For a trip back in time, take a look at the Youth and Popular Culture Magazine Archive from ProQuest, a digital collection of twelve magazines from 1940-2020. Lots of music, politics, sports… a wide-ranging, contemporary reflection of the teenage world from the United States and United Kingdom.
Check out these articles about San Francisco, from the perspective of London, New York, and Los Angeles:
“San Francisco Scene Stealers: Singer World Stylemaker Contest Finals for 1971”
…these 18 teens were prepared to face the judges while modeling their sewiffic styles at a giant reception held in the St. Francis Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. There one girl would be chosen from each division as a ‘Queen of Sewing.’…all expert in their sewing skill, and most stated that they sewed practically their whole wardrobe.
Teen February 1972
“‘Great Honesty’ comes to San Francisco!”
…publishing and production companies, backing from Warner Brothers…and the key to the whole plan is youth and freedom — two things which big business continually tries to frustrate.
FLiP March 1969
…an article on radio over here for the special American edition, so here I am. The wonderful world of wireless is so totally different here compared with Britain that it’s difficult to know where to start.
Fabulous 208 May 1979
“The San Francisco Scene” — letters to the editor in response to the article “Bad Scene in San Francisco” about the Haight-Ashbury district. Teen, July 1967
Titles in the collection include:
- Teen (1957-2009) “features on fashion/ style, entertainment, relationships, health, and technology, along with confessional articles and advice columns”
- Fabulous 208 (1964-1980): “British pop music magazine…started out focused on the Beatles career and their rise and domination in the music industry, then expanded to include other stories and interviews from popular musicians of the time as well as documenting the change in how music is consumed, from radio to the growth of music videos”
- Clarity Magazine (1940-1943): “published for a short period in the 1940s by the Young Communist League, USA and provides a unique insight to the political influences on youth culture of this time”
- FLiP (1964-1975): “American magazine…on all things related to youth life such as style guidance, celebrity interviews, and advice columns including “Dear Carol” and “Ask Karen” answering questions submitted by youths on school, dating, careers, and mental health. …It also published letters and stories that youths would send in, providing a platform for youths voices to be heard as well as to connect with one another.
- Petticoat (1966-1973): “…the height of the Swinging Sixties in the UK in response to the emergence of more liberal teens and young women. The magazine offered fiction, popular culture, fashion news, and advice from it’s highly controversial advice column known as ‘agony aunt’ on love, sex, healthy eating, hair, and make-up. …Petticoat had many female contributors, including Annie Nightingale, the first female presenter on BBC Radio.”
- Hullaballoo/Circus (1967-2000): from Judy Collins, Simon and Garfunkel, and The Left Banke in 1967 to Korn, Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot, and Metallica in 2000
- Letterman (2013-2016): Magazine from the Letterman Society, which “promotes academics and character through the outlet of high school sports and community initiatives.” [Moy, T. (2013, April). Playbook from the Editor in Chief: in the huddle. Letterman, 10. ]
all quotes from ProQuest, unless otherwise noted.
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