Liberty Magazine

Leslie Thrasher, The Norman Rockwell of Liberty

Leslie Thrasher, over 300 covers.

Leslie Thrasher, from Sandy and Lil, the first soap opera.

James Montgomery Flagg

Peter Arno

Ralph Barton

January 1929: The world, it seemed, lay before us like a land of dreams. Hoover was in the White House and prosperity, we thought, was safe forever.

March 1929: Reading matter in this issue was financial or physical: "William Jennings Bryan, part VIII," and "The Art of Keeping Fit," by Jack Dempsey.

October 1929: In an affluent economy, Liberty offered sage market advice; "Buy oil, coal, steel, but especially real estate — there you can hardly lose."

February 1930: After the Crash but Liberty's contents were still reflections in a tranquil pond; fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald; cartoon about a taxi driver.

March 1930: This issue grappled with the America conscience, combing money with emotion: "Are Your Wet or Dry? $1,000 for the best answers."

December 1930: The editorial noted the final passing (in India) of the white man's burden; an article said wishfully, "Let's Buy Prosperity Back."

June 1931: The covers of this era were meant, explained the editors, to show "tears as well as sunshine, frowns as well as smiles." And they did, they did.

August 1931: Domestic advice, Italian style. "There are joys and contentment which family alone can give."

April 1932: Coming up in Liberty: an appraisal of Mr. Hoover's chances for re-election (temperate). On the cover: Il Duce again; the great grin of The Babe.

November 1932: By-lines by two branches of Roosevelts, but we knew already that we'd choose the C.C.C., N.R.A., W.P.A., and Eleanor jokes.

March 1933: In F.D.R.'s "first hundred days," publisher Bernarr McFadden explained how the country should be run; Fay Wray told how she kept slim.

September 1934: The House of Windsor is safe, said Liberty, spiking all rumors. "He will not marry a commoner; he's been too busy; also he's a True Prince."

December 1934: A plea by H.G. Wells. "World State must replace our present governments…An attack merely on war will never abolish this ancient evil."

January 1935: Cover- the Saar menace; inside, the story of the recent shooting of Public Enemy No. 1, John Dillinger and ad for the [new] Plymouth [$565].

December 1935: The Prince of Japan said "rich nations [America] should help poor ones." Also an article on the rebellion of youth- Leopold and Loeb.

December 1935: Shirley's resolution: "to ask my mother for $5 allowance instead of $4." Elsewhere, McFadden praised whole-grain cereals, exercise.

May 1936: Garbo's returning to Stockholm because of Jack Gilbert. The answer to that other tough question is "yes." ("He has a rather kindly look.")

May 1937: Yet more tough cover questions. That "social hygiene" thing was syphilis. In another feature, Ed Sullivan selected year's coming new stars.

November 1937: "Stardom arrives for the Ritz Brothers," wrote columnist Beverly Hills. Cover reproduced C.D. Batchelor's 1937 Pulitzer-prize cartoon.

December 1937: Editor-in-Chief Fulton Oursler apostrophized F.D.R.'s humor, affection for hot dogs. "With such a man, the world is safe for Democracy."

May 1938: Skip that first article. Instead, read "Will Kennedy run for President?", remember the Kennedy is Joe, Sr., and the future is in your hands.

December 1939: The world is changing and it all gives Santa Pause. Ho ho ho. Inside, another Batchelor jibe: "This ship [Dictator-ship] must not come in."

May 1940: "Polygamy is excellent for others, but I have taken a vow of celibacy, a great relief," said Gandhi. The Legionnaire advocated Isolationism.

August 1940: "Lightning in the Night" was fiction about the invasion of America. This installment was prologue, but for all the golden years, it was farewell.