Customised search for historical information

9 November 2009

On this day in history: First issue of Rolling Stone published, 1967

In 1966 Jann Wenner dropped out of Berkeley and sought work as a journalist. His friend and mentor the music critic Ralph J. Gleason found him a job working at the sister newspaper of the San Francisco based Ramparts magazine, where he was a contributing editor. Gleason resigned from his post after a disagreement Ramparts' editor, Warren Hinckle, criticised the burgeoning hippie scene.

Together Wennner and Gleason decided to found their own magazine. Wenner raised $7500 in loans from his family and that of his fiancee. On 9th November 1967 they published the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine in San Francisco, with Beatle John Lennon on the cover. Initially the magazine reported on the city's counterculture but maintained a distance from the underground press.

Wenner took the roles of publisher and editor - positions that he holds to this day, while Gleason contributed articles to the magazine until his death in 1975. As well as reporting on cultural matters, the magazine began reporting on political issues for which it gained a growing reputation, not least because of the work of Hunter S. Thompson. As well as the self confessed gonzo journalist, Rolling Stone also gave breaks to many other popular writers including Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire), Joe Klein (Primary Colours), and P.J. O'Rourke (Parliament of Whores).

Related posts
Samuel Johnson`s Dictionary published: 15th April 1755
Volume One of Gibbon`s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire published: 17th February 1776
The Hobbit first published: 21st September 1937
First appearance of the Smurfs: 23rd October 1958

3 comments:

The Kano said...

I loved this info because I used to read The Rolling Stone for years when it was still printed in the newspaper format.I loved the Hunter years,great writing. Thanks for the post,enjoyed reading it.

Borkiman said...

Thanks for the comment

Unknown said...

This is how the first issue look, wow~~ feel so interesting. Thank you for sharing these historial stories.
happy wheels hacked | starcraft online | starcraft web | starcraft | starcraft html5 | happy wheels demo | happy wheels unblocked | car parking games | car game