History of LIFE
In 1936 Henry R. Luce and his colleagues at Time Inc. saw the opportunity
to create a new magazine. In the past, published photos were planned and
posed, probably due to the size and fragile nature of the photography
equipment, but since the early thirties a 35mm portable camera was
available which enabled photographers to take photographs at the spur of
the moment. This new camera gave Luce the idea to start a picture
magazine. Speaking about the new magazine, Luce said, "for the purpose of
keeping well
informed on subjects of general interest to intelligent people, we offer
this combination: your daily newspaper, Time, and the Picture
Magazine." (Wainwright 29)
LIFE Magazine first issue date was November 23, 1936 and ran weekly
until December
of 1972. It then ran from 1972 until 1978 in semi-annual reports and
since
1978 it has been published monthly. Since 1936, LIFE magazine has had a
major
impact on
journalism and society. When it first was published it was a novelty
featuring pages and pages of photos for the curious eye of the public and
today is has become something that the public depends upon for photographs
of the current news, so much so that we can't remember a time when there
wasn't a LIFE magazine. (LIFE HP)
First issue - Fort Peck Dam by Margaret Bourke-White
December 1, 1972 - Harry S. Truman by Tom Allen
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