Metropolitan Magazine (New York)
Metropolitan Magazine, known in its later years as Macfadden's Fiction Lover's
Magazine, was a monthly periodical in the early 20th century with articles on
politics and literature.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 The Mexican Revolution and World War I
1.2 Decline
2 Famous contributors
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
History[edit]
Metropolitan Magazine began in 1895 as a sophisticated magazine for theater-
goers in New York City.[1] During World War I the publication focused on politics
and literature.[1] Its first editor and publisher was John Brisben Walker.[2] In
1902, the magazine was sold along with The Daily Telegraph for $100,000 to Col.
George Harvey, president of Harper & Brothers.[3] Harvey said, "in purchasing
The Metropolitan I bought simply a name," and that the chief mission of the
periodical should be urban life in New York.[3] He named John Kendrick Bangs as
the new editor.[3]
The Mexican Revolution and World War I[edit]
During the Mexican Revolution, Metropolitan Magazine sent John Reed to Mexico
to report.[4] The journalist met Pancho Villa and stayed with his troops for four
months.[4] Reed was sent to Europe as a war correspondent during World War I.
[4] However, some of his articles were rejected as having leftist sympathies.[4]
Metropolitan Magazine frequently contained articles critical of United States
President Woodrow Wilson during World War I. In 1918, the New York postmaster
was told to be on his guard for issues of the magazine commenting on Wilson's
foreign policy.[5] There were rumors that the post office was considering revoking
the publication's second class mail privileges.[5] However, all issues of the
magazine were delivered.[5]
In 1914, former United States President Theodore Roosevelt became an editor for
the magazine for $25,000 a year.[6] He took a three-year contract because he
intended to retire from politics and writing.[6] However, during World War I
Roosevelt wrote many essays criticizing President Wilson for his handling of the
war.[6] Roosevelt passionately argued against the neutrality of the United States,
writing, "We earn as a nation measureless scorn and contempt if we follow the
lead of those who exalt peace over righteousness, if we heed the voice of those
feeble folk who bleat to high Heaven for peace when there is no peace."[7]
Roosevelt worked on editorial articles for Metropolitan Magazine until his death.
[8] His last action was to write a letter to his son with the proofs for his last article
in the magazine.[8]
Decline[edit]
In January 1923, on the urging of Supervising Editor Fulton Oursler, Bernarr
Macfadden bought the magazine, launching its new era with an abridged
serialization of Theodore Dreiser's banned novel The Genius. The first Macfadden
issue was dated FebruaryMarch 1923. It then reverted to a monthly. Fulton
Oursler's first serious novels, Behold This Dreamer! and Sandalwood were also
serialized. When the magazine's fortunes didn't improve, the title was changed to
Macfadden Fiction-Lovers Magazine with the October 1924 issue.[2][9] Its last
issue was in August 1925.[2]
Famous contributors[edit]
Theodore Dreiser[10]
Edna Ferber[11]
F. Scott Fitzgerald[11]
Katharine Fullerton Gerould[11]
Jack London[1]
Clarence E. Mulford[12]
John Reed[4]
Theodore Roosevelt[6]
See also[edit]
Isolationism
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c Walker, Dale. "Why this longing for life? It is a game which no
man wins". Jack London: The Stories. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Magazine Issues". Galactic Central. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
External link in |work= (help)
^ Jump up to: a b c Distin, William (December 6, 1902). "Plans for two
publications" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Liukkonen, Petri. "John Reed". Books and Writers
([Link]). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on
10 February 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Magazine Wasn't Barred From Mails" (PDF). The New York
Times. March 10, 1918. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Lansford, Tom (2005). Theodore Roosevelt in perspective.
Nova Publishers. p. 133. ISBN 1-59454-656-8. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
Jump up ^ Bishop, Joseph Bucklin (1920). Theodore Roosevelt and His Time
Shown in His Own Letters. C. Scribner's Sons. p. 378. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
^ Jump up to: a b "Embolism Caused Death" (PDF). The New York Times. January
7, 1919. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
Jump up ^ "Metropolitan Magazine". [Link]. November 17, 2006.
Retrieved 2009-04-08. External link in |work= (help)
Jump up ^ McDonald, Edward David (1928). A bibliography of the writings of
Theodore Dreiser. Ayer Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 0-8337-2328-6. Retrieved 2009-04-
08.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Miscellaneous Anthologies". Galactic Central. Retrieved
2009-04-08. External link in |work= (help)
Jump up ^ Nevins, Francis M., Jr. (1993). Bar-20: The Life of Clarence E. Mulford,
Creator of Hopalong Cassidy. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 23. ISBN
0-89950-870-7.
External links[edit]
