Lauren Tokarski
Cover to Cover
The History and Evolution of Magazines














First general interest magazine published in London in 1731 named
The Gentleman’s Magazine.
Editor Edward Cave was first to use the term “magazine” because
of the way it referenced a collection of miscellaneous materials
within such as a military storehouse, also called a Magazine.
1741, Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Bradford carried the idea of
the magazine overseas but efforts quickly failed because of the
lack of literacy skills among the public.
1825, fewer than 100 magazines in circulation within the United
States but quickly swelled to 600 by 1850.
Magazines began taking strong viewpoints around the Civil War
ultimately establishing a certain audience of interest.
Godey’s Lady’s Book was the first successful women’s magazine but
was often read by men and children because of the guaranteed
wholesome material within.
“The Magazine Revolution” occurred in the early 1890s when
monthly publications Munsey’s, Cosmopolitan and McClures all
reduced their price to ten cents.
With the magazine revolution came a change from gaining profit
from the consumers to getting most of the money from advertisers.
Women’s magazines are the most successful genre of magazine
publications including the most profitable one for advertisers
because of the large women consumer public.
The “Seven Sisters” include Better Homes & Gardens. Family Circle,
Good Housekeeping, Ladies’ Home Journal, McCall’s. Redbook
and Women’s Day.
Esquire, the first major men’s magazine, was founded and first
published in 1933 and centered around the masculine issues and
pinup features.
Men and Women’s magazines differ in design elements including
colors, photography, wording, layout and subject matter.
Hotwired magazine was the first magazine to go completely online
because of the high cost in printing and increasing environmentally
conscious public.
Magazines like Martha Stewart Living are changing their layouts to
match the way people read from the Internet.