From 1957 to 2001, "16 Magazine" trailblazed pop culture press by writing about young singers, actors, and celebrities for teenage girls. Magazines for teenagers about teen culture didn't exist until 16 and after it hit, journalism was never the same.


In its first era from 1957 to 1964, 16 Magazine regularly featured Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Connie Francis, Paul Anka, Connie Stevens, Richard Chamberlain, Paul Petersen, Shelley Fabares, Johnny Crawford, Sandra Dee, Bobby Rydell, Dion, Hayley Mills, and American Bandstand regulars. Monthly features included advice columns from Barbara Hearn (Elvis' girlfriend) and Connie Francis, Gee-Gee's Gossip, full-page pinups, contests, "You're Telling Me" letters to the editor, and 16's trademark "40 Intimate Questions." Under the editorship of Gloria Stavers, 16 Magazine is credited with inventing rock and pop culture journalism.


No one, least of all 16, was ready for the British Invasion of 1964 when the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan show that February. The Fab Four upended popular American music and 16 followed suit, going mad for anything mod. But in the fall of 1966, the Monkees appeared and armed with Paul Revere & the Raiders, won back American audiences.


Yet by the beginning of the 1970s, 16's musical idols had lost their cool and traded it for the commercialism of acts like Donny Osmond and David Cassidy. As those two faded out, Elton John and KISS turned into the Bay City Rollers, who gave way to Duran Duran, who opened doors for New Kids on the Block, who made boy bands cool for the Backstreet Boys and finally Hanson. Amid changing tastes and trends, nothing ever arbitrated American teen tastes over the last 50 years more than 16 magazine.


The main reason for16's intuitive understanding of its audience was editor Gloria Stavers (pictured above with Mark Lindsay). From the time she took the editorial reins under the name Georgia Winters until she relinquished her position in 1975, her innate understanding of how to sell fantasies to young girls was unmatched. 25 years after her departure, 16 still reflected Gloria's savvy.

I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL COLLECTOR OR MAGAZINE EXPERT. Those people can tell you about binding, foxing, etc. What I have done is write and lecture extensively about 16 Magazine and run the 16 Magazine page on MySpace. My comments about print runs have no official basis but here's what I know about the issues and their value relative to circulation:

• 1957-59  These are the rarest 16 Magazines, limited in print run and printed irregularly between May 1957 and the beginning of 1960. Vol.1 #1 is dated May 1957. #2, #3, and #4 were dated July, September, and November respectively but #5 does not appear until  November 1958! The every-other-month schedule continued with #s 6-11 all coming out in 1959. Vol.1 #12 was dated January 1960. The February issue began Vol.2 and 16's run as a monthly publication. These rare issues should start at $19.99 and fetch between $35-$100 per issue.
• 1960-64  As a monthly, 16 began to develop a real personality. Its chatty articles and encouragement of reader feedback made it a hotly imitated format. It's print run increased gradually as it began to guide the careers of TV and singing stars but spiked in May 1964 when demand for Beatles coverage eclipsed all the old favorites. 16 had to unexpectedly increase its numbers by mid-summer as circulation and sales shot up. January-July 1964 issues are rarer than those from the last six months of 1964 because their demand was high and print run low. Issues before July 1964 can go for $14.99. Issues from August 1964 on are plentiful and can go for at least $19.99.
• 1965-66  16 was a hot player in the hip new teen market by 1965. Its emphasis was on British bands during this times. Issues are plentiful and should go for at least $9.99.
• 1967-79 American bands dominated 16 once again as the Monkees and Paul Revere & the Raiders churned out massive hits from the end of 1966 on. From 1970-74, Donny Osmand and David Cassidy were kings but oddball idols like David Selby, Alice Cooper, and Elton John gained popularity. After Elton publicly came out of the closet, his popularity plummeted and 16 took its first dramtic decrease in sales, a trend that would never turn around. Issues are plentiful and should go for at least $9.99.
• 1980-2001  16 struggled for its share of the MTV market in the 1980s and 90s. It produced spinoff publications like Rockline but but it was fighting a losing battle. The computer age did it no favors. Around 2000, it reverted back to special issues and quarterlies. Sometime around 2001, 16 Magazine printed its last issue. Issues are plentiful and should go for $4.99 and up.
  

This loving memoir of working at 16 Magazine is packed with recent interviews and updates on many of 16's past cover boys. It a 1996 publication and out of print but copies are often found on Ebay. BEWARE OF SELLERS OVERPRICING THIS BOOK. Copies should go for $25 and up to $75 or so.

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