Saturday Evening Post

Saturday Evening Post
source
Title	Saturday Evening Post
Frequency	Weekly (historically)
Category	General interest
Founded	0 1821
Firstdate	August 4, 1821
Country	United States
Language	English

Saturday Evening Post. An iconic American magazine with a storied history spanning over three centuries, it became a central fixture in American cultural and political life. Known for its blend of fiction, journalism, and distinctive cover art, it reached millions of readers at its peak. Its pages chronicled the nation's evolution from the Industrial Revolution through the Space Age, featuring work from many of the country's most prominent writers and artists.

History

The publication traces its origins to 1821 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded by Charles Alexander and Samuel Coate Atkinson. It was purchased in 1897 by Cyrus H. K. Curtis, founder of the Curtis Publishing Company, who installed George Horace Lorimer as editor, transforming it into a national powerhouse. Under Lorimer, it championed American values and capitalism, often opposing the New Deal policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its circulation soared, surpassing three million copies by the 1960s, making it one of the most widely read publications alongside *Life* and *Time*. The magazine's headquarters, the Curtis Center in Philadelphia, became a landmark of the publishing industry.

Content and features

Each issue typically offered a mix of serialized novels, short stories, political commentary, and human-interest journalism. It was renowned for publishing fiction by literary giants such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, and Agatha Christie. The magazine's covers, most famously those painted by Norman Rockwell, depicted idealized scenes of American life and are considered masterpieces of illustration. Regular features included investigative reports, humor from writers like Irvin S. Cobb, and advertisements for products from General Motors to Coca-Cola. Its editorial stance was consistently conservative, advocating for business interests and a robust foreign policy during the Cold War.

Editors and contributors

George Horace Lorimer served as editor from 1899 to 1937, defining its voice and commercial success. Later editors included Wesley Winans Stout and Ben Hibbs. Beyond its famed illustrators like Norman Rockwell and J. C. Leyendecker, the magazine attracted a who's who of American writers. Contributors included William Faulkner, Ray Bradbury, and Kurt Vonnegut. Journalistic pieces came from figures like Ernie Pyle, who reported on World War II, and political commentary from Walter Lippmann. This roster of talent helped cement its reputation for quality and influence within the American media landscape.

Cultural impact

For decades, it functioned as a weekly digest of the American experience, shaping and reflecting public opinion. Norman Rockwell's covers, such as the *Four Freedoms* series created during World War II, became embedded in the national consciousness. The magazine's support for certain political figures and policies gave it considerable sway in Washington, D.C.. It also played a role in popular culture, being referenced in films like It's a Wonderful Life and serving as the initial publisher of Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth. Its model influenced numerous other publications, including The New Yorker and *Look*.

Decline and revival

The magazine faced a steep decline in the late 1960s due to competition from television, changing readership habits, and rising production costs. The Curtis Publishing Company ceased publication in 1969 after financial struggles. It was revived in 1971 by the Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, owned by Corey and Beurt SerVaas, who returned it as a quarterly. Later, in the 21st century, it was acquired by the Saturday Evening Post Society, which continues to publish it in a reduced format while maintaining its archive. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, preserves much of the artwork that defined its golden age, ensuring its legacy endures in American art history.

Category:American magazines Category:Magazines published in Philadelphia Category:1821 establishments in the United States