It’s that time of the month again….It’s October Vintage Magazine Covers (and once again I missed September. It was a busy few weeks. Sorry friends)! Hope everyone had a good October and safe social distanced Halloween (scroll to the bottom of the post to see the fun I got into).

If you are a regular reader of my vintage blog, you know that I have started a “vintage magazine cover” for each month. It’s been really fun, to see what was popular topics and images on these covers from the 1920s to the 1950s.

Let’s begin!


Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.


October Vintage Magazine Covers 1920s-1950s

1920’s “The Little Delineator” Halloween Kids Magazine-October 1924 featuring witches and ghost costumes.

The Little Delineator was the children’s insert in the women’s magazine of the day, The Delineator. The child would cut out the pages and fold them together to make a six-page small magazine for themselves (some were pinned to keep pages together). Each month has a theme and the articles and illustrations around that theme (Source).

1920’s vintage magazine from October: “The Little Delineator” Halloween Kids Magazine-October 1924 featuring witches and ghost costumes.

Source: Etsy

Vogue Cover October 1, 1926, Titled “Early Paris Opening”.

1920s Vintage Magazine Cover for the Month of October: Vogue Cover October 1, 1926 Production Giclee Print, Titled “Early Paris Opening”

Source: Etsy

Vintage Success Magazine, October 1927 issue, featuring an adorable child dressed for Halloween and a carved Jack ‘o lantern.

1920s vintage magazine cover: Success Magazine, October 1927 issue, featuring an adorable child dressed for Halloween and a carved Jack 'o lantern.

Source: Etsy

Practical Fashion Magazine. October 20, 1936 featuring a fantastic 1930s jacket, matching skirt, hat and muff. Super fall going into winter fashion!

Fashion Practice was a weekly publication. It was dedicated to fashion, offering advice and suggestions. It also contained items related to the home and day-to-day life (Source).

1930s vintage magazine cover: Practical Fashion Magazine. October 20, 1936 featuring a fantastic 1930s jacket, matching skirt, hat and muff. Super Fall going into winter fashion!

Source: Etsy

Gorgeous vintage magazine, ‘House Beautiful’ October 1939 the Fall decorating issue. Loads of decorating tips and vintage ads, perfect for the new bride of the time! Fascinating!

1930s vintage magazine cover: House Beautiful October 1939 vintage magazine. Fall Decorating Number New Bride, 1930's Home Decor Vintage Advertising

Source: Etsy

Radio World Magazine October 1935. 23 pages on Metal Tubes! Ohhhh yeah!

1930s vintage magazine cover for the month of October: Radio World Magazine October 1935

Source: Etsy

‘Home Chat’ magazine dating from October 1938, packed with social history and women’s interest features including (E version avail HERE):

– Feature article: “How Fashions are Born” by Norman Hartnell.
– Man – the modern silkworm (article on rayon)
– Recipes: Halloween party food
– Eyeroll-worthy features on how to keep your man
– Etiquette made easy: Who Pays?
– 1930’s Fashions (like the one’s on the cover)
– Sewing feature including examples of stylish buttons
– The Milky Way to Beauty
– How to clean modern household goods
– Fashion transformations (make do and mend)
– Knitting patterns (pictured)
– Are you easy to live with?
– Health and beauty
– Beautifully illustrated fiction
– Readers’ letters & problem page

1930s vintage magazine cover from october featuring norman hartnell designs on the cover and an illustration of a woman in a dressing gown, looking at fashion illustrations with a 1930s hairstyle.

Source: Etsy

Star Weekly-Toronto, October 10th, 1942 magazine cover, featuring a young couple in church in their service uniforms.

1940s vintage magazine cover: Star Weekly-Toronto, October 10th, 1942 magazine cover, featuring a young couple in church in their service uniforms.

Source: Elinor Florence

October 1941, October Girls Own Paper English magazine. The cover features a young woman working on the homefront in a factory. Magazine has articles and pictures on crafts, girls stories, articles, fashion and lots of lovely old advertisements (like the one to the left of the cover).

1940s vintage magazine cover of 'Girl's Own' October 1941.

Source: Etsy

October 7th, 1945 LIFE Magazine featuring Bing Crosby and Joan Caulfield (lovely 1940s Hair!) on the set of Blue Skies (1946). Bing & Joan are rumoured to have had an affair. Read about the drama HERE.

1940s vintage magazine cover: October 7th, 1945 LIFE Magazine featuring Bing Crosby and Joan Caulfield (lovely 1940s Hair!) on the set of Blue Skies (1946)

Source: Etsy

Jet Magazine October 2nd, 1958 featuring Carole Preston on the cover. She is one of 6 models in Ebony’s 30-city fashion show tour.

What was the EBONY Fashion Fair?

The EBONY Fashion Fair toured the country annually from 1958 to 2009, bringing the latest couture to legions of Black women and men. The fashion show, created by Eunice Johnson, wife of Johnson Publishing Company founder John H. Johnson, was more than just a fashion show; it was a cultural event. Read all about it HERE.

1950s vintage magazine cover: Jet Magazine October 2nd, 1958 featuring Carole Preston on the cover. She is one of 6 models in Ebony's 30-city fashion show tour.

Source: Pinterest

Ideal Home Magazine. October 1951. The cover features a very cozy living room with a fireplace and the coolest plaid chair. That lamp is pretty darn fantastic as well!

1950s vintage magazine cover: Ideal Home Magazine. October 1951 - Home, Garden and Vintage Advertisements. The cover features a 1950s livingroom with fireplace.

Source: Etsy

When in doubt on what to wear with your purse, check with Vogue and their colour chart for your handbag. Problem solved! October 1955 magazine cover.

1950s vintage magazine cover: When in doubt on what to wear, check with Vogue and their colour chart for your handbag. October 1955 magazine cover.

Source: Pinterest

1958 Grade Teacher magazine featuring fall crafts and Halloween songs. Over 100 pages of color prints. Take a look inside HERE.

1950s vintage magazine: 1958 Grade Teacher magazine featuring fall crafts and Halloween songs. The cover has kids in halloween costumes.

Source: Etsy

Share your favorite cover in the comments section below friends! And I spent Halloween dressed up as a Raccoon or a Trash Panda as we call it here in Toronto. HAHAHA!

Racoon Halloween Costume in Toronto.

Stay safe!

Liz

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