Various (Blair Jr., Clay (Editor); Alsop, Stewart; Hamill, Pete; Massie, Robert K.; Miller, Arthur et al.)

The Saturday Evening Post Issue No. 4 (February 1, 1964, 237th Year)

Philadelphia, PA: Curtis Publishing, 1964. First Edition, First Printing. "This play is not "about" something; hopefully, it is something. And primarily it is a way of looking at man and his human nature as the only source of violence which has come closer and closer to destroying the race. It is a view which does not look toward social or political ideas as the creators of violence, but into the nature of the human being himself." (foreword, Arthur Miller, pg. 32). This early 1964 number of the venerable, quintessentially American "middlebrow" magazine edited by Clay Blair Jr. (1925-1998) features American playwright Arthur Miller's (1915-2005) complete new play After the Fall (pgs. 32-59). The play had premiered on Broadway on January 23, 1964 and was directed by renowned Greek-American theater director Elia Kazan (1909-2003), who collaborated with Miller on the script. Kazan and Miller had previously produced the now ubiquitous American play Death of a Salesman in 1949, to great success and notoriety. After the Fall starred American actor Jason Robards (1922-2000) as Quentin and American actress Barbara Loden (1932-1980) as Maggie and was one of Faye Dunaway's (b. 1941) first roles as "Nurse." Loden beautifully graces the cover in side-profile and would later go on to win a Tony Award for her role. Also in this issue: Affairs of the State: Johnson at the Polls about the likelihood of then presidential candidate Lyndon B. Johnson's (1908-1973) ability to win the prize, (spoiler alert: he does) by Stewart Alsop (1914-1974). Last Voyage of the Lakonia (pgs. 72-75) about the sinking of British cruise liner "The Lakonia" by American journalist & novelist Pete Hamill (1935-2020); a political essay by American historian Robert K. Massie (1929-2019), Should the U.S. Trade with Enemies? about recent trade deals with Russia (pgs. 19-21); A Passion for Rhinoceros (pgs. 66-69) by Lewis H. Lapham (1935-2024) about man's obsession with the "ugly beast" & a spread about the 1964 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria, Our Underdogs at Innsbruck (pgs. 22-27) & so much more. With many delightfully exemplary contemporary ads for cigarettes, booze, cars, clothing, the newly popular tampon & 2 original still attached subscription cards. See also Item No.s 3732, 8093 & 8393 for more issues from this indelible American icon. From the collection of Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), a renowned American poet, film critic, author, editor & educator at the University of Michigan. Large-Format Magazine (appx. 10.5" x 14"): First edition & only printing per publishing custom. A fascinating time-capsule collectible relic of particular interest to Arthur Miller/Entertainment Industry collectors in its rarest contemporary form, with distinguished provenance. In relatively near fine condition with mild-to-moderate rubbing, scratching & age-toning to front, back covers & stapled spine; mild bumping of corners to same; one small half inch enclosed tear at bottom of front near spine; small chip to left fine edge of back cover; an occasion of mild spot-staining occurring at bottom right of same near spine; original address label addressed to an "H. Ungerer" in Ann Arbor, Michigan still affixed to bottom right corner of front cover, slightly separated; mild-to-moderate age-toning and rubbing to text block. Interior near fine with mild-to-moderate age-toning to page leaves; small, closed tears mostly to fine edges to some of same. Near Fine. [Item #8417]

Price: $50.00