RIP Parade Magazine (in print)

One year in the early 70s in the college preview edition, they tabbed Mark Harmon as the best passer in the nation. UCLA ran a wishbone and Harmon threw maybe 8 passes a game. Very astute.

 

Thought it had gone to the big woodpulp in the sky long ago.

 

But they got his name out there, it was social media before social media. How many of the Parade letters in future years asked something like, "Is Mark Harmon in Chicago Hope
the same guy who was in Summer School?"

 

The questions were the best. There often would be one about an actor who hadn't been in anything in years who just "coincidentally" happened to be in a show coming out that week. I'm sure it wasn't planted by a publicist.

Or there was the occasional "what ever happened to Richie Valens? He hasn't released anything in a while" and the magazine would have to tell the writer that he was dead.

 

Guess going back before the internet and IMDB some were understandable, but it's like people never could read
the credits. 'Wow, that's the same actor/actress that was in that other movie.'

 

The first (and last) place I read about Ron Powlus, future four-time Heisman winner. RIP, to the mag.

I remember when lots of papers had Sunday mags. I feel like it was a sign of how big-time the paper was if it had its own mag. Now I feel like it’s probably down to a couple handfuls.

 

Heard about him from some guy who likes to wear mascot masks. Wasn't he the one who said four-time Hesiman winner, not Parade?

 

This is all just so depressing.

 

That was Beano Cook.

 

Ahh, that's right, not Corso. But Beano called that, not Parade, correct?

 

Sunday magazines used to be supported largely by department store ads. When they disappeared so did the Sunday magazines. And much of the best feature writing in American newspapers went with it.

I would be surprised if there are even 10 locally produced Sunday mags left. I know the New York Times still ahs one. Who else still produces one?

 

That is correct. On ESPN.