1915, Dada History, Vanity Fair Hall of Fame

Marcel Duchamp Returns to New York City
(Vanity Fair, 1915)

By editor / July 29, 2015

Exempted from serving with the French military in World War I, the artist Marcel Duchamp returned to New York City where he triumphed during the Armory Show of 1913 – together he and his two brothers, Raymond Duchamp-Villon and Jacques Villon, all showed their groundbreaking art. Marcel was the toast of New York and his modern painting, Nude Descending a Staircase was regarded as a masterwork.

In the attached VANITY FAIR article, Duchamp let’s it be known that he crossed the submarine-infested waters of the Atlantic to see American art.

1914, Cartoons, Cartoons (WWI)

Anticipating the Distasteful Ending
(The Masses, 1914)

By editor / July 29, 2015

Although not known as a clairvoyant, this 1914 cartoon by the New York artist John Sloan (1871 – 1951) seemed to predict the lousy ending that would play out four years after W.W. I reached its bloody climax.

1915, Tatler Magazine, Uncategorized, World War One

The British Officer’s Trench Cap of W.W. I
(Tatler Magazine, 1915)

By editor / July 29, 2015

Attached is a 1915 magazine ad from a British society magazine that illustrates the profile of the British Service Hat (trench cap). This wool headgear was worn by all British and Commonwealth forces prior to the 1916 introduction of the Brody Helmet (tin hat), which was issued in order to reduce the high number of head injuries.

1914, Aviation History, Popular Mechanics Magazine

The Round-Winged Monoplane
(Popular Mechanics, 1914)

By editor / July 29, 2015

This is a small illustrated page about an early monoplane popularly known on the English isles as the Flying Teatray. A peculiar looking machine, it apparently was able to get off the ground for a while (see illustration) but it was passed by for service during the First World War, which had been raging for some three months by the time this article was published.

1913, Prelude, The Literary Digest

The German Threat to Russia
(Literary Digest, 1913)

By editor / July 29, 2015

The German military maneuvers have aroused the attention of Europe to the splendid equipment and administration of the Army, not only in the fighting spirit, but in the commissariat and its medical service.

-so begins the attached article which referenced the overall sense of intimidation and uneasiness that was triggered by the display of bristling military might that was recently witnessed. The journalist mused about just what the Franco-Russian Alliance would mean in the face of such an advanced military force, touching upon the size of the German Army compared with other forces in Europe -openly stating that France could never stand up to an attack.

1913, Fashion, Vanity Fair Magazine

Shoe Illustrations
(1913 Advertisement)

By editor / July 29, 2015

Heartlessly ripped from the binding of an ancient issue of VANITY FAIR was this page of shoe illustrations in which a smart pair of womens leather boots are the centerpiece, accompanied by Russian dancing shoes, a splendid pair of gold brocade slippers, white buckskin tennis oxfords and a pair of walking boots.

Legendary fashion designer Christian Dior had a good deal of trouble with people who would illegally copy his designs; click here to read about that part of fashion history.

1920s Prohibition created a criminal climate
that appealed to more women than you ever might have suspected…

1908, Cars, The Literary Digest

The 1908 New York – Paris Race: Bumpy Ride
(Literary Digest, 1908)

By editor / July 29, 2015

With the centennial re-running of the New York to Paris race beginning this May (2008), it is interesting to read about the authentic 1908 contest and the difficulties they faced in a world without proper roads.

Interest in the New York – to – Paris race, temporarily suspended by the failure to find a passable road in Alaska…

1900, Manners and Society, The Literary Digest

For the Promotion of Good Manners
(Literary Digest, 1900)

By editor / July 29, 2015

Americans of the mid-Nineteenth Century who entertained any social ambitions at all were totally at a loss as to how they might find their place in the business world, much less the swank and pomp of polite society, if they were without any understanding as to the manners required to open these doors. Unable to benefit from such T.V. shows as Dallas or Dynasty and finding that Emily Post was no where in view, they found a reliable ally in a collection of pamphlets briefly published by the firm of Beadle & Adams.

1944, World War One

Von Kluck’s Drive on Paris
(West Point Supplement, 1944)

By editor / July 29, 2015

Seussue Hayakawa
(Photoplay Magazine, 1916)

By editor / July 29, 2015

The attached article is about Sessue Hayakawa (1889 – 1973), the first Asian actor to achieve star status in Hollywood:

No, Sessue Hayakawa, the world’s most noted Japanese photoplay actor, does not dwell in a papier-mache house amid tea-cup scenery. He is working in pictures in Los Angeles, and he lives in a ‘regular’ bungalow, furnished in mission oak, and dresses very modishly according to American standards.

1921, Modern Art, The Spectator Magazine

Wyndham Lewis Gets Panned
(The Spectator, 1921)

By editor / July 29, 2015

An unnamed art critic writing for the British magazine SPECTATOR gave his back-hand to Wyndham Lewis, the father of Vorticism. Prefering the artist’s drawings to his paintings, the ink-stained wretch opined:

The point might also be raised whether Mr. Wyndham Lewis should ever use oil paint. It is a medium which he seems to have little capacity and no sympathy…

1936, Early Television, The Literary Digest

NBC and CBS Open Shop on the West Coast
(Literary Digest, 1936)

By editor / July 29, 2015

In order to take advantage of the local talent abiding in the sleepy film colony of Hollywood, the far-seeing executives at NBC and CBS saw fit to open radio and television broadcasting facilities in that far, distant burg.

The trek to Hollywood of the Broadcasting companies began in earnest last winter when the National Broadcasting Company opened a large building – fire-proof, earthquake-proof, sound-proof and air-conditioned.

1915, The West End Gazette, Uncategorized, World War One

The British 1912 Officer Jacket
(West End Gazette, 1915)

By editor / July 29, 2015

The January, 1915, issue of The West End Gazette devoted three pages of tailoring instructions for British officer’s Khaki Service Jacket. The uniform was first issued in 1912:[P]The latest development in connection with military tailoring is the introduction of a new style of Service Dress for field wear. Its principal distinction from the styles that has superseded is the abolition of the time-honored stand collar in favor of the open step collar style as generally adopted for mufti garments.

1919, Modern Art, Vanity Fair Hall of Fame

Art Sacandal: Aubrey Beardsley Forged
(Vanity Fair, 1919)

By editor / July 29, 2015

London’s post-World War I art world was rocked by a scandal involving a number forged drawings which were misleadingly signed with the name Aubrey Beardsley (1872 – 1898). This piece captures that moment.

1945, General Marshall, Yank Magazine

General Marshall on the Atomic Bomb
(Yank Magazine, 1945)

By editor / July 29, 2015

The tremendous military advantage of this terrifying weapon fell to us through a combination of good luck, good management and prodigious effort. The harnessing of atomic power should give Americans confidence in their destiny…

Click here to read more magazine articles about the Atomic Bomb.

Click here to read one of the fist opinion pieces condemning the use of the Atomic Bomb.

Uncategorized

W.W. I Clip Art: American Officers

By editor / July 29, 2015

Three commercial illustrations of American World War One officers that originally appeared in the margins of the U.S. army weekly The Stars and Stripes.

Click here if you would like to see the advertisements in which these figures originally appeared.

1945, Information Compiled by the U.S. Dept of War, Weapons and Inventions

German Rifles
(U.S. Dept of War, 1945)

By editor / July 29, 2015

An illustrated wartime study by the United States Department of War explaining the German Gewehr 98 and the Gewehr 41: their caliber, weight, range and over-all length.

We highly recommend that you watch the film clip linked below for additional information.

Click here to read about the German M.G. 34.

Author name: editor