Figure 1.--The circulation of 'Pictorial Review' reached 2.5 million in 1925. This as the publiser nragged, was the largest circulation ever achieved by any publication. |
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The Pictorial Review is an American magazine that was first published at the turn-of-the 20th century (September 1899). The magazine was founded to showcase and market the dress patterns of William Paul Ahnelt's American Fashion Company. It developed into much more than a pattern catalog. It became one of the most important American woman's magazines. It gradually evolved into a respected fashion/woman's magazine with much more than just home sewing patterns. It became one of the major American women's magazines (1920s). As the magazine developed, it came to include excellent fiction, women and children issues, homemaking and recipe ideas, fashions of the time, and advertising. A popular feature was the Dolly Dingel paper dolls. It was a little treat mothers could give to their daughters. The magazine had attractive colored cover illustrations--usually a fashionablely dressed woman. Patterns were just one of the features. The circulation reached over 2.5 million copies (1925). The magazine bragged that this was the largest circulation ever achieved by any publication. This is interesting as very few people today have ever heard of the magazine. The Depression adversely affected sales. As circulation declines, the publisher sold the magazine to its Vice President, Adman George S. Fowler (1936). In an effort to survive, Pictorial Review merged with The Delineator, another once popular women's magazine that featured patterns (1937). Only 2 years later the combined magazine closed down (1939).
The Pictorial Review is an American magazine that was first published at the turn-of-the 20th century (September 1899). The magazine was founded to showcase and market the dress patterns of William Paul Ahnelt's American Fashion Company.
Patterns were just one of the features, but they were an important feature. They were especially important when the magazine was founded. We are not entirely sure how they were presented. We think the first issues were primarily centered on the patterns. Some would be included in the magazine. But then the magazine functioned as aind of caralog. We note quite a number of Pictorial Review patterns. We are less sure as to just how the patterns were presented in the magazine. Most of the patterns we have found are women's and girls' dresses. I think girls' clothing is easier to make and daugters are probably more appreciative. We have found a few patterns for boys' garments.
Pictorial Review developed into much more than a pattern catalog. It became one of the most important American woman's magazines. It gradually evolved into a respected fashion/woman's magazine with much more than just home sewing patterns. It became one of the major American women's magazines (1920s). As the magazine developed, it came to include excellent fiction, women and children issues, homemaking and recipe ideas, fashions of the time, and advertising. A popular feature was the Dolly Dingel paper dolls. It was a little treat mothers could give to their daughters. The magazine had attractive colored cover illustrations--usually a fashionablely dressed woman.
The circulation reached over 2.5 million copies (1925). The magazine bragged that this was the largest circulation ever achieved by any publication. This is interesting as very few people today have ever heard of the magazine.
The Depression adversely affected sales. As circulation declines, the publisher sold the magazine to its Vice President, Adman George S. Fowler (1936). In an effort to survive, Pictorial Review merged with The Delineator, another once popular women's magazine that featured patterns (1937). Only 2 years later the combined magazine closed down (1939).
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