Interview Magazine

''Interview'' is an American magazine founded by pop artist Andy Warhol and journalist John Wilcock in 1969. The magazine, nicknamed "The Crystal Ball of Pop," features interviews of and by celebrities.

Background

In 1965, pop artist Andy Warhol announced his retirement from painting to focus on filmmaking. After he survived an assassination attempt in 1968, he began to concentrate on building a business enterprise. When Warhol tried to obtain press permits for the New York Film Festival, he was denied. Therefore, having a formal method for obtaining press passes was one of the reasons he founded ''inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal'' with British journalist John Wilcock in 1969.

The magazine, which was headquartered at Warhol's Factory, started as a film review before shifting its emphasis to pop culture. "I felt there was a need for an easygoing, conversational magazine,' said Warhol. "Every other paper is full of bad news, but we publish only good."

''Interview'' was published monthly, but is now published six times per year (March, Spring, Summer, September, Fall, Winter).

History

Andy Warhol period

The magazine was launched in October 1969 with a cover featuring a still from the experimental film ''Lions Love…(and Lies)'', which starred Warhol superstar Viva. Initially, the magazine was merely a film critique spread published under the title ''inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal'', with the word "view" paying homage to poet Charles Henri Ford, the publisher of the influential literary magazine ''View'' in the 1940s.

Gerard Malanga, Paul Morrissey, John Wilcock and Andy Warhol served as editors of ''Interview'''s inaugural issue. By the fourth issue, Morrissey was the top editor since Malanga had left for Europe, and Soren Agenoux was hired as the managing editor.

Bob Colacello was taking a film course at Columbia University when he began writing film reviews for ''Interview'' in 1970. By the fall of 1970, Colacello was hired as the managing editor at a salary of $50 ($ in ) a week. He brought in his friend and classmate Glenn O'Brien as an associate editor. Colacello's first issue featured film 1940s-era stills of actress Rita Hayworth on the cover and on every page. The idea came from Morrissey, who told Colacello, "Just put one on every page and it'll be funny."

In 1970, film director Jerome Hill and Charles Rydell became part-owners of ''Interview''. Their share was sold to Peter Brant and his cousin Joe Allen in 1971.

By 1972, ''Interview'' had a circulation of 30,000, mostly subscriptions. O'Brien worked with artist Richard Bernstein to create the new cursive ''Interview'' logo, which is still used today. The magazine increased size, started printing color covers, and was distributed regularly for 50 cents ($ in ) per copy. ''Interview'' was transformed to become a "reflection of Andy’s social life" said Colacello. "We wanted every issue of ''Interview'' to be like a great dinner party, where you have a grande dame, an important political figure, a rock star, an up-and-coming actress, and some model."

O'Brien and his wife Jude Jade sold advertising for the magazine before Sandy Brant became the director of advertising in 1972. O'Brien succeeded Colacello as managing editor of Interview in 1972 and continued in that capacity until 1973. In 1973, Rosemary Kent, an editor from '' WWD'' magazine, became the editor-in-chief of Interview, which at that point had a circulation of almost 70,000. In 1974, Colacello took over as editor-in-chief and remained in that position until 1983.

Warhol hosted parties for the magazine at New York hotspots such as Studio 54 and Regine's. He used a tape recorder he had in his pocket to capture content for ''Interview''. The interviews were taped conversations of well-known eclectic people usually at a restaurant and published as a literal transcription. Another trademark of the magazine were full-page photographs of "beautiful people."

By 1981, ''Interview'' was priced at $2 ($ in ) a copy and had a circulation of 90,000. The magazine was described as a "hybrid of ''People'' and ''Vogue'' on elongated newsprint."

From 1972 to 1989, the artist Richard Bernstein created the covers for ''Interview'', giving the publication its bold and colorful signature style. Photographers Robert Mapplethorpe and Christopher Makos took pictures for the magazine. Writer Fran Lebowitz was paid $10 ($ in ) a review for her film column. Fashion journalist André Leon Talley answered the phones and styled shoots.

Over time, Warhol withdrew from everyday oversight of ''Interview'' but he continued to act as an ambassador for the magazine, distributing issues in the street to passersby and promoting the magazine at events.

Brant Publications period

In 1989, Brant Publications Inc. acquired ''Interview'' magazine from the estate of Andy Warhol for $10 million. Businessman Peter Brant and his then-wife Sandra Brant were friends of Warhol, who died in 1987, and they had briefly invested in ''Interview'' in the 1970s.

From 1989 to 2008, Sandra Brant ran the business and her longtime partner Ingrid Sischy was the editor-in-chief. The magazine's format remained consistent at 60% features and 40% glossy advertising. In 2008, Sischy resigned from ''Interview'' when Brant sold her 50 percent stake.

2008 to 2018

For a year and a half the magazine was in flux, edited by Christopher Bollen. ''Interview'' restarted under co-editorial directors Fabien Baron and Glenn O'Brien in September 2008, with a cover featuring Kate Moss. Stephen Mooallem and Christopher Bollen served as the working editor-in-chief and editor-at-large, respectively. The publication's content can be found online and via an app, Other Edition, available on iTunes.

As of 2017, Fabien Baron was the editorial director, Karl Templer was the creative director, and Nick Haramis was the editor-in-chief. In December 2013, Stephen Mooallem left ''Interview'' to join ''Harper's Bazaar'' as its executive editor. Keith Pollock served as editor-in-chief from 2014 to 2016.

It was announced on May 21, 2018, that the publication 'folded' and would end both its print and web publications by the end of 2018. The publication also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation.

Relaunch

In August 2018, it was reported that a company owned by Peter Brant, Singleton LLC, purchased ''Interview'' out of bankruptcy for $1.5 million.

On September 6, 2018, ''Interview'' announced the launch of its 521st issue. The magazine was purchased by Kelly Brant and Jason Nikic, with some reports suggesting that the title's intellectual property will be returned to Peter Brant.

Editors

Managing Editor / Executive Editor / Editor-in-Chief

Editions

References

External links

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{{Brant Publications

1969 establishments in New York City
Magazines established in 1969
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Cultural magazines published in the United States
Contemporary art magazines
Magazines published in New York City
Andy Warhol