Retiring Spectators

"The moment the editors feel that The American Spectator is becoming a routine job, is getting dull and is similarly continuing merely as a matter of habit, they will call it a day and will retire in a body to their estates."--The American Spectator, November 1932.

". . . Well, we are tired of the job, although it has been a lot of fun. . . . So we are merrily concluding our performance."--The American Spectator, March 1935.

Thus last week Editors George Jean Nathan, Ernest Boyd, Sherwood Anderson, James Branch Cabell & Eugene O'Neill availed themselves of the "out" they had wisely prepared in the first issue of The American Spectator, literary and critical review (TIME, Oct. 31, 1932). The magazine, resembling a monthly newspaper, had made a modest success. Circulation (claimed) reached 30,000--about 10,000 more than was needed to break even. Advertising income was fairly good. All told, the project cleared about $70 a year for each of the editors, which was more than they had expected but not enough to anchor their wavering interest. All five editors are deeply engrossed in writing new books and plays.

In its final issue, The American Spectator made its annual "awards" (i. e. honorable mention) for the year's best writing. Sample choices:

Best novel--The Forty Days of Musa Dagh by Franz Werfel (TIME, Dec. 3).

Best biography--R. E. Lee by Douglas Southall Freeman (TIME, Oct. 22, Feb. 11).

Best autobiography--Experiment in Autobiography by H. G. Wells (TIME, Nov. 12).

Best play--Within the Gates by Sean O'Casey (TIME, Nov. 5).

Best reporting--John L. Spivak's articles on Nazi and anti-Semitic activities in the U. S., in the New Masses.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.