Metropolitan Magazine (New York)
Encyclopedia
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
.
. During World War I
the publication focused on politics and literature. Its first editor
and publisher was John Brisben Walker
. In 1902, the magazine was sold along with The Daily Telegraph for $100,000 to Col. George Harvey
, president of Harper & Brothers
. 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. He named John Kendrick Bangs as the new editor.
, Metropolitan Magazine sent John Reed to Mexico to report. The journalist met Pancho Villa
and stayed with his troops for four months. Reed was sent to Europe
as a war correspondent during World War I
. However, some of his articles were rejected as having leftist sympathies.
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
. There were rumors that the post office was considering revoking the publication's second class mail privileges. However, all issues of the magazine were delivered.
In 1914, former United States President Theodore Roosevelt
became an editor for the magazine for $25,000 a year. He took a three-year contract because he intended to retire from politics and writing. However, during World War I Roosevelt wrote many essays criticizing President Wilson for his handling of the war. 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." Roosevelt worked on editorial
articles for Metropolitan Magazine until his death. His last action was to write a letter to his son
with the proofs for his last article in the magazine.
, 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 February-March 1923. It then reverted back 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. Its last issue was in August 1925.
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
.
History
Metropolitan Magazine began in 1895 as a sophisticated magazine for theater-goers in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the publication focused on politics and literature. Its first editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
and publisher was John Brisben Walker
John Brisben Walker
John Brisben Walker was a United States magazine publisher and automobile entrepreneur, in later years a resident of Jefferson County, Colorado.-Biography:...
. In 1902, the magazine was sold along with The Daily Telegraph for $100,000 to Col. George Harvey
George Brinton McClellan Harvey
George Brinton McClellan Harvey was an American diplomat, journalist, author, administrator for electric rail construction and owner and editor of several newspapers, all positions that brought him great wealth....
, president of Harper & Brothers
Harper & Brothers
Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins.-History:James Harper and his brother John, printers by training, started their book publishing business J. & J. Harper in 1817. Their two brothers, Joseph Wesley Harper and Fletcher Harper, joined them...
. 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. He named John Kendrick Bangs as the new editor.
The Mexican Revolution and World War I
During the Mexican RevolutionMexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, Metropolitan Magazine sent John Reed to Mexico to report. The journalist met Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
and stayed with his troops for four months. Reed was sent to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as a war correspondent during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. However, some of his articles were rejected as having leftist sympathies.
Metropolitan Magazine frequently contained articles critical of United States President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
during World War I. In 1918, the New York postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
was told to be on his guard for issues of the magazine commenting on Wilson's foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
. There were rumors that the post office was considering revoking the publication's second class mail privileges. However, all issues of the magazine were delivered.
In 1914, former United States President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
became an editor for the magazine for $25,000 a year. He took a three-year contract because he intended to retire from politics and writing. However, during World War I Roosevelt wrote many essays criticizing President Wilson for his handling of the war. 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." Roosevelt worked on editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
articles for Metropolitan Magazine until his death. His last action was to write a letter to his son
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
Theodore D. Roosevelt, Jr. , was an American political and business leader, a Medal of Honor recipient who fought in both of the 20th century's world wars. He was the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt from his second wife Edith Roosevelt...
with the proofs for his last article in the magazine.
Decline
In January 1923, on the urging of Supervising Editor Fulton OurslerFulton Oursler
Charles Fulton Oursler was an American journalist, playwright, editor and writer. Writing as Anthony Abbot, he was an notable author of mysteries and detective fiction.-Life:...
, Bernarr Macfadden
Bernarr Macfadden
Bernarr Macfadden was an influential American proponent of physical culture, a combination of bodybuilding with nutritional and health theories...
bought the magazine, launching its new era with an abridged serialization of Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school. His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives despite a lack of a firm moral code, and literary situations that more closely resemble studies of nature than tales of...
's banned novel The Genius. The first Macfadden issue was dated February-March 1923. It then reverted back to a monthly. Fulton Oursler
Fulton Oursler
Charles Fulton Oursler was an American journalist, playwright, editor and writer. Writing as Anthony Abbot, he was an notable author of mysteries and detective fiction.-Life:...
'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. Its last issue was in August 1925.
Famous contributors
- Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
- Jack LondonJack LondonJohn Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
- F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott FitzgeraldFrancis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
- Edna FerberEdna FerberEdna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big , Show Boat , and Giant .-Early years:Ferber was born August 15, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan,...
- Katharine Fullerton GerouldKatharine Fullerton GerouldKatharine Fullerton Gerould was an American writer, born in Brockton, Massachusetts, and educated at Radcliffe College.She was a reader in English at Bryn Mawr, 1901-10. Mrs. Gerould was criticized as weighing down a distinct literary talent with an unbending conservatism, which though it did not...
- Theodore DreiserTheodore DreiserTheodore Herman Albert Dreiser was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school. His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives despite a lack of a firm moral code, and literary situations that more closely resemble studies of nature than tales of...
- John Reed
External links
- Metropolitan Magazine at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
, various volumes (scanned books original editions color illustrated)