Today In History

The story of The Saturday Evening Post begins with Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette, which was first published in 1728, and then became known as The Saturday Evening Post in 1821. The modern era of The Saturday Evening Post began in 1897 when famed publisher, Cyrus H. K. Curtis, purchased the magazine for one thousand dollars. Each magazine sold for 5 cents a copy until 1942 when it was increased to 10 cents. Most memorable were the famous Post covers, many by Norman Rockwell, whose name grew as the magazine became popular. Rockwell sold his first two paintings to Editor George Horace Lorimer in 1916 for $ 75.00 each. On the editorial side, The Saturday Evening Post featured short stories and commentary by such famous authors as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, and Booth Tarkington. Perhaps more memorable to today’s baby boomers are the stories about Tugboat Annie or tractor salesman, Alexander Botts.