Vintage London Life Magazine April 8th 1939 Easter Susan Hayward

Original vintage London Life magazine dated 8th April 1939, an authentic pre-war British society and picture weekly featuring period advertisements, theatre and fashion interest, and evocative late 1930s London social history.

A wonderful piece of British pre-war ephemera, capturing the glamour and atmosphere of London just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Historically, publications of this type are recognised as part of the visual culture that later influenced John Willie, whose post-war Bizarre magazine drew inspiration from earlier British glamour and society periodicals.

A superb original London Life issue from Eastertide 1939, capturing the glamour and cinematic brilliance of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated years.

The front cover features the striking Susan Hayward, the Brooklyn-born redhead whose remarkable rise to stardom saw her move from model and studio hopeful to leading lady at Paramount Pictures. This issue celebrates her breakthrough role in Beau Geste, starring opposite Gary Cooper and Ray Milland, one of the studio’s major productions of 1939.

The inside front cover presents a glamorous portrait of American beauty Maria Shelton, while the interior pages include an excellent selection of Hollywood personalities including Bobby Burns, Gladys George, Judith Barrett, Ann Sheridan, Margaret Lindsay, Priscilla Lane, Jane Bryan and Ronald Reagan in scenes from Girls on Probation, released by First National Pictures.

Further cinematic highlights include Ann Miller in a scene from RKO’s Radio City Revels, together with a superb centre feature of Dorothy Lamour and Lloyd Nolan in scenes from St. Louis Blues, offering a wonderful snapshot of late 1930s screen glamour.

Additional features include June Duprez, Tito Guízar, Paulette Goddard, Dorothy Arnold, and a charming at-home photograph of Betty Grable, enhancing the magazine’s appeal for collectors of Golden Age Hollywood memorabilia.

A particularly appealing example for collectors of pre-war magazines, Hollywood memorabilia, theatre ephemera and Art Deco display pieces.

CONDITION REPORT

Good original condition overall, presenting well for display. The front cover has two tears — one to the upper end of the spine and the other to the upper edge of the front cover. At the lower edge of the magazine, there is an additional split to the spine running from the bottom approx 3ins up.. The first page of the magazine also has a small tear. There is light wear to the edges, entirely consistent with age and handling. The pages remain complete. There is light age-related discolouration, principally to the cover, commensurate with a publication of this period. A well-preserved pre-war example with honest signs of age and handling.