A Return to Loveliness
held every Tuesday
At
This blog site is for information
and updates on
Victoria-A Return to Loveliness
blog party
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:
I believe Victoria magazine fulfilled this verse for many women.
Victoria Premier issue 1987
Do you remember when you first found Victoria? Or do you feel, as I do, that she has been a longtime friend. I honestly
can’t say when I became aware of her, but I can say that from
the very beginning, the sense of meeting a kindred spirit was
evident.
Victoria Magazine to me evokes the essence of a woman’s heart, the desire to create, to be feminine, to enjoy the beauties of life. I am launching a new blog party celebrating Victoria magazine!
When I began my blog, I intended to share on a monthly basis one of my favorite issues from that month. I still intend to do that, but would like to expand that to know what you appreciate about Victoria and the impact this magazine has made in your life.
“Victoria was born of an instinct, shared by Hearst Magazines president Gil Maurer and me, about the opportunity for a
magazine that celebrates timeless beauty and the mystique
of femininity. We did no market research on the sale of lace;
we didn't weigh the receipts from such movies as Room with
a View; nor did we measure the fashion force of Laura Ashley.
Instead, the first issue of Victoria was launched on St. Patrick's
Day 1987 with a national newsstand distribution (through
Hearst's own ICD) of 400,000 copies.” John Mack Carter.
The interview in it’s entirety can be found here .
“It seemed that the time had come for counter-programming,
for the development of a magazine different from anything the
world had seen. It would be a lifestyle magazine representing a
"kinder and gentler" time, a celebration of the romantic and the
feminine.” Carter.
A few months prior, Hearst had hired Nancy Lindemeyer to oversee a ‘secret project’. The revival of a “home service magazine, American Home. The launch of American Home was delayed to shifts in the market, which led management at Hearst to look toward Nancy Lindemeyer to work on something new, something different.
“It seemed that the time had come for counter-programming, for the development of a magazine different from anything the world had seen. It would be a lifestyle magazine representing a "kinder and gentler" time, a celebration of the romantic and the feminine.” Carter.
As Lawer explains, "Victoria creates a special world for its readers and advertisers, with an ambiance beyond demographics." Lawer
When asked to choose the best word to describe Victoria, 98 percent of those interviewed chose the word, ‘feminine’. (interview)
In a letter to the Editor (scroll half way down), Lindemeyer wrote, “In every way, Victoria gave women the opportunity to choose what was beautiful and uplifting
in their lives and their world over what was not. It gave women a place
to refresh and renew.
My personal life is richer for having been at the
startup of Victoria and for spending years with a dedicated and brilliant
staff, never more that a dozen on staff at any one time. It was enriched
by the thousands of readers I met on book tours and in seminars. One
woman put her arms around me in the middle of a mall and told me that
Victoria helped her get through the suicide of her teenage son. How
could a magazine do that? Perhaps that is the true legacy of the Victoria I knew. It has been more than a redundant shelter title to millions of women.
The English crowds who greeted Queen Victoria near the
end of her long reign chanted, "You've done it well, old girl"
as she rode through the London streets. I learned this in one
of the Off Broadway dramatic readings that Victoria produced.
The stars were Richard Kiley and Julie Harris. Leslie Caron,
Rosemary Harris, and others joined them in this outstanding
program. New York's giver of gardens, Enid Haupt, was one
of the stars in Victoria's crown, a program to honor women of
achievement and support their endeavors with grants. Victoria
magazine, you've done it well for so many.” Lindemeyer
concluded of the effect of Victoria in women’s lives.
I’d love to hear what you love about Victoria. Whether it is a
particular issue, picture, book or whether you attended one of
their many seminars, Friends of Victoria meetings, teas or plays.
Victoria touched the core of many a woman’s heart – and still does.
We don’t want to let that go. I want to encourage those at Hoffman media to find the right note, chord again in women’s hearts. To continue – The Bible says, there’s nothing new under the sun – I believe it. Despite society’s changes and views towards women – we still instinctively want to remain feminine, kind, charming, and gracious. We want to appreciate the beauty in our lives and to share it with others.
I chose Tuesday because there
are several tea blog parties and I believe that Victoria
magazine also inspired many to again appreciate taking the
time to enjoy those moments in life.
Wishing you a very Delightsome day! Looking forward to
reading your memories and impressions of our beloved
Victoria Magazine,
Kathy
