THAT’S THE WAY I SAW IT
BOY’S MAGAZINES 90 YEARS AGO
The other day I picked up the 1914 issue of Boys Magazine. It measures 14.5 by 10.5 inches. This monthly publication came out of Smethport, PA and claimed to have a circulation of over 100,000. Each copy was 10 cents or 1 dollar per year.
If you are not over 60 years of age you may as well stop right here because the things I noticed you won’t be the least bit interested in.
The first two pages were advertisements. One ad was: Jordan’s Major League Baseball Game, for $2.50. The ad claimed that it was “Positively the most fascinating game ever invented. The ball is actually thrown by a pitcher and batted by a batter.”
Another advertisement was about a Daisy Pump Gun, which was produced by Daisy Manufacturing Company of Plymouth, Michigan. The ad stated, “Christmas morn will find thousands of American boys examining this latest, greatest Daisy with keen delight.”
There were many stories for boys with the magazine containing thirty pages. On page 4 through 6 was the story The Young Pitcher by Zane Grey. Grey was a baseball player in his younger years and wrote many westerns books. There wasn’t any background as to what these authors had accomplished.
Page 17 had an ad for Mysto Erecter sets. The ad stated, “Make lots of toys and write me today for the free book and magazine.”
Nabisco Sugar Wafers were advertised on page 18. Page 24 stated that, “Boys can earn $5.00 in a few hours selling the Boys Magazine.
We authorize you to sell six months’ subscriptions at 40 cents each. You collect the $10.00, send us $5.00 and keep $5.00 for your trouble.” Today’s magazines have taken that away from boys. Think about the trust in this program. This was small business, free enterprise at its best.
The last page had a picture of young Abe Lincoln, “The kind of book that Lincoln longed for: Ridpath’s History of the World.”
I know I am getting older, but you have to admit, they don’t publish boy’s magazines like they used to.
That’s The Way I Saw It.
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