Gloria Stavers!

"Mad" About Gloria's Style!!

Gloria Stavers was a model before she began her career at 16 magazine, and her beauty and style "wowed" all who met her.  Her sophisticated look can be yours thanks to Banana Republic, where the "Mad Men" collection (inspired by the show and 1960s fashion) debuts in stores today!  Here's a sample from the line (created with MM costumer designer Janie Bryant,) and a photo of Gloria on the "Mike Douglas Show."  Coincidentally, Gloria was Mike's guest on August 12, 1966, which will be 45 years ago tomorrow!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Charles Laufer, founder of Tiger Beat

This week news outlets announced the passing of Chuck Laufer, publisher and creator of Tiger Beat.  Mr. Laufer died on April 5th at age 87 in Northridge, CA. 

Laufer had created and then sold Teen magazine before he launched Tiger Beat in 1965. Tiger Beat initially had something of an identity crisis (launched as "Lloyd Thaxton's Tiger Beat," the affiliation with the dance show host lasted only a few issues) and sales were slow until Laufer put new Monkee Davy Jones (a 16 fave since his "Oliver" days in 1963) on the cover of the fifth issue.  When Laufer subsequently made an arrangement with Screen Gems for promotional and merchandising access to the group, Tiger Beat became an essential mag for Monkees fans (the Monkees Spectacular monthly was soon added.) The Laufer Group, co-owned by Chuck's brother Ira, continued as a successful entertainment publishing company until it was sold in 1978. Chuck retired from publishing in 1980, and after being owned by several companies, Tiger Beat was bought by his son Scott in 2003.

Although it clearly used 16 magazine's style, content and subject matter as a template, Tiger Beat did take one aspect of the teen magazine and excel at it. Its glossy, advanced color process photos stood apart from 16's colorized newsprint pictures and quirky illustrations. And in the fierce competition with Gloria Stavers at 16 for exclusive interviews and photos, Tiger Beat's Hollywood location gave its editor Ann Moses the advantage of proximity to all the young stars. But this was the golden era of teen magazines, and there were plenty of kids eager to spend their allowances on both magazines. The fact that over 45 years later kids can still find Tiger Beat on newstands is an impressive legacy for Chuck Laufer.

Gloria Stavers at P.J. Clarke's!

 
           Earl Wilson's column (April 1, 1958) 

 

When Gloria arrived in New York, P.J. Clarke's was one of the "see and be seen" gathering places, the go-to bar for both celebrities and regular Joes.  The modest brick building at 55th and 3rd dates back to at least 1868, and is now surrounded by skyscrapers.  The saloon has been a favorite of too many famous patrons to list here.  Frank Sinatra "owned" Table 20, and Johnny Mercer penned the song "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) on a napkin while sitting at the bar.  A stand-in for "Nat's Bar" in the movie "The Lost Weekend," it most recently has been portrayed as a popular hangout for the characters on AMC's "Mad Men."

 

Rolling Stone #352 (9/17/81) - Photo by Gloria Stavers

39 years ago today on July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison died in a Paris apartment at age 27.  Ten years later, Rolling Stone used a 1967 photo taken by Gloria Stavers to produce one of the magazine's most memorable covers. Although the cover is frequently praised, Gloria's contribution is often overlooked. Still, her insistence on providing exclusive photos in 16 resulted in many iconic images. Some, like this one, are as significant as others by the more celebrated rock photographers who followed her.

Gloria's accomplishments have frequently taken a back seat to speculation about relationships she had with some of the celebrated men she met while at 16, especially Jim Morrison. My tendency is to let those who were there decide what stories should be told. In the meantime, enjoy Jim Morrison at the peak of his "young lion" glory.

745 Fifth Avenue - Home of 16 Magazine

This Art-Deco masterpiece, formerly known as the Squibb Building, sits at the southwest corner of Central Park.  It was designed by Ely Jacques Kahn and built in 1930 with no expense spared, despite the financial fallout from the stock market crash of 1929.  One of the 34-story building's most admired features is the lobby, featuring ceiling murals including a map of Manhattan by Arthur Covey.  For many years home to toy emporium FAO Schwartz, the ground floor space now houses Bergdorf Goodman's Men's Store.

Someday someway, I'll pass through those sculpted elevator doors and see how close I can get to what was once Gloria's office!  

G-L-O-R-I-A!

Van Morrison was 18 when he wrote this 3-chord classic.  Originally released in 1964 as the B-side of "Baby, Please Don't Go," the record is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.  According  to rock lore, famed L.A. rock club the Whiskey a Go Go was the setting for an early jam on "Gloria" between Them and the club's house band, the Doors.